Annabelle (film)
A spin-off and prequel to The Conjuring.
Montclair Film · CC BY 2.0
Annabelle is a 2014 American supernatural horror film that serves as both a spin-off and a prequel to the 2013 movie *The Conjuring*, making it the second installment in The Conjuring Universe. The story was inspired by a doll named Annabelle, a tale made famous by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. John R. Leonetti directed the film, Gary Dauberman wrote the script, and Peter Safran and James Wan produced it. The cast includes Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard.
Filming started in January 2014 in Los Angeles. The movie premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on September 29, 2014, and hit theaters in the United States on October 3, 2014, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. Made on a budget of $6.5 million, *Annabelle* earned over $257 million worldwide, despite receiving negative reviews from critics. A prequel, *Annabelle: Creation*, came out on August 11, 2017.
**Plot** In 1967, Santa Monica, California, medical student John Form gives his pregnant wife, Mia, a rare vintage porcelain doll as a gift for their first child, meant for their daughter’s nursery. That night, after watching news about the Tate murders and the Manson Family, the couple hears their neighbors, the Higginses, being killed during a home invasion. Mia calls the police, and she and John are attacked by the killers. Officers arrive and shoot one assailant, a man, dead, while the female killer slits her own throat in the nursery, clutching the doll. News reports identify the attackers as the Higginses’ estranged daughter, Annabelle, and her boyfriend, both cult members.
In the days after, strange paranormal events happen around the Forms’ home. Mia gives birth to a healthy baby girl named Leah. The family moves to an apartment in Pasadena, California. When John finds the doll (which he had thrown away after the earlier attack) in one of their boxes, more supernatural occurrences plague Mia and her daughter. Mia contacts the detective from the original case and learns the cult aimed to summon a demonic spirit. With help from bookseller and fellow tenant Evelyn, Mia discovers the cult practiced devil worship, summoning a demon that followed the family to their new apartment to claim a soul.
Back home, Mia and Leah are attacked by the demon, which reveals itself while controlling the doll.
Quick Facts
- Director
- John R. Leonetti
- Producer
- Peter Safran / James Wan
- Writer
- Gary Dauberman
- Starring
- Annabelle Wallis / Ward Horton / Alfre Woodard
- Music
- Joseph Bishara
- Cinematography
- James Kniest
- Editing
- Tom Elkins
- Studio
- New Line Cinema / RatPac-Dune Entertainment / Atomic Monster / The Safran Company
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Released
- 29 September 2014 · TCL Chinese Theatre · 2014 · 10 · 3 · United States
- Runtime
- 99 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film is set in 1967 in Santa Monica, California, where medical student John Form gives his pregnant wife Mia a vintage porcelain doll. After their neighbors are murdered by a cult couple, the female killer dies holding the doll. Paranormal events follow the family, and they move to Pasadena. With help from a bookseller named Evelyn, Mia learns a demon attached to the doll seeks a human soul. Father Perez attempts to exorcise the demon but fails; Evelyn sacrifices herself to save Mia and her daughter Leah. The doll later appears in an antique shop and ends up locked in a glass case in the Warrens' artifact room.
Reader's Guide
Annabelle was produced on a $6.5 million budget and grossed over $257 million worldwide, making it a commercial success despite negative reviews. It premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre on September 29, 2014, and was released theatrically in the United States on October 3, 2014. The film's opening weekend gross of $37.1 million was the biggest for a horror film in 2014, surpassing The Purge: Anarchy. It set box office records in Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and Lebanon. A prequel, Annabelle: Creation, was released on August 11, 2017. The film's legacy lies in expanding The Conjuring Universe and demonstrating the profitability of spin-offs with smaller budgets.
Did You Know?
- Principal photography began on January 27, 2014, at The Book Shop in Covina, California.
- Annabelle became the highest-grossing horror film in the Philippines, earning over ₱121.33 million.
- Director Leonetti and producer Safran reported that the Annabelle set was 'haunted' and that they thought 'supernatural phenomena' had occurred there.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Annabelle (2014)?
Annabelle is a 2014 American supernatural horror film that doubles as a spin-off and prequel to The Conjuring, making it the second chapter in that shared cinematic universe. John R. Leonetti directed, Gary Dauberman wrote the screenplay, and Peter Safran and James Wan produced the project.
What is the basic plot of Annabelle?
The story follows a group of young women who, through a ritual gone wrong, channel a demonic entity into a possessed doll, triggering a cascade of terrifying supernatural events. The narrative is loosely inspired by the real Annabelle doll case that was popularized by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
How does Annabelle fit into The Conjuring Universe?
It functions as both a prequel—depicting events that precede those in The Conjuring (2013)—and a standalone spin-off that expands the universe with its own characters and storyline. This dual positioning made it the second film released in what is now known as The Conjuring Universe.
Who are the key creative people and cast behind Annabelle?
John R. Leonetti was the director and Gary Dauberman penned the screenplay, while Peter Safran and James Wan served as producers. The on-screen cast features Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard in the lead roles.
How successful was Annabelle at the box office?
Shot for a budget of around $6.5 million, the movie returned approximately $257 million in global box-office revenue. That strong financial performance helped cement the franchise and paved the way for several sequels.
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