With Insidious: Out of the Further now in theaters, we’ve ranked all six movies in the Insidious franchise from worst to best. James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s horror series has delivered everything from Lambert family scares to prequels centered on Elise Rainier, but how does the newest entry compare with the films that came before it?
Let’s enter The Further and figure out which films work and which films don’t as we Rank the Insidious Franchise.
Insidious Movies Ranked
- Insidious (2011)
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
- Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
- Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018)
- Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)
The Insidious franchise currently consists of six films, released between 2011 and 2026. James Wan directed the first two movies, while Leigh Whannell, Adam Robitel, Patrick Wilson, and Jacob Chase have each taken turns expanding the series. The films are connected by the supernatural realm known as The Further and the recurring paranormal investigator Elise Rainier.
6. Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)
- Director: Jacob Chase
Main Cast: Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Lin Shaye, Sam Spruell
Main Character: Gemma
Franchise Position: Sixth film in the Insidious franchise
Key Horror Element: Couriers who can transport objects between The Further and the real world
Why It Ranks Here: The latest entry expands the mythology but becomes overly complicated and loses the emotional connection that made the Lambert-centered films effective.
I was genuinely pretty shocked at how bad the latest entry ended up being. The series has always struggled when following anyone except the Lambert Family, but this was an exceptional level of nonsense. This time, the concept of “couriers” is introduced; these people can bring things in and out of The Further. Gemma is a courier, and she finds herself targeted, as ghosts want to cross over into our world through her. It gets so convoluted and silly, treating Lin Shaye like she’s Captain America coming back to hold Mjölnir. It doesn’t help that the main villain looks like homeless Marilyn Manson. This was bad character decision after bad character decision and a very frustrating experience overall. Here’s hoping this will serve as the final entry in the franchise.
5. Insidious: The Last Key (2018)
- Director: Adam Robitel
Main Cast: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Spencer Locke, Josh Stewart
Main Character: Elise Rainier
Franchise Position: Fourth film released; second prequel in the series
Key Horror Element: KeyFace, a demon who can imprison people’s voices
Timeline: Takes place primarily in 2010, before the events of the first Insidious
Why It Ranks Here: Lin Shaye gets the spotlight in Elise’s origin story, and KeyFace is visually memorable, but the story is more generic and its connections to the first film can feel forced.
Another prequel, this film finally gives us a backstory for Lin Shaye’s Elise Rainier, as she’s forced to confront her past, by visiting her childhood home. I actually really like the design of the main villain, Keyface, and his ability to lock people’s voices away. It’s a chilling visual. I also liked that Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson’s Specs and Tucker were given more to do, while still providing much of the levity. Its connections with the first film feel tacked on and the entire story feels more generic.
4. Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
- Director: Leigh Whannell
Main Cast: Stefanie Scott, Dermot Mulroney, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Lin Shaye
Main Character: Quinn Brenner
Franchise Position: Third film released; first prequel
Key Horror Element: The Man Who Can’t Breathe
Timeline: Takes place before the events of the first Insidious
Why It Ranks Here: The prequel expands Elise, Specs, and Tucker’s roles and introduces a memorable supernatural threat, but moving away from the Lambert family makes the story feel less emotionally connected to the first two films.
Our first film following someone other than the Lambert Family actually takes place before those events. This is where the series shifts to Lin Shaye and Leigh Whannell being our connection between films, and it made me realize how much I need the Lambert family to make these films work. That personal connection was built with those two films. Switching it up gets rid of the stakes and makes it more generic horror where we’re simply waiting for someone to get spooked/killed by a ghost. It simply feels like it follows too closely to the first film. This is also the feature directorial debut of series writer Leigh Whannell.
3. Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
- Director: Patrick Wilson
Main Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Sinclair Daniel, Peter Dager
Main Characters: Josh Lambert, Dalton Lambert, Renai Lambert
Setting: The Lambert family and The Further
Franchise Position: Fifth film in the franchise; direct sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2
Key Horror Element: Dalton’s return to The Further and the supernatural consequences of his family’s past
Notable Detail: Patrick Wilson’s feature directorial debut
Why It Ranks Here: Returning to the Lambert family gives the franchise an emotional foundation that several of the prequels lack, while Dalton finally becomes an active participant in the supernatural conflict.
This movie came out before I got entirely sick of the Legacy Sequel gimmick, and this one actually has some interesting ideas. Dalton is really more of a victim in the first two films, so it’s cool to see him take more of a proactive role here. Plus, it’s always great to see Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson back together. I actually think I like them together as much as Vera Farmiga and Wilson as the Warrens in the Conjuring films. This also served as Wilson’s directorial debut, and he proves more than competent.
2. Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
- Director: James Wan
Main Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson
Main Characters: Josh Lambert, Renai Lambert, Dalton Lambert, Elise Rainier
Franchise Position: Second film in the franchise; direct sequel to Insidious
Key Horror Element: The aftermath of Josh’s possession and the revelation of his connection to The Further
Timeline: Begins immediately after the events of the first film
Why It Ranks Here: It continues the Lambert family’s story directly, delivers strong horror imagery, and deepens the mythology, although explaining some of the first film’s mysteries takes away some of its original sense of uncertainty.
The first two Insidious films are practically a two-parter, telling one half of the story each. We get to see the effect of Josh being possessed at the end of the first film. Some of the mystery is gone, and the impact of the series lessens as they try to explain more and more with each film. There’s a bit of an Amityville Horror / The Shining edge with Evil Josh trying to murder his family. This one has some great horror visuals and feels less formulaic than what would come later. Given how the first film ends up, the tensions are high, as it the Lamberts don’t feel safe.
1. Insidious (2011)
- Director: James Wan
Writer: Leigh Whannell
Main Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson
Main Characters: Josh Lambert, Renai Lambert, Dalton Lambert, Elise Rainier
Franchise Position: First film in the franchise
Key Horror Element: Astral projection and a supernatural realm known as The Further
Central Conflict: The Lambert family attempts to rescue Dalton after he becomes trapped in The Further
Notable Detail: Established the franchise’s mythology and introduced Elise Rainier, Specs, and Tucker
Why It Ranks Here: James Wan and Leigh Whannell combine a fresh supernatural concept, strong character relationships, memorable creature design, and escalating scares into the franchise’s most effective film.
As is often the case with franchises, the first one set the standard and wasn’t eclipsed by any of its sequels. James Wan and Leigh Whannell moved past the idea of a haunted house and introduced the idea of haunted person. A house, you can leave, but if it’s attached to a person, it will follow where they go. It’s a fun concept, only improved by the coupling of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne. The Lamberts will do whatever they can to save their son, Dalton. Even bringing in a very eclectic group of ghost hunters. This has some genuinely unnerving scares and some truly creepy designs. Wan also flexes his technical prowess, with such control of the camera at all times. And let’s be honest, it’s really ballsy to end your film with such a massive cliffhanger. It’s also absolutely hilarious that Lin Shaye was murdered in this one and is the main star of the franchise.
What’s your Ranking for the Insidious Franchise? Do you hope that the series continues? Are there any you could do without entirely? Let us know in the comments!
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