1953 – 1960S (Insidious: the Last Key)

Insidious: the Last Key Takes Us Back to the '50S Childhood Home of Demonologist Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) and Her Abuse-Filled Childhood. We Learn How the Emergence of Elise's "Gift" Caused Her to See All Sorts of Ghosts, and Frightened Her Father So Badly He Went to Sick Extremes to Punish Her for Them.

1986 (Insidious: Chapter 2)

After Building a Career as a Demonologist, Elise Is Contacted by Doctor Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey), Who Needs Help with Her Son, Josh. When Elise Discovers a Powerful Demon (The "Black Bride") Trying to Possess Josh, She Realizes the Boy Is Gifted with the Ability to Project His Mind into the Astral Plane While Asleep. as a Safety Measure, Elise Uses Hypnosis to Suppress Josh's Gift, Hoping to Keep the Demon Away from Him.

The 2000S (Insidious 3 and Insidious: the Last Key)

Between the Time When Demonologist Elise First Met Young Josh in 1986 and Adult Josh in 2010, She Works Several Big Cases Depicted in the Films.

The 2010S (Insidious & Insidious: Chapter 2)

Soon After Confronting Key Face, Elise Is Once Again Contacted by Lorraine Lambert, Who Reports That Her Son, Now-Adult Josh (Patrick Wilson) Is Once Again Being Plagued by a Demon. Elise Rushes to the Aid of Josh, His Wife Renai (Rose Byrne), and Their Son Dalton, and Discovers the Latter Is the Target of the Same Red-Faced Demon That Has Been Following Elise for Some Time. When the Paranormal Activity in the Lambert Home Gets More Intense, Dalton Is Left Seemingly Comatose, and Elise Must Send Josh into the Further in Order to Save His Son.

The 2020S (Insidious: the Red Door)

"In Insidious: the Red Door, the Horror Franchise's Original Cast Returns for the Final Chapter of the Lambert Family's Terrifying Saga. to Put Their Demons to Rest Once and for All, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a College-Aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) Must Go Deeper into the Further Than Ever Before, Facing Their Family's Dark Past and a Host of New and More Horrifying Terrors That Lurk Behind the Red Door."

Insidious Movies Timeline Explained

By Alexander Ross

• Oct 8, 2026 • 9 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Insidious: the Red Door Will Be Opening in Theaters This Week, Continuing the Story of the Lambert Family and Their Battles with the Fearsome Ghosts and Demons of the Otherworldly Realm Known as the Further. It's Been 13 Year's (Spooky!) Since the Original Insidious Debuted in Theaters – and Insidious 5 Is Making Full Use of the Fact That the Time Has Passed.

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.

Tags: insidious movies timeline chronology explained