by Perhaps now is the ideal moment to bring back another classic toy horror from the past, given the enormous success of M3GAN demonstrated the killer doll subgenre’s enduring appeal. Although M3GAN is currently the talk of the town, it would be interesting to watch her compete against someone, and none would be more deserving than Annelelle, the one who walked so she could run and dance.
After making her debut in The Conjuring, Annabelle quickly gained popularity and spawned her trilogy of spin-offs, much like her high-tech successor. The Annabelle films were box office successes despite having widely differing quality and receiving mixed reviews from critics. Director David F. Sandberg and writer Gary Dauberman, who were both instrumental in Annabelle’s initial run, are now beginning to explore the possibility of her return six years after the last episode.
The last time Sandberg and Dauberman worked together was on the second film in the series, Annabelle: Creation (2017), which provided viewers with additional context for the possessed doll’s beginnings. Due in large part to the two directors’ creative chemistry, the movie was a huge box office success and is generally considered the best installment in the franchise.
The most recent entry, Annabelle Comes Home, which Dauberman also scripted, was his directorial debut. For the impending video game film version of the survival horror video game Until Dawn, the two designers have recently reteamed for the first time since then. In a recent interview with CBR, they hinted at the prospect of revisiting the haunted corridors of the Annabelle universe while promoting the film.
Dauberman and Sanberg are optimistic that Annabelle’s narrative may go on even if The Conjuring saga is anticipated to come to an end this autumn with The Conjuring: Last Rites. When questioned about a possible fourth Annabelle movie, Dauberman slyly added, “That’s all I can… that’s all I’ll say about it.” “We’ve discussed it,” he said.
“I mean, she’s still around,” Sanberg said, echoing the optimism and even hinting at a new interpretation of the haunted doll.This could lead to a modern interpretation. Dauberman hinted to countless options while discussing the possible shape of that: “Listen, there are a lot of different stories. This [decision is solely New Line’s. That is up to them to decide.”
To what extent did the ‘Annabelle’ films succeed?
When it comes to Annebelle, the numbers are unambiguous. Studios frequently follow the numbers. With a combined worldwide box office receipt of around $800 million from three films and a very small budget of $54 million, The Haunted Doll constitutes a sizeable portion of the $2.2 billion total for the Conjuring franchise.
Financial success like that provides a compelling case for her to come back. Despite mixed reviews, previous movie box office performance suggests a higher level of approval for sequels. We might not have seen the last of Annebelle if Dauberman’s curiosity continues. Fingers crossed till then.
Given the impressive box office performance of the “Annabelle” trilogy, amassing around $800 million globally against a mere $54 million budget, the financial incentive for New Line Cinema to revisit this killer doll franchise is undeniable.
While critical reception to the individual films has varied, the consistent commercial success demonstrates a clear audience appetite for Annabelle’s brand of supernatural horror. The fact that key creative figures like David F. Sandberg and Gary Dauberman, who were instrumental in the critically acclaimed “Annabelle: Creation,” are openly discussing the possibility of a fourth installment injects further optimism into the prospect of her return.
With the main “Conjuring” saga seemingly nearing its conclusion, the “Annabelle” spin-offs could very well continue to be a lucrative and popular avenue for exploring the darker corners of this cinematic universe. Dauberman’s playful hints about numerous potential storylines and Sandberg’s suggestion of a contemporary take open the possibility of a fresh and potentially terrifying chapter in Annabelle’s haunted history.
For fans of killer doll horror, the strong financial track record and the expressed interest of the original creators suggest that it’s more a question of “when” rather than “if” Annabelle will once again grace the silver screen.
