But what many don’t realize is that Annabelle isn’t just a Hollywood creation — she’s based on an actual doll with a real and disturbing backstory.
Yes, you read that right. The terrifying doll we’ve seen causing all sorts of paranormal chaos on-screen actually exists in the real world.
As for whether the movies got everything right about what the doll has allegedly done over the years — that’s a different story altogether.
And if you’re worried that the supposedly ‘missing’ doll might show up at your door… well, sorry to say, there’s not much you can do.
Best to just hope for the best and keep your fingers crossed.
What exactly is the Annabelle doll?
Much like her movie version, the real Annabelle doll — which is actually a Raggedy Ann doll is said to be haunted or even possessed, depending on who you ask.
For the most part, the doll has been kept behind glass in a secure display, but plenty of people have claimed that she has a tendency to move on her own and stir up frightening trouble wherever she ends up.
Annabelle is usually displayed in a wooden, glass-front case at the Warrens’ Occult Museum, which was created by famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Fans of horror and the paranormal often visit to catch a glimpse from a safe distance, of course.
The story they were told involved two young nurses who believed that the doll had been taken over by a human spirit. In a recorded interview, one of the nurses, Deirdre, explained that the doll had been a birthday gift from her mom when she turned 28.
She went on to describe how the doll would apparently move around the apartment on its own. She also said they found strange, disturbing handwritten notes that read ‘help me’.
Did Annabelle go missing?
There have been whispers for years that Annabelle somehow disappeared from her display case, all on her own — leaving people either skeptical or completely freaked out.
But according to Dan Rivera, a lead investigator at NESPR, those rumors are completely false. In a TikTok video he posted last week, he reassured viewers that the doll is right where she belongs.
In the video, Rivera said: “I’m here at the museum right now, and I just wanna show you guys that Annabelle is in the Warrens’ Occult Museum. As you can see in the clip, she’s safely inside of her wooden casing.”
In a recent post, they wrote: “It’s a Rumor… Annabelle has NOT been stolen. The doll is safely in place at the Warren Occult Museum.”
Where is Annabelle now?
So, where is she today? Don’t worry — she hasn’t vanished. Thanks to her eerie fame, Annabelle is now touring the country as part of a traveling exhibition called Devils on the Run. Of course, she’s still enclosed safely in her wooden case throughout the journey.
The tour kicked off earlier this month and has been drawing both brave visitors and curious onlookers who are equal parts terrified and fascinated by the doll’s reputation.
One of the major stops on the tour includes the 2025 Rock Island Roadhouse Esoteric Expo, taking place in Rock Island, Illinois, on October 4. Fans will get a rare opportunity to see her in person — if they dare.