Encompassing both Sam Raimi’s classic trilogy and two different sequels, the Evil Dead movies range from impressive horror movies to true classics of the genre. The Evil Dead is a rarity within the genre, thanks to the inventive nature of series creator Sam Raimi. The original trilogy grew more comedic over time, developing a loyal fan-base who came to love the antics of Bruce Campbell’s hapless hero, Ash Willias. That’s not to say that Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness are devoid of horror, or even that the first Evil Dead is entirely humorless.
Raimi eventually stepped away from the director’s chair, leaving the latest two films to be helmed by directors who still paid tribute to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films. The 2013 Evil Dead remake brought things back to the original, exploring a similar set-up but with additional decades of horror influencing it beyond the original movies. A decade later, Evil Dead Rise shifted the focus into a completely new setting with fresh characters. Each Evil Dead film has been celebrated by critics, but there is one Evil Dead movie that stands out as the most iconic and entertaining of the bunch.
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5 Evil Dead (2013)
63% On The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer
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The 2013 Evil Dead is the worst of the five released entries in the franchise — but is still a solid horror film. Unlike most horror series, which tend to have a clear dividing line between the beloved entries and the disappointing ones, fans mostly like all Evil Dead movies to varying degrees. The fact that Evil Dead 2013 is the one that fewer fans champion does not mean it isn’t worth watching. Fede Alvarez’s remake reinvents some of the original’s ideas in fun new ways and is impeccably directed.
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Films In The Evil Dead Franchise |
Year Of Release |
|
The Evil Dead |
1981 |
|
Evil Dead 2 |
1982 |
|
Army of Darkness |
1992 |
|
Evil Dead |
2013 |
|
Evil Dead Rise |
2023 |
The film pulls a clever lead character swap partway through the plot, and features a great performance from Jane Levy as Mia. The biggest let-down of Evil Dead is the commitment to pure horror, which means it lacks the unique tonal balance that elevates the best entries in the series. Instead, the Evil Dead sequel sports more blood and gore than even Evil Dead 2. It’s a solid scary film that is admired by horror fans, but doesn’t fully replicate the magic of Sam Raimi’s original films.
4 Army of Darkness (1992)
69% On The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer
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Far and away the least horror-toned of the Evil Dead movies, Army of Darkness is still a classic on its own campy merits. Thrown back in time and forced to combat the Deadites in the 14th century, Ash’s fantastical adventure feels like a throwback to the epics of Ray Harryhausen (with a touch of self-aware slapstick humor). That commitment to goofiness costs the film much of the tension and terror that defined the previous Evil Dead films, but remains entertaining nevertheless.
Thanks to a truly fun performance from Bruce Campbell, who pushes Ash to new comical heights, Army of Darkness remains a fun ride even as it becomes more and more ridiculous. After the critical embrace of Evil Dead 2, the more mixed reception to Army of Darkness was matched with an audience that was less interested in Ash’s fantastical exploits. A lop at the time of release and still decried from fans who dislike the overly humorous tone, Army of Darkness remains a cult classic.
3 Evil Dead Rise (2023)
84% On The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer
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In 2023, Lee Cronin brought the Evil Dead franchise roaring back to life with the bleak and grisly Evil Dead Rise. Seeking to underscore the connections between his new film and the original movies, Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise shifts the setting to the inner city and introduces new elements to the lore. This includes building on small elements like a line from Army of Darkness to show that there are three Necromincons.
Bringing The Evil Dead to an apartment building and focusing on a family struggling to survive a Deadite attack, Evil Dead Rise was just different enough from the original to please most fans and critics. Doubling its budget in one weekend, Evil Dead Rise‘s grisly approach to horror was embraced by longtime fans. However, it was also very hardcore and abandons much of the humor baked into the original (though not to the degree of Evil Dead). Ultimately, Cronin’s mastery of the thrills and chills of the series elevated the movie, even if lacked humor to balance it out.
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2 The Evil Dead (1981)
86% On The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer
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The original entry in The Evil Dead franchise and Sam Raimi’s directorial debut, The Evil Dead is an impressive opening salvo from the filmmaker that lacks the refinement of his later, better works. Introducing audiences to Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams, The Evil Dead is a grim and effective film whose amateurish elements (reflecting Raimi’s youth at the time of production) adds to the uniquely shaggy elements of the film. The movie is relentless in its horror, with the Deadites tormenting the campers psychologically and physically.
While it’s just as bleak as the later entries, the special effects bring an unnatural aspect to the film that helps it stand out visually. Campbell is genuinely great in the role of Ash, imbuing the more grounded character with the seeds of a personality that would only grow more animated with each subsequent appearance. Ultimately, The Evil Dead only really suffers in comparison. Evil Dead 2 is effectively a remake of the original from a more refined director, improving on the original’s more forgettable elements. The first movie is perhaps most impressive for its micro-budget and level of creativity, and remains a gonzo blast.
1 Evil Dead 2 (1987)
88% On The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer
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A hallmark of the horror genre and simultaneously one of the most entertaining comedies of the 1980s, Evil Dead 2 takes the strengths of the first film and amplifies them. While the original introduced the franchise to the world, Evil Dead 2 is the best Evil Dead movie. What really sets Evil Dead 2 apart from the other Evil Dead movies is the formation of Ash into the iconic horror hero who can be compelling and believable in dramatic moments, goofball sequences, and action scenes. Bruce Campbell is perfectly game for the challenge, delivering a stellar performance.
Starting out as a remake of the original before taking some more dramatic turns, Evil Dead 2 balances the horror and comedy with a deft hand that few other filmmakers could match. Sam Raimi proves himself a master of tone and style with the film, building off the practical experience he acquired from the original to enhance the stylish flourishes and special effects. What it adds to the mix are absolutely hilarious bits of physical comedy from Campbell, Ash’s chainsaw hand, and more blood than several lesser horror movies combined. Evil Dead 2 is the best of the Evil Dead films, and is one of the best horror films of its era as a whole.
Evil Dead
Created by Sam Raimi, Evil Dead is a horror-comedy franchise that began with the release of the original film, The Evil Dead, in 1981. The series follows protagonist Ashley “Ash” Williams as he and his friends venture into a cabin for a vacation only to discover it harbors a demonic book that can summon terrifying creatures known as Deadites, hell-bent on torturing and slaying them all. As the series progresses, Ash becomes more of a masculine B-movie action hero until the soft reboot helmed by Eli Roth occurs, which shifts the franchise deeper into its horror roots.
Created by Sam Raimi TV Show(s) Ash vs Evil Dead $229 at Amazon
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The Evil Dead is a horror movie from 1981 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Ash Williams, who after visiting a cabin in the woods, is tormented by deadites and must fight for his life after his friends are possessed. The Evil Dead not only started a long-running horror franchise, but it is also the film responsible for putting both Raimi and Campbell on the map as a director and actor, respectively.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date September 10, 1981 Writers Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ellen Sandweiss , Richard DeManincor , Betsy Baker , Theresa Tilly , Philip A. Gillis
Evil Dead 2 
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Evil Dead 2 is the 1987 sequel to Sam Raimi’s 1981 directorial film debut. Bruce Campbell returns as Ash Williams, who travels with his girlfriend to a secluded cabin in the woods with his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) and accidentally frees multiple demonic entities that terrorize him and force him to make great sacrifices to survive.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date March 13, 1987 Writers Scott Spiegel , Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Sarah Berry , Denise Bixler , Kassie Wesley DePaiva , Ted Raimi
Army of Darkness 4.0 2
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The third film in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness, is a horror comedy film that sees Bruce Campbell return to the role of Ash Williams. Sucked out of his timeline and tossed to 1300 A.D., Ash is found and thrown in a pit after he is believed to be a spy against King Arthur. After proving himself and slaying a supernatural Deadite creature, Ash is freed and told to return home; he must find the Necronomicon and dance with the dead again.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date February 19, 1993 Writers Sam Raimi , Ivan Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ian Abercrombie , Embeth Davidtz , Marcus Gilbert , Richard Grove
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Evil Dead is a 2013 horror film directed by Fede Álvarez. A group of friends discover a mysterious book in a remote cabin, unwittingly unleashing supernatural forces that lead to a night of terror and survival. This remake of Sam Raimi’s 1981 classic stars Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, and Lou Taylor Pucci, delivering intense and gruesome scenes that redefine the horror genre for a new generation.
Director Fede Alvarez Release Date April 5, 2013 Writers Fede Alvarez , Rodo Sayagues , Sam Raimi Cast Jane Levy , Shiloh Fernandez , Lou Taylor Pucci , Jessica Lucas , Elizabeth Blackmore , Phoenix Connolly , Jim McLarty , Sian Davis , Stephen Butterworth , Karl Willetts , Randal Wilson , Rupert Degas , Bob Dorian , Ellen Sandweiss , Jack Walley , Bruce Campbell Expand
Evil Dead Rise 3.0 1
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The Evil Dead franchise continues with Evil Dead Rise, a dark fantasy/horror film written and directed by Lee Cronin. This fifth entry in the Evil Dead named series follows two sisters, played by Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan, as they try to survive a demonic assault from a Deadite. Beth (Sullivan) heads on a road trip to visit her sister Ellie (Sutherland) and her children. However, when the Necronomicon is discovered in Ellie’s L.A. apartment building, the Deadites rise back from their demonic realm and begin to bring hell back to earth once again. Evil Dead Rise, initially an HBO Max streaming exclusive, instead arrived in theaters on April 21, 2023.
Director Lee Cronin Release Date April 21, 2023 Writers Lee Cronin , Sam Raimi Cast Alyssa Sutherland , Lily Sullivan , Gabrielle Echols , Morgan Davies , Nell Fisher , Mia Challis