Lock in for the grooviest horror movie marathon ever.

How to watch the Evil Dead franchise in order, from Sam Raimi’s OG cult classic to Evil Dead Burn

Lock in for the grooviest horror movie marathon ever.

By Brianna Zigler

July 10, 2026 4:30 p.m. ET

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Bruce Campbell in ‘Army of Darkness’; Jessica Lucas in ‘Evil Dead’; Erroll Shand in ‘Evil Dead Burn’. Credit:

- The *Evil Dead* franchise comprises seven films and one TV series, *Ash vs. Evil Dead*.

- Sam Raimi directed the first three entries, a trilogy of gnarly cult classics starring Bruce Campbell.

- The latest film in the series, *Evil Dead Burn*, is out this weekend.

More than 40 years ago, a slapdash, low-budget horror movie that was a nightmare to make changed horror history forever.

The breakout success of *The Evil Dead* in 1981 launched not only the careers of director Sam Raimi and his high school friend and star, Bruce Campbell, but also an entire multimedia franchise. The original film followed a simple premise: A group of college students vacations at a creepy cabin in the woods, where they accidentally unleash an ancient evil that destroys them.

But with each installment, the *Evil Dead* universe — already gross, gory, and gonzo — became weirder, wackier, and eventually even more intense. *Evil Dead II* essentially retells the events of the original before evolving into a full-fledged sequel, amping up the gore, exaggerated tone, and slapstick comedy; *Army of Darkness* is a goofy, ahistorical medieval adventure; *Evil Dead* is a darker, crueler reimagining; and *Ash vs. Evil Dead* expertly blends comedy, horror, and an engaging three-season story.

With seven installments spanning multiple timelines — and more on the way — it can be difficult for newcomers to know where to start. Below, ** breaks down every *Evil Dead* movie and TV installment.

The Evil Dead (1981)

Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in ‘The Evil Dead’. Everett Collection

*The Evil Dead* is the movie that made everything possible, though few would argue that it’s the franchise’s best. That said, it’s still a bloody good time, thanks in part to its shoestring ingenuity.

But that low-budget charm came with a massive price for the cast and crew. *The Evil Dead* endured a famously grueling shoot that lasted over a year due to a tiny budget, difficult living conditions, and ambitious (and relentless) practical effects.

The plot follows college student Ash Williams (Campbell), his girlfriend Linda (Betsy Baker), sister Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss), and their friends Scotty (Richard DeManincor) and Shelly (Theresa Tilly), who journey to a remote cabin in the woods.

In the basement, they uncover tapes of recitations from the *Book of the Dead,* and, well, obviously they play them. In doing so, they unleash the Kandarian Demon, a malevolent force that possesses the young people, turning them into “Deadites” and causing them to kill themselves and one another.

Despite its simple premise, Raimi’s eccentric, expressive filmmaking style, combined with the film’s unyielding, cacophonous splatter horror, made *The Evil Dead* instantly notorious. Having a famous fan in Stephen King didn’t hurt, either.

Where to watch *The Evil Dead*:* *HBO Max

Evil Dead II (1987)

Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in ‘Evil Dead II’.

*Evil Dead II* is arguably a more refined version of *The Evil Dead*, pairing a sharper iteration of Ash Williams’ macho hero persona with more overt slapstick humor and, of course, ingenious practical effects.

Though Raimi had envisioned a sequel set in the Middle Ages with a time-travel premise (what would ultimately go on to become *Army of Darkness*), producer Dino De Laurentiis insisted that the film be similar to the first *Evil Dead.* Raimi, then, crafted what is essentially a full-scale reimagining of the first film, where Ash once again heads to the cabin — this time accompanied only by his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler).

It’s more or less the same premise: Ash and his girlfriend Linda head for a romantic getaway in a cabin in the woods, where they discover and play a tape of recitations from the *Book of the Dead —* now identified as the *Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. *Linda then becomes a Deadite, and it’s up to Ash to vanquish his beloved girlfriend.

*Evil Dead II* finds new methods to torture and maim the human body — more specifically, Campbell’s body — all to increasingly hilarious effect. Raimi and his collaborators go all out, ramping up the expressionistic filmmaking and embracing a clearer tone of comical absurdity.

It’s here that Ash receives his iconic chainsaw arm, and where he first says his famous line: “Groovy.” The movie ends with a vortex that transports Ash and his trusty Oldsmobile to the Middle Ages.

Where to watch *Evil Dead II*: HBO Max

Army of Darkness (1992)

Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in ‘Army of Darkness’. Everett Collection

*Army of Darkness* lets Raimi go all-in on his original sequel idea. It picks up where *Evil Dead II* left off, with Ash stranded in the Middle Ages alongside his Oldsmobile Delta 88. However, it slightly reworks the previous film’s ending. *Evil Dead II* ends with Ash killing a Deadite and being hailed by a group of medieval warriors as the prophesied hero. *Army of Darkness*, meanwhile, begins with Ash imprisoned by Lord Arthur’s men, who suspect he is a spy for Duke Henry.

It’s only after Ash shoots a Deadite with his “boomstick” and proves himself a hero that Lord Arthur agrees to help him recover the Necronomicon so he can return to the present.

Of course, Ash has to defeat plenty of Deadites along the way, all while falling in love with the beautiful maiden Sheila (Embeth Davidtz). Like *Evil Dead II* before it, *Army of Darkness* is supremely goofy, with Campbell hamming it up even more and leaning further into the arrogant-doofus side of Ash that would become his signature by the time *Ash vs. Evil Dead* arrived.

The classic practical effects and all-new medieval setting give *Army of Darkness* the perfect blend of familiarity and freshness. It’s further proof that Raimi and Campbell are an electric pairing in this universe.

Where to watch *Army of Darkness*: HBO Max

Evil Dead (2013)

Jane Levy as Mia in ‘Evil Dead’.

Everett Collecton

In 2013, 20 years after *Army of Darkness*, Spanish filmmaker Fede Álvarez was handed the reins for a soft reboot of *The Evil Dead*. With Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Robert G. Tapert serving as producers, the film was in good hands despite Álvarez never having directed a feature before. (He would go on to helm *Don’t Breathe*, also produced by Raimi, *The Girl in the Spider’s Web*, and *Alien: Romulus*.)

The film follows Mia (Jane Levy), who is recovering from a heroin addiction. She heads to a remote cabin with her brother, his girlfriend, and two friends in the hopes of getting clean. Their retreat quickly spirals into a nightmare when one of the group discovers a book called the Naturom Demonto in the basement, and another unwisely reads aloud from it.

What follows is chaos and carnage not unlike that of the original *The Evil Dead*, but with a bigger budget and a much bleaker tone. The film’s gruesome practical effects feel even more visceral, and the terror feels more intense. Part of *The Evil Dead*‘s enduring appeal lies in its slapdash nature and gonzo energy, but *Evil Dead* reimagines the premise as a more straight-faced horror movie.

This fresh take proved the franchise could go in different directions aside from comedy while still maintaining its emphasis on gnarly gore and practical effects.

Where to watch *Evil Dead*: HBO Max

Ash vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018)

Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’.

Geoffrey Short/Starz

Starz’s *Ash vs. Evil Dead* serves as a direct continuation of *Army of Darkness*, which ended with Ash returning to the present day and resuming his job as a stock boy at the fictional Value Stop department store. More than 20 years later, a middle-aged Ash Williams spends his days drinking, philandering, and working that same dead-end job. But he finds new purpose when the Deadites return, once again plunging his life into chaos.

Unlike 2013’s *Evil Dead*, *Ash vs. Evil Dead* returns to the franchise’s horror-comedy roots while bringing Campbell back to the role that made him a horror icon. With Raimi and Campbell serving as executive producers and creative forces behind the series, the show is infused with their signature style and sense of humor while introducing a new generation of characters. Ash is joined by Pablo (Ray Santiago), Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), and Ruby (Lucy Lawless), among others.

Speaking with EW about his decision to bring *Evil Dead* to television, Raimi said, “It just so happens that the world had changed so much that it seemed like cable TV was the place for the next *Evil Dead*.” *Ash vs. Evil Dead* ran for three well-received seasons and was praised for its humor, gore, and surprisingly nuanced character writing.

After the season 1 premiere, EW’s reviewer concluded, “How’s Ash feeling about being back? Groovy, natch. Us, too.”

Where to watch *Ash Vs. Evil Dead*: Starz

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie in ‘Evil Dead Rise’.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

*Evil Dead Rise* isn’t a sequel or a reboot. Instead, it’s best described as a standalone story set within the *Evil Dead* universe. It builds off the darker, gnarlier tone set by 2013’s *Evil Dead* and infuses it with a macabre sense of glee. It’s peppered with recurring imagery, Easter eggs, and, naturally, an ill-advised recitation from one of the *Necronomicon Ex-Mortis *(or *Naturom Demonto*; whatever, it’s the same thing).

The fifth installment in the *Evil Dead* film franchise takes place almost entirely inside a rundown high-rise apartment building in Los Angeles. It follows guitar technician Beth (Lily Sullivan), who reunites with her estranged sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), after discovering she’s unexpectedly pregnant. Their family reunion is violently interrupted when an earthquake uncovers one of the franchise’s cursed books, unleashing Deadites and trapping the family inside the building.

Director Lee Cronin does an excellent job putting his own spin on the *Evil Dead* formula, and Sutherland makes for a fittingly creepy, Deadite-possessed Ellie. It also goes the extra mile by involving young children in the Deadite mayhem for the first time, and Cronin doesn’t hold back. However, it’s an ingenious cheese-grater sequence that takes the franchise to new — and revolting — heights.

Where to watch *Evil Dead Rise*: HBO Max

Evil Dead Burn (2026)

Luciane Buchanan as Thya in ‘Evil Dead Burn’.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Around the release of *Evil Dead Rise*, Campbell revealed to *The A.V. Club* that he and fellow producers Sam and Ivan Raimi envisioned releasing a new *Evil Dead* film every two or three years, provided *Rise* proved successful.

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That brings us to the sixth installment, *Evil Dead Burn*. The story follows a woman grappling with the recent loss of her husband, only to discover that his body has become possessed by a Deadite. When the evil is unleashed, it begins infecting the man’s grieving family.

What’s next for the franchise? A prequel, *Evil Dead Wrath*, which is currently slated for release in April 2028.

Where to watch *Evil Dead Burn*: In theaters

The Evil Dead movies in order by release date

- *The Evil Dead* (1981)

- *Evil Dead II* (1987)

- *Army of Darkness* (1992)

- *Evil Dead *(2013)

- *Ash vs. Evil Dead *(2015–2018)

- *Evil Dead Rise *(2023)

- *Evil Dead Burn *(2026)

The Ash Evil Dead timeline

- *The Evil Dead* (1981)

- *Evil Dead II* (1987)

- *Army of Darkness* (1992)

- *Ash vs. Evil Dead *(2015–2018)

- Horror Movies

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Horror”