Evil Dead Movies Ranked

When The Evil Dead was first released in 1981, very few could have predicted that it would become the classic of horror cinema that it is today. The creation of three childhood friends (Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell), the iconic low-budget passion project has since gone on to build its very own media empire, with sequels, a TV show, comics, video games, and even a musical being created within its wacky horror universe.

In this edition of Ranked, we at The Film Magazine are taking a look at the five movies of the Evil Dead franchise, from Sam Raimi’s 1981 original The Evil Dead to 2023’s Evil Dead Rise, and ranking each movie from worst to best in terms of gore, catchphrases, and of course the quality of the films themselves.

Follow @thefilmagazine on X (Twitter).

5. Evil Dead (2013)

Fede Álvarez’s 2013 entry into the Evil Dead universe was met with mixed reviews from both fans and critics, and has continued to split audiences to this day. The more gritty, serious take on what is an overly camp, silly and over-the-top franchise was, predictably, jarring to fans of the series. Álvarez produced a blend of campy and overly serious that could be jarring at the best of times and laughable at the worst. 

Even so, the story revolving around a drug addict trying to get clean in the famous cabin of the original Evil Dead film was a brilliant idea, and Álvarez did deliver some truly disturbing moments that will make your stomach churn. 

Though Evil Dead (2013) is not a perfect addition to the Evil Dead series there are more than enough aspects within the movie to admire, even if they are sullied by the film’s not so great aspects. Evil Dead is definitely worth a watch, even if just to experience a more serious take on the famous story. 

Recommended for you: 10 More of the Best Remakes

Pages: 1 2 3