There are many different subgenres in the world of horror. We can see creature horror flicks in The Quiet Place and the Alien franchise. On the other side of that spectrum are the paranormal-driven and jump scare-heavy modern horror films. The Evil Dead franchise lands somewhere in the middle, with heavy gore and disturbing imagery. The Evil Dead franchise is seen as a horror classic with show spinoffs and remakes.
Horror franchises are some of the most beloved out there. From Halloween and Friday the 13th to Nightmare on Elm Street and all the crossovers, the consistency of watching horror franchises gives off a sense of comfort as much as they are meant to unnerve us. Suppose you are a fan of horror, and you are looking to watch the Evil Dead franchise for the first time, or you want to rewatch it now that we are approaching spooky season. In that case, there is an ongoing debate on whether chronological order or release order is the way to go. To help you out, here are all the Evil Dead movies and TV shows in chronological order and by release date.
All Evil Dead Movies and TV Shows in Chronological Order
The Evil Dead‘s main continuity:
-
The Evil Dead
(1981) -
Evil Dead II
(1987) -
Army of Darkness
(1992) -
Ash vs Evil Dead
(2015-2018) -
Evil Dead Rise
(2023)
Standalone sequel title:
The Evil Dead (1981)
You have to watch the classic itself first, the one that started it all: 1981’s The Evil Dead. The Evil Dead, directed by the legendary Sam Raimi, is the first installment of this horror franchise and set the tone for the following sequels, show, and remakes. This utterly terrifying film follows Ash Williams and his group of friends as they venture into the woods for a fun getaway.
In the cabin, they come across a book, Necronomicon, that summons the dead. The group is now left to face the evil dead with the looming threat of becoming one of them. This film is what horror is about and with Halloween right around the corner, time to get the scares started with The Evil Dead.
Evil Dead II (1987)
Six years after the first Evil Dead movie was released, Raimi returned with Evil Dead II in 1987. The all-too-important second film in the franchise utilizes comedy as well as the classic horror elements we loved from the first film. In Evil Dead II, Ash is still fighting demons in the woods. However, in this film, an old recording of a professor causes his girlfriend to get possessed and Ash has to face the terrifying reality of facing evil spirits once again.
Army of Darkness (1992)
To cap off the original Evil Dead trilogy, we have the third film Army of Darkness that came out in 1992. This film takes a turn in its plot where Ash is transported back in time, all the way back to the Middle Ages. Ash and his chainsaw have to acquire the Book of the Dead This film takes a more adventurous approach alongside the normal horror we are used to in this franchise. As far as fan service goes, Army of Darkness is an absolute hit with fans of this franchise.
Evil Dead (2013)
2013’s Evil Dead is a difficult movie to place in the chronological order of the films. This spectacular and brutal addition to the franchise is regarded as a sort of standalone sequel to the original 1981 film. In this movie, we follow Mia as she tries to kick her drug addiction to the curb. Accompanied by her brother and some friends, Mia goes to a cabin in the woods, a story we know all too well. They come across the Book of the Dead and the demon is summoned.
Ash vs Evil Dead (2015-2018)
Apparently, comedy and horror are a match made in heaven. Ash vs Evil Dead is an absolute masterpiece of a TV show. If you were just itching to see Ash come back to fight more of the restless spirits, demons, and other evil entities, you’re in luck. Ash vs Evil Dead was brought to life by Raimi and has Ash, now wielding a chainsaw for a hand, on a mission to pretty much rid the world of evil. Bruce Campbell is a joy to see on screen, especially in this franchise. If this show happened to fall under your Evil Dead radar, it should be brought to the top of your watch list.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
This year, Evil Dead Rise hit our screens and did not disappoint. In a franchise as beloved as this one, another installment is sure to be under a microscope. However, this film was just the right amount of gruesome and horrific that fans of the genre were satisfied with it. The violent film follows two sisters as they face demonic possession in the most bloody way. If you are interested in an incredible amount of gore, and you enjoy the spark of modern filmmaking, Evil Dead Rise could easily be your horror movie of the year.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
