Evil Dead Movies in Order:
- ‘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)
Few horror franchises have survived, mutated and thrived across four decades of pop culture like the Evil Dead series. What started as a scrappy independent production by a college kid from Michigan became a cult phenomenon, spawned one of the horror genre’s most beloved antiheroes, inspired a beloved television series, video games and continues to terrify new audiences to this day.
But with all those entries running in parallel timelines, knowing where to start can be genuinely confusing. This guide covers every entry in the franchise so you know exactly how to watch the Evil Dead movies in order before Evil Dead Burn hits theaters on July 10, 2026.
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How to Watch the ‘Evil Dead’ Movies in Order
The best way to watch the Evil Dead franchise is in order of release. While some of the later films are designed to stand on their own, watching them as they were released lets you appreciate how the series evolves — from Sam Raimi’s scrappy, low-budget comedy horror classic to the modern, gore-filled entries. You’ll also catch the recurring references, tonal shifts and growing mythology that make the franchise the fan-favorite it is.
1. ‘The Evil Dead’ (1981)
Director: Sam Raimi | Runtime: 1h 25m | Rating: NC-17 | IMDb: 7.3 | Metascore: 71
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor
Five college students vacation in the Tennessee wilderness, discover a mysterious book in an isolated cabin and accidentally unleash a demonic force. Sam Raimi’s debut feature is lean, relentless and surprisingly inventive, using kinetic camerawork and practical effects to deliver one of horror’s most influential moments. Made on a shoestring budget, its gruesome gore relies on prosthetics and stop-motion, giving the film a raw energy that still holds up today.
In-universe placement: Start here. Set in October 1982.
2. ‘Evil Dead II’ (1987)
Director: Sam Raimi Runtime: 1h 24m | Rating: R | IMDb: 7.6 | Metascore: 72
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks
Ash Williams, the lone survivor of an earlier onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits, returns to the isolated cabin where the demonic evil is unleashed once again. Part remake and part sequel, Evil Dead II is where the franchise fully finds its voice, blending horror with outrageous slapstick comedy. Bruce Campbell’s wildly physical performance as Ash and the iconic chainsaw-hand transformation cemented the character as the face of the franchise.
In-universe placement: Picks up immediately after the events of the first film. Still set in October 1982.
3. ‘Army of Darkness’ (1992)
Director: Sam Raimi Runtime: 1h 21m | Rating: R | IMDb: 7.4 | Metascore: 59
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Embeth Davidtz, Marcus Gilbert
When Ash Williams is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., he must retrieve the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, the Book of the Dead. But that’s the easy part. Then he must battle an army of the dead in order to return to the present day. The rare medieval action-comedy, Army of Darkness turned Ash Williams into a pop culture icon.
In-universe placement: Army of Darkness follows the events of Evil Dead II. Set in medieval 1300 A.D.
4. ‘Evil Dead’ (2013)
Director: Fede Álvarez Runtime: 1h 31m | Rating: R | IMDb: 6.5 | Metascore: 57
Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas
A reboot of the original, this version once again finds five friends headed to a remote cabin , where the discovery of the Book of the Dead unleashes an ancient demonic force. Director Fede Álvarez strips out the franchise’s trademark comedy in favor of psychological horror and gruesome practical effects to deliver the most frightening entry in the horror media franchise.
In-universe placement: A standalone reboot with its own continuity. Set in 2013.
5. ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ (2015–2018)
Creators: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Tom Spezialy Format: TV Series, 3 Seasons | Rating: TV-MA | IMDb: 8.4
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo
The three season television series brings Bruce Campbell back to reprise his role as Ash Williams. Thirty years older but none the wiser, Ash spent the prior three decades avoiding responsibility and the horrors of the Evil Dead. When a new Deadite plague threatens humanity, Ash reluctantly picks up his chainsaw once again. Ash vs Evil Dead blends the franchise’s trademark gore, slapstick humor and action while serving as a worthy continuation of Ash’s story.
In-universe placement: Sequel to Army of Darkness 32 years in the future.
6. ‘Evil Dead Rise’ (2023)
Director: Lee Cronin Runtime: 1h 36m | Rating: R | IMDb: 6.5 | Metascore: 69
Starring: Mirabai Pease, Richard Crouchley, Anna-Maree Thomas
Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise moves the franchise from the remote woodlands to a Los Angeles apartment building, where two estranged sisters reunite the same night demonic forces erupt from the earth. Blending shocking gore with claustrophobic tension the film proves the Evil Dead formula is just as terrifying in the middle of a city as it is in the woods.
In-universe placement: Set in the rebooted continuity alongside the 2013 film. Set in 2023.
7. ‘Evil Dead Burn’ (2026) — In Theaters July 10, 2026
Director: Sébastien Vanicek Runtime: 1h 50m | Rating: R
Starring: Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Souheila Yacoub
After the death of her husband, a grieving woman seeks solace with her in-laws in a remote community. Any hope of healing is shattered when they each become possessed by Deadites. Directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vaniček following the critical success of his debut horror film Vermines (Infested), the latest chapter promises to continue the franchise’s tradition of brutal practical gore and supernatural horror.
In-universe placement: The newest installment. Set in 2026.
8. ‘Evil Dead Wrath’ (2028) — Future Release
Currently in development is another entry into the Evil Dead franchise. The 2028 film is expected to serve as a prequel, which could mean our recommended watch order eventually changes. Until then, release order remains the best way to experience the series, and horror fans can rest assured there will be more Deadites in their future.
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