Nothing is better than a quiet getaway in a cabin with friends. Unless the Book of the Dead is involved, in which case you should be prepared for possessions, grisly murders, and more gore than you could handle. From the twisted mind of filmmaker Sam Raimi, Evil Dead is a horror franchise that has frightened viewers for over 45 years. The franchise pushed the envelope so much that some countries banned it, and England actually sent law enforcement officers to video stores to confiscate copies of the first film. Yeah, it was that scary.

The franchise is still going strong, with Evil Dead Burn scaring audiences this summer, and the prequel film Evil Dead Wrath expected to hit theaters in 2028. If you’re looking to catch up on the Evil Dead franchise, but aren’t sure where to begin, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the horror franchise, and how to watch it in release and chronological order.

How to watch Evil Dead in release order

• Within the Woods (1979 short film)
• The Evil Dead (1981 film)
• Evil Dead II (1987 film)
• Army of Darkness (1992 film)
• Evil Dead (2013 film)
• Ash vs Evil Dead (television series, 2015-2018)
• Evil Dead Rise (2023 film)
• Evil Dead Burn (2026 film)
• Evil Dead Wrath (2028 film)

The Evil Dead franchise technically began in 1979 with Sam Raimi’s short film Within the Woods. The short was used as a proof of concept for The Evil Dead, which hit theaters in 1981. It’s two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, make up what is known as the ‘Ash Trilogy,’ which covers the Sam Raimi directed films focusing on Bruce Campbell’s character Ash Williams. The television series Ash vs Evil Dead chronicled more of Ash’s journey.

Meanwhile, the Evil Dead series continued with a series of standalone movies featuring new characters. Evil Dead Wrath, which is expected to be released in 2028, is the next entry of the franchise, and it will be a prequel set 10 years before the original film.

How to watch Evil Dead in chronological order

• 1300: Army of Darkness (main story)
• 1972: Evil Dead Wrath
• October 1982: The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness (ending scenes)
• 2013: Evil Dead
• 2015: Ash vs Evil Dead season one
• 2016: Ash vs Evil Dead season two
• 2018: Ash vs Evil Dead season three
• 2023: Evil Dead Rise (2023 film)
• 2026: Evil Dead Burn

The Evil Dead timeline isn’t always linear, but it’s not complicated. Despite fan theories to the contrary, all the films and television shows are set in the same universe (we lay out the reasoning later in this guide). The only exception is Within the Woods, the short film which serves as a proof of concept for the franchise. That is set in its own chronology, so we’ve left it off this list.

We know The Evil Dead is set in 1982 because that’s the year that was referenced in Ash vs Evil Dead. Speaking of Ash vs Evil Dead, we know the third season is set in 2018 due to news reports. 2028's Evil Dead Wrath has been officially confirmed to be a prequel set a decade before the original movie, in 1972. Army of Darkness is set during 1300 due to time travel. For every other release, we’ve used contextual clues or assumed they were set the year they were released.

TL;DR – What are the best Evil Dead movies?

I would personally recommend watching all the Evil Dead films, but if your time is short, and you just want to get a taste of the franchise, here are the three films to watch.

• The Evil Dead (1981) – The film that kicks off the franchise, and it still holds up surprisingly well. This movie reminds us why Sam Raimi is a great horror director, and some of the gore was so extreme that the movie was banned in several countries (more on that in another section of the guide).
• Evil Dead (2013) – A retelling (but not a reboot) of the 1981 film with new characters. Director Fede Alvarez brings his own flavor to the franchise, stripping it of its lighter moments while punishing the characters at every turn. I would highly recommend watching this and the 1981 film back-to-back to compare how Raimi and Alvarez approach the story.
• Evil Dead Rise (2023 film) – A Lee Cronin directed film featuring new characters in a standalone story. You don’t need to know anything about the previous films to enjoy this one, although a knowledge of the Book of the Dead helps. This film is fast-paced, graphic, and unsettling, making it a perfect entry for the franchise.

These three films not only give you a great taste of the franchise, but it also allows you to see how three different directors approach the mythology.

Why was Evil Dead banned?

Evil Dead was banned in several countries, including the United Kingdom, due to its extreme levels of graphic violence and gore. When the original 1981 film was released, England had a review process for theatrical movies through the British Board of Film Classification. However, home video was a new medium and it wasn’t subject to the same rules as theatrical screenings. As a result, The Evil Dead VHS release was targeted by moral watchdogs.

In 1984 the Video Recordings Act was passed in Englad, banning the film. Police raided video shops (seriously), confiscating copies of the VHS, and threatening criminal prosecution to anyone who sold or rented it. While this rule was relaxed over time, there are still parts of the globe where the film is banned.

Are all the Evil Dead films connected?

Yes, all of the Evil Dead films are connected and share a continuity. However, there are a few continuity errors that confuse the issue. Evil Dead II opens with a recap of the first movie, and since Raimi didn’t have the rights to reuse the footage, scenes were reshot with slight differences. For example, Ash and his girlfriend are the only two people in the cabin in the Evil Dead II recap, while the original movie gave them a group of friends. Army of Darkness doesn’t fully line up with Evil Dead II’s ending, even though it’s treated as a direct follow up.

Sam Raimi has stated that his original trilogy is part of the same continuity, so it’s best to ignore these discrepancies. Evil Dead has a loose relationship with continuity, so I would recommend not worrying about the small details. Evil Dead 2013 retells some of the events of the 1981 Evil Dead film, but director Fede Alvarez has been clear that it’s set in the same universe. For more on that, see the next section of our guide. 

The only piece of Evil Dead media that isn’t canon is Within the Woods, the 1979 short film which Sam Raimi used as a proof of concept for The Evil Dead. Bruce Campbell plays a character named Bruce instead of Ash, and possession comes from an ancient Native American Burial Ground instead of the Book of the Dead.

Is Evil Dead 2013 a sequel or a reboot?

Evil Dead 2013 is a soft reboot set in the same continuity as the original films. The story repeats some of the plot beats from the 1981 film, but this is meant to be an homage, not signs that it’s a remake. Director Fede Alvarez has gone on record saying the 2013 film is a continuation of the original trilogy with new characters. Ash Campbell reprises his role as Ash in a post-credits scene, linking the film to previous entries of the franchise. It might feel like a reboot or a remake, but it’s a continuation of the same story.

Which Evil Dead is the scariest?

Depending on who you ask, the 2013 Evil Dead movie is generally considered the scariest. Fear is subjective, and not every person will find the same things scary, but across various fan discussions, Evil Dead 2013 is usually picked as the scariest entry in the franchise. Viewers cite the lack of comic relief that was present in previous films, and the way the film doesn’t seem to give the characters any time to breathe. It’s been called mean, relentless, and at times sadistic. In other words, watch this one with the lights on.

Where can I watch Evil Dead

You don’t need the Book of the Dead to enjoy the Evil Dead franchise; you just need an HBO Max subscription. As of this writing, the streaming service is the current home to all the Evil Dead movies, except for Evil Dead Burn, which is still in theaters.

All three seasons of Ash vs Evil Dead is currently streaming on Starz. Within the Woods isn’t officially streaming anywhere, but multiple fan uploads can be found on YouTube. Please note, the availability of these titles could change as streaming licenses expire and new deals are made.

Now you have everything you need to enjoy the Evil Dead franchise! Keep the lights on, don’t open any strange books, and keep your friends close.

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