How to Watch the Evil Dead Movies in Order (Release & Timeline)
- Saloni Gupta
- August 10, 2026
- Entertainment
- Evil Dead Movies in Order
- 0 Comments
No franchise that started as a tiny, $1.6 million, cash-in horror from 1981 (with a few lines of dialogue that can’t be repeated by an actor) has evolved as much as The Evil Dead did. We got goofy slapstick gore, Supernatural, remakes, real-deal horror, and everything in between.
Which means if you’re thinking about watching Evil Dead in order, this whole collection can be pretty darn confusing. We’re coming up on six released movies now, and, well, they don’t all take place in the same timeline.
Look, no big fuss. If you want to know what to watch first in your first Evil Dead viewing experience, just take the original movies in order. It’s an experience, and it’ll work great for you. Here are things to know to watch in timeline order instead, and which films matter for that sort of watch.
Evil Dead Movies in Release Order
Here are all five movies in the order they were released:
| S.no | Movie | Release Year |
| 1 | The Evil Dead | 1981 |
| 2 | Evil Dead II | 1987 |
| 3 | Army of Darkness | 1992 |
| 4 | Evil Dead | 2013 |
| 5 | Evil Dead Rise | 2023 |
For most viewers, this is the ideal Evil Dead Movies in Order.
The first three films form the original Ash Williams storyline, while Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise move away from Ash and introduce new characters.
Every Evil Dead Movie Explained
1. The Evil Dead (1981)
Director: Sam Raimi
All of it kicks off when a group of five young friends, including Ash Williams, ventures to a dilapidated cabin hidden away in the woods. After picking up an age-old tome named the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, which unleashes evil and its demonic powers, everything goes south. An extremely gory and visceral battle for survival ensues where only Ash stands a chance of overcoming a house filled with possessed bodies.
This classic franchise is responsible for some impressive camera work and practicality combined for maximum atmosphere. In relation to classics with continuity like this, you can also consult our guide to the Scream films’ order. And we have created a ranked list of 25 horror movies.
2. Evil Dead II (1987)
A sequel/remake on steroids. Sam Raimi returned to do business with more evil, more Necronomicon, and more isolation. The dark comedy of the original is ramped up to such an extreme that Ash, played again by Bruce Campbell, takes the reins and solidifies his legendary, over-the-top persona. Not just one of the best The Evil Dead movies, it truly set the standards of his franchise.
3. Army Of Darkness (1992)
This is where our journey with the one and only Ash takes us to a brand new and incredibly comedic territory. After the fateful events involving the Necronomicon, our favorite store clerk gets ripped through time and thrown back into medieval times… his Chainsaw hand and Boomstick can be put into some seriously good use in his battle against a formidable dead army, right?!
If you want to have a truly enjoyable conclusion to this very original trilogy, Army of Darkness will not disappoint.
4. Evil Dead (2013)
Well, it certainly has been a while, hasn’t it? After the first movie came out a solid 22 years earlier, Evil Dead received a well-deserved and terrifying reboot. Director Fede Álvarez delivers an in-your-face horror show from start to finish, and unlike the first films, which introduced an almost comedic but deeply satisfying hero, this modern take on Evil Dead returns to brutally gory and more serious themes. A great standalone to enjoy if you haven’t seen the OGs.
5. Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Finally, for something that has stepped a mile or two away from the rural, secluded cabin. Evil Dead Rise instead plunges the series into an urban, LA-based apartment complex, transforming a day out for a family visit into a hell on Earth! However, a similar theme of uncovering an evil spirit via ancient books results in utter pandemonium. This fresh yet familiar concept expands Evil Dead into bold new territory.
Which Evil Dead Movie Should You Watch First?
Start with The Evil Dead (1981) if you want to experience the franchise from its beginning.
However, if you’re more interested in modern horror, Evil Dead (2013) is a perfectly accessible starting point. Evil Dead Rise is another option if you want a newer entry with a different setting.
For the complete experience, though, nothing beats watching all five in release order.
If you enjoy horror franchises with different continuities, you can also explore DTUrban’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies in Order guide.
Summing it Up!
The Evil Dead Movies are not as confusing to watch in order as most people think. Just watch them all in order: The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, and Evil Dead Rise, and you’ll have a perfect first watch marathon! The first three will put you along Ash William’s weird fight with the Deadites, while the latter two will put you with some new folks in new places. The fun part of the movie series is that it’s never in one gear for too long, the story will be horrifying, ludicrous, gore-filled, and hilarious-sometimes in a single movie!
If you’re planning a full horror marathon after finishing Evil Dead, continue with DTUrban’s Scream Movies in Order or Final Destination Movies in Order guides.
