How Evil Dead Changed Horror Cinema

Evil Dead: A Complete Viewing Guide

Recommended watch order (release order — best for first-time viewers)

1. The Evil Dead (1981) — original, pure horror.
2. Evil Dead II (1987) — part remake/part sequel; more comedy.
3. Army of Darkness (1992) — horror-comedy, Ash in medieval times.
4. Evil Dead (2013) — reboot/standalone; darker, more brutal.
5. Ash vs. Evil Dead (TV, 2015–2018) — continues Ash’s story after Army of Darkness.
6. Evil Dead Rise (2023) — new characters, same mythology (often treated as a standalone sequel).

Alternate chronological option

• Same as above; the franchise has few strict timeline conflicts, so release order effectively serves as chronological order. Insert the TV series between the 2013 film and Evil Dead Rise if you want Ash’s arc included after the original trilogy.

Quick viewing notes

• Tone shifts: 1981 = straight horror; 1987 ramps up dark comedy and surrealism; 1992 leans into broad comedy/adventure; 2013 and 2023 return to intense, modern horror.
• Continuity: The original trilogy and Ash vs. Evil Dead follow a continuous Ash-centric thread. The 2013 film and Evil Dead Rise act largely as reboots/standalone entries that reuse the Necronomicon concept.
• Shorts & extras: Optional: “Within the Woods” (1978 short) and various comics, games,