Few horror franchises have ever enjoyed the longevity of theEvil Deadmovie series, and several installments will soon have a new streaming home. Engineered bydirector Sam Raimi, the movies were originally meant to be nothing more than a trilogy. The ever-increasing budget was matched by box office takes that rose from $2.6 million (The Evil Dead) to $5.9 million(Evil Dead II), and finally $21.5 million (Army of Darkness). The franchise has since been revived through a 2013 reboot, led by director Fede Álvarez. It earned a shocking $97.5 million at the box office, alongside mildly positive reviews from critics.
The future of the franchise remains bright. After the 2013 movie,2023’sEvil Dead Riseearned critical acclaimand $147 million worldwide. A sequel,Evil Dead Burn, is slated for a 2026 release. Sébastien Vaniček (Infested) is poised to serve as the director. While these movies have certainly ensured that the franchise can endure, the originals remain cult classics. Thankfully, three of those movies are nowcoming to the streaming service Shudder.
Evil Dead
WhileEvil Dead IIis already available on Shudder, it will soon be joined by the rest of its trilogy.The Evil Deadwill begin streaming on March 15, just two weeks afterArmy of Darkness’s March 1 release. At the same time, March 15 will seeEvil Dead(2013), the first movie from the reboot series, appear on Shudder. Of the major theatrical releases, onlyEvil Dead Risewill not be on the platform, as it is currently streaming on Max.
The franchise surrounds the concept of a demonic invasion, after Ash (Bruce Campbell) accidentally unleashes a horde of horror with the Necronomicon. The resulting devastation is legendary, and the original trilogy reveals why. Having the first four majormovies in one placefinally makes binging the franchise a simple possibilitythat was not quite so easy before. The original trilogy was well-received when it was first released, but the recentEvil Deadmovieshelped to revive interest over two decades after the franchise ended.
The box office explosion with the reboot is proof that audiences still love the franchise, even without Raimi at the helm. The premise of the franchise is not necessarily unique, but it never needs to be. The absurd situations, the depth of the brutality, and the thrilling performances are what made this universe so beloved. Above all, the tone has been central to makingEvil Deadas well-regarded as it is.Anyone who enjoys watching movies thatbalance horror and comedyshould sit back to watchthese movies as soon as possible, especially with the sequel on the way.
What ScreenRantHas Said About Evil Dead:
Admittedly, 1992’sArmy of Darknessis a little less dark than its predecessors, while 2013’sEvil Deadreboot is uniquely mean-spirited and grim in this regard. However, the basic setup of the series doesn’t change from one installment to another. The settings and characters might be different but, once the Necronomicon comes out and its fateful incantations are read aloud, bloody mayhem becomes a reliable guarantee for viewers of the famous franchise. -10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching The Evil Dead Movies
Evil Dead Key Facts
Box Office
$97.5 million (2013), $2.6 million (1981), $21.5 million (Army of Darkness)
63% (2013), 86% (1981), 68% (Army of Darkness)
64% (2013), 84% (1981), 87% (Army of Darkness)
Major Awards
Saturn Award for Best Make-Up nomination (2013), Saturn Award for Best Horror Film (Army of Darkness)
