GameTimeline

Watch order

Evil Dead movie watch order

Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell’s Evil Dead theatrical films from The Evil Dead (1981) through Evil Dead Burn (2026). Release lists every US premiere—the original trilogy, the 2013 reboot, and the modern Rise/Burn branch. Story follows Ash Williams only: The Evil Dead → Evil Dead II → Army of Darkness. The 2013 remake, Rise/Burn, TV’s Ash vs Evil Dead, and upcoming Wrath stay optional FAQ notes. Horror neighbors: Scream and Saw.

Updated August 2026

Release order

When each Evil Dead theatrical film opened in the US—from The Evil Dead (October 15, 1981) through Evil Dead Burn (~July 10, 2026). Best first path: watch in premiere order so Raimi’s cabin-to-comedy evolution lands before the 2013 reboot and the modern Rise branch.

  • First watch → Release: all six theatrical premieres in order
  • Ash only → Story: The Evil Dead → Evil Dead II → Army of Darkness
  • 2013 reboot → standalone on Release; skip on Story
  • Rise → Burn → modern branch; Ash vs Evil Dead TV optional
Story order tips

Ash Williams path only: The Evil Dead → Evil Dead II → Army of Darkness. Three films; 2013 reboot, Rise/Burn, and TV stay off this tab.

  • 1981 → The Evil Dead (cabin nightmare)
  • 1987 → Evil Dead II (splatter comedy)
  • 1992 → Army of Darkness (medieval Ash)
  • 2013+ → off Story (reboot and Rise branch)

Timeline

When each season premiered in the US. Expand a row for dates and where it fits in your watch order.

Release order

  1. The Evil Dead

    The Evil Dead

    TheatricalStreamingAsh sagaLive-action

    Sam Raimi’s 1981 no-budget cabin horror traps Bruce Campbell’s Ash and friends with the Necronomicon—shaky POV, demonic trees, and grindhouse energy that launched one of horror’s longest-running brands.

    Overview
    Guerrilla cabin horror that turns budget limits into dread; shaky POV and demonic trees launched a brand Ash, reboot, and modern branches still answer on Release.
    Related games
    Franchise origin on both tabs. Story continues into Evil Dead II; Release adds four later theatrical branches. Neighbors: Scream and Alien.
    Where it fits
    Start here on both tabs. Correct first watch before Evil Dead II, the 2013 reboot, or the Rise/Burn modern branch.
    Premiere dates
    US limited theatrical release October 15, 1981 (New Line Cinema).
  2. Evil Dead II

    Evil Dead II

    TheatricalStreamingAsh sagaLive-action

    Raimi's 1987 sequel-remake hybrid sends Ash back to the cabin with chainsaw bravado, laughing deadites, and slapstick gore—Bruce Campbell becomes the icon here, bridging horror and comedy before medieval Army of Darkness.

    Overview
    Splatter-comedy reinvention that retells the first film’s setup with bigger budget and Ash heroism. Second on Story; required for Army of Darkness.
    Related games
    Ash saga chapter two on Story. Next is Army of Darkness; Release has 2013 reboot and Rise/Burn after the trilogy.
    Where it fits
    Second on Release and Story. Watch immediately after The Evil Dead on Ash path—modern reboot branch splits off later on Release.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release March 13, 1987 (De Laurentiis / Rosebud Releasing).
  3. Army of Darkness

    Army of Darkness

    TheatricalStreamingAsh sagaLive-action

    Raimi's 1992 medieval adventure pulls Ash through the Necronomicon portal into 1300 AD—boomstick, deadite knights, and multiple endings that made the trilogy a cult marathon staple before later reboots.

    Overview
    Fantasy-horror-comedy capper for Ash’s original film arc. Third on Story; US wide release followed in early 1993.
    Related games
    Ash trilogy closer on Story. 2013 Evil Dead reboot is a hard branch on Release—do not insert between II and Army.
    Where it fits
    Third on Release and Story for Ash. Story endpoint; 2013 and Rise/Burn are separate branches on Release only.
    Premiere dates
    US wide theatrical release February 19, 1993 (Universal / DEG). Completed 1992; often dated to that year.
  4. Evil Dead

    Evil Dead

    TheatricalStreamingRebootStandalone

    Fede Álvarez's 2013 remake returns to the cabin with new victims—Mia's detox weekend, tongue-splitting violence, and no Bruce Campbell Ash, proving the Necronomicon formula still works as standalone horror.

    Overview
    Straight horror reboot without Ash. Standalone continuity that later connects loosely to Rise, not to Ash’s trilogy.
    Related games
    Standalone reboot on Release fourth. Seeds the modern branch continuing in Evil Dead Rise—not a sequel to Ash's medieval ending.
    Where it fits
    Fourth on Release; not on Story. Watch after Ash trilogy if you want every theatrical; skip on Ash-only path.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release April 5, 2013 (TriStar / Ghost House).
  5. Evil Dead Rise

    Evil Dead Rise

    TheatricalStreamingModern branchLive-action

    Lee Cronin's 2023 chapter moves deadites into a Los Angeles apartment—sisterhood, motherhood, and elevator-shaft gore in a branch related to the 2013 reboot, not Ash's boomstick era.

    Overview
    Urban family horror extension of the Álvarez-era continuity. Modern branch with Burn, separate from Ash Story.
    Related games
    Modern branch chapter one on Release. Next is Evil Dead Burn (~2026); Ash path ends at Army of Darkness on Story.
    Where it fits
    Fifth on Release; not on Story. Watch after 2013 Evil Dead for this urban branch—Ash trilogy ends earlier on Story.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release April 21, 2023 (Warner Bros. / New Line).
  6. Evil Dead Burn

    Evil Dead Burn

    TheatricalUpcomingModern branchLive-action

    Lee Cronin's 2026 follow-up to Rise—marketed as the next theatrical chapter in the modern deadite branch with US premiere expected around July 10, 2026. Sixth on Release; Ash Story ends at Army of Darkness.

    Overview
    Continues the Rise apartment-era continuity rather than Ash’s trilogy. Latest Release row as of August 2026 planning.
    Related games
    Modern branch sequel on Release. Ash Story endpoint remains Army of Darkness—do not expect Campbell continuity here.
    Where it fits
    Sixth on Release among theatricals; not on Story. Watch after Rise on the modern branch only—Ash viewers stop at 1992 on Story.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release expected ~July 10, 2026 (New Line / Warner Bros.).

FAQ

Release vs Ash Story order, 2013 reboot standalone, Rise/Burn modern branch, Ash vs Evil Dead TV, and Evil Dead Wrath (2028).

Watch order

Release is US premiere order—all six theatricals. Story is Ash’s three-film path only. The 2013 reboot and Rise/Burn are a separate modern branch, not sequels to Ash’s medieval ending. First-time Ash fans can use Story; completionists use Release.

Branches & Ash

The Evil Dead → Evil Dead II → Army of Darkness. That is this page’s Story tab. Evil Dead II partially retells the first film with a comedic tone—watch both in order. Ash’s story continues in Ash vs Evil Dead TV (optional).

No to Ash—it is a standalone reboot with new characters (Mia’s group) and no Bruce Campbell Ash. It shares Necronomicon lore but starts fresh. On Release it is fourth; on Story it is off-tab. It loosely connects forward to Rise, not backward to Army of Darkness.

What's included

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.