How to watch the Evil Dead movies in order before Evil Dead Burn ‣ Diverse Daily

Since 1981, Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead has grown into a cult classic horror film franchise championed by fans of the genre who keep returning for the practical gore effects that took 80s cinema by storm. Originally a horror franchise, Evil Dead morphed into a type of horror comedy fans affectionately refer to as “splatstick” with the hero, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), often having his world rocked by mischievous and murderous demons mistakenly summoned by an ancient tome known as the Necronomicon. Eventually, the film series returned to its horror roots with the 2013 entry by director Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe, Alien: Romulus), Evil Dead.

Now, Evil Dead Burn hits theaters on July 10th, plunging fans back into the dark and violent world of the occult. A new cast of characters comes together as a family reuniting after the death of a loved one in a rural home. Of course, Deadites will once again worm their way into the world to possess the living and wreak havoc. If you’re a longtime fan of the franchise like I am, you probably want to get ready for Evil Dead Burn properly. That is, a marathon viewing of the entire film franchise is in order.

How to watch the Evil Dead movies on HBO Max

Here’s how you can start streaming

A deadite in the cellar in the Evil Dead 2013 reboot

If you don’t already own these movies, HBO Max has you covered. This month, the entire Evil Dead film catalog has been added to the streaming service. These five movies include The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness (1992), Evil Dead (2013), and Evil Dead Rise (2023).

If you don’t have a subscription to HBO Max, there are several options. You can bundle the service with Disney+ and Hulu for as low as $19.99/month (with ads). There are also monthly and yearly standalone options that vary in price based on a few factors including ads, number of devices, and download availability. You can also add HBO Max as a channel to your Prime Video subscription for $10.99/month if the convenience of having all of your streaming options in one place better suits you.

The best order to watch the Evil Dead movies

The release order works best in this case

If you’re new to the Evil Dead franchise or have only dabbled in one or two of the movies and wish to watch the full series, you might be wondering which order you should watch them in. In this case, the release order works best as there are no major time jumps to take into account and each film builds off the last entry when it comes to lore.

The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Army of Darkness (1992)
Evil Dead (2013)
Evil Dead Rise (2023)

The first three movies in the series follow the misadventures of Ash Williams, a teenager simply looking for a good time with his friends at a cabin in the woods of rural Tennessee. The premier 1981 title is firmly rooted in horror. The sequel, Evil Dead II, which begins immediately following the first film, adopts a campy sense of humor to accompany the horror themes. Army of Darkness further leans into that humor as Ash travels back in time to confront the demons during the Dark Ages.

Evil Dead (2013) acts as a soft reboot, bringing the series back to its horror roots as well as the classic setting of an isolated cabin in the woods. This time, an entirely new cast of teens seeking to get away while helping a friend stay sober, encounter the demonic book and unwittingly unleash the demonic plague. Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise (2023) follows the same pattern, but this time in an urban high-rise apartment setting. Both films are gruesome and equally horrific. So, if you’re squeamish, this is just a word of warning.

What about Ash vs Evil Dead?

The TV Series (2015-2018) is not available on HBO Max

Ash with his chainsaw in Ash vs Evil Dead

Some hardcore fans may also wish to throw the Ash vs Evil Dead TV series in the mix. However, this humorous 3-season arc of Ash’s extended storyline beyond Army of Darkness as an aging store clerk who is once again confronted with evil is not available on HBO Max. The original Starz series is available with a Starz subscription. Additionally, the series can be streamed for free on Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, or Philo.

Thankfully, the films are all in one place. With an HBO Max subscription, you can watch all 5 movies in the Evil Dead franchise without flipping between streaming services. If you want to extend the bloody, good fun with Ash vs Evil Dead, free options are available. The Evil Dead has long been an inspiration in the horror genre. Reliving the entire Ash Williams saga in the first trilogy of films, and experiencing the gut-wrenching gorefest of the modern reboots is the only way to truly prepare yourself for Evil Dead Burn.