How to Watch the Evil Dead Movies in Order Before Evil Dead Burn

Evil Dead Burn hit US theaters on July 10, 2026, and the sixth film in Sam Raimi's horror franchise is already drawing crowds. But if you have never seen an Evil Dead movie, the series timeline can feel confusing. Some entries are directly connected. Others are standalone. And one of them is a TV show.

This guide breaks down every Evil Dead movie and the TV series in the order you need, explains which ones matter before watching Burn, and tells you where each title is available to stream.

Evil Dead Movies in Release Order

The simplest way to watch the franchise is in the order each entry was released. Here is the complete list:

1. The Evil Dead (1981) — Sam Raimi's low-budget cabin horror classic introduced Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) and the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, the ancient Book of the Dead that unleashes demonic forces.
2. Evil Dead II (1987) — Part sequel, part partial remake. Ash returns to the same cabin, but this time the tone shifts toward horror-comedy. Bruce Campbell's performance here turned Ash into a cult icon.
3. Army of Darkness (1992) — Ash is transported to medieval England and must fight an army of Deadites to get home. The franchise leans fully into action-comedy with this entry.
4. Evil Dead (2013) — Director Fede Álvarez's soft reboot. A new group of characters encounters the Necronomicon at the same cabin. There is no connection to Ash Williams.
5. Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) — A Starz television series running three seasons. Bruce Campbell returns as an older Ash, picking up decades after Army of Darkness.
6. Evil Dead Rise (2023) — Director Lee Cronin moves the franchise out of the cabin and into a Los Angeles apartment building. A new family faces the Deadites. This is a standalone entry with no direct connection to Ash.
7. Evil Dead Burn (2026) — Director Sébastien Vaniček's film is a direct sequel to Evil Dead Rise. Souheila Yacoub stars as Alice, a grieving widow who seeks refuge with her in-laws only to watch them transform into Deadites.

Evil Dead Movies in Chronological Order

Release order works for most viewers, but the in-universe timeline is not the same as the release timeline. Here is how the story actually plays out chronologically:

• The Evil Dead (1981) — Ash and his friends unleash Deadites at the cabin.
• Evil Dead II (1987) — Continues directly from the first film. Ash battles the demons again.
• Army of Darkness (1992) — Ash ends up in the Middle Ages after the events of Evil Dead II.
• Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) — Set 30 years after Army of Darkness. Ash accidentally reawakens the Deadites in modern-day Michigan.

These four entries form one continuous storyline centered on Ash Williams.

The remaining films exist in separate timelines:

• Evil Dead (2013) — A standalone reboot with new characters. No connection to Ash.
• Evil Dead Rise (2023) — A separate standalone story set in Los Angeles.
• Evil Dead Burn (2026) — Directly follows Evil Dead Rise. Same universe, new cast.

The Ash Williams Saga Explained

The core of the Evil Dead franchise is the Ash Williams trilogy — The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness — plus the TV series Ash vs Evil Dead. Bruce Campbell plays Ash across all four entries.

The connecting thread is the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, an ancient book bound in human flesh that can summon Kandarian demons. These demons possess people and turn them into Deadites — violent, mocking versions of the humans they once were. The Necronomicon appears in every Evil Dead film, though each entry uses it differently.

Ash starts as a scared college student in the first film and gradually becomes the wisecracking, chainsaw-wielding hero fans know. The tone shifts from pure horror in The Evil Dead to a blend of horror and slapstick comedy by Army of Darkness. The TV series continues that comedic tone while giving Ash three seasons of Deadite-slaying adventures.

If you enjoy the Ash Williams saga, watching these four entries in order gives you the full character arc from terrified survivor to reluctant英雄.

The Standalone Films: Evil Dead 2013, Rise, and Burn

Not every Evil Dead movie connects to Ash Williams. The franchise has expanded into standalone stories that use the same mythology — the Necronomicon, the Deadites, the Kandarian demons — but with entirely new characters and settings.

Evil Dead (2013) is a soft reboot directed by Fede Álvarez. A group of friends heads to the same cabin from the original film. Jane Levy stars as Mia, a woman battling addiction who becomes the focal point of the demonic attack. The film drops the humor of the original trilogy and plays the horror straight. It has no connection to Ash or the other films beyond the shared mythology.

Evil Dead Rise (2023) takes the franchise to an urban setting for the first time. Director Lee Cronin follows two estranged sisters — Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and Beth (Lily Sullivan) — whose reunion is interrupted when Deadites attack their Los Angeles apartment. The film was a commercial success, earning roughly $147 million worldwide.

Evil Dead Burn (2026) is a direct sequel to Evil Dead Rise. Souheila Yacoub stars as Alice, a widow who joins her late husband's family at a remote house. The family begins transforming into Deadites, and Alice must fight to survive. The film is rated R for strong bloody horror violence and gore. Bruce Campbell appears only as a photograph — playing the family's late grandfather — not as Ash Williams.

Where to Watch Every Evil Dead Movie

Streaming availability changes frequently, so check JustWatch or your local platform for the latest information. Here is where each entry was available as of July 2026:

Evil Dead Burn is a Warner Bros. release, so it will likely arrive on HBO Max after its theatrical window. Digital purchase and rental options may appear as early as late August or September 2026.

Do You Need to Watch All of Them Before Burn?

No. Evil Dead Burn is designed as a standalone sequel to Evil Dead Rise. If you watch only Evil Dead Rise before seeing Burn in theaters, you will have enough context to follow the story and characters.

That said, here are your options depending on how much time you have:

Shortest path: Watch Evil Dead Rise (2023), then see Evil Dead Burn in theaters. This covers the direct storyline.

Franchise essentials: Watch The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness (1992), and Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) to experience the Ash Williams saga. Then watch Evil Dead Rise and Evil Dead Burn for the newer standalone story.

Full experience: Watch all six films and the TV series in release order. Evil Dead (2013) is entirely optional since it shares no characters or plot threads with the other entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Evil Dead II a remake or a sequel?

It is both. Evil Dead II functions as a partial remake of the first film — recapping key events with a new cast for some characters — while also serving as a direct sequel. Ash Williams is the only returning character, and the story picks up where the first film ended.

Are all Evil Dead movies connected?

Not all of them. The original trilogy (The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness) and Ash vs Evil Dead form one continuous Ash Williams storyline. Evil Dead (2013) is a standalone reboot. Evil Dead Rise and Evil Dead Burn form their own connected pair.

What is Evil Dead Burn rated?

Evil Dead Burn is rated R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, and language.

Will there be more Evil Dead films?

Yes. Evil Dead Wrath, the seventh film in the franchise, is set for release on April 7, 2028. Francis Galluppi (The Last Stop in Yuma County) writes and directs. Producer Robert Tapert has confirmed the film is a prequel set in 1972, predating all previous entries. Charlotte Hope, Jessica McNamee, Zach Gilford, and Josh Helman lead the cast.

Information last checked on 2026-07-17.