All 7 Sam Raimi Horror Movies Ranked (Including Send Help)

Sam Raimi is a fan-favorite director best known for two genres: horror films and comic book movies. He is the genius behind the “Evil Dead” franchise and helped popularize modern superhero movies with the 2000s “Spider-Man” trilogy.

Raimi met his lifelong collaborator, Bruce Campbell, in the 1970s. Together, they started making short films, including a precursor to “The Evil Dead.” They went on to make Raimi’s first feature-length student film, a 1978 crime comedy called “It’s Murder!” and, three years later, followed it up with “Evil Dead.” The movie ended up launching Raimi’s career, and he has spent the last 45 years making crowd-pleasing films. During that time he has also occasionally teamed up with another set of beloved directors, the Coen Brothers.

Raimi’s most recent film, “Send Help,” was released in 2026 and marked the director’s first original horror film since “Drag Me To Hell” hit theaters in 2009. In honor of “Send Help,” we are ranking all seven of Raimi’s horror movies so far. While they’re not all masterpieces, most of his filmography is filled with cinematic bangers, so ranking them was no easy feat. 

While most of Sam Raimi’s horror films are hard to rank, “The Gift” was an easy choice for last place. Co-written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson, the 2000 supernatural thriller starred Cate Blanchett as Annie Wilson, a clairvoyant who works as a fortune teller in her small town. When she sees a vision of a horrific murder, she gets caught up in more of the town’s drama than she bargained for. 

While there are things to enjoy about “The Gift,” such as Blanchett’s performance, the whole movie feels off-balance. It was cool to see Raimi take on a Southern Gothic story, but he did not lean into the genre quite as much as one would expect. A lot of the writing choices are messy, and ultimately kept the movie from being as interesting as it should have been, considering how many great creatives worked on the project. That includes a stacked supporting cast, featuring Giovanni Ribisi, Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, Greg Kinnear, Hilary Swank, J.K. Simmons, and more.

While most would agree that “The Gift” is Raimi’s weakest horror film, the project does have its fans. In fact, some believe it is Raimi’s most underrated movie. 

While “Darkman” is not Sam Raimi’s best movie, it is the clear bridge between the director’s love for horror films and comic book stories. Released in 1990, “Darkman” proved that Raimi would be capable of tackling Spider-Man 12 years later. Co-written by Raimi, the superhero horror story tells the tale of Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), a scientist who is badly disfigured.

At the time of its release, “Darkman” was appreciated by critics. The film was praised for its creativity and unapologetic comic style. It is pulpy, freaky, delightfully cartoonish, and just plain cool. In addition to Neeson, the movie also starred Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, and Larry Drake. In typical Raimi fashion, you will also spot Bruce Campbell at the end of the film. While “Darkman” is not as talked about as some of Raimi’s other projects, it is proof of his skills as a director. 

Despite having fans, “Darkman” never got an official sequel because it was not super successful at the box office. However, there were two direct-to-video sequels called “Darkman II: The Return of Durant” and “Darkman III: Die Darkman Die.” For those movies, Raimi only served as executive producer, and Neeson was replaced by Arnold Vosloo. There were also novels, comic books, and video games about Darkman. Back in 2006, Dynamite Entertainment published a crossover comic featuring Darkman alongside Ash Williams, the main character of “The Evil Dead” series. 

Released in 2026, “Send Help” was a true gift for Raimi fans. The only film he directed in the 2010s was “Oz the Great and Powerful,” which was not well-received despite being a box office success. He went on to make “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” in 2022, and while many people were happy to see him return to Marvel, some were disappointed that the movie did not completely feel like a Raimi project. “Send Help” was a welcome reminder that Raimi is the king of blending horror and comedy. 

Written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, “Send Help” stars Rachel McAdams as Linda Liddle, a strategist and survivalist aficionado who becomes stranded on a deserted island with her incompetent, arrogant boss, Bradley (Dylan O’Brien). Their power dynamics quickly change as Bradley realizes he will not survive without Linda’s help. The movie features some thrilling twists and turns and includes a great performance from McAdams. Audiences are used to seeing her play more glamorous roles, and she proved that she knows how to get her hands dirty. 

“Send Help” was also a big hit with critics and moviegoers. It is currently the third-best reviewed film in Raimi’s filmography. While the movie may not be Raimi’s best, it is easily his greatest work since “Drag Me To Hell,” and one of the most fun movies of 2026.  

Much like “Send Help,” “Drag Me to Hell” was an exciting return to form for Sam Raimi at the time of its release. When it hit theatres in 2009, it marked the director’s first horror film since “The Gift.” And “The Gift” was a deviation from the campier style Raimi had become known for, which made “Drag Me to Hell” all the more enticing. In the 17 years since “Army of Darkness,” Raimi had dipped his toes in various genres, but “Drag Me to Hell” was proof that he had not abandoned his roots.  

“Drag Me to Hell” was co-written by Raimi’s brother, Ivan Raimi, and stars Alison Lohman as Christine Brown, a bank loan officer who rejects the wrong woman. When she turns down Sylvia Ganush’s (Lorna Raver) request for an extension on a loan, the woman curses her, and Christine must race against time before she is forced down to hell. The film also stars Justin Long, Dileep Rao, and David Paymer.

One interesting difference between “Drag Me to Hell” and the “Evil Dead” films was a lack of gore. Raimi aimed for a PG-13 rating in an effort to make something different from his past projects. Fans were skeptical at first, but he proved that a movie does not need massive amounts of blood to be scary. “Drag Me to Hell” perfectly toes the line of having plenty of terrifying moments while still being fun and funny.

Sam Raimi closed out his “Evil Dead” trilogy with the campiest, wackiest horror movie in his filmography. After the events of “Evil Dead II,” Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams is forced to battle the undead in the Middle Ages. Co-written by Ivan Raimi and released in 1992, the project was originally named “Medieval Dead,” which flows way better with the previous two installments. However, “Dead” was dropped from the title because the second film was not a big enough success at the box office.  

 “Army of Darkness” is universally considered the weakest of the “Evil Dead” trilogy, but it is still one of Raimi’s best. He had a bigger budget this time around and used the money to create a lot of goofy hijinks for Ash. All of the “Evil Dead” movies are over the top, but “Army of Darkness” really showcases just how far Raimi is willing to take things.

The movie is extremely hilarious, making it the perfect gateway horror film. There are also different versions of “Army of Darkness.” The theatrical version sees things ending happier for Ash, whereas the Director’s Cut shows him waking up in a post-apocalyptic future. The preferred version is debated among fans, but no matter which one is your favorite, there is no denying Raimi’s appeal. 

Sam Raimi is synonymous with horror because of “The Evil Dead.” It’s widely considered one of the best independent horror movies ever made and is a testament to low-budget splatter films. Since the project was made for very little money, it was a brutal shoot for everyone involved. 

“The Evil Dead” starred Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, and Theresa Tilly as college students who take a trip to a remote cabin in the woods. When members of the group start to become possessed by demons, Campbell’s Ash Williams has no choice but to go up against some gnarly dark forces. The result is an over-the-top, campy masterpiece. 

Written and directed by Raimi, “The Evil Dead” was released in 1981 and was met with praise from critics and audiences alike. Raimi did not hold back when it came to the film’s gore; he took on the censors and changed horror forever. The film earned an X rating, but still ended up being a sleeper hit. While “The Evil Dead” did not dominate the box office, it was still a success and earned back nearly eight times its budget. 

Sam Raimi managed to top himself with “Evil Dead II.” In 1987, he directed the follow-up, which he co-wrote with Scott Spiegel. The film saw Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams taking his girlfriend to a remote cabin in the woods. Just like in the first film, they listen to an audio recording of an ancient text, and demons start to possess and abuse them. The most common misconception about the film is that it is a sequel, but the filmmakers consider it a remake.

With a bigger budget, Raimi was able to take his vision for “The Evil Dead” to the next level. “Evil Dead II” ultimately ended up being goopier, but a legal loophole helped the movie dodge an X rating. It was also much funnier than its predecessor, and despite its tonal shift and mediocre box office haul, it is still considered the best of the franchise. 

The legacy of “The Evil Dead” lives on today. Raimi made two sequels and developed a series, “Ash vs. Evil Dead,” which debuted in 2013 and ran for three seasons on Starz. Other creatives have also taken on Raimi’s universe. In 2013, Fede Álvarez helmed a brutal remake that some consider the gory reboot to end all reboots. In 2023, Lee Cronin made “Evil Dead Rise,” and Sébastien Vaniček’s “Evil Dead Burn” is expected to debut in 2026. While it does not seem as though Raimi is interested in helming another “Evil Dead,” he has served as a producer on all of the aforementioned films.