Bruce Campbell holds an axe in one hand and a rifle in the other, looking to the side suspiciously in The Evil Dead.Image via New Line Cinema
By
Anja Djuricic
Published Feb 3, 2026, 7:46 PM EST
Anja Djuricic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1992. Her first interest in film started very early, as she learned to speak English by watching Disney animated movies (and many, many reruns). Anja soon became inspired to learn more foreign languages to understand more movies, so she entered the Japanese language and literature Bachelor Studies at the University of Belgrade.
Anja is also one of the founders of the DJ duo Vazda Garant, specializing in underground electronic music influenced by various electronic genres.
Anja loves to do puzzles in her spare time, pet cats wherever she meets them, and play The Sims. Anja's Letterboxd four includes Memories of Murder, Parasite, Nope, and The Road to El Dorado.
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Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
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Sam Raimi is back with Send Help, a survival horror that feels like he's returned to his best storytelling form. Best known for being the creator and director of one of the most influential horror franchises, The Evil Dead, Raimi has dabbled in other genres, most notably Marvel superhero movies. Raimi is the true embodiment of the phrase "duality of man" since he embraces a lighter and a darker side, intertwining them with each other very often.
Though we know critics and audiences can sometimes be harsh, Raimi's movies have often been received quite well. Maybe you've never considered how his movies rank among each other, so here are Sam Raimi's greatest movies, ranked according to IMDb. This order may surprise you, or steer away from your personal ranking and list of favorites.
10 'Drag Me to Hell' (2009)
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
Drag Me To Hell's Christine Brown standing in a grave in the rain.Image via Universal Pictures
Drag Me to Hell is a somewhat underrated feature, and though it's a very typical supernatural horror with elements of folklore—Raimi style—it's also very well executed and amusing. Raimi appears in a brief cameo, like in many of his films, as a ghost during a seance; the movie is less gory and more psychologically scary, giving the protagonist intense hallucinations and toying with her psyche. The movie is often considered to be a metaphor for the 2008 housing crisis, though Raimi stated that he and his brother Ivan Raimi, who co-wrote the film, wanted to create a morality tale about a good person doing wrong things for personal gain.
Drag Me to Hell follows a loan officer, Christine (Alison Lohman), who tries to prove herself as authoritative to her boss by refusing to extend a mortgage payment to an old woman named Sylvia (Lorna Raver). Christine does so reluctantly, and Sylvia puts a curse on her; the curse is supposed to torment and give Christine hallucinations for three days before she is literally dragged to hell. Christine fights to remove the curse with her boyfriend Clay (Justin Long) before the three days are over. Drag Me to Hell was planned for about a decade before Raimi finally made it, and it's one of the movies that established Justin Long as one of the greatest scream kings of our time.
9 'The Gift' (2000)
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
The Gift is another highly underrated horror by Raimi, and this one stars the stellar Cate Blanchett. She leads an equally star-studded cast, with Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, and Greg Kinnear among them, and the movie was, interestingly, written by Billy Bob Thornton, who based the events in the movie on his mother's personal experiences. Raimi directed the movie in his signature style, with fear and dread spread throughout the atmosphere, but since Spider-Man came out a couple of years after The Gift, the latter became kind of forgotten. People often deem this one of Raimi's best movies; Roger Ebert awarded it three out of four stars, calling it "ingenious in its plotting, colorful in its characters, taut in its direction and fortunate in possessing Cate Blanchett."
The Gift follows Annie Wilson (Blanchett), a woman living in Brixton, Georgia. She makes ends meet with the help of her genuine psychic abilities, helping people and befriending them by providing psychic readings. After Jessica King (Holmes), a young socialite, mysteriously disappears, Annie helps the search by using her gifts and soon begins suspecting the residents of Brixton. The Gift is a fun, dark, and brilliantly acted supernatural thriller/whodunit that deserves a bit more love.
8 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' (2022)
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
Doctor Strange looking intently at something off camera in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.Image via Marvel Studios
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness feels like madness in some respects because of the intense visuals used to represent the multiverse-hopping Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) does. Yet, at its core, this sequel to Doctor Strange is a dark film full of thrills and drama, most notably because of Elizabeth Olsen's portrayal of the Scarlet Witch. Raimi switched up the narrative from what was originally planned, adding more of his signature horror elements to the film; he also added a cameo by Bruce Campbell, who is Ash in the Evil Dead universe. Critics agree that the extensive use of CGI hinders the film's quality, but that Raimi's touch contributes to it standing out from other MCU movies nowadays.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Stephen Strange working with America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a teenage girl who can hop between multiverses with ease, to stop the Scarlet Witch from taking Chavez's powers. She wants them so she can be reunited with the family she created while grieving, and Strange and Chavez get help from Wong (Benedict Wong), the Sorceror Supreme, in their adventure. Multiverse of Madness is entertaining and thrilling when you really sit with it, and it warrants a rewatch or two because of its layered narrative (almost like a multiverse in itself).
7 'Send Help' (2026)
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Send Help recently had a wide theatrical release, and 83,000 users have already rated it on IMDb, awarding it a pretty flattering 7.3 out of 10. This makes Send Help one of Raimi's best-rated movies, and a mark of a return to horror we're used to seeing from him. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien take up most of the movie's runtime; it feels like we haven't seen McAdams in a while, so having her in such an interesting and fun lead role is more than welcome. Though it's a psychological thriller/horror at heart, some parts of Send Help are also darkly comical.
Send Help follows Linda (McAdams), an employee at a financial management company, and her arrogant young boss, Bradley (O'Brien), who become stranded on a deserted island after a failed flight to Thailand leads to their plane crashing, making them the only survivors. Linda is a survival enthusiast, so she knows her way around, but Bradley isn't so knowledgeable; this leaves them to survive together and gives Linda an edge over Bradley, finally. The dynamics are interesting, and the performances are incredible, with McAdams especially standing out, making Send Help a future cult classic.
6 'The Evil Dead' (1981)
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
A person holds a lamp in a dark cellar and looks wary in The Evil Dead.Image via New Line Cinema
The first installment in the Evil Dead trilogy and franchise is the movie that started it all, The Evil Dead. This movie made supernatural/possession horror more popular when it came out, restoring the sub-genre to its old glory. The movie began as a short film shown as proof of concept to potential investors, but it remained an independent film, which is also a testament to the success and importance of independent filmmaking as a whole. From pretty great visual effects to a haunting and exceptional original soundtrack, The Evil Dead is a cornerstone of horror and cinema in general.
The Evil Dead follows a group of five friends who travel to a remote cabin located deep in the woods. There, they accidentally discover an ancient book, which is a version of the Book of the Dead, and with this, they unknowingly release demons that possess everything that's alive, from plants and trees to humans. The group, led by the intrepid Ash Williams (Campbell), fights against the demonic entities, but in isolation, there's only so much they can do. The Evil Dead wasn't just Raimi's directorial debut, but Campbell's feature film debut as well. It's really fun to know that the two had their firsts with such a successful and memorable cult film.
5 'Spider-Man' (2002)
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
Tobey Maguire in the spidey suit staring ahead in Spider-Man, 2002.Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
In terms of Spider-Man live action movies, the lore is divided into three eras, depending on the actor that portrays the famous Marvel hero. The trilogy that stars Tobey Maguire is probably the favorite even after Tom Holland successfully stepped in, with nostalgia guiding the criteria for the most part. Raimi's touch on the trilogy, but especially the first film, Spider-Man, gives it a special something, whether it's that distinct 2000s feel or the heart and soul infused into the story. Maguire was far from a teenager when starring in it, but he's the most memorable Peter Parker, high school kid, probably ever.
Spider-Man follows shy teenager Peter Parker (Maguire), who gains spider-like abilities after being bitten by a genetically-modified spider. Peter uses his newfound superpowers to fight injustice across NYC, posing as a masked vigilante, facing enemies big and small all over the city. In the first film, his nemesis is Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe), aka The Green Goblin. Spider-Man also features one of the most iconic kissing scenes on film, which is the upside-down kiss Peter shares with Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), his high school crush.
4 'Army of Darkness' (1992)
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
Bruce Campbell as Ash in Army of Darkness.Image via Universal Pictures
Army of Darkness is when Raimi and Campbell began to truly have fun with the Evil Dead movies; this movie is a swing and a miss according to some, and a raging success according to others. Whichever category you fall into, you simply have to love Army of Darkness for its ambition, playfulness, and dedication to creating an Evil Dead lore that spans decades and centuries. This movie foregoes some of the gore and replaces it with adventure, showing Ash Williams transported into a very different time and out of his depth. It's the third movie in the original trilogy, and a perfect combination of horror and comedy that opened up a gateway for the series Ash vs. Evil Dead to come to fruition.
Army of Darkness follows Ash Williams for the third time, and this time, he is accidentally transported to the Middle Ages. There, he must retrieve the Book of the Dead, go through various trials and tribulations, and even battle another army of the dead in order to return home, to his time. There was an original ending that would transport Ash to a post-apocalyptic London, but the studio protested, considering it too bleak and telling Raimi to go with a happier twist. Could you imagine what sort of success the original version would have had if Raimi was able to make it happen? This way, it's nothing less than a legendary absurdist comedy with a rare happy ending.
3 'A Simple Plan' (1998)
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Lou, Hank, and Jacob standing in the snow looking intently ahead in A Simple Plan.Image via Paramount Pictures
A Simple Plan is a movie you might never have guessed was directed by Sam Raimi, but he proved very early on he was more than a one-trick pony with Evil Dead. A Simple Plan is a mystery thriller where Raimi and Billy Bob Thornton first worked together, and Thornton was even nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role here. The movie was a box office flop but a widespread critical success, resulting in it getting a second chance from audiences who had reevaluated it as a cult classic and dubbed it a heavily underrated Raimi film.
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Dive into the world of entertainment with Collider, delivering the latest news, reviews, and exclusive updates from movies, TV, and pop culture Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.A Simple Plan follows two brothers, Hank (Bill Paxton) and Jacob (Thornton), their friend Lou (Brent Briscoe), and Hank's wife, Sarah (Bridget Fonda), stumble upon millions of dollars in lost cash at a plane crash site. They devise a plan to share the money and keep it a secret from the authorities, but they quickly descend into paranoia, distrust, and scheming, starting to turn on each other. A Simple Plan is a story of greed, though motivated by a hard blue-collar life and a desire for something better. It's one of those movies we watch and wonder if we'd have done anything differently, or are we no better than Hank and his group?
2 'Spider-Man 2' (2004)
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Tobey Maguire with his Spider-Man mask off looking at his hands in Spider-Man 2.Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Spider-Man 2 is often hailed as the best live-action Spider-Man movie we've gotten thus far. It has an identity crisis, a brand-new powerful nemesis, some darker villains emerging with a strong background story and motivation, and a love story that blossoms despite the odds. Spider-Man 2 was deemed by both critics and audiences to be a much better movie than the first in every respect, and it notably allows Raimi to infuse it with some darker themes and motives. Peter Parker has a full-blown mental health crisis and becomes demotivated, and the movie takes his disillusionment seriously rather than as a simple obstacle for him to overcome.
Spider-Man 2 follows Peter Parker after the death of Norman Osmond, aka The Green Goblin (which he caused); Osmond was the father of his best friend, Harry (James Franco), and Harry wants revenge, having a hard time coping with the loss. Peter, riddled with guilt over Osmond, his uncle, and the destruction of the city, retreats from being Spider-Man, resulting in his powers dwindling. But, a brilliant scientist, Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina), begins to terrorize the city as Doc Ock, and Peter has to find it within himself to become a superhero again. Spider-Man 2 is a layered, emotional film with all the great attributes of a superhero adventure.
1 'Evil Dead II' (1987)
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
Ash Williams facing off evil in Evil Dead II (1987).Image via Rosebud Releasing Corporation
As it seems with both the Spider-Man and the Evil Dead trilogies, Raimi has a knack for making the sophomore features stand out as the best part. Many people love Spider-Man 2, and just as many, including hardcore Raimi fans, universally love Evil Dead II. Raimi was already planning to send Ash to the Middle Ages in the sequel, but famous movie producer Dino De Laurentiis asked him to make the film as thematically similar to the first. Raimi infused the classic formula with some dark comedy and fun action, turning Evil Dead II into a basically superior version of the first film.
Evil Dead II follows Ash Williams, the only survivor of the first Evil Dead film, where flesh-possessing demons haunted him and his group. Ash goes to a cabin in the woods with his girlfriend, and they find and read an ancient book, known as the Book of the Dead. They awaken a slew of demonic spirits in the woods, and Ash has to fight various possessed entities—including within himself—to get out of trouble. Ash becomes a warrior from prophecies in this sequel, and the movie turns him into an outright hero. Evil Dead II is also more satirical and darkly funny in tone, showing us a funny side to Raimi we might not expect in films like this one.
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Evil Dead II
R
Horror
Comedy
Fantasy
Release Date
March 13, 1987
Runtime
84 minutes
Director
Sam Raimi
Writers
Scott Spiegel
Cast
See All-
Bruce Campbell
Ashley 'Ash' J. Williams
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Sarah Berry
Annie
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Evil Dead
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