Evil Dead's timeline takes some unique explanations to place in order. The Evil Dead was the feature directorial debut for Sam Raimi, a gonzo horror/comedy that established the filmmaker as a unique visionary. Raimi directed the first three films in the franchise, which expanded from a group of unwitting friends in a cabin to time travel and magical wars. Since then, the lore of The Evil Dead franchise (and the kill count) has continued to grow. This includes five films and the three-season TV series Ash vs. the Evil Dead, which has been confirmed to all share a universe.

Different versions of the Necronomicon are at the core of the series, a cursed book of the dead that unleashes monstrosities into the world. These key shared elements of the films and show allow for different settings and characters to be explored, with central franchise protagonist Ash Williams almost completely absent from Evil Dead and Evil Dead Rise. This expansive timeline takes some unexpected detours and spans far beyond its initially modest beginnings. Here's how to watch all of The Evil Dead in proper timeline order.

Evil Dead Movies In Release Order

The Evil Dead Has Expanded In Some Unexpected Ways

The Evil Dead's multi-century storyline has been built over decades. The franchise began all the way back in 1981, and it became an instant hit despite having a micro-budget. The Evil Dead had a budget of just $375,000, and that's clear from the DIY visuals and camerawork that established Sam Raimi's directorial style. Raimi directed Evil Dead II six years later, returning to the franchise after the box-office disappointment of Crimewave. Despite the time gap, Evil Dead II's horror comedy remained intact. Army of Darkness followed six years after that.

The horror franchise laid dormant for 20 years after Army of Darkness. When it was finally revived, it was a reboot Evil Dead that didn't feature Ash (until the very end). The movie dropped the signature humor and turned the series into a full-on horror. However, two years later, the scale was balanced when Ash vs. Evil Dead aired on Starz. The series lasted for three seasons before it was canceled in 2018. Five years after that, Evil Dead Rise was debuted theatrically and became the most successful Evil Dead release ever, revitalizing the series.

Evil Dead Franchise Timeline Explained

The Evil Dead Spans Centuries

The recurring antagonists of the Evil Dead franchise are the Deadites, a collection of undead parasites that possess the living and feast on the souls of people. The Deadites have been haunting humanity in service of their ancient master, the Kandarian Demon. Their widespread nature allows the Deadites to be unleashed anywhere and anywhen across human history. As a result, the franchise has been able to both chart the growth of a consistent character (Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams) and also show what happens to those unlucky enough to cross paths with the Deadites.

Most of the stories in the series take place in the same year as their respective release, with the gap between Army of Darkness and Ash vs. the Evil Dead reflecting the three decades that had ed in the real world between those projects. This means for the most part, the series' timeline and release order line up. However, the third film in the series, Army of Darkness, actually takes place long before the events of the other films.

1300 AD: Army Of Darkness

Putting The Evil In Medieval

A big reason that trying to watch the Evil Dead movies in order is tricky comes down to Army of Darkness. Even by the standards of Ash Williams' already out-there adventures, Army of Darkness takes things to a whole new level of gory weirdness. The start of the third film in the Evil Dead franchise is the beginning of the timeline's chronology. After the events of Evil Dead 2, Ash (Bruce Campbell) is transported back to the Middle Ages. He spends much of the film in this setting, working to find a copy of the Necronomicon so he can use it to go home.

Taking place in the year 1300, Army of Darkness is technically the oldest entry in the timeline of Evil Dead. This confirms that the Deadites have been at work for centuries, tormenting people and working to corrupt anyone they can claim. Working alongside Lord Arthur and his subjects, Ash is able to help save the past era and ultimately make his way to the present — allowing him to return to the spotlight in Ash vs. the Evil Dead.

1981/1982: The Evil Dead/Evil Dead 2

Why The Second Film Is A Remake Of The Original

The Evil Dead timeline was convoluted way before Army of Darkness. Raimi wasn't able to actually reqaccuire the rights to The Evil Dead for a prospective sequel. As a result, Evil Dead 2 was made as a "re-quel", essentially remaking The Evil Dead with new people and expanding the plot. The first five minutes of Evil Dead 2 is a remake, shot as a recap with different actors (except Bruce Campbell, who reprised his role as Ash Williams). Ash Williams was born in 1957, and in 1981 he and his friends traveled to the Knowby cabin.

There, they found the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (revealed in Ash vs. Evil Dead to be written by Ruby) hidden by Professor Raymond Knowby. The Evil Dead ends with Ash getting attacked and presumably murdered by an unseen entity. Evil Dead 2 builds from that moment (revealing how Ash survived) and introduces other characters like Ash, Linda, and Annie. Annie reads various incantations from the Necronomicon and ends up opening a time vortex to banish the demon. Ash is sucked into the vortex and brought to 1300 AD, where Army of Darkness begins.

1982: The Ending Of Army Of Darkness

All Hail The King

Another wrinkle in the timeline is the fact that Ash is technically alive twice in the same era. After defeating the Deadites in Army of Darkness, Ash is given a potion that will allow him to sleep for centuries until he returns to his own time. In the film canon, Ash sleeps for six centuries and re-awakens in 1982. He returns to his regular life afterward, resuming his job back at the S-Mart. It's a goofy ending for the film, especially when a Deadite attacks Ash and he's forced to jump right back into action her mode.

It was almost very different, as seen in the alternate endings to Army of Darkness. Still, life proved difficult for Ash. Season 2 of Ash vs. the Evil Dead revealed that in the subsequent years, Ash repeatedly tried (and failed) to find a way to destroy Necronomicon. He effectively became the caretaker of the dark book. On top of that, the deaths of his friends and sister were publicly blamed on him and led him to become a drifter, effectively estranged from everyone in his hometown. Ash's story picks back up thirty years later in Ash vs. the Evil Dead.

2013: Evil Dead Remake

Same Cabin, New Victims

Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead is considered canon in the Evil Dead timeline. Alvarez stated that it continues the first movie but in a modern setting. According to Alvarez, the coincidences between his version and the original 1981 version are deliberate "dark fates" created by the Necronomicon. As such, when Mia and her friends arrive at the Knowby cabin, certain things — such as Ash's rusting car — are apparent. The biggest difference is that Mia's parents are apparently the current owners of the cabin. Similar events transpire throughout Evil Dead as in the original, detailing gruesome conflict with the Deadites.

Although Evil Dead isn't all that connected to the rest of the franchise, it does share a setting with the original. Ash Williams makes an appearance in a post-credit scene of Evil Dead, which confirms that the universes are connected. Campbell and Raimi have both teased a crossover with Ash and Mia that would further establish this connection. The Evil Dead remake links to the original in a number of ways, so it'd be interesting to see how Mia's evolution continues to reflect Ash's.

2015-2016: Ash Vs Evil Dead

Ash Is Back

Ash vs. Evil Dead is set approximately 30 years after the first three Evil Dead films, and takes place over a contained period of time. Three decades after his first encounter with the supernatural, Ash Williams is working as a stock boy at Value Stop. The central threat of the series is a Deadite plague that threatens to destroy the world. Ash must gather new allies to help him fight the evil that he's already been attempting to stop for decades (and technically centuries)

At the culmination of the series (which was canceled before the story could be properly wrapped up in Ash vs. Evil Dead season 4), Ash takes on a Kandarian demon, and the battle ends with him killing it. In the final scene, Ash wakes up in a bunker after being dragged out of the wreckage where the final battle occurred. The show ended on a cliffhanger, with someone claiming that there's "still work to be done." This means the hero of The Evil Dead franchise might not get to retire despite the cancelation of his show.

2023: Evil Dead Rise

A Haunting In The Big City

The fifth movie in the franchise, Evil Dead Rise is far less directly connected to Ash. The film follows Beth as she struggles to protect her nephew and nieces from their mother Ellie, who has turned into a Deadite. The plot is set in motion after the teenage Danny discovers a book in the bowels of a building that summons demonic flesh-possessing demons. This book seems to be one of the three Necronomicon that was seen in Army of Darkness, the second of which appeared in 2013's Evil Dead. The film appears to be set in the present day.

This puts it at the end of the Evil Dead timeline as of this writing. None of the previous Evil Dead characters return for Evil Dead Rise, not even Ash. However, while the movie is extremely linear when it comes to the Evil Dead timeline, Danny also finds records of a priest (voiced by Campbell) from 1923 discussing the Deadites and the Necronomicon. Director Lee Cronin thinks that the Evil Dead Rise priest could be Ash. This could tease more time travel and a possible Ash return at a new period in The Evil Dead timeline.

Source: Book of the Dead, Bloody Disgusting