The Evil Dead

Play trailer

1:52

The Evil Dead

NC-17

1981

1h 25m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

88 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Ashley "Ash" Williams (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend and three pals hike into the woods to a cabin for a fun night away. There they find an old book, the Necronomicon, whose text reawakens the dead when it's read aloud. The friends inadvertently release a flood of evil and must fight for their lives or become one of the evil dead. Ash watches his friends become possessed, and must make a difficult decision before daybreak to save his own life in this, the first of Sam Raimi's trilogy.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

So scrappy that it feels as illicit as a book found in the woods, The Evil Dead is a stomach-churning achievement in bad taste that marks a startling debut for wunderkind Sam Raimi.

Read Critics Reviews

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Sep 12, 2023

Sam Raimi’s 1981 breakout feature remains profoundly unsettling due to the gonzo vigour with which he attacks his subject.

Go to Full Review

Diane Haithman

Detroit Free Press

Mar 24, 2023

6/10

It may not be serious, but it's totally sincere; it never laughs at its own jokes. In fact, I'm not sure it even gets them. And you can't help but respond to Evil Dead at some level beyond the usual horror-movie fright and disgust.

Go to Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Boston Phoenix

Mar 24, 2023

Sam Raimi's technique is equal to his perverse imagination. In his first directorial outing, he's already got a flair for the visual grammar of horror movies that John Carpenter might envy.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

3 days ago

3.5/4

Few horror flicks have been as deliriously demented, as insanely radical, as alive, as this so-called "ultimate experience in grueling horror."

Go to Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Aug 3, 2026

this horror classic is still a banger featuring writer and director Sam Raimi’s excellent camera work, editor Edna Ruth Paul’s effective and efficient montages, excess gross outs and unremitting bleak storyline.

Go to Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Oct 13, 2025

6/10

A B-movie horror film in which Raimi demonstrates his technical expertise in building bloody atmospheres in the cabin in the woods, but its narrative often stumbles into clichés that take the chills out of the gore show. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Eric G

May 27, 2026

classic but damn these undead wail for waaaay too long

See more

Juandi

May 11, 2026

I just watched this for the first time & I tried not to be biased. The remake is one of my favorite horror movies & it’s far beyond the original Evil Dead. For the time this was released & such a small budget, this was okay. I did fall asleep for 15 minutes though.

See more

Jim C

Apr 26, 2026

one of the absolute best. never saw this on the big screen until screening. Evil Dead rules. Ash rules. Sam Raimi rules.

See more

Tristen

Apr 25, 2026

Evil Dead (1981) is an absolute classic, I love the franchise and the way they build the world in the story is near perfect.

See more

claudio

Apr 25, 2026

Legendary classic status. Every horror fan should watch at least once

See more

aimee

Apr 25, 2026

brilliant 👏 one of my absolute favorites an amazing turning point in the horror genre. this was my first time experiencing this beautiful classic historical masterpiece in the theater! what am amazing 👏 experience indeed just pre bliss from this horror fan. this is the making of a great franchise with 2 new movies on way. so excited for those as well! Bruce was born to be Ashley.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Sam Raimi

Director

Bruce Campbell

Ashly 'Ash' J. Williams

Ellen Sandweiss

Cheryl

Betsy Baker

Linda

Richard DeManincor

Scotty

Theresa Tilly

Shelly

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - The Tree Attack

1:56

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Trapped in the Cabin

0:56

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - They Won't Stop Laughing

3:17

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Rising From the Grave

1:52

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - The Zombies Attack

2:33

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - The Walls Bleed

2:15

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Demons Possess Cheryl

2:48

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Killing the Zombies

2:43

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Hacked to Pieces

4:46

Now Playing

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Psycho Demon Girlfriend

2:23

Now Playing

View more videos

Santa Sangre

88%

86%

Santa Sangre

Watchlist

A Serbian Film

47%

45%

A Serbian Film

Watchlist

Darkman II: The Return of Durant

48%

20%

Darkman II: The Return of Durant

Watchlist

The Devils

56%

88%

The Devils

Watchlist

Darkman III: Die Darkman Die

39%

21%

Darkman III: Die Darkman Die

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The 8 Best Ways to Turn a Movie into an Amazing TV Series

Bruce Campbell Retired Ash, But Ash vs Evil Dead Finale May Leave Hope For Evil Dead 4

Bruce Campbell Says Ash vs Evil Dead Season 3 May Finally Break Ash

The Evil Dead: Trailer 1

1:52

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Ashley "Ash" Williams (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend and three pals hike into the woods to a cabin for a fun night away. There they find an old book, the Necronomicon, whose text reawakens the dead when it's read aloud. The friends inadvertently release a flood of evil and must fight for their lives or become one of the evil dead. Ash watches his friends become possessed, and must make a difficult decision before daybreak to save his own life in this, the first of Sam Raimi's trilogy.

Director: Sam Raimi
Producer: Rob Tapert
Screenwriter: Sam Raimi
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Renaissance Pictures
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm, 16mm

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings