The Evil Dead franchise just got bigger. Evil Dead Burn hit theaters on July 10, 2026, bringing a fresh wave of blood, demons, and screams to the big screen. For over forty years, this series has mixed raw horror with dark humor, chainsaws, and the terrifying Deadites.

Fans had always debated about the scariest outing in the franchise. To settle this debate, we ranked all six movies purely by their scare factor. From the goofy fun of the middle entries to the brutal terror of the newest releases, here is every Evil Dead film ranked from least to most frightening.

6. Army of Darkness (1992)

Bruce Campbell and Embeth Davidtz in Army of Darkness (1992) | Credits: Universal Pictures

Honestly, Army of Darkness is barely considered an Evil Dead movie. This third entry throws Bruce Campbell‘s Ash back in time to the Middle Ages, where he battles skeleton armies. The tone is pure comedy and adventure, packed with silly one-liners, slapstick gags, and cartoonish fight scenes.

The skeletons are more funny than frightening, feeling like something from an old fantasy film. There are almost no real scares here, and that is clearly the point. Fans do adore this movie, and it proved how far the franchise can stretch its imagination. However, based on the scare factor, this movie is at the very bottom of this list.

5. The Evil Dead (1981)

Ellen Sandweiss as Cheryl Williams in The Evil Dead (1981) | Credits: New Line Cinema

The Evil Dead‘s release in 1981 is comparable to Obsession, as Sam Raimi was still a young, budding filmmaker like Curry Barker when he made this genre-defining movie. It had a raw and unsettling power, enough to kickstart a whole horror franchise. However, by today’s standards, it lands at the bottom for pure scares.

Shot on a tiny budget, the film follows five friends who unleash evil at a lonely cabin in the woods. Sure, the shaky camera work and grainy look made it a genuinely close-to-home horror at that time. But the dated effects soften the fear for modern viewers. It is still respected as a solid foundation, with a creepy and wild story at its center.

4. Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie in Evil Dead Rise (2023) | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Lee Cronin‘s Evil Dead Rise moved the setting of the horror out of the woods and into a crumbling city apartment, bringing a fresh dread to the franchise. The story centers on Alyssa Sutherland’s Ellie, a mother who becomes possessed, turning her own children into targets inside a locked-down building.

Much of the horror came from the closed-in setting that created a strong feeling of being trapped with no escape. And watching a parent turn into a monster hunting her family is deeply upsetting. There are plenty of jump-worthy moments and a genuinely tense atmosphere throughout. However, it leans on familiar franchise beats and some predictable scares compared to the other outings.

3. Evil Dead II (1987)

Bruce Campbell in a still from Evil Dead II | Credits: Rosebud Releasing Corporation

Part remake, part sequel, Evil Dead II perfectly mixes horror and comedy. The premise sounds a little silly, with Ash returning to his cabin after the first movie to face a nightmare of possessed hands, laughing furniture, and buckets of blood. But the movie has some real scares, with creepy Deadites and disturbing transformations that still hold up well.

What makes it stand apart from the modern adaptations is how well it balances much of its terror with humor and physical comedy. It is a horror classic and a thrilling watch, even though the laughs often cut through the fear before it fully sinks in.

2. Evil Dead (2013)

Jane Levy as Mia in Evil Dead (2013) | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

The 2013 remake stripped away all the jokes and went straight for brutal horror. Fede Alvarez‘s movie focuses on a group of friends at a cabin who are trying to help one of them quit drugs. What follows is relentless and vicious. The practical effects are stomach-churning.

This version features self-harm, possession, and truly grim violence that pushes viewers to their limits. There is no comfort or humor to hide behind here, which makes every gruesome moment hit harder. The hopeless tone and unflinching gore create a genuinely disturbing experience.

1. Evil Dead Burn (2026)

The newest chapter takes the crown as the scariest of them all, even though critics are divided on whether it’s a good or bad thing. The story follows a woman who, after losing her husband, seeks comfort with her in-laws at their secluded family home, only for them to transform into Deadites one by one.

It is a gross-out horror experience with impressive practical effects, with critics calling it one of the meanest entries in the franchise. In our review of Evil Dead Burn, FW’s Sean Boelman of FW gave it 9 out of 10, sharing that the movie “boasts both some of the most disturbing and some of the most beautiful horror imagery you will see in the genre this year.”

RankingEvil Dead moviesRT Score (As of July 12, 2026)IMDb Score (As of July 12, 2026)Where to Watch1Evil Dead Burn (2026)71% | 81%6.9/10In theaters2Evil Dead (2013)64% | 64%6.5/10HBO Max, YouTube TV3Evil Dead II (1987)88% | 89%7.6/10HBO Max, Kanopy, YouTube TV4Army of Darkness (1992)68% | 87%7.4/10HBO Max5Evil Dead Rise (2023)85% | 76%6.5/10HBO Max, YouTube TV6The Evil Dead (1981)85% | 84%7.3/10HBO Max, AMC+

Which of these movies do you think is the scariest? Let us know in the comments below!

Evil Dead Burn has arrived in theaters on July 10, 2026.
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