It’s very exciting to see Sam Raimi turn his obvious and dazzling talent into a comic book movie again for the first time since he helped revolutionize the genre by… Spider Man Triple. What was particularly satisfying Doctor Strange in a multiverse of madness is how he uses some of the scariest stylistic elements that the director is famous for inventing with evil dead Movies.
Of course, there’s a lot more to find in the director’s filmography other than some of the best horror movies and blockbuster comics of all time. In fact, he’s tried his hand at just about every genre you can think of, often combining some of them into unique blends. See for yourself by streaming, digitally renting, or actually buying our pick of the best Sam Raimi movies, starting with the franchise that put him on the map.
The Evil Dead films (1981-1992)
During a visit to a secluded cabin, a humble young man (Bruce Campbell) and his friends accidentally awaken malevolent entities and possessions with a strange and mysterious book called the Necronomicon, sparking a bloody battle that eventually sends the hero back to the Middle Ages.
Why they are among the best Sam Raimi films: Writer and director Sam Raimi became an independent horror hero with Evil died; Mastered the 1987 comedy horror film Evil Dead II; And bring his terrifying cartoon vision to the fantasy adventure genre dark army — all making up one of the horror movie’s greatest franchises (which later inspired a cult-favorite TV show, several video games, a great reboot of 2013, and a fourth installment coming to HBO Max in 2022).
Stream The Evil Dead on Shudder.
Buy/Rent The Evil Dead on Amazon.
Buy/Rent Evil Dead II on Amazon.
Stream Army of Darkness on HBO Max.
Buy/Rent Dark Army on Amazon.
Get The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Get Army of Darkness on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Crimewave (1985)
As he awaits his execution while seated in an electric chair, a mean-spirited man unjustly accused of murder (Red Bernie) recalls his bizarre and explosive experiences with the real culprits: a pair of insane exterminators (Bryon James and Paul L. James) on an aimless deadly rampage.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: In his follow up to Evil died (who also co-wrote with Joel and Ethan Coen), Sam Raimi goes in a very different direction that becomes his signature style with crime wave – Exciting and stunning noir transmission that often looks like a cartoon captured in live action and stars Bruce Campbell.
Crimewave stream on Tubi.
Play Crimewave on Freevee via Amazon Prime.
Get Crimewave on DVD/Blu-ray from Amazon.
Intruder (1989)
As they discover it will be one of their last night shifts, the stockpile crew at a small grocery store learn that there is an uninvited guest among them who is determined to make her the last night alive.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: Although he never had any creative involvement in the ’80s cult favorite slasher game, Sam Raimi has starred as a meat department worker named Randy in intruderwhich was written and directed by his friend and frequent collaborator Scott Spiegel (and also appears as Bruce Campbell in a short appearance at the end).
Stream intruders to shiver.
Buy/Rent Intruder on Amazon.
Get Intruder on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.
Dark Man (1990)
After an incident involving a group of vicious criminals that leaves him burnt strangely and virtually unrecognizable, a brilliant scientist (Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson) uses a revolutionary artificial skin of his invention to temporarily disguise himself as anyone he chooses to take revenge on him. Enemies and reconnect with his wife (Oscar winner Frances McDormand).
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: Long before he was chosen to lead Spider Man Movies (which we’ll talk about soon), Sam Raimi made his superhero debut with a movie he made and Not based on any pre-existing comic books call dark mana sci-fi thriller very unique in concept and style… which also features Bruce Campbell in a short appearance at the end.
Buy/Rent Darkman on Amazon.
Get Darkman on DVD/Blu-ray from Amazon.
Hudsucker Agent (1994)
A naive-eyed business school graduate (Tim Robbins) is suddenly promoted from his position as the mailroom attendant of a major manufacturing company to president – unaware that it’s all part of a stock market scam in 1950s New York City.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: Although he didn’t direct this refreshingly fast-paced comedy, Sam Raimi has had a short cameo and also collaborated with his friends Joel and Ethan Coen on the script for Hudsucker Agentin which Bruce Campbell appears in the supporting role as a quiet reporter named Smitty.
Buy/Rent a Hudsucker Agent on Amazon.
Get a Hudsucker Agent on Blu-ray on Amazon.
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
A mysterious and beautiful woman with a talent for sharpshooting (Academy Award nominee Sharon Stone) sets out for a poor town ruled with an iron fist by a ruthless wealthy tyrant (Oscar winner Gene Hackman) and participates in a fencing tournament in an attempt to take him down.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: After tackling horror, crime comics, and superhero movies, Sam Raimi tries to deal with a Western. On the quick and the dead, one of the most visually and hilariously unique efforts, from a screenplay by Simone Moore. Bruce Campbell was supposed to play a brief role, but it was cut.
Stream The Quick And The Dead on Netflix.
Buy/Rent The Quick And The Dead on Amazon.
Get The Quick And The Dead on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Simple Plan (1998)
Family man (Bill Paxton), brother (Billy Bob Thornton) and friend (Brent Briscoe) discover a multi-million dollar case in the hidden remains of a plane crash while hiking in the woods. They conspire to keep it to themselves until complications arise that make them turn on each other.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: In one of the most serious and enduring films of his career, director Sam Raimi makes an increasingly spine-tingling suspense thriller from simple planwhich earned Academy Award nominations for its performance as Thornton and the screenplay by Scott B. Smith based on his bestselling novel.
Buy/Rent Simple Plan on Amazon.
Get Simple Plan on DVD on Amazon.
For the love of the game (1999)
During a high-stakes baseball game he just learned would be his last, veteran Detroit Lions bowler (Academy Award winner Kevin Costner) flashes through flashbacks the most important moments of his sports career and his relationship with him. A girlfriend (Kelly Preston), whom he may also lose today at a new job in London.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: Sam Raimi tries his hand at both sports movies (or baseball movies, more accurately) and romantic dramas For the love of the gameAn inspiring and structurally unique story based on Michael Chara’s novel.
Stream Love Of The Game on Starz.
Buy/Rent for the Love of the Game on Amazon.
Get the love of the game on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.
The Gift (2000)
A widowed mother and clairvoyant (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett) with true non-sensual abilities is asked to help investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young woman (Katie Holmes), only to suspect her life is in danger.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: In what can be described as a return to his apocalyptic roots, director Sam Raimi makes another stunning visual, narrative, and star-studded winner of the gift. It’s one of Cate Blanchett’s best movies, and he wrote it simple plan Stars Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson.
Broadcast the gift on Amazon Prime.
Get the gift on DVD on Amazon.
Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy (2002-2007)
A smart young man (Tobey Maguire) is granted extraordinary abilities from a radioactive spider bite, which helps him protect New York City from a vengeful businessman dressed as a fictional creature (Willem Dafoe), a disgraced scientist with four extra mechanical arms (Alfred) Molina, and a desperate thief. His body is made up of sand-like particles after an accident (Thomas Haden Church), and other threats range from the common to the unusual.
Why they are among the best Sam Raimi films: In his first big comeback in superhero movies (which also turns out to be very influential in the forward-moving genre), director Sam Raimi has brought Marvel Comics’ iconic web stand-up to the big screen with his dazzling style of trilogy Spider Man Films, each with a brief, but hilariously unforgettable cameo of Bruce Campbell.
Buy Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy on Amazon.
Get Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy on Blu-ray on Amazon.
drag me to hell (2009)
Hoping that it will earn her a long-awaited promotion, a young loan officer (Allison Lohmann) rejects an elderly woman (Lorna Raver)’s mortgage extension request, which then inflicts a curse on her that makes her the target of a ruthless, ancient demon who threatens to send her to eternal damnation within days.
Why is it one of Sam Raimi’s best films: In his big comeback to the horror genre, director Sam-Rémy puts Loman in the same kind of sparse mockery he subjected to Bruce Campbell in evil dead moving with drag me to hell — a grotesquely scary, hilariously funny, brutal B-movie co-written with his brother, Evan Remy, and deserves a sequel in the eyes of some.
Stream Drag Me to Hell on Hulu.
Buy/Rent Drag Me to Hell on Amazon.
Get Drag Me To Hell on Blu-ray on Amazon.
If you’re a Sam Raimi fan like me, I imagine the release of his first installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Strange in a multiverse of madnessJust getting you more excited to see what he has next in store. Now in pre-production is his adaptation of Patrick Rothfuss’ fiction, The Kingkiller Chronicle, I hope his wretched movie, world war 3 (which was first announced in 2016), it will be launched soon.