33 Years Ago, An Iconic Horror Film Series Changed Genres (And It Killed the Franchise for Decades)

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As a horror fan, I’ve noticed it’s surprisingly hard to actually kill a franchise. These movies, whether it’s about a killer at summer camp or some small-town monster, are often made quickly and on the cheap. That means even if critics hate them and they don’t make a ton of money, a little bit of profit can be enough for another sequel! Seriously, even ‘killing’ the villain doesn’t always work – remember Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter? It was anything but final, with seven more movies and a crossover following it! And don’t even get me started on continuity. The Halloween series has basically rewritten its own history multiple times, ignoring sequels and starting over. It’s wild!

It’s always notable when a popular horror series comes to an end, and that’s exactly what happened over thirty years ago today. On February 19, 1993, Army of Darkness, the third Evil Dead film directed by Sam Raimi, was released. While the movie was profitable and enjoyed by audiences, it ultimately became the last installment in a much-loved franchise. The reasons for this are obvious now, but back then, the direction the series took was quite bold – and hasn’t been replicated since.

Army of Darkness Moved The Evil Dead Into a Totally Different Genre

After the surprising success of The Evil Dead in 1981 – earning nearly $30 million despite costing only $350,000 to make – a sequel seemed inevitable, especially since horror franchises were incredibly popular at the time. Evil Dead II (1987) continued the story of Ash Williams, delivering both scares and laughs, and cleverly ended with him transported back to the Middle Ages. In 1993, Army of Darkness saw the return of the original creative team, expanding the Evil Dead universe even further. They transformed the series from a straightforward horror film into a blend of slapstick comedy, horror, and ultimately, a large-scale fantasy adventure.

What makes Army of Darkness special is that despite borrowing elements from other genres and playfully following familiar movie structures – even parodying Jason and the Argonauts – it’s still undeniably an Evil Dead film. Director Sam Raimi continues to use his signature shaky camera work, and the movie is packed with gruesome and over-the-top monster deaths. More importantly, Bruce Campbell’s portrayal of Ash in this film truly cemented the character’s personality, shaping how he’d be depicted in comics and video games for years to come – even more than the first two Evil Dead movies. Most of Ash’s famous lines actually come from Army of Darkness, with the exception of the classic “Groovy.”

What makes Army of Darkness stand out is its even more over-the-top humor and gore compared to the previous films, and it’s generally a much larger production. It perfectly embodies what you’d expect from a series that went from a small, independent movie to a major studio franchise. Ironically, being produced and distributed by Universal Pictures is precisely what ultimately ended the series, as their requests for changes and a bigger scope proved to be its downfall.

Army of Darkness Ended The Evil Dead Series for Decades (But Not Why You Think)

Production on Army of Darkness ran into difficulties early on due to financial issues. The film needed more special effects than its predecessors and took nearly 100 days to film, causing the budget to climb to around $12 million. Bruce Campbell described the shoot as a constant struggle in a 2023 interview with Mick Garris on Post Mortem.

With a bigger budget and high hopes from the studio, Army of Darkness faced an uphill battle. Universal, wanting a blockbuster, tried to market it as a standalone film, separating it from the previous Evil Dead movies. This meant many viewers didn’t realize it was a sequel. The studio also attempted to get a PG-13 rating to reach a broader audience, a move that often doesn’t satisfy fans or improve a film’s quality.

The film earned $11.5 million in the US, making it profitable. However, its failure to become a major blockbuster wasn’t due to changes in style or genre. Instead, it was caused by interference from people involved in the production, which ultimately led the film in the wrong direction. Bruce Campbell explained in a 2023 interview that they essentially ended the Army of Darkness franchise, and it remained stalled for 25 years.

Campbell is correct that the series ended after Army of Darkness didn’t perform well, but it never truly disappeared. Several home video releases for each film kept it alive, and Sam Raimi’s success directing the Spider-Man movies further boosted its profile. After Army of Darkness, Evil Dead also continued through numerous comic books and video games.

The Evil Dead franchise is currently enjoying a strong resurgence. After a long wait, a new Evil Dead film arrived in 2013, and Bruce Campbell reprised his role in the Ash vs Evil Dead TV series, which ran for three seasons. In 2023, Evil Dead Rise offered a fresh setting, moving the action from the woods to an apartment building. Later this year, a new installment called Evil Dead Burn is scheduled for release, though details are still scarce.

Even after all these years, Army of Darkness still teaches us a valuable lesson: change can be a positive thing. While the movie’s initial struggles were due to factors beyond the filmmakers’ control, the choices that ultimately led to its creation have proven successful. The Evil Dead franchise continues to thrive because it’s adaptable, and Army of Darkness played a key role in allowing it to evolve.

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2026-02-20 00:15