Every Sam Raimi Movie, Ranked (Including Send Help)

Sam Raimi’s new movie, Send Help, is a surprisingly strong addition to the usually slow month of January releases, and marks his 16th film over a 45-year career. Throughout those decades, Raimi has proven himself to be incredibly adaptable, trying his hand at nearly every type of movie. He’s particularly well-known for two things: horror-comedy – he directed what many consider the greatest film in that genre, and Send Help certainly fits within it – and superhero movies, a field he’s returned to at different points in his career.

Does his most acclaimed film fall into any of those groups? Are those the only kinds of movies he’s truly excelled at? Let’s take a look and see.

16) For Love of the Game

Some of Sam Raimi’s films felt like he was simply fulfilling a director’s role, and that’s because he was. However, even those projects contained elements that he personally connected with.

This also includes the film For Love of the Game, which Sam Raimi directed simply because he enjoyed the story and was a big baseball fan. However, the movie doesn’t really feel like one of his, and it’s arguably the least inspiring of Kevin Costner’s sports dramas. A positive outcome, though, was that it marked the beginning of a successful working relationship between Costner and J.K. Simmons.

Stream For Love of the Game for free with ads on YouTube.

15) Crimewave

The Coen brothers and Sam Raimi have collaborated for years. Raimi even cast Bruce Campbell in several of their films – including The Hudsucker Proxy, Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers, and Fargo (where he makes a quick, almost hidden appearance on television). Beyond that, Joel Coen worked as an editor on Raimi’s The Evil Dead, and Raimi often turned to the Coens for advice, such as when he was making A Simple Plan. These are just a few examples of their ongoing creative partnership.

The Coen brothers and Sam Raimi also worked together on Crimewave, a film they co-wrote. While it doesn’t quite live up to expectations for a collaboration between these three talents, much of that is due to interference from Embassy Films Associates – the final product was heavily altered. It’s overly silly, but even that makes it more noteworthy than For Love of the Game.

Stream Crimewave for free with ads on Tubi.

14) Oz the Great and Powerful

Sam Raimi directed Oz the Great and Powerful hoping to create a movie the whole family could enjoy. While his Spider-Man films came close, this one doesn’t really feel like a classic Raimi production. It’s a visually polished but ultimately forgettable and overly sweet prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Most people looking for a story like this would much prefer Wicked – and that stage show was popular years before Oz the Great and Powerful even came out.

The special effects are so overwhelming that they overshadow any real character development in the film. It suffers from the same problems as Disney’s John Carter from the year before. While Taylor Kitsch did an okay job in that movie, James Franco just doesn’t fit in this one. Luckily, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Joey King give decent performances, but overall, it’s a forgettable movie considering its $215 million price tag.

Stream Oz the Great and Powerful on Disney+.

13) Spider-Man 3

Without Spider-Man 3, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy would be considered one of the greatest ever. While time has softened the impact somewhat, it’s still a noticeable drop in quality compared to the groundbreaking first film and the excellent second one.

By now, everyone knows about the issues with this film – from the silly dancing in the Saturday Night Fever scene to the forced inclusion of Venom. These problems are so significant that nothing feels quite right. Thomas Haden Church was a standout as Sandman, and he would have been better served as one of two main villains, alongside a Hobgoblin character. James Franco’s performance, however, feels a bit strange.

Stream Spider-Man 3 on Disney+.

12) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Originally, Scott Derrickson, the director of the first Doctor Strange film, had been developing Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness for several years. Eventually, Sam Raimi took over the project, and filming began quickly. This change in directors, combined with the fast pace of production, likely contributes to the film’s inconsistent tone. It doesn’t feel like a clear creative vision, but rather a necessary continuation of Doctor Strange’s story and an attempt to wrap up Scarlet Witch’s storyline.

There are some clear signs of Sam Raimi’s style in the movie – the scene with Wanda navigating reflections, the creepy Zombie Strange sequence which feels like something from his Evil Dead films, and even the shocking (but bloodless) moment with Black Bolt. Plus, who could forget Pizza Papa? While it’s great to have a Marvel movie directed by Raimi, especially after the mixed reaction to Spider-Man 3, Multiverse of Madness makes you wish he’d had complete creative control from the start. Marvel usually keeps a tight grip on its directors, but this film showed they were willing to give Raimi some freedom. It would be fascinating to see what he could achieve with that level of creative license from the very beginning.

Stream Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney+.

11) The Gift

The Gift is a horror-drama similar to films like The Sixth Sense and Stir of Echoes. While it’s not quite as gripping as those movies, it does feature a strong performance from its lead actress – her first major role in an American film after gaining recognition in Elizabeth a couple of years prior.

This movie feels like the kind of psychic thriller you’d often see on basic cable, similar to films like What Lies Beneath. It has a talented cast and crew, but ultimately it’s a bit superficial and not particularly memorable.

Stream The Gift for free on Kanopy.

10) The Quick and the Dead

While some may see The Quick and the Dead as Sam Raimi simply fulfilling a job rather than pursuing a personal vision, it’s undeniably still a film with his signature style. It’s full of energy, uses lots of dramatic close-ups, and centers around a character who’s experienced significant hardship.

While Quick doesn’t reach the same artistic heights as Gene Hackman’s Unforgiven, it doesn’t aim to. It’s a fun, fast-moving movie perfect for a Saturday afternoon, built around a straightforward idea – competitive showdowns – that works really well.

Stream The Quick and the Dead on MGM+.

9) Army of Darkness

Look, I get why people are so into Army of Darkness. It really does stand apart from the first two films, and that’s okay! Evil Dead II was already a big departure, leaning into over-the-top campiness while the original was a pretty standard horror story. So, Army of Darkness being different just feels like a natural progression to me.

The strength of Army of Darkness lies in its blend of action, comedy, and just a touch of horror – the two-headed Ash scene is a perfect example of how well that mix works. However, the final battle with medieval soldiers against laughing skeletons feels a little too over-the-top and strays from the feel of the original Evil Dead. That said, it’s perfectly understandable if you enjoy it a lot! It really showcases director Sam Raimi’s style and Bruce Campbell’s incredible comedic timing.

8) Darkman

Following three low-budget movies, Darkman was a bigger opportunity for Raimi. It also marked his first venture into superhero films—though not as well-known as Spider-Man, it’s still a noteworthy achievement. The film featured a completely original character, a story created by Raimi himself. Plus, it helped establish Liam Neeson as an action star roughly two decades before Taken.

Darkman shows director Sam Raimi’s talent for superhero stories was just as strong as his skills with traditional horror or, particularly, comedic horror. It perfectly blends those strengths, creating a hero who feels like he stepped out of both classic monster movies and a Marvel comic book. The film is a clever and enjoyable experience, boosted by a fantastic performance from Larry Drake as the villain, and it’s a good length – it doesn’t drag on.

Stream Darkman on Philo.

7) Drag Me to Hell

Sam Raimi is celebrated as a master of horror, but it’s interesting to note that he’s only made one truly traditional horror film. He usually combines horror with other genres, most often comedy. After a 17-year gap, he revisited this blended approach with Drag Me to Hell. Before that, his closest brush with pure horror since Army of Darkness came in moments within the Spider-Man trilogy, like the operating room scene in Spider-Man 2, which clearly showed his horror influences.

The best thing about Drag Me is its unique tone – it constantly balances a sense of growing despair with surprisingly goofy, over-the-top humor. The movie understands that curses are fundamentally ridiculous and really leans into the fun of what they could do to people, and the difficult situations they might create. Plus, the ending is arguably even more satisfying than the cliffhanger in Evil Dead II.

Stream Drag Me to Hell on HBO Max.

6) Send Help

It’s possible I’m favoring newer films, which might explain why I rank Send Help higher than Drag Me to Hell. However, they’re both fantastic movies that complement each other. What connects them isn’t the story, but the way they feel – they both showcase director Sam Raimi using the same energetic style he’s known for in Evil Dead, but in stories without any demons.

This film moves even further away from the style of Evil Dead, and that’s actually a good thing. While some of that over-the-top horror still appears occasionally – like in a hilarious scene involving a boar that had audiences in Virginia roaring with laughter – the movie primarily focuses on developing its characters and building tension as a survival thriller. Though director Sam Raimi’s signature style and energy definitely enhance the film and make it highly rewatchable, Rachel McAdams is truly the standout. This could very well be the best performance of her career, and that’s high praise.

5) The Evil Dead

Every horror fan should see The Evil Dead when they’re starting out. It’s a truly iconic movie, and the fact that it was made on a low budget actually makes it even more effective.

Considered the ultimate cabin-in-the-woods horror film, The Evil Dead set the standard for the genre and continues to influence it today. Its low-budget, almost documentary-like style immediately draws you in, and the fast-paced plot keeps you hooked until the very end. While the sequel is arguably a stronger film overall, many would place this original at the top of any list based on personal preference.

Stream The Evil Dead for free with ads on Tubi.

4) Spider-Man

Watching the first Spider-Man movie in theaters when I was ten years old felt incredibly special, and it deserved to. While Superman and Batman paved the way, Spider-Man was equally crucial in proving that superhero movies could be big hits in Hollywood. It was a major event – and for good reason! The movie was hugely fun, really charming, and moved at a great pace, making it appealing to everyone.

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of superhero origin stories, and honestly, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man still stands above the rest. While the sequel might have gotten into more complex themes, this film nailed the essentials: showing us how Peter Parker got his powers and, crucially, the heartbreaking loss of Uncle Ben. It did it so well, in fact, that when The Amazing Spider-Man tried to cover the same ground, audiences rightly pointed out the redundancy. This isn’t just a good origin story; it defined the genre for years, with countless films borrowing its structure – even down to those iconic shots of Spider-Man swinging through the city. And it really highlights Raimi’s genius for casting. The studio wanted Leonardo DiCaprio as Peter Parker, but Raimi fought for Tobey Maguire, and thank goodness he did. Then there’s Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin – a truly inspired choice. It’s rare to see a villain casting so perfectly suited to the role.

Stream Spider-Man on Disney+.

3) A Simple Plan

As noted in the description for Crimewave, Sam Raimi consulted with the Coen brothers while making A Simple Plan. This influence is clear, as both films share visual and thematic similarities with their movie Fargo. The main difference is that A Simple Plan lacks the darkly comedic tone found in Fargo.

There’s something captivating about stories where everyday people stumble upon a large sum of money. We’re fascinated to see how they react – how the money changes them, drives them against each other, and ultimately what they’re willing to sacrifice for it, whether it’s their lives or their sense of self. A Simple Plan excels at making its characters feel like believable, ordinary people, which makes the story’s dramatic events even more powerful and affecting.

Stream A Simple Plan on MGM+.

2) Spider-Man 2

Even now, Spider-Man 2 is widely considered one of the greatest superhero films of all time, and for good reason. It’s just as fun to watch as the first movie, but it delves even deeper into Peter Parker’s personal struggles. His efforts to balance his normal life with being Spider-Man still feel relatable, and the conflict with Doc Ock is compelling because both characters are driven by a desire to do what’s right.

The choice of Alfred Molina as Doc Ock was inspired. Following Willem Dafoe’s iconic Goblin performance felt like a huge challenge, but Molina truly delivered. He quickly transformed the villain into a sympathetic, tragic character, manipulated by outside forces.

Stream Spider-Man 2 on Disney+.

1) Evil Dead II

To understand director Sam Raimi’s unique style, watch Evil Dead II. It’s truly one of a kind. While films like Night of the Demons, The Cabin in the Woods, and Dead Alive share some similarities, none quite match the film’s energetic, over-the-top, and delightfully gruesome humor and action – it’s like a live-action Looney Tunes with blood.

Evil Dead II is relentlessly entertaining. While the first film took some time to establish its story, this one jumps right in, essentially retelling the beginning with just Ash and Linda. That quick re-introduction actually starts the movie’s real plot. By the time Linda’s headless body starts dancing, the film has completely moved beyond the story of the original. It feels like Raimi had to compromise with the first Evil Dead, and this sequel is where he truly got to realize his vision – it’s brilliantly simple, but anything but basic.

Stream Evil Dead II for free with ads on The Roku Channel.

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2026-02-03 02:46