This year's lineup of haunted houses for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is shaping up to be an all-star assortment that embraces both classics like Hellraiser's Pinhead as well as bringing houses for newer iconic properties like Ryan Coogler's Sinners. The latest big-screen frightfest heading to HHN is arguably one of the most brutal, as fans can look forward to Sebastien Vaniček's Evil Dead Burn getting the theme park spotlight.

Deadites aplenty will try to get under park-goers' collective skin when the Evil Dead Burn haunted house hits Halloween Horror Nights for its 35th anniversary on August 28 at Universal Orlando Resort, and on September 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood. Tickets are available now! (Pro tip: probably don't buy anything from someone with blacked-out eyes and skin falling off of their face.)

The new house, based on the sixth theatrical release in the Evil Dead film series, will focus on the horrors that begin plaguing the Joseph, Alice, and the rest of the Price family during their funeral-set reunion of sorts. It's a perfect movie for the format, given the location, and the fun kicks off as soon as visitors walk through the front door of the secluded home.

The rest of the house will get increasingly freakier as the Deadites bring all forms of gory chaos to the walkthrough. I can't wait to see how that gag-worthy candle sequence is brought to life, much less other hyper-violent and jarring moments.

Good luck making it through to the end without yourself being added to the undead army. Will there be any easter eggs tied to Bruce Campbell? Probably not, but that doesn't mean you can't obsessively look at every detail in the hopes that one exists. Check out the video teaser below!

For those who want to take a piece of the attraction home, both parks are selling limited-time exclusives such as an Evil Dead Burn T-shirt, hat and acrylic figure that connects to other figures as part of the infernal carnival display.

This isn't the first time that this Sam Raimi-created franchise has been celebrated for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Back in 2013, Fede Álvarez's Evil Dead made its theme park debut, followed by the splatter-tastic TV series Ash vs. Evil Dead getting honored in 2017.

All The 2026 Halloween Horror Nights Houses So Far

• Cybergoria (Orlando)
• Evil Dead Burn (Orlando and Hollywood)
• H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular! (Orlando)
• Hellraiser (Orlando and Hollywood)
• Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control (Orlando)
• MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals (Orlando)
• INVASION: Alien Abduction (Orlando)
• Sinners (Orlando and Hollywood)
• Stranger Things Season 5 (Orlando and Hollywood)

Evil Dead Burn, which won a lot of critics over despite its intensity, is currently still in theaters, where it ended its second week at the box office with around $24 million domestic. Worldwide, it's currently brought in over $50 million against its reported $20 million budget. Another sequel, Evil Dead Wrath, is already being filmed and is set for a 2028 release date. Maybe we'll see that one get its own haunted house as well.

Before any of that, though, remember that Evil Dead Burn will be making its Halloween Horror Nights debut on August 28 at Universal Orlando Resort, and on September 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Many longtime fans of the Evil Dead franchise have been excited for Evil Dead Burn — the sixth installment in the series. Reactions to the brutal first trailer were wild, with people freaking out about the “horrible, horrible things” being portrayed. Evil Dead Burn reviews are out ahead of its release on the 2026 movie calendar, and while critics agree this is the most violent of the franchise, one big question has them split: Is an Evil Dead movie dependent on at least some humor?

In the latest offering a recently widowed woman and her in-laws seclude themselves in a remote house that has ties to the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. Despite hitting the obligatory beats like the Book of the Dead and requisite Deadites, some critics like David Rooney of THR crave some laughs to break up the “grisly carnage” and “vicious cruelty.” Gorehounds, however, will be more than satisfied. Rooney writes:

Mark Kennedy of the AP agrees, rating the movie just 1 star out of 4. With so much elevated horror available these days (see Obsession and Backrooms’ record-breaking box office runs), Evil Dead Burn seems like a step in the wrong direction. Director Sébastien Vaniček promised to make this installment the franchise’s most brutal, and he did — just without being artful, clever or scary, Kennedy says, writing:

Maria Loreto of Polygon notes that while the first three Evil Dead movies brought slapstick comedy, the fourth and fifth offerings added gravitas with dramatic storylines. Evil Dead Burn is successful on neither of those levels, Loreto writes. Her Evil Dead Burn review reads:

Meanwhile, Nick Schager of the Daily Beast agrees that both revulsion and hilarity are the lifeblood of the Evil Dead movies, but unlike the above critics, he thinks that dichotomy is on full display in Evil Dead Burn. The movie, according to Schager, “finds the funny in the fantastically nasty — and, in doing so, proves a stomach-churningly amusing nightmare." The critic says:

Alison Foreman of IndieWire also says she found plenty of goofiness in the upcoming horror movie, and even more than that or how Sébastien Vaniček’s monsters contort victims into “inventive new shapes,” Foreman seems impressed by what the Evil Dead franchise has been able to do overall. In the critics’ words:

So there’s little question that if you’re looking for gore, Evil Dead Burn won’t disappoint. If you’re looking for Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell’s slapstick approach to Deadite horror, this may not be the movie for you. How important is humor to the franchise anyway?

Whatever your feelings on the topic, if you’re excited about this next Evil Dead offering, don’t let these reviews stop you from getting your ticket to the movie, which hits theaters Friday, July 10.

To say that we love the Evil Dead franchise here at CinemaBlend is probably an understatement, as the first three films made our list of the best horror movies of all time, with Ash vs. Evil Dead gleefully delivering some of TV’s grossest sequences. And even though French filmmaker Sebastien Vaniček’s upcoming horror movie Evil Dead Burn is another standalone entry that aims more for extreme terror than anything comedic, it still comes with a seal of approval from OGs Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi.

Evil Dead Burn's first trailer offered a compacted smor-gore-sbord of the intensity that horror fans can anticipate when the 2026 movie releases on July 10, and Vaniček talked to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend for the newest issue about being heavily influenced by the hyper-violent films that sparked the New French Extremity moniker. But no need to fear it feeling like a completely different horror movie. The director shared that Ash Williams himself, Bruce Campbell, had but one request when they first talked about Burn’s approach. In his words:

Gotta love hearing that Campbell only wanted the newest franchise director to stick to the mission statement, but without attempting to convince Vaniček to go in any specific directions with it. It's not entirely unexpected, but still means a lot.

Bruce Campbell essentially retired from portraying Ash in live-action, and previously turned down opportunities to make cameos in the current era of Evil Dead features. What's more, the actor candidly revealed he was diagnosed with a treatable-but-not-curable cancer, which has obviously had an impact on his day-to-day life.

Sebastien Vaniček paid Campbell a mighty big compliment as well, saying this about the fan-favorite actor:

He's a one-of-a-kind treasure, that guy. I can't wait to hear what Bruce Campbell thinks about Evil Dead Burn as a finished product, and whether or not he thinks the actors suffered more than he did under Sam Raimi's direction. (Probably not.)

Speaking of the esteemed genre master, Evil Dead Burn's Vaniček shared that Raimi allowed himself to be an open book — but not like a cursed one with human skin for its cover — if and when any questions came up or advice was needed. The French filmmaker praised that process, saying:

We've come a long way from 1981's The Evil Dead, but just like its garish and malicious monsters, this franchise always comes back, and it gets nastier every time. But in a good way, and not like old milk.

Have fun celebrating America's independence, because by July 10, Evil Dead Burn will be pouring hot wax all over everything in sight.

The first trailer for Evil Dead Burn is here, and while what we know about the sequel is still pretty limited, one thing is clear: the Deadites remain deeply uninterested in peaceful conflict resolution. The footage from the 2026 movie schedule entry looks brutal, and fans quickly started reacting to the upcoming horror movie's gore, along with Hunter Doohan’s role in the new sequel. Doohan, who many viewers know from Wednesday, seems to be stepping into a much nastier playground this time around. But the sweetest reaction came from one of his Wednesday co-stars.

The trailer was shared on the official Evil Dead Burn Instagram page, and amongst all the chaos in the trailer, the best part of the post might actually be sitting in the comments section. Emma Myers, Doohan’s Wednesday co-star, popped in with a simple but very sweet bit of support:

Doohan responded in kind with his own response. He wrote:

That is a charming little exchange to find beneath a trailer full of demonic violence. There’s something deeply funny about scrolling through reactions to an Evil Dead franchise trailer and suddenly stumbling into wholesome co-worker appreciation hour.

It also speaks to how much attention Doohan is already getting from fans. He has a built-in following from Wednesday, and judging by the comments, plenty of people are ready to follow him into the blood-soaked family home this movie is set in.

Fans Are Already Seated For Evil Dead Burn

The larger response to the trailer was exactly the kind of loud, panicked enthusiasm you’d expect from Evil Dead fans. Here are some of the best reactions in the comments:

• @that_randomperson27: “Now why the fuck would you open the door”
• @moviebuff_wilson: “Omg the trailer looks so freaking insane”
• @thatcinebuff: “SEATED!!!!!!!”
• @thedonavanrose: “NO CHEESE GRATERS PLEASE”
• @h16954z: “BROOO ITS ONLY THE TRAILER AND I’M SCARED AF”
• @prncesscool: “I can’t wait to feel like I’m gonna throw up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! genuinely”
• @gus_reed: “my favorite genre: horrible, horrible things happening to stressed out legend @hunterdoohan”

That last one feels especially accurate. Doohan already has a face that works well for stress, suspicion and “something is very wrong here,” so dropping him into Evil Dead Burn makes a lot of sense. He looks like he belongs in a story where every hallway is a bad idea.

Plenty of fans were also hyping up the franchise itself. One commenter says what the team has been doing with the Evil Dead saga is “absolutely glorious,” while another writes that the franchise “keeps on top form.” Mostly, though, the comments have that perfect horror-fan energy, which may be a good sign that Burns' box office will be solid

Evil Dead Burn opens only in theaters July 10, and the trailer already seems to be doing its job. It has fans scared, excited, slightly nauseous and weirdly emotional about Hunter Doohan. Honestly, for an Evil Dead movie, that feels about right.

If you’re looking to get hyped for the next installment in one of my all-time favorite horror movie franchises, revisiting one of the best horror movies of 2023, Evil Dead Rise (which features plenty of blood), is a pretty solid move. All you need is an HBO Max subscription.

My brain is littered with trivia from the half-century relationship between Stephen King and Hollywood, and among my favorites is a strange connection between the author and director Sam Raimi. While the filmmaker has never taken the helm of a King movie, he’s had on-camera roles in two of adaptations: 1994’s The Stand and 1997’s The Shining. It’s a fun little oddity – but fans of both men know that their connection goes far deeper than that.

Raimi’s new film Send Help is arriving in theaters this week, and CinemaBlend’s own Jeff McCobb recently had the chance to talk with him about the special influence of Stephen King on his career… though the filmmaker admits he doesn’t love the likening of the 2026 movie to Misery. That story and a 20th anniversary reflection on the 2006 novel Cell comprise this week’s edition of The King Beat, so let’s dig in!

Sam Raimi Has Nothing But Love For Stephen King, Who He Credits For His “Chance In The Business”

One of the most admirable aspects of Stephen King’s career is that he has regularly used his influence and success to shine a light on creatives who otherwise might be operating in the dark. In addition to philanthropic acts like providing scholarships and co-founding the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, he publicly highlights books he’s reading and movies and television shows he is watching. In recent years, this work has mostly been on social media platforms, but the reality is that his reputation for patronage goes back decades, with the story of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead being a perfect example.

It’s a story that Raimi enthusiastically retold during a recent sit down with CinemaBlend – captured in the video above. For those unaware, the filmmaker (along with pals Bruce Campbell and Rob Tappert) made the famed horror movie as their first feature while they were students at Michigan State University, and while the movie is now regarded as a landmark title in the history of the horror genre, it most definitely wasn’t perceived in that light by most when the search began for a distribution deal. Raimi recalled,

While it might be a touch hard to imagine as we exist in a modern cinematic landscape that sees the disgusting insanity of Terrifier 3 become a box office hit, The Evil Dead was considered far too extreme to be palatable for audiences in the early 1980s, and distributors were scared off. The film needed a trusted voice to support it, and it found one in Stephen King.

At the time of the 1982 Cannes Film Festival/Market where this all went down, King was only 8 years removed from the initial publication of his first novel, but he was already well-recognized as a literary phenomenon, his bibliography at that point including Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Shining, The Stand, The Dead Zone, Firestarter and Cujo. Fate put him in the theater for a preview screening of The Evil Dead, and he was floored by the experience. Raimi continued,

The piece for Twilight Zone Magazine – which can easily be found online – is most definitely effusive, as King comes just short of calling the young Raimi a filmmaking prodigy (He writes in the review, “That [Sam Raimi] is a genius is yet unproven; that he has made the most ferociously original horror film of 1982 seems to me beyond doubt.”) The stamp of approval proved transformative for the fate of The Evil Dead, as the movie got critics interested, found distribution in Britain, became an underground success, and eventually got picked up stateside by New Line Cinema.

There is no questioning that Sam Raimi feels a level of indebtedness to Stephen King and has nothing but respect for the master of horror… but he also got honest about not loving how industry trades have drawn a direct line between Send Help and Misery – in regards to both the original novel and Rob Reiner’s Oscar-winning 1990 adaptation.

You May Get Some Misery Vibes From Send Help, But Don’t Let Them Overly Influence Your Experience With The New Horror Movie

When Deadline reported in July 2024 that Raimi was making his latest feature, the article said the movie was a mix of that story and Robert Zemeckis’ Castaway, and the director feels that’s a tad reductive:

It’s a reasonable perspective: no creative wants to be telling an original story and then get told that they are just riffing on a couple of stories that already exist. And while I personally think there are some legitimate points of comparison between Send Help and Misery, there are also considerable differences.

In the new film, Rachel McAdams plays a middle-aged woman named Linda Liddle who gets the opportunity to upend the power dynamic between her and her sexist, nepo baby boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) when they survive a plane crash together and get stranded on a deserted island. While Bradley is injured and helpless without the comforts of modern life, Linda is an enthusiastic Survivor fan who is plenty prepared to tame the wild.

In that broad view, it’s not particularly difficult to draw lines between the two films: Linda is the Annie Wilkes to Bradley’s Paul Sheldon. But the details make it much less clear cut. For one thing, Linda is anything but Bradley’s “number one fan,” and while she ends up making some very questionable decisions morally as the story progresses, she is the protagonist instead of the antagonist, and she is not dealing with the same kind of untreated psychological maladies of the iconic Kathy Bates character.

Just as I did in my four-star CinemaBlend review of Send Help, I’m doing my best to dance around spoilers here because I highly recommend anyone and everyone go see it in theaters this weekend, regardless of the strength of the Stephen King vibes. While recognizing that we’re only five weeks into 2026, it’s really hard to imagine that we won’t be looking back on it in December as one of the best genre movies of the year.

On Its 20th Anniversary, Cell Remains One Of The More Confounding Stephen King Books

To close out this week’s column, I’ll highlight a notable anniversary in King history, as it was this week 20 years ago (on February 24, 2006, to be specific) that the novel Cell first arrived in book stores. Arriving about a year-and-a-half before Apple revolutionized the world with the introduction of the iPhone, King’s book looked at the extreme ubiquity of mobile phones in the early years of the 21st century, and he found specific inspiration when he was walking on a street in New York City and saw a man in a business suit who appeared to be talking to himself. Per StephenKing.com. the author confused the man’s use of a wireless headset for a mental episode, and the creative seed was planted.

The novel explores what would happen if everyone’s cell phones began transmitting a signal that first turned people feral before collecting survivors into a giant hive mind, and while it has some interesting ideas, I can’t say it stands among my favorite King novels. A part of the problem is that the action peaks too early, as the chaos that unfurls at the start is far and away its most compelling sequence, and protagonist Clay Riddell and deuteragonists Tom McCourt and Alice Maxwell aren't the kinds of rich characters to which Constant Readers have become well-accustomed.

It’s not the nonsense that can be read from the height of Stephen King’s addictions or post-accident eras (looking at you, Tommyknockers and Dreamcatcher), but I also feel like Cell is the kind of novel from the canon that you only pick up at this point if you’re making the effort to read the author’s full canon.

That brings me to the end of this week’s edition of The King Beat, but as ever, I’ll be back here on CinemaBlend next Thursday with a brand new column highlighting and exploring all of the biggest news to come out of the world of Stephen King. And should you be looking for some related reading while you wait, please peruse my Adapting Stephen King series, reflecting on the full history of movie and TV adaptations of the author’s books and stories.

The number of upcoming horror movies isn’t necessarily the most impressive just yet, but 2026’s movie schedule boasts something that no yearly lineup has in more than a decade: a bona fide Sam Raimi horror movie. The no-frills, high-thrills flick Send Help, which critics have thoughts about, already looked like a return to genre form for the Evil Dead franchise director, and producer Zainab Azizi seemed to back that assumption up quite convincingly.

Azizi spoke with SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend about Raimi’s cinematic follow-up to 2022’s Doctor Strange sequel, which stars Rachel McAdams as Linda, a hard-working company loyalist whose career future is suddenly put in jeopardy when her late boss’ son, played by Dylan O’Brien, takes over the business. The apple fell far from the tree with O’Brien’s Bradley, whose charm can’t overshadow that “he’s entitled, and a bit of a jerk,” per the producer. The “bits of horror” come after a plane crash strands the pair on a tropical island.

To be sure, Zainab Azizi isn’t overselling Send Help as a supernatural gorefest led by Bruce Campbell, but everything he says about the movie could easily also apply to at at least 1981’s The Evil Dead, and possibly also Darkman and A Simple Plan, just to round the bases. As Azizi put it to SFX:

Characters in psychological thrillers don’t usually show up completely covered in blood the way Rachel McAdams looks in the trailer, but we all know how much Raimi has loved to cover Bruce Campbell in blood even through the Ash vs. Evil Dead series. If McAdams is his new go-to in that respect, we all win. Oh yeah, O'Brien too.

Not to put too little attention on the comedy element, which I’m also looking forward to. The way the producer put it, the movie was crafted in the editing room as much as on the set. According to Zainab Azizi:

Nearly everything Sam Raimi makes has a vein of dark humor running through it, and he’s truly a master at blending genres in such a way, even if not all of his efforts are appreciated right when they come out. (Dammit, I already blew my Darkman reference earlier.) His last full-on horror movie was 2009’s Drag Me to Hell, which has aged as well as anything else in his career, and that has plenty of jarring laughs throughout.

Raimi and Campbell crafted one of the greatest horror-comedy characters of all time with Ash Williams, and those films are full of great characters. It’s a topic that Azizi also addressed, saying:

After seeing her Survivor audition video, I’m definitely ready to see Linda Liddle become a survivor heroine, regardless of whether her boss survives the journey. Just look at her go below!

I’m pumped to see Rachel McAdams back in thriller-mode almost as much as I am to see Raimi making another horror-thriller. So you can bet I’ll be in theaters watching when Send Help comes out on January 30, 2026.

New year, more upcoming horror movies! As a fan of all things scary movies, I’m always marking my calendar for what films are going to terrify me next. But, I have to say, since giving the 2026 movie schedule a looksie, I find myself not as pumped for this year in the genre as I have in previous Januarys. Let’s talk about it.

There’s Too Many Horror Sequels In 2026 For My Taste

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there aren’t any horror movies I’m excited for in the coming year. There are a few on my radar that I’m interested in seeing opening weekend, but when I look at the lineup so far, I have a big problem with it. There are just too many horror sequels for my taste – and many of them are for franchises I’m not necessarily jumping out of my seat to go back to.

This year, we’re getting sequels for 28 Years Later, Scream, Silent Hill, Ready or Not, Resident Evil, Terrifier, Scary Movie, Evil Dead, Insidious and The Strangers. My goodness, that is a lot of 2026 sequels!

By contrast, going into last year, we knew we were getting Sinners, Weapons, Bring Her Back, Companion, Together and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and sequels were a more balanced ratio with Final Destination, The Black Phone, Conjuring, 28 Years Later, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Five Nights At Freddy's followups to balance the calendar out.

After such a strong 2025 for horror movies, I’m sad to see a list of releases that lack some inspiration as a whole. The major original scary movies coming this year, as of right now are really don’t have much buzz around them coming into these next twelve months.

Here's The Scary Movies I Have The Highest Hopes For Right Now

Regarding sequels on the way, I am very excited for Ready or Not 2 in particular. It’s been seven years since the first movie, and the trailer looks like a load of fun. There’s a lot of legacy characters on board for Scream 7 and the fact that the Resident Evil movie is being helmed by Weapons filmmaker Zach Cregger makes me perk up more than I usually would for a reboot of the video game adaptation.

It’s also worth noting that Sam Raimi’s first horror movie in over 15 years is coming this month with Send Help. I’m also over-the-moon hyped for The Bride! with Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, and Robert Eggers’ take on werewolves in Werwulf after his last movie, Nosferatu. The most intrigued I am for an original horror movie this year is probably Hokum, which stars Adam Scott in a haunted house movie from Neon.

Hey, hopefully I’m looking back at this article a few months from now with a few great horror movies that I’ve seen that will turn my frown upside down, but for now, I wanted to get honest about how I’m feeling about this year’s array of horror releases, and it's a bit of a shrug as is.

I’m the kind of The Evil Dead franchise fan who can never get enough of the gloriously blood-soaked behind-the-scenes stories that went into making one of the best horror movies of all time. But long before Bruce Campbell became horror’s most lovable chin-first hero and made one of the best MCU cameos, and long before we were scanning the 2026 movie schedule for when the newest entry in the series, Evil Dead Burn, might finally arrive, he was also, by his own account, the primary stress ball Sam Raimi used to squeeze the movie into existence. Not metaphorically, either, but physically, and with sticks.

In Campbell’s memoir If Chins Could Kill, he recounts one of those moments that feels too deranged to be embellished. After a brutal graveyard sequence, he’s sprinting downhill, hits a bad step and twists his ankle hard enough that he goes down for real. Campbell's not “movie hurt,” but feeling actual, lights-out pain. He writes:

Raimi and Rob Tapert allegedly decided this was the perfect time to turn his injury into a low-budget anthropology experiment. The Bubba Ho-Tep star continues:

Campbell’s account is wild enough on its own, but the cherry on top is that the limp you see on camera afterward is not performance. It’s the real injury, captured in the middle of a shoot that apparently had no concept of “light duty.”

That story also reframes Ash’s whole vibe in The Evil Dead. He isn’t just terrified, he’s physically compromised, constantly off-balance and trying to survive the night while his body is actively filing complaints. It adds a grim little authenticity to the chaos, like the film is running on pure adrenaline and spite.

And the ankle incident wasn’t the only indignity Campbell endured for the cause. If the woods didn’t get him, the blood certainly tried. The Black Friday actor also describes being the primary target of the movie’s sticky, syrupy gore, getting soaked so frequently that it dried on him like “the inbred cousin of Super Glue.” Anyone who’s ever gotten pancake syrup on their hands knows exactly how cursed that must have felt. Now imagine that syrup is tinted, slathered, repeatedly reapplied, and left to crust while you’re being tossed around a cabin set like a ragdoll with a leading man credit.

This is the part where you realize The Evil Dead didn’t just create a horror icon, but thanks to shenanigans on set, it forged one. Campbell’s suffering becomes part of the film’s texture, the same way the frantic camera moves and breakneck momentum do. It’s scrappy filmmaking with a best-friends-and-bruises ethos, and somehow it turned into a classic.

Is the longtime Ash performer's story horrifying? Absolutely. Weirdly hilarious? Also yes, mostly because Bruce Campbell lived to tell the tale and recounts it with that wincing charm that makes you laugh even as you swear you’d never agree to “just one more take” in the woods.

If you want to revisit his war stories in action, The Evil Dead is one of the best movies streaming for free right now. And if you’d rather jump to the most recent theatrical chapter, Evil Dead Rise is available to anyone with an HBO Max subscription.

There are a lot of movies under 90 minutes that we love. Movies don't always have to be over three hours long to be epic. Sometimes a great film needs less than an hour and a half to say all it needs or wants to say. Usually, these movies are comedies, but not always. Every genre, from comedies to war movies to horror movies and more, has films that clock in a very manageable amount of time. This list is all about those great movies with a runtime under 90 minutes.

This Is Spinal Tap (82 Minutes)

The granddaddy of hilarious mockumentaries showed everyone how it was done, and This is Spinal Tap came up with dozens of the most quotable lines ever in just 82 minutes. The legacy of the movie has endured for five decades now, and it will almost certainly be beloved for at least 50 more.

Paths Of Glory (88 Minutes)

Director Stanley Kubrick is well known for his long movies, such as Barry Lyndon and Spartacus, both of which run over three hours in length. He also proved he could tell an amazing story with the 88-minute Paths of Glory, which is one of the best war movies of all time and one of the few about World War I (at least compared to the number of World War II movies).

Phone Booth (81 Minutes)

Movies that take place in real time are always interesting. Phone Booth, starring Colin Farrell, is a white-knuckle thriller that runs. brisk 81 minutes. It spends most of that time focused on Farrell's character in the titular phone booth, and is an incredibly action-packed movie, despite the static location and happening all in one day.

The Lion King (88 Minutes)

Disney knows its core audience: kids. That means they know exactly how to tell a wonderful, funny, heartbreaking story at a great clip, so as not to bore the kids. This spot could go to any number of Disney animated classics, but The Lion King is my favorite, so I'm letting this one represent the group. At just 88 minutes, it does everything you expect in a great animated movie.

High Noon (85 Minutes)

85 minutes, in real time, is all it took the filmmakers of High Noon to tell an amazing story. It's one of the best Westerns of all time, and Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly are fantastic in their roles. Cooper pretty much defined his career with this movie from 1952.

Cloverfield (85 Minutes)

One of the best examples of a "found footage" flick is Matt Reeves' Cloverfield. The monster movie works on a number of levels, employing the lesson of movies like Jaws to limit how much of the monster we see, making it that much scarier, and it wraps up the whole story in under an hour and a half.

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (88 Minutes)

Another classic comedy that fits nicely on this list is Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. The trip may have taken the titular characters all night to finally satisfy their craving from the burger joint with a cult following, but as an audience, we see it all condensed into 88 hilarious minutes.

Fruitvale Station (85 Minutes)

Director Ryan Coogler burst onto the scene in 2013 with his intense and heartbreaking debut film, Fruitvale Station, which told the true story of an African-American man (played by Michael B. Jordan) who was killed by a police officer at a subway station in Oakland in 2009. It also marked the first time Jordan and Coogler worked together, and in the years since, their partnership, including in one of the best 2025 movies, Sinners, has been amazing to watch.

Idiocracy (84 Minutes)

Leave it to director Mike Judge to make a movie like Idiocracy. It's a movie that still feels disturbingly relevant two decades later. The movie, which is as funny as it is upsetting, comes in at just under 90 minutes, and there isn't one boring moment among them.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (83 Minutes)

The original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which came out in 1974 and runs just 83 minutes, is one of the most influential horror movies of all time. It's hard to imagine a world with Friday the 13th, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street without this classic slasher film from director Tobe Hooper coming first.

Stand By Me (89 Minutes)

Stand By Me is based on a Stephen King short story called The Body. As one of the best adaptations of a King story, the movie has become a stone-cold classic over the years. It's great that the movie doesn't have to stray from its short source material and comes in at just under 90s minutes, yet tells an incredible, timeless story.

The Producers (88 Minutes)

It's incredible to reflect on the cultural impact of an 88-minute movie like Mel Brooks' classic The Producers. Not only was the movie a huge hit, but its enduring legacy means that generations have loved the comedy since it was released in the late '60s. The smash hit Broadway show (and the 2005 movie adaptation of the musical) has solidified its place as one of the most beloved stories of the last 100 years.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (90 Minutes)

So, full disclosure here, this is the movie that inspired this list. Even though Fast Times at Ridgemont High is technically not under 90 minutes, it is exactly an hour and a half long, and as the inspiration for this list, it definitely belongs here. It feels even faster, in a good way.

Airplane! (88 Minutes)

Another classic comedy, Airplane! packs more jokes in 88 minutes than most comedy franchises can in three or four movies. It doesn't get more "classic" than this one. It's the kind of movie that you can watch over and over, and not just because there is an endless amount of jokes you probably missed while you were laughing the last time you watched it, but it's a delightfully quick watch.

Toy Story (81 Minutes)

Like the classic Disney animated movies like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, Pixar knows how to craft a well-told, timeless, funny story in less than 90 minutes. Coming in at barely over 81 minutes, Toy Story remains the gold standard for Pixar animation, and it continues to delight kids and adults alike, decades after it first launched a franchise.

Child's Play (87 Minutes)

'80s horror movies are great for this list. Along with comedies, horror movies are the most common movies you can find under 90 minutes. A perfect example of doing more with less time in the genre is the original Child's Play. A huge franchise was launched on a movie that is only 87 minutes long. This is how you do it!

Before Sunset (80 Minutes)

The second movie in director Richard Linklater's Before trilogy, Before Sunset, follows a couple who met on a train in Before Sunrise who meet in Paris nine years after their first encounter. It takes place in real-time, 80 minutes, and follows the "almost couple" as they walk the streets of the City of Light and reminisce about their one night together in Vienna.

The Evil Dead (85 Minutes)

The Evil Dead (like its two direct sequels, The Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness) comes in at under 90 minutes. All three films, directed by Sam Raimi, are considered classics in the genre by many fans. Personally, I like Army of Darkness best, but since all three work for this list, I'm using the first as a representative for all of them.

The Simpsons Movie (87 Minutes)

After decades on TV, The Simpsons is a show that knows all too well how to tell a story in a short amount of time. When the much-anticipated The Simpsons Movie was released in 2007, it probably came as no surprise that the movie would have a brisk pace and come in under an hour and a half. At 87 minutes, it tells a longer story than the show ever has, but not by a huge margin.

Office Space (89 Minutes)

Working for Inotech, the fictional company in Office Space, would be awful. Every day would seem like a week and every week, a month. Luckily, the movie itself is only 89 minutes. I say luckily, because it manages to pack a lot into those 89 minutes, but never drones on like Lumberg's voice.

Once (86 Minutes)

Once is a little unique on this list because while it's basically a romantic drama, it has elements of a musical, with a slew of original music performed by the actors in the movie, including Glen Hansard. There aren't many musicals that click in under 90 minutes, but Once is unconventional, and that's part of what makes it so great.

Duck Soup (69 Minutes)

It's true, a lot of older movies come in closer to the hour-and-a-half mark than modern movies, but since we had to include one, I decided one that barely gets over the one-hour mark would be appropriate. Duck Soup, from The Marx Brothers, is one of three VHS tapes my parents owned when I was a kid, so I've seen the movie way more times than most in my generation, and for that, I am grateful.

Best In Show (90 Minutes)

Director Christopher Guest and his band of merry improvisational comedy crew have made a few amazing movies. For me, the two best are the first two, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. Both movies clock in under the 90-minute mark, or just at that mark, in the case of Best in Show.

Borat (84 Minutes)

Borat is a movie on this list that I am grateful comes in at just 84 minutes. It's an amazing 84 minutes, so don't get me wrong, but anything more would have felt like too much. It's already pushing the envelope (in a good way) with how much second-hand embarrassment I can stand.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (76 Minutes)

When The Nightmare Before Christmas was released in 1993, it was a major departure from Tim Burton's earlier work. Not in tone, of course, but in the stop-motion animation style it used. It was (and still is) brilliant. It's also only 76 minutes long, which makes it feel right in line with some of the stop-motion TV Christmas movies that certainly helped inspire it, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman from Rankin/Bass Productions.

The Squid And The Whale (81 Minutes)

Writer and director made a huge splash with his breakout film, The Squid And The Whale, in 2005. It's a movie that he based on his own life, and personal stories like that can really soar, like this one. It's a story he told in just 81 minutes, which was good enough to land an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.

Duel (90 Minutes)

It's no surprise that the great Steven Spielberg would pop up on this list (or any list of great movies, for that matter). Duel was the legendary director's debut film, and while the moderate budget is clear, so are Spielberg's immense skills as a filmmaker. Duel may not be in Spielberg's top 10 best movies, but at 90 minutes, it fits perfectly on this list.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (87 Minutes)

Wes Anderson brought his unique style to animation when he adapted the Roald Dahl book Fantastic Mr. Fox. Anderson's style fits perfectly here, and this is one of my favorite movies from the director.

Rope (80 Minutes)

Yet another legendary director who finds himself on this list is Alfred Hitchcock. His classic Rope, which takes place all in one day, clocks in at a brilliant 80s minutes.

Battleship Potemkin (66 Minutes)

It's amazing what kind of effect a 66-minute movie can have on the rest of the art of film, but Battleship Potemkin proves just how impactful one short film can be. The Soviet-era Russian-language film is a masterpiece and is still influencing movies 100+ years later.

The Kentucky Fried Movie (83 Minutes)

Great parody movies, like Airplane!, The Naked Gun, and Top Secret! often come in at under 90 minutes. The Kentucky Fried Movie is one of those. The great anthology movie clocks in at 83 minutes.

Pi (84 Minutes)

Darren Aronofsky exploded onto the scene with his debut, low-budget indie Pi, and it's a complicated story that he manages to brilliantly tell in just 84 minutes. Like all the movies on this list, it proves you don't need three hours to make a great film.

Today is Friday the 13th, and each time this sacred day rolls around, I cannot help but be reminded of a beloved horror movie franchise that bears its name. That being said, I, admittedly, am not a huge admirer of the series of classic slasher flicks, but I am a passionate fan of another franchise that Jason Voorhees has a connection to. No, I am not talking about the Nightmare on Elm Street series, but the Evil Dead movies.

Yes, you read the right: the hockey mask-clad, machete-wielding iconic horror movie villain does, indeed, have one blood-soaked, decomposing foot in the world of creator Sam Raimi’s ultra-gory demonic possession films, which are continuing with two upcoming horror movies currently in the works. Just how do the Friday the 13th movies connect to the Evil Dead universe? Well, if you call yourself a fan of classic horror movies, you might know already. If not, allow me to explain…

Jason Voorhees Is A Deadite

While not widely considered one of the best Friday the 13th flicks, 1993’s Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (yeah, right) is recognized as an important installment in uncovering the mystery behind Jason Voorhees’ ability to continue his murder streak at Crystal Lake and elsewhere again and again… and again. The killer actually dies in the first scene, but remains a presence throughout by way of bodily possession. So, just how is that possible?

Protagonist Steve Freeman (John D. LeMay) discovers at the Voorhees Family home a strange-looking book that Evil Dead fans should recognize as the Necronomicon Ex Mortis (a.k.a., the Book of the Dead). This implies that Jason’s mother, Pamela (the iconic female horror movie villain originally played by Betsy Palmer), used the flesh-bound, blood-inked volume of the book to bring her deceased son back to life and sort of succeeded, turning him into a murderous monster. In other words, Jason Voorhees is no different from the spiritually possessed “Deadites” that Ash Williams lays waste to with the chainsaw he replaced his right hand with.

The Lore Goes Deeper In A Comic Book

Speaking of the snarky, but resourceful horror movie hero played by horror movie icon Bruce Campbell, Ash Williams has even faced off against Jason Voorhees, just not on the big screen. The Jason Goes to Hell ending teases a Friday the 13th/A Nightmare on Elm Street crossover that eventually became a reality with the release of Freddy vs. Jason ten years later. Campbell recalled to radio host Sam Roberts how New Line Cinema approached him with a pitch for a follow-up that would see his character take on the slasher villains, like Jason, but nothing materialized for various behind-the-scenes reasons.

However, the idea would inspire a comic book from DC’s Wildstorm and Dynamite Entertainment aptly titled Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. The six-issue series from writer James Kuhoric ties all the subtle crossover connections between the three hit franchises (from the aforementioned Necromonicon cameo in Jason Goes to Hell to a shot of Freddy Krueger’s glove in the horror-comedy movie favorite, Evil Dead II) together in one epic, bloody showdown.

As previously mentioned, the Evil Dead series is moving forward with Sébastien Vaniček’s Evil Dead Burn and another anthological feature follow-up in development, as is the saga of Jason Voorhees with Peacock’s upcoming horror TV show, Crystal Lake. Could the connection between these thrilling franchises grow deeper with the release of these forthcoming projects? Only time will tell. Until then, have a happy and safe Friday the 13th!

I think I speak for many when I say audiences love it when characters from two (or more) different movies or TV series come together in one special event, such as the epic monster movies featuring both Godzilla and King Kong, or when Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. appeared on Supernatural. Of course, for all of the mind-blowing crossovers we have been blessed with, there is still much to be desired in the realm of bringing two big-screen or small-screen franchises together.

In that respect, let’s let our imaginations run wild and dream up the movie or TV crossovers that would be incredible to see. Now, I cannot promise that many (or all) of these ideas are legally or even humanly possible, but why should we let that get in the way of the fun?

Toy Story And Small Soldiers

The first, and still one of the best, Pixar movies, Toy Story, showed us the world from the point of view of sentient toys in 1995. Three years later, Small Soldiers offered the same perspective, but with more of an edge and a more realistic approach. Seeing Woody (Tom Hanks) and other innocent children's playthings crossing paths with Major Chip Hazard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his AI-powered, militaristic action figures sounds like one wonderfully warped animated flick, if you ask me.

The Office And Parks And Recreation

As recalled by MovieWeb, co-creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels initially conceived Parks and Recreation as a spin-off of The Office before it turned into its own separate and equally beloved TV sitcom. Still, there is no reason why Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and his former Dunder-Mifflin co-workers could not somehow cross paths with Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and other Pawnee residents in a mockumentary-style special.

Drive And Fast And Furious

A famous example of misleading movie marketing is 2011's slow-burn, Neo-noir thriller Drive, which one woman assumed would be more of a high-octane action thriller like the Fast and Furious movies, inspiring her to file a lawsuit, according to The Guardian. Honestly, I see this as a reason to give the people what they want and release a movie that sees Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew facing off against Ryan Gosling's Driver.

Succession And Yellowstone

Having both premiered in 2018, Jesse Armstrong's Succession and Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone would become subjects of comparison, with some even calling the Paramount Network hit "Succession with cowboy hats." I think seeing the wealthy and vindictive Roys indulging in a rivalry with the also wealthy and vindictive Duttons would make for one epic feature-length special or miniseries.

21 Jump Street And Men In Black

Among the hypothetical crossovers presented here, not all are too much of a stretch from the realm of possibility. In fact, there were actual plans for a film called MIB23, which would have brought Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) from the 21 Jump Street movie into the world of the Men in Black franchise. Unfortunately, plans were scrapped in 2019, but I still have hope this insane sci-fi/comedy mash-up could work.

Poker Face And The Thing

Imagine if human lie detector Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) from the Peacock original TV show Poker Face was trapped in one place with a group of people who may or may not be shapeshifting extraterrestrial organisms in disguise, like the 1982 horror movie classic, The Thing. She would be the only one who could suss out the imitators, but the rest of the group might be too paranoid to confidently trust her judgment. I think Rian Johnson should give John Carpenter a call.

Star Wars And Marvel Cinematic Universe

As a fan of both the Star Wars movies and of Guardians of the Galaxy, I love the idea of seeing the cosmic warriors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe visit George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. Considering both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm are owned by Disney, this intergalactic epic is entirely possible, as long as the timeline is respected, of course.

RoboCop And Terminator

Omni Consumer Products' half-man, half-machine crime-fighting tool has crossed paths with Skynet's mechanical killer before, but only on the pages of a Dark Horse comic book series from Frank Miller. Why Hollywood has not yet tried its hand at a movie that pits the hero from RoboCop against any of the antagonistic cyborgs from the Terminator franchise is beyond me.

James Bond And Jason Bourne

The Matt Damon-led Jason Bourne movies are often cited as the inspiration for the James Bond franchise's grittier tone, especially after Daniel Craig took over as 007. If there could be a way to get the American amnesiac assassin and the suave MI6 agent together in a room (which would likely be destroyed by the end), that could make for one of the best spy movies ever.

Sherlock And Doctor Who

Two of the BBC's most popular series, Sherlock and Doctor Who, both involve a highly intelligent, fashionable, and sometimes arrogant protagonist who is accompanied by a reliable companion. For that and many other reasons, I think it would be amazing to see them come together in a special or miniseries in which Holmes, hitting a wall with a case that defies logic, finds unexpected help from The Doctor.

DC Universe And Marvel Cinematic Universe

The two biggest comic book publishing companies in the world have not always been rivals and have indulged in creating stories that see DC heroes and Marvel heroes fighting side by side. Considering his strong ties to the MCU, it can't be out of the question for DC Studios head James Gunn to at least call a meeting with Kevin Feige to discuss bringing this kind of crossover to the big screen, which might end up being the greatest superhero movie ever made.

John Wick And Kill Bill

While largely differing in tone, the John Wick movies and Quentin Tarantino's two-part Kill Bill saga are pretty similar in concept, following two retired, legendary assassins waging a vengeful war on those who wronged them. Who is to say that Keanu Reeves' gun-fu master and Uma Thurman's The Bride never crossed paths in their deadly heyday?

The Evil Dead And The Exorcist

Two of the most popular franchises of demonic possession movies, The Exorcist and The Evil Dead, could not be more different from one another, which is exactly why I want to see them converge. In my pitch, grown-up Regan MacNeill's (Linda Blair) expertise in devilish activity is enlisted to help with a new case, but when it spirals out of control, the only one who can help is chainsaw-headed Deadite hunter, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell).

Inception And A Nightmare On Elm Street

When you think about it, Leonardo DiCaprio's Dom Cobb from Christopher Nolan's Inception essentially has the same job as Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Just imagine how much more challenging his team's adventures through the subconscious would be with Robert Englund's sadistic, badly burned boogeyman invading the same dream.

Alien, Predator, And Jurassic Park

You know what I think the Alien vs. Predator movies were missing? Dinosaurs. Putting these two fearsome extraterrestrials in yet another battle, but while trapped on one of the prehistoric animal-infested islands from the Jurassic Park films, could result in one of the most exciting entries from any of these franchises. You would not even need human characters to make it work because seeing both the Predator and the Xenomorph knocked down a peg by the T-Rex as a common enemy would be more than enough.

Ghostbusters And Casper

We already know that Casper and the Ghostbusters exist in the same universe, thanks to Dan Aykroyd's cameo as Ray Stantz in the Friendly Ghost's 1995 live-action feature adaptation of the animated series. I am sure Casper would happily help the paranormal exterminators take on a few evil spirits, even after an awkward misunderstanding were to happen when they first meet.

Mad Max And Dredd

The great thing about post-apocalyptic movies is that each has a different, intriguing interpretation of what a dystopian society would look like. However, what if the Wasteland from George Miller's Mad Max movies existed just across the (dried up) pond from Mega City One in Dredd? The gritty, visually stunning possibilities are endless.

Blade And Twilight

Allow me to make one thing clear: I am not suggesting that Marvel Comics' vampire hunter, originally played on the big screen by Wesley Snipes, should show up in the Twilight movies just to see Robert Pattinson's Edward, Kristen Stewart's Bella, and other bloodsuckers get slaughtered. I actually think Blade's presence could give the persistent haters of the films based on Stephanie Meyer's YA novel series a reason to treat the franchise with a little more respect.

Indiana Jones And Marvel Cinematic Universe

Since Disney owns both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, I wonder if anyone there has ever tinkered with the idea of putting a character like Indiana Jones in the MCU. I mean, he and Steve "Captain America" Rogers would have been alive around the same time and, as staunch anti-fascists, probably would have gotten along great. I doubt Harrison Ford's casting as Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Brave New World would cause much confusion, either.

Monk And Psych

The USA Network used to run promos bringing characters from their respective series together, including one in which Tony Shalhoub's eponymous detective from Monk suspects that Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) is not a real psychic. It makes me wish that we could have seen an official crossover episode that would have seen plenty of funny bickering between the carefree Shawn and someone as neurotic as Adrian Monk, who at least might have gotten along with Gus (Dulé Hill).

Power Rangers And Godzilla

By combining their respective, animal-shaped vehicles into one large Megazord, the Power Rangers have managed to face off against bizarre creatures of all sizes, which means they could realistically take on Godzilla. However, if I were to pitch this crossover, the rangers would eventually have to join forces with the King of the Monsters after an even larger creature emerges to wreak havoc on Angel Grove.

Bill & Ted And Wayne's World

Perhaps we never saw Bill S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) take Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) on a trip through time because we are not worthy of such an excellent idea. Then again, if Myers and Carvey can still get together for Wayne's World reunions on SNL and Reeves and Winter could come back for 2020's Bill & Ted Face the Music, who says it doesn't have potential?

Dirty Harry And Death Wish

I think the greatest Dirty Harry movie we never saw would have put Clint Eastwood's Lt. Callahan on the case of a murderer targeting the most vicious gangs in San Francisco, which would turn out to be Charles Bronson's Paul Kersey from Death Wish. Inevitably, I think Harry would be lured into an alliance with the vengeful vigilante, coming to believe that his more permanent methods of justice align with his own.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer And Sabrina The Teenage Witch

It's a shame that there was never any attempt to make an official crossover between Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Melissa Joan Hart-led Sabrina the Teenage Witch while they were still on the air. The coming-of-age supernatural series may have differed dramatically in tone, but that is just what would have made the collaboration such a blast.

Harry Potter And The Dresden Files

If fans of the Harry Potter movies have ever been interested in trying out something a bit darker and grittier, there is another literary modern-day wizard with the same first name: Harry Dresden, played by Paul Blackthorne on the SyFy series, The Dresden Files. I think it would be fun to see J.K. Rowling's The Boy Who Lived helping author Jim Butcher's Chicago-based P.I. solve a grisly mystery in which magic is involved.

The Munsters And The Addams Family

They may have been on different networks and produced by opposing studios, but how in the world has there never been an attempt to introduce the Munsters to the Addams Family? I would even be open to getting the actors from Rob Zombie's reboot movie to star alongside the cast of Netflix's Wednesday if it meant getting just a glimpse at these creepy, kooky families finally coming together.

It And Terrifier

There are no two villains in the subgenre of creepy clown movies more iconic than Pennywise from It and Art the Clown from Terrifier. I can't imagine a horror fan being against the idea of bringing Bill Skarsgård's shapeshifting fear demon from Andy Muschietti's blockbuster adaptation of Stephen King's novel and David Howard Thornton from Damien Leone's shocking indie slashers together for one brutal showdown that would have blood and white face paint smeared across the screen.

Hocus Pocus And Trick 'R Treat

In Disney's cult favorite, family-friendly witch movie, 1993's Hocus Pocus, our young protagonists go through a lot of trouble to defeat the Sanderson Sisters (played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker). I cannot help but wonder how easily those sinister spellcasters could have been taken care of by the mischievous Sam from the 2007 anthology horror movie favorite, Trick 'r Treat.

Hoarders And Storage Wars

You know those people on the show Hoarders who compulsively keep hold of any item they possess, no matter how unnecessary or even unhealthy it may be? I have a potential idea to help them: put them on another A&E reality show called Storage Wars and tell them that they must outbid other experienced collectors if they want to maintain ownership of their junk.

Johnny English And The Pink Panther

While it barely held a candle to Peter Sellers, I cannot deny that I enjoyed Steve Martin's portrayal of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in his Pink Panther reboot. I even more enjoyed Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling Bond-wannabe in the Johnny English movies. I imagine that having the clueless French detective and accident-prone British spy cross paths on a case would result in some real comedic dynamite (especially if real dynamite is involved).

Sister Act And The Nun

After watching Whoopi Goldberg's Academy Award-winning performance in Ghost, I am convinced that a sequel to Sister Act in which Deloris Wilson-Van Cartier must contend with the habit-wearing demon Valak (Bonnie Aarons) from the Conjuring movies would be a riot.

Big Brother And Survivor

Big Brother and Survivor are both competitive reality shows that make social interaction a key element to winning, with the biggest difference being the setting. If I ran CBS, I would send the most famous all-stars from Big Brother to a remote island, bring Survivor champs to the Big Brother house, and see what happens.

For every movie that did not need a remake and for all of the TV shows with unneeded reboots, there are a few that have managed to surpass their predecessors... or, at least, justify their existence. In most cases, the secret to their success is to reimagine a beloved pop culture property into something, not just bigger, but darker, just like these flicks and TV series did.

Batman Begins (2005)

The last time we saw The Dark Knight on the big screen was in the very lighthearted and campy Batman & Robin, which killed the live-action Batman movie franchise at the time. Christopher Nolan revived Bruce Wayne’s alter ego on the big screen, and in pop culture in general, in his proper form with an acclaimed and earnestly told origin story called Batman Begins – the first installment of his phenomenal Dark Knight Trilogy.

The Addams Family (1991)

Charles' Addams original comic, The Addams Family, inspired a hit live-action sitcom and a couple of animated series that certainly maintained the same "kooky" tone. However, director Barry Sonnenfeld’s film adaptation and its 1993 sequel, Addams Family Values, would up the ante on its "creepy" appeal, especially with Christina Ricci’s now definitive performance as a morbidly deadpan Wednesday.

Riverdale (2017-2023)

Any adaptation of the Archie comic books, whether animated or produced in live-action, was intended to be a comedy, with the closest thing to a drama being Archie's Weird Mysteries in the late 1990s. That all changed when The CW began airing Riverdale, which depicted the misadventures of Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica as an earnest coming-of-age soap opera.

It And It Chapter Two (2017-2019)

We recognize that the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's It left an entire generation in fear of clowns. However, from the opening scene of Andy Muschietti’s feature-length version of It (the first of two creepy clown movies), in which Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise bites off little Georgie's arm before pulling him into the sewer, it was clear this was a more unforgiving version of the shape-shifting, fear-feeding demon than Tim Curry's portrayal.

Casino Royale (2006)

Every cinematic iteration of author Ian Fleming's MI6 agent, from Sean Connery's portrayal to Pierce Brosnan's, was a suave gentleman who typically put brains over brawn. That was until Casino Royale introduced a 007, played by Daniel Craig, who is both brainy and brawny and not above taking out his enemies with brutal hand-to-hand combat. Since then, the James Bond movies have never been grittier.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

For years, the best-known adaptation of the enchanted Archie Comics character, Sabrina Spellman, was the hit ABC sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. That was until Netflix released the Kiernan Shipka-led Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which is more comparative to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in tone.

The Fly (1986)

Director Kurt Neumann's 1958 adaptation of George Langelaan's short story, The Fly, was a creepy little creature feature, including horror movie icon Vincent Price in a memorable supporting role. However, David Cronenberg’s version, starring Jeff Goldblum as a scientist transforming into a half-man, half-insect and Geena Davis as his new lover, is the quintessential cinematic body horror nightmare and a devastating romantic tragedy.

Man Of Steel (2013)

In the film that kicked off the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, director Zack Snyder introduced a less optimistic take on Clark Kent's alter ego, who resorts to murder to defend Metropolis in a controversial moment from Man of Steel. Even Henry Cavill's Superman costume boasts a darker color scheme than any live-action iteration to come before.

Bel-Air (2022)

Hip-hop artist Will Smith proved he had the chops to be a charismatic actor in the early 1990s when he led the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as a young Philadelphia man sent to live with his wealthy California relatives after getting in a fight. Years later, the Oscar winner returned to produce Bel-Air – a Peacock-exclusive series that reimagines the hit sitcom as a grounded coming-of-age drama.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

One of the most essential examples of a TV reboot done right is developer Ronald D. Moore's reimagining of Glen A. Larson's classic '70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. The Emmy-winning, SyFy original version of the story of a crew searching for a long-lost planet Earth in a wartorn future went on to become one of the genre's most celebrated TV shows.

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

The 1985 comedy, Teen Wolf, in which Michael J. Fox's character inherits his family's lycanthropic curse, is really a metaphor for self-discovery. MTV's hit series adaptation starring Tyler Posey, in addition to making the protagonist a wolf bite victim who uses his abilities to fight evil, throws humor and symbolism almost completely out the window.

Dredd (2012)

The first film featuring Judge Dredd, who was introduced in the U.K. anthology comic, 2000 AD, saw Sylvester Stallone take on the title role and make the fatal flaw of removing his signature helmet. Even taking that controversial detail out of the equation, many believe the Alex Garland-penned Dredd, starring Karl Urban, was a step up for its dead-serious approach to the source material’s vision of a dystopian world ordered by officers who serve as judge, jury, and executioner.

Goosebumps (2023-2024)

Following the '90s anthology horror TV show based on R.L. Stine's creepy but kid-friendly book series, Goosebumps, there were two film adaptations that seemed to go in a more kid-friendly and less creepy direction. However, Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller's seasonal anthology series released on Hulu and Disney+ aimed to up the ante on its thrills by making it a teen drama.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

The first alien invasion movie based on Jack Finney’s largely influential novel about humans replaced with emotionless extraterrestrial replicas, released in 1956, ended on a more hopeful note. However, director Philip Kaufman's remake, starring Donald Sutherland, maintains a bleak and hopeless tone throughout, which is why it is still considered the best Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie out of the many Hollywood has released.

Maleficent (2014)

Some of the most amusing live-action Disney animated movie remakes have opted to reexamine the source material from another perspective. For instance, the Academy Award-nominated Maleficent reimagines the story of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the eponymous antagonist, played by Angelina Jolie.

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)

The original Planet of the Apes movies are fun sci-fi classics set in a future in which primates have become Earth's dominant species. Director Rupert Wyatt's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Matt Reeves' two sequels (Dawn and War), and Wes Ball's Kingdom explore the devastating origins of that dystopian society, due to an ill-fated attempt to cure Alzheimer’s and a global virus causing human evolutionary regression.

Evil Dead (2013)

Sam Raimi’s 1981 classic, The Evil Dead, was already a nearly unparalleled experience in grueling terror but the second and third installments, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, were fun horror-comedy movies boasting a far lighter tone. With his 2013 installment, director Fede Álvarez went back to basics and amplified what made the original possession thriller iconic with some unbelievably brutal sequences and a more earnest plot set-up involving an addict attempting a woodland cabin detox.

Cruella (2021)

There are few villainous characters in Disney history more despicable than Cruella de Vil from 1961's One Hundred and One Dalmatians. However, director Craig Gillespie's live-action Cruella successfully makes the title character (played by Academy Award winner Emma Stone) sympathetic by employing a depressing origin story that sees her forced to turned crime as a child after witnessing her mother's murder.

Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey (2023)

Just a year after author A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard's Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain, the beloved children’s book character was reimagined as a killer who goes on a vengeful rampage after grown-up Christopher Robin abandons the Hundred Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and its 2024 sequel are not regarded as some of the best slasher movies of their time but they certainly got people talking.

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Many assumed that Rob Zombie'sThe Munsters movie would be a darker reinterpretation of the "monstrous" family until it was revealed to be a thoroughly faithful adaptation. However, there was an attempt at a somewhat more earnest and macabre take on the 1960s sitcom in the form of developer Bryan Fuller's Mockingbird Lane – a failed pilot that aired as a Halloween special on NBC.

Titans (2018-2023)

The Teen Titans series, following the DC Universe's most powerful underage heroes, was already dark enough to satisfy young audiences craving a cartoon with an edge, but it was later rebooted as the absurdly comedic Teen Titans GO! Thus, many fans were thankful for the live-action Titans, which proved to be the most mature adaptation of the original comic yet.

The Banana Splits Movie (2019)

There was a made-for-TV feature-length spin-off from the Saturday morning children's program, The Banana Splits, in which Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky must take on an evil witch. However, Danishka Esterhazy's The Banana Splits Movie is a bloody slasher that makes the rock band of happy animal mascots the villains.

Mulan (2020)

The beloved 1998 film Mulan is – despite following many of the same traditions of a Disney animated feature, such as supernatural twists and musical interludes – still regarded as an important tale of female empowerment. Disney's live-action version, starring Yifei Liu as the title hero, is a more earnest war drama devoid of humor, show tunes, magic, and, most notably, Eddie Murphy's Mushu.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

The Mortal Kombat films from the 1990s could have been considered some of the most faithful video game movies of all time if it were not for the limitations of the PG-13 rating. Thus, director Simon McQuoid's R-rated adaptation is revered as the first to more accurately capture the violence of the one-on-one fighting game series.

Halloween (2007)

No one would have believed that co-writer and director John Carpenter’s 1978 horror movie classic, Halloween, could be remade into anything darker. Yet, Rob Zombie made it happen with a divisive reboot that gives masked murderer Michael Myers (played by Tyler Mane) an origin story involving child abuse, a higher body count, and a far more sadistic MO.

Beauty And The Beast (2017)

Disney's live-action adaptation of the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, is noted for being a relatively faithful rendition of its beloved animated iteration from 1991. However, Bill Condon's film, which stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, does darken the material, mostly by giving its characters more tragic backstories.

Power Rangers (2017)

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is, technically, an Americanized reboot of Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger and would edit battle scenes from the original Japanese show into its episodes. Director Dean Israelite's Power Rangers movie attempted to appeal to modern audiences seeking grimmer storytelling by raising the stakes and giving the young warriors more grounded backstories.

The Phantom Of The Opera (1989)

Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street movies was not the only iconic horror movie villain whom Robert Englund portrayed. He also took on the esteemed mantle of the title role from Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera, in a much more violent and viscerally gory interpretation.

Hellboy (2019)

Director Rob Marshall’s adaptation of Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse comic book, Hellboy, was a critical and commercial failure that also deeply pales in comparison to Guillermo del Toro’s movies. However, it does boast a charming performance by David Harbour as the titular kindhearted demon and earns its R rating with some gloriously blood-soaked action sequences.

Fantastic Four (2015)

The first attempt to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen (or, the first one to get released, that is) from Tim Story was high in camp and struggled to impress critics as a result. For his reboot, director Josh Trank attempted to reimagine the origins of Marvel’s first superhero family as a body horror flick and still failed to make a decent impression on critics and audiences alike.

The Mean One (2022)

Audrey Geisel banned live-action Dr. Seuss movies because, to her, 2003's The Cat and the Hat was no fun, but just imagine how the good doctor's widow would have reacted to The Mean One. Terrifier star David Howard Thornton, an actor who knows how to thrill, stars in this cheesy slasher as a Grinch naughty enough to kill.

Snow White And The Huntsman (2012)

Instead of seven dwarfs, Kristen Stewart’s version of a famous fairytale hero teams up with a capable hunter (Chris Hemsworth) to take down an evil queen (Charlize Theron) in the action-packed Snow White and the Huntsman.

Any fan of all things spooky will tell you that most romantic couples in horror movies are really anything but romantic. Typically, one partner is seen gaslighting the other or (sometimes literally) stabbing them in the back. This trope begs the question, are there any great horror movies in which the “lovers” at the center actually do give a damn about each other?

As a matter of fact, there are many romantic horror movies that, despite the deadly circumstances of their plots, remind you that love is not dead by featuring couples who share a bond that is absolutely heartwarming, or even heartbreaking. The following are a few examples of creepy classics and the people who make killer love stories out of them.

Beetlejuice (Adam And Barbara)

Director Tim Burton’s sophomore feature, Beetlejuice, is considered one of the best Michael Keaton movies for the actor’s uproarious, scene-stealing performance as the eponymous bio-exorcist (whose name is actually spelled “Betelgeuse,” by the way). However, the true stars of the classic ‘80s movie are the recently deceased Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland (Geena Davis), who want nothing more but to spend their afterlives together in peace, if not for the new living tenants of their dream home getting in the way.

The Evil Dead (Ash And Linda)

I can understand why some people might look at the Evil Dead movies and see nothing but viciously gory demonic possession films. However, at the heart of Sam Raimi’s 1981 original is a tender romantic tragedy, anchored by Ash J. Williams (horror movie icon Bruce Campbell) and his ill-fated relationship with Linda (Betsy Baker, the first of three actors to play the role). When Ash is about to do the right thing and dismember his Deadite girlfriend with a chainsaw but, after one look at the necklace he bought her, breaks down in tears instead, it gets me every time.

Let The Right One In (Eli And Oskar)

Tomas Alfredson’s Swedish 2008 adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel, Let the Right One In, is one of the best vampire movies to portray the struggles that come with being an undead bloodsucker. More impressively, it is also a relatable tale of first crushes, as seen through the eyes of the lonely Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), whose affection for Eli (Lina Leandersson) remains even after he learns her dark secret.

The Conjuring (Ed And Lorraine)

If not for their indelibly terrifying imagery and breathtaking atmosphere, the core Conjuring movies would still be appealing dramas due to the impeccable chemistry between Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren. While the hit horror movie franchise does not offer the most historically accurate portrayal of the married paranormal investigators – a 2023 Vox feature covers all the infamous details of their lives and careers – I would be more than happy to invite their adorable cinematic counterparts into my home even without a demon present.

Happy Death Day (Tree And Carter)

I am surprised 2017’s Blumhouse horror movie favorite, Happy Death Day, is not more widely recognized as a great rom-com, considering how Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) falls more in love with Carter Davis (Israel Broussard) each time she wakes up in his dorm room to relive the day of her murder. Their romance is even sold more strongly in the time loop flick’s 2019 sequel, Happy Death Day 2U (also a fun multiverse movie), when Tree chooses to abandon an alternate reality where her mother is still alive but Carter is dead just so she can be with him.

Warm Bodies (R And Julie)

Director Jonathan Levine’s adaptation of Isaac Marion’s novel, Warm Bodies, reimagines the story of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with a more positive ending… and a post-apocalyptic future setting overrun with reanimated corpses. Nicholas Hoult stars as a young zombie known only as “R,” whose major-league crush on the still-living Julie (Teresa Palmer) eclipses his craving for human flesh and ultimately proves to be the cure for the deadly plague.

The Fly (Seth And Ronnie)

In David Cronenberg’s 1986 remake of The Fly, the reclusive Dr. Seth Brundle’s (Jeff Goldblum) unexpected storybook romance with journalist Veronica “Ronnie” Quaife (Geena Davis) is cruelly interrupted by an accident that causes him to slowly become a half-man, half-insect creature. Seeing Seth’s dreadful, dehumanizing transformation through the heartbroken Ronnie’s eyes is what makes the classic body horror movie one of the genre’s all-time most upsetting romantic tragedies.

Spring (Evan And Louise)

A film that could almost be considered the antithesis to The Fly in certain ways is Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead’s supernatural drama Spring, which feels like how Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise might have turned out if written by H.P. Lovecraft. The less you know about this underrated international thriller from 2014 the better but I will say that Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Louise’s (Nadia Hilker) Italian romance serves as a wonderful, symbolic representation of love's ability to transform people into the best versions of themselves.

Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil (Dale And Allison)

Eli Craig’s clever 2010 horror-comedy movie, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, starts off, primarily, as a story of friendship, following the innocent, titular hillbillies' (played by Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine) struggle to understand why college students keep dying on their woodland property. However, as blood continues to hit the screen and more classic slasher movie tropes are subverted, the young, attractive Allison (Katrina Bowden) begins to grow more fond of Dale, who is an undeniable step up from her initial love interest, Chad (Jesse Moss), for reasons fans of the flick will understand.

Heart Eyes (Ally And Jay)

One of the more recent horror movies with a romantic twist is 2025’s darkly comedic slasher, Heart Eyes, in which recently acquainted coworkers Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding) become mistaken for lovers by a masked killer who targets couples on Valentine’s Day. However, their more-than-professional affection becomes clear by their commitment to protecting one another from their ruthless attacker.

Ghost (Sam And Molly)

While not an overt horror film like the other titles above, 1990’s Oscar-winning box office smash, Ghost, is a sexy supernatural thriller that absolutely deserves a shoutout as a testament to love’s lasting power. Even beyond death, the lingering spirit of the murdered Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) is committed to reaching out and protecting his grieving lover, Molly Jensen (Demi Moore), with the help of medium Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg).

Not everyone would think to look to the horror genre as inspiration for couple goals, but a true fan knows where to look.

Life is full of choices, and there’s always pressure to choose the right option - no matter how small the matter. In the examples we're about to discuss, it only took one bad call to lead to unnecessary drama, and in some cases, death. While not all of them are tragic, beware of some old wounds that may be opened up in the process.

Mayor Larry Vaughn Keeps Amity’s Beaches Open - Jaws

Ok, let’s just get this out of the way: Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) should have never won re-election. Amity Beach’s big wheel politician should have been legislative dust after keeping the beaches open in Jaws. Yes, beach towns depend on revenues from summer tourists - but if there’s no surviving tourists that want to shop, is it really a win?

Dr. Mann’s Hasty Docking With The Endurance - Interstellar

Scientific minds are supposed to be among the smartest and most rational in the world, especially if you’ve been chosen to colonize a potential new home for Humanity. That fact just makes the manner of death that befalls Interstellar’s Dr. Mann (Matt Damon) all the more fitting. Perhaps one should check that the airlock seals are properly aligned before launching into a speech about “all mankind.”

Rose Leaves Jack To Freeze - Titanic

Ok, so Kate Winslet’s 2024 Titanic revelation that it wasn’t a door Rose DeWitt Bukater was clinging to for life kind of changes the equation of whether or not she could have saved Jack Dawson. That being said, it still doesn’t change the fact that people are going to argue there was still room on “the door” for old Jack.

Peter Quill Socks Thanos On The Brink Of Victory - Avengers: Infinity War

Every time someone watches the Marvel movies in order, this moment, in particular, is the definition of an "own goal." As Avengers: Infinity War almost saw the reason for a second half nullified by taking the Infinity Gauntlet away from Thanos, a moment of emotion from the ever-impulsive Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) allowed the Mad Titan to keep his magic glove, and get away.

Marty McFly Buys Gray’s Sports Almanac - Back To The Future: Part II

Oh Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox). Even when you’re greedy, you’re just trying to protect the future. While our lessons in how Back to the Future’s time travel works have taught us time and again that fooling with the past is dangerous, Marty’s decision to buy Gray’s Sports Almanac was one of the greatest mistakes in pop culture history. Who really wants to live in Biff Tannen’s alternate 1985?

Someone Read The Latin - The Evil Dead Movies

This is the movie most people think of when you hear the phrase, “Don’t read the Latin.” The Evil Dead series has seen Ash (Bruce Campbell) and many others learn that lesson the hard way, as a Deadite plague tends to result after this grievous error. What did they think was going to happen when reading from a book bound by human flesh?

Iosef Tarasov’s Gang Kill John Wick’s Dog - John Wick

Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) made two huge mistakes in the John Wick movies. The first was thinking that he could convince retired hitman John Wick to sell his 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429. The second, and more costly mistake, was to kill John’s dog, Daisy. The criminal underworld still hasn’t recovered from the actions of that night, so yeah: we’re thinking that’s a bad decision.

Walter Donovan Chooses Poorly - Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

Who did you honestly put your money on when it came to winning Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’s game for the Holy Grail? A professor of archeology who has a similarly learned father, or an industrialist aiding the Nazis? If you bet on Walter Donavan (Julian Glover) winning the day, I think you know how the Grail Knight would comment on this particular choice.

Howard Ratner Can't Stop Winning - Uncut Gems

One has to wonder if A24 set up microphones during preview screenings of Uncut Gems if only to measure the decibel level of audience yelling. The moment when Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) makes what would be his final bet had to have been one where people shouted at the screen in terror - which would have only been outdone by shock at the picture’s fatalistic ending.

General Ripper Starts A Nuclear War - Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

If any of us normal people think something’s wrong with our bodies, we usually consult a specialist. But Dr. Strangelove’s General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) isn’t quite normal, as he decided to initiate “nuclear combat toe-to-toe with the Russkies,” using only a paranoid hunch as his basis. If only the internet had been invented, so WebMD could have debunked his theories.

Icarus II Goes To Visit Icarus 1 - Sunshine

You can almost always count on a bad day in space if you’re the second expedition to venture out on a mission, and you suddenly discover the wreckage of the first. Sunshine’s Icarus II crew is put through the wringer after making the decision to visit the Icarus I. On the literal bright side, at least Capa (Cillian Murphy) saved the day, despite being the deciding vote that caused a chain reaction of deadly events.

Vincent Kapoor Tells Mark Watney His Messages Are On Live TV - The Martian

Never tell a rabble-rouser they’re on live TV, they’re just going to use the moment to misbehave. The Martian’s Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) did just that as NASA’s Director of Mars Missions, and it led to astronaut Mark Watney being so creative with his swearing his colleagues had to look it up. Which led to a double whammy of regret, as learning what those phrases meant was quite a shock.

Don Kisses His Wife - 28 Weeks Later

Ok 28 Weeks Later fans, which is the bigger mistake made by our good friend Don (Robert Carlyle): abandoning his wife Alice in the wake of an Infected attack, or kissing her without reservation as she’s in medical quarantine? That second choice seems to be the greater error, as while their reunion did patch up their marriage, the act of kissing and making up turned Don into a very special victim of the Rage Virus.

Dr. Alice Krippin Cures Cancer With Measles - I Am Legend

To be clear: curing cancer is not the poor decision that kicked off I Am Legend’s horrific apocalypse. Not to mention, the idea of Dr. Alice Krippin (Emma Thompson) to use genetically modified measles was a pretty clever twist to this medical marvel. But something suggests that there were not nearly enough human trials, as it only took three years to decimate humanity with the Krippin Virus.

Preston Reveals His Wife’s Secret - Tales From The Darkside: The Movie

Here’s a loophole you could argue until the gargoyles come home: if you confess to your wife a near-lethal encounter with such a creature of stone, but she turns out to be the cryptid in question, is it really breaking your vow not to tell the world? It sadly doesn’t matter as the Tales from the Darkside: The Movie segment “Lover’s Vow” sees James Remar’s struggling artist losing his life - as in this case, it technically counts.

Evelyn Reads From The Book Of The Dead - The Mummy (1999)

“No harm ever came from reading a book.” One of The Mummy’s funniest lines is also a statement that Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) should have known not to make. Then again, could it really be that bad of a decision if it led to a rollicking adventure that ended up with her falling for the dreamy Rick O’Connell? Oh, let us think…YES!

Dr. King Schultz Won’t Shake Hands - Django Unchained

Yes, Calvin Candie is a despicable slave owner, and one could hope he’s burning in Hell. But at the same time, Django Unchained’s big bad was in a position where a simple handshake would have allowed Django (Jamie Foxx) and his rediscovered wife to escape happily. Unfortunately, mentor/moral compass Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) couldn’t bring himself to do so…at least, not without taking his foe out with a hidden pistol.

Tony Stark Creates Ultron - Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Could we please put some more safeguards on genius billionaire philanthropist playboys using artificial intelligence to save the world? Avengers: Age of Ultron almost ushered in the promise of that dangerous title, as vindictive creation Ultron (James Spader) snipped his strings and almost destroyed humanity. Worse: his antics indirectly led to the Sokovia Accords, a set of laws so restrictive, yet so useless that all they could really do was set up a couple of Marvel sequels.

Batman Severely Underestimates Bane - The Dark Knight Rises

Bane (Tom Hardy) is a physically imposing villain so buff, that your dimension’s version of Superman might think twice before beefing with him. Perhaps the Batman of The Dark Knight Rises should have called the Kryptonian boy scout before tangling with the man in the mask, as he could have saved himself a lot of trouble, and all of the medical expenses incurred from a broken back.

Logan Nelson Misreads John Kramer’s X-Rays - Jigsaw

Do you want Jigsaw? Because this is how you get Jigsaw! Careless medical examiner Logan Nelson (Matt Passmore) turned out to be the person who wronged John Kramer in the Saw franchise, which led to his place as one of the first victims turned apprentice to the criminal mastermind. As soon as Mr. Nelson made that mistake, one of the many movie retcon that confused us was born.

Daniel Hillard Creates Mrs. Doubtfire - Mrs. Doubtfire

Some people will create Scottish alter egos to avoid therapy. While Mrs. Doubtfire is still a bittersweet bundle of laughs, and though Robin Williams’ Daniel Hillard did create a fantastic children’s show host, Euphegenia’s creation should have never come from the need to see his kids. It’s kind of a case of the best intentions leading straight into legal hell, isn’t it?

Peter Parker Tries To Erase His Friend’s Memories - Spider-Man: No Way Home

If you’re a genius like Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Peter Parker (Tom Holland), you should probably know better than to bork up your request to a Sorcerer Supreme to erase that knowledge from everyone’s minds. This kid really is Tony Stark’s protege, isn’t he?

David Drayton Gets Impatient In The Apocalypse - The Mist

If David Drayton (Thomas Jane) had waited just five more minutes in The Mist, we may have seen a wildly different ending where everyone lives and learns a powerful lesson about the dangers of mob mentality. Alas, Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novella did teach us that lesson, but with much deadlier consequences.

Kay Takes Compound Z - Alien: Romulus

We’re not a bunch of medical experts here at CinemaBlend, and we’ll readily admit that. But 9 out of 10 writers would agree that if we were given the choice to take the sketchy and untested Compound Z, we’d pass it up. That didn’t stop Kay (Isabella Merced) in Alien: Romulus, and the results were as messy as you'd think.

Madeline Ashton Forgets To Ask About Potential Side Effects - Death Becomes Her

The first thing that Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) could think to ask after being propositioned with eternal youth is “How much is it?” But what she should have asked is “What are the side effects,” as Death Becomes Her sees the “fading actress” panicking after she drinks the mysterious glowing pink liquid that makes it possible. Oops.

Fuller And Lewis Get Flirty With Rusty Nail - Joy Ride

You never know who’s on the other end of a CB radio. While it’s an antiquated form of communication, it didn’t stop brothers Fuller (Steve Zahn) and Lewis (Paul Walker) from having some fun with a random trucker with the handle of “Rusty Nail” in Joy Ride. What began as a flirty prank turned into a game of death…so don’t forget to screen your calls, and watch who you lead on.

The Daltons Turn Back For Hoppy - Speak No Evil

Kids. At some point, they have to grow up, and we’d like to think that the events of the horror remake Speak No Evil helped young Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler) get wise pretty quickly. Her family was free and clear from the murderers trying to adopt her for their own, but since she convinced them to turn back for her stuffed rabbit Hoppy, salvation was delayed throughout a long, awkward night.

Paul Hackett Goes On A Date - After Hours

Who says Martin Scorsese doesn’t have a sense of humor? 1985’s After Hours saw the legendary director land one of the best dark comedies of history, thanks to the film putting poor office worker Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne) through the night from hell. And it’s all thanks to a blind date, which leads to a tragic death, which only spirals further into a nightmarish farce across New York City.

Harry And Lloyd Get Involved In A Kidnapping - Dumb And Dumber

No one would mistake Harry (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd (Jim Carrey) for being the most brilliant minds of any time. However, Lloyd’s love-sick quest to chase the woman he loves leads Dumb and Dumber’s dynamic duo into a dance with death. Stumbling into the kidnapping of a wealthy businessman, it never becomes a concern until Lloyd realizes the girl of his dreams happens to be that man’s wife.

Marty Bryce Goes Out For Pizza - Sneakers

Chance led to young Marty Bishop (Gary Hershberger) going out to pick up pizza for himself and his dear friend Cosmo (Jo Marr). If only Cos didn’t use his magic trick to force his friend to leave for dinner, he might have had a chance to save his friend from prison, and an eventual grudge.

General Brewster Activates Skynet - Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines

Artificial intelligence is dangerous, kids. But you have to give Skynet credit, as it used a computer virus to trick Lieutenant General Robert Brewster (David Andrews) into giving it full control of the United States’ weapons apparatus. And that is why Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ends with the most shocking ending of the series, as Judgement Day is allowed to happen because the U.S. government wouldn’t spring for a Norton subscription.

Eli Sunday Begs For Help From Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) and Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) are a pair of foes for the ages. So when There Will Be Blood sees the young preacher begging his oil tycoon rival for financial help, the result is a monologue we could still quote by heart - and a fatal encounter with a bowling pin.

The term “Final Girl” refers to the female protagonist in a slasher film, creature feature, or almost any other kind of thriller who, typically ends up being the last person standing against the main villain or obstacle. We looked back at some of the most iconic characters associated with this trope from some of the best horror movies of all time and came up with this assortment of the horror Scream Queens who come first in our hearts.

Sidney Prescott (Scream)

Neve Campbell's lead role from the 1996 Wes Craven-helmed classic is not actually the sole survivor of Ghostface's murder spree and would appear in several more sequels. However, Sidney Prescott is, essentially, the compendium of all the most inspiring Final Girls to come before her, especially when you consider that Scream was a compendium of all the best slasher movies to come before it.

Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) has a tougher break than most "Final Girls" as she never has a chance to have a moment's rest since sleeping makes her more vulnerable to Freddy Krueger's attack. However, she shows Robert Englund's iconic horror movie villain no mercy in the final act of 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street, taking down the burned boogeyman Kevin McCallister-style before Home Alone was even conceived.

Sally Hardesty (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre)

Most "Final Girls" earn their merit from bringing their attacker to some sort of justice, which makes Marilyn Burns' role from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre an odd one out since Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) is still alive and well by the end of Tobe Hooper's nightmarish 1974 classic. Yet, Sally Hardesty's sheer will to survive and ability to ultimately escape his sawblade and flesh-eating family should be commended, especially after all she goes through.

Alice Hardy (Friday The 13th)

It is a shame that, after surviving the events of 1980's Friday the 13th, Alice Hardy never had the opportunity to take on Jason Voorhees – a sentiment actor Adrienne King agrees with. Then again, she is the one who beheads the notorious killer's mother (and one of the greatest female horror movie villains), Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer), essentially setting off Jason's vengeful killing streak, which makes her an undisputed legend of Crystal Lake lore.

Sarah Connor (The Terminator)

While more widely associated with classic action movies thanks to its later sequels, James Cameron's 1984 sci-fi masterpiece The Terminator is a slasher movie in its metallic bones. Thus, Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor, whose son is destined to lead humanity in a revolt against mechanical overlords, should be recognized as a definitive "Final Girl."

Jess Bradford (Black Christmas)

Many audiences might know Olivia Hussey best from her star-making turn as the female lead of Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. However, she is also an icon in the horror community for leading Bob Clark's 1974 holiday horror movie favorite, Black Christmas, as a college student who begins to suspect that she and her fellow sorority sisters are being stalked by a homicidal creep during winter break.

Jeryline (Tales From The Crypt Presents: Demon Knight)

Spun-off from the eponymous hit horror anthology TV show, 1995's Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight depicts the modern-day peak of an eternal quarrel between an immortal warrior (William Fichtner) and the demon (Billy Zane) he is sworn to fight against. However, by the end of the film, Jada Pinkett Smith's Jeryline proves to be out to be the true titular hero.

Sienna Shaw (Terrifier 2)

Only a lucky few have survived the many unspeakable acts by Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton), such as Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) in Terrifier 2. Just as quickly as the creepy clown movies' horrifying harlequin became a hall-of-fame slasher villain, she became one of the top "Final Girls" of her generation, ensuring her return in Terrifier 3.

Ellen Ripley (Alien)

In Ridley Scott's terrifying, 1979 space movie masterpiece Alien, Ellen Ripley wound up becoming the sole survivor of the Xenomorph's attack on the Nostromo (unless you count the cat, Jones). Sigourney Weaver would return to the role bigger and better in James Cameron's more action-oriented 1986 favorite, Aliens, for which she earned an Academy Award nomination and a place among cinema's fiercest "Final Girls."

Laurie Strode (Halloween)

There are few horror movie icons more widely beloved as Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis, particularly for her breakthrough performance as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter's riveting smash, Halloween. When the Haddonfield teen first took on Michael Myers in that 1978 classic, the "Final Girl" trope was essentially invented and every slasher movie protagonist has tried to live up to her influence since.

Ginny Field (Friday The 13th Part 2)

The first "Final Girl" in the Friday the 13th movies to take on the one, the only Jason Voorhees in 1981's Friday the 13th Part 2 is Ginny Field. Played by Amy Steel, she is also the one who discovered the horror movie villain's somewhat understandable motivation to avenge the death of his mother, which she cleverly used against him.

Julie James (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Jennifer Love Hewitt's Scream Queen moment came when she led the cast of 1997's I Know What You Did Last Summer as Julie James. She would reprise the "Final Girl" role the following year in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, which sees her still suffering the consequences of seemingly causing the death of an innocent man in a car accident.

Maxine Minx (X)

In Ti West's acclaimed 2022 A24 horror movie, X, Mia Goth's Maxine Minx became the only survivor of a massacre on the set of an adult film that was meant to be her big break. Luckily, as revealed in 2024's MaXXXine, she would go on to have a decent career in the industry, which would eventually win her a part in a legitimate horror film but not without a run-in with another crazed killer with a personal vendetta against her and the general moral decline of the '80s.

Erin Harson (You're Next)

In director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett's You're Next, a dysfunctional family gathering is interrupted by a group of masked assailants who keep their secluded home surrounded with deadly traps and weaponry. Luckily, they have some help from one family member's girlfriend, Erin Harson (Sharni Vinson), who is revealed to have been raised on a survivalist compound, making her one of the most refreshingly resourceful horror movie characters of all time, regardless of gender.

Clear Rivers (Final Destination)

For starters, is there a single horror movie "Final Girl" with a more wicked name than Ali Larter's character from 2000's Final Destination? It was a shame to see the Grim Reaper finally claim her soul in the sequel but her willingness to take that risk to help a new group of doomed characters makes Clear Rivers a legend.

Naru (Prey)

In 2022, Prey was criticized by a few for the "unrealistic" depiction of a petite, young, 18th Century Comanche woman single-handedly taking down a hulking extraterrestrial whose most notable adversary from the previous Predator movies was Arnold Schwarzenegger. Well, any true fan of the 1987 original should know that it takes brains and not brawn to defeat said creature, and Naru (Amber Midthunder) was one of the first humans to realize that instinct and use it to victory.

Dani Ardor (Midsommar)

One of the few "Final Girls" to willfully and effectively adopt the "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" strategy is Dani Ardor (Oscar nominee Florence Pugh) from 2019's instant A24 movie classic, Midsommar. Not receiving the comfort she needs from her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), after suffering the horrifying loss of her entire family, she finally finds it when she attends a cultural festival run by a group of Swedish villagers who put a big smile on Dani's face as she watches them burn Christian alive.

Jamie Lloyd (Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers)

Danielle Harris was only at least 11 when she earned Scream Queen status by following directly in the footsteps of the quintessential "Final Girl," Laurie Stroud. Harris stars in 1988's Halloween 4: The Return of the Michael Myers as the orphaned daughter of Laurie Strode, Jamie Lloyd, whose uncle makes her his next intended prey.

Mia Allen (Evil Dead)

Jane Levy proved that an Evil Dead movie without Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams in the lead is still worth hailing to with her performance in Fede Alvarez's 2013 reboot as Mia – an addict whose road to recovery is grossly interrupted by malevolent entities that turn her into a vessel of grueling terror. Luckily, her brother, David (Shiloh Fernandez), manages to cure her possession, leading to one relentlessly brutal final showdown between her and a boss Deadite.

Grace (Ready Or Not)

In Radio Silence's brilliant 2019 horror-comedy movie, Ready or Not, Samara Weaving plays the newly married Grace, who falls prey to a ritual that forces her entire extended family to hunt her to death. While she does receive some help from her brother-in-law and it is ultimately Satan's wrath that saves her, she manages to outrun, outwit, and out-fight many of them and (mostly) maintain her sanity throughout the bloody ordeal.

Adelaide/Red (Us)

Throughout much of Jordan Peele's 2019 sophomore effort, Adelaide (Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o) has the audience's full support until the shocking Us ending that reveals she was her tethered duplicate Red the whole time, having switched with the real Adelaide decades ago. This marks one of the few instances in which the "Final Girl" (who does manage to save her entire family from the Tethered) is revealed to be the true villain in the end.

Casey Cooke (Split)

One of the various roles that have made Anya Taylor-Joy a great Scream Queen for her time is Casey Cooke from the 2017 M. Night Shyamalan movie, Split. She cleverly uses her own history of abuse as a weapon against her captor... or, more accurately, "captors," since James McAvoy's Kevin Wendell Crumb is a DID patient housing a few unfavorable personalities

Dana Polk (The Cabin In The Woods)

In director Drew Goddard's ingenious horror genre deconstruction The Cabin in the Woods, a group of college students fall prey to strange and terrifying circumstances on a camping trip, unaware it is all part of a ritual that requires people with their common personality types. Dana Polk (Kristin Connolly) absolutely fits "The Facility's" definition of a "Final Girl" but she ends up being the kind who also stands her ground and ends up turning the tables on them, in spite of the apocalyptic circumstances.

Sarah Carter (The Descent)

What makes 2005's The Descent a special kind of horror film that acknowledges grief is that Sarah Carter (Shauna Macdonald) is a protagonist who defies expectations with her resilience. She endures the loss of her husband and daughter, the discovery that her husband was being unfaithful with one of her best friends, and being trapped in an unexplored cavern with man-eating mutants like a total boss.

Kirsty Cotton (Hellraiser)

It's bad enough that Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) struggles to warm to her stepmother, Julia (Claire Higgins), in Clive Barker's 1987 favorite, Hellraiser. However, learning that Julia was murdering men so that she could reunite with her reanimated lover, Frank (also Kirsty's uncle) who has escaped captivity from a group of sadomasochistic demons is quite a challenge.

Jen (Revenge)

At the beginning of Coralie Fargeat's 2018 feature debut, Revenge (indeed one of the best revenge movies), Jen (Matilda Lutz) comes off as a conceited bimbo. However, after her boyfriend's business partner takes advantage and, instead of offering help, the boyfriend leaves her for dead in the Moroccan desert, she proves to them that she is not one to mess with and to us that she is a resilient hero worth rooting for.

Tree Gelbman (Happy Death Day)

Tree Gelbman is one of the few "Final Girls" who actually does die in her own movie... multiple times. Writer and director Christopher Landon's Happy Death Day is a fun slasher-style take on the time loop movie genre in which Jessica Rothe's protagonist finds herself reliving the same day over and over again and must use her "unlimited lives" to figure out who has been trying to kill her.

Alison Parks (Chopping Mall)

Chopping Mall is a 1986 cult favorite from producer Roger Corman in which a group of teens become locked inside a shopping center with security robots that have gone inexplicably haywire. The way Kelli Maroney's Allison Parks claps back at the machines with their own catchphrase ("Have a nice day!") before making junk out of them makes this awesomely cheesy movie worth a watch.

Maddie Young (Hush)

One of Mike Flanagan's best movies, 2016's Hush, is a creepy, well-crafted thriller about an author named Maddie (Kate Siegel) whose secluded home is invaded by a masked murderer (John Gallagher Jr.). Despite having lost her ability to hear as a teenager, Maddie prevails in her deadly cat-and-mouse game with the stranger using her sharp instincts.

Emerald Haywood (Nope)

If not for its stunningly unique take on the alien invasion movie genre or its clever satirical commentary on the influence of spectacle, the number one reason to see Jordan Peele's 2022 thriller Nope is Emerald Haywood. Keke Palmer's infectious, scene-stealing performance as the ambitious, amateur UFO hunter makes the character a standout "Final Girl" (of sorts) for the ages.

Jessie Burlingame (Wrong Turn)

Wrong Turn – in which six people fall prey to a group of murderous mutants when they become stranded in the middle of nowhere – is one of the more underrated slasher-style thrillers of the early 2000s. In the same breath, Eliza Dushku's character, Jessie Burlingame, is one of the more underrated "Final Girls" of her time, bearing the right amount of intelligence and resilience to be considered a worthy horror movie hero.

Marybeth Dunston (Hatchet)

Some "Final Girls" have remained staples of their respective franchises, even if that means recasting them with different actors. For instance, Marybeth Dunston was originally played by Tamara Feldman in 2006's Hatchet but was portrayed in the next three sequels by Halloween franchise star Danielle Harris.

I am that kind of Evil Dead fan who simply cannot get enough of this bloody franchise, which was first conjured by Sam Raimi more than four decades ago. So, it should come as no surprise that Evil Dead Burn is the one upcoming horror movie I am anticipating the most right now.

Hell, there are few titles on the upcoming 2026 movie schedule that I am looking forward to more than the next installment of all my all-time favorite horror movie franchise, and the mystery surrounding the sequel only has me all the more excited. That being said, let’s discuss what we know about Evil Dead Burn so far.

What Is The Evil Dead Burn Release Date?

As established, Evil Dead Burn is set to haunt theaters in 2026, specifically on July 24, 2026. A part of me wishes it had a spot on the upcoming 2025 movies schedule so I could see it sooner.

However, history will show that the key to the Evil Dead movies’ near flawless track record so far (as far as I am concerned) has been to let the filmmakers take their time between each installment. Considering Evil Dead Burn already has the quickest turnaround between installments yet, set to release three years after Evil Dead Rise, I am willing to wait just a bit longer.

What Evil Dead Burn Is About

It is likely not much of a stretch to assume that Evil Dead Burn, like all five of its predecessors, will be a demonic possession film, but of a more graphic and gory variety than something like the 1973 horror movie classic, The Exorcist. However, as of August 2025, all we can do at the moment is speculate over the specific sort of thrills we are in for this time, as no plot details have been revealed.

Honestly, I am not really aching to know too much about the story for now, because that incredible title is already telling me all I need to know, while also raising a few questions. Could it be inferring that the Deadites have brought forth a fiery apocalypse, or does it mean that the story follows a flame-thrower-carrying protagonist? Actually, a mix of both sounds like a delight.

The Evil Dead Burn Cast

Not since 1992’s Army of Darkness has a feature-length Evil Dead movie featured Bruce Campbell leading the cast as one of horror’s most resourceful heroes, Ash Williams, whom the actor reprised on the Starz series Ash vs. Evil Dead before retiring the character for good after it was canceled in 2018. As such, this next installment will be another standalone with an ensemble of newcomers to the franchise. Meet the Evil Dead Burn cast, whose roles are unspecified at the moment, below.

Souheila Yacoub

The first actor to join the cast is Souhelia Yacoub, who is already no stranger to horror, having made her feature debut in Gaspar Noé’s 2019 A24 horror flick, Climax. The Swiss actor more recently showed up in Dune: Part Two in the gender-swapped role of Shishakli and has a part in the upcoming Nicolas Cage movie, The Carpenter’s Son.

Hunter Doohan

Outside of a couple of eerie short films he starred in, Hunter Doohan’s most notable contribution to the horror genre is his starring role in Netflix’s Wednesday cast as Tyler Galpin. He was previously best known for playing the troubled son of Bryan Cranston’s character on Showtime’s Your Honor (a show compared to Breaking Bad) and more recently appeared in the acclaimed Disney+ original series, Daredevil: Born Again.

Luciane Buchanan

Also known for a couple of hit Netflix TV shows (namely a guest spot on Sweet Tooth and a starring role on The Night Agent) is Luciane Buchanan. The actor also had a major role on the drama Filthy Rich, which is based in her native country of New Zealand, and can currently be seen starring alongside Jason Momoa in the new Apple TV+ show, Chief of War.

Tandi Wright

Fellow New Zealander Tandi Wright appears to be the one cast member with the most experience in the horror genre, having appeared in the A&E series The Returned, the 2020 creature feature Love and Monsters, and Ti West’s unsettling period drama, Pearl. She is also known for the long-running medical drama Shortland Street, the coming-of-age dramedy Being Eve, and the Amazon Prime hit series, The Wilds.

Sébastien Vaniček Directs Evil Dead Burn

Evil Dead Burn will be the third film in the franchise not written or helmed by franchise creator Sam Raimi. This time, those tasks are being passed down to Sébastien Vaniček, who shared his plans for the sequel in the following quote from his interview with French website Konbini in 2024:

The Parisian filmmaker made his breakthrough with the arachnophobic thriller Infested, which is available to stream with a Shudder subscription, and which he also wrote with his Evil Dead Burn co-writer Florent Bernard. Raimi is also involved as producer alongside his longtime collaborator and Ghost House co-founder Robert Tapert, as is Bruce Campbell, who is executive producing with Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin.

Evil Dead Burn Has Started Filming

Looks like the Deadites are now on the loose, as Evil Dead Rise is now in production, as of July 22, 2025. Vaniček confirmed that the cameras started rolling on his horror movie with a photo shared on Instagram of the film’s gnarly official clapperboard.

There Is Another Evil Dead Movie In The Works

While discussing the future of the Evil Dead franchise in mid-2024 with Entertainment Weekly, Bruce Campbell teased that there was not just one standalone sequel in the works, but two. Deadline also reported that year, just a couple months after Vaniček was hired to make the then-untitled Evil Dead Burn, that Francis Gallupi was selected to work on the follow-up.

According to the article, the filmmaker, known for his 2023 crime thriller The Last Stop in Yuma County, conceived the idea himself and pitched it to Raimi and Tapert. Much like Burn, plot details are still scarce at the moment, while, unlike Burn, we still don’t even know what the title will be. However, if both films prove successful, then we might be able to expect a new installment every two or three years, echoing Campbell’s tease to AV Club.

Questions I Have About Evil Dead Burn

Now that we have established what we know about Evil Dead Burn, let’s discuss a few things I am wondering about the flick.

How Might Evil Dead Burn Involve Bruce Campbell?

While I have no issues with seeing an Evil Dead movie without Ash as the star, I do hope that there are plans to involve Campbell with Burn beyond his executive producer role, similar to his post-credits appearance in Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead from 2013 and his vocal cameo in Evil Dead Rise. He does not necessarily need to appear as Ash again, but it might be fun to dress the B-movie legend up as a Deadite so unrecognizably ugly that fans would have to look for his name in the credits to confirm it was him.

How Heavy Will Evil Dead Burn Go With The Easter Eggs?

While Campbell’s cameos in the last couple of installments were wonderful, I must admit that I was a little bothered by the Easter Eggs in Evil Dead Rise, which grew to be a little egregious and unnecessary at times for my taste. In other words, while I am looking forward to seeing how Vaniček intends to pay homage to the original films with Burn, I also hope that he, first and foremost, honors the franchise’s new strategy to be an anthology horror series and does not indulge in having characters needlessly recite Ash quotes like “Hail to the king, baby” or “Come get some.”

In all honesty, I am not too worried at the moment about how this film may turn out. While I do recognize the importance of being cautiously optimistic, especially with a franchise I have adored for the better part of my life, based on the talent involved, it seems to me that Evil Dead Burn could turn out pretty groovy.

Everybody makes mistakes but that fact does not make it any less frustrating when a character in a movie makes a blunder. Sometimes, the person we are supposed to be rooting for does something that makes us more furious than anything the bad guy is responsible for. See what we mean by reliving these moments that made heroes the accidental villains of their own stories.

Superman II (Clark Gives Up His Powers)

In 1980's Superman II, Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) believes he can only have a normal life with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) by becoming human, which he achieves by entering a device at the fortress of solitude. Soon after, he realizes the error of this decision when General Zod (Terrence Stamp) and his allies take over the White House.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones (The Jedi Council Hires Anakin To Protect Padme)

In the second Star Wars movie (in chronological order), when Padmé Amidala's (Natalie Portman) life is threatened, the Jedi Council chooses none other than trainee Anakin Skywalker to be her bodyguard. They should have known better, given his obvious emotional connection to her, which would eventually lead to a forbidden affair and marriage. Silver lining: the birth of Luke and Leia in the next movie.

Inglourious Basterds (Lt. Hicox Flashes The American Three)

One of the most intense moments from one of Quentin Tarantino's best movies, 2009's Inglourious Basterds, sees a disguised Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) accidentally reveal to Major Hellstrom (August Diehl) that he is not German by merely holding up the wrong fingers when asking the bar for three drinks. Perhaps this one is really on the British Army for not teaching him that the German Three is made up of the thumb, index, and middle finger but who could have known when that would come in handy?

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Tony Stark Creates Ultron)

Wanting to create a "suit of armor for the entire world," Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) teams with Bruce "Hulk" Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to develop a powerful computer program that could do their work for them. Little did he know that this creation would become the eponymous villain of 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron (voiced by James Spader), providing another cautionary lesson against relying on AI.

Scream (Sydney Runs Upstairs Away From Ghostface)

Minutes after condemning the slasher movie trope of women running upstairs from the killer instead of out the front door, Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) does the same exact thing after Ghostface first attacks her. The star of the Scream movies is still one of our favorite horror final girls but it almost makes you wonder how she manages to survive as long as she would with a blemish like that on her track record.

Prometheus (Meredith Vickers Runs From A Rolling Spacecraft In A Straight Line)

Ridley Scott's 2012 Alien prequel, Prometheus, is one of the most divisive sci-fi movies ever made but even its strongest supporters cannot argue against one character's uproarious miscalculation. Why Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) does not choose to easily run out of the way of the alien spaceship rolling toward her and, instead, keep running straight until it crushes her is a mystery that may remain unsolved.

Guardians Of The Galaxy (Drax Summons Ronan)

In 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, a few drinks make Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) confident enough to fight Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) himself, so he sends the tyrant to his current location. As a result, he gets his butt handed to him and Ronan gets away with The Power Stone.

Shrek Forever After (Shrek Makes A Deal With Rumpelstiltskin)

If there is one downside to Shrek (Mike Myers) finding love with Fiona (Cameron Diaz), she may have made him more willing to let his guard down a bit, potentially leading to his disastrous decision in 2010's Shrek Forever After. His nostalgia for his swamp-dwelling days clouds the ogre's judgment when speaking with Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who convinces him to wish himself into an alternate reality where the trickster rules Far Far Away.

Bee Movie (Barry Sues Humanity)

Writer Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie stars the comedian as an insect named Barry B. Benson, who becomes angry at humans profiting off of their honey and seeks legal action. He succeeds and bees no longer work in favor of the human race but it ends up causing an environmental disaster.

Avengers: Infinity War (Star-Lord Punches Thanos)

By putting Thanos (Josh Brolin) under Mantis' (Pom Klementieef's) trance, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Peter Parker (Tom Holland), and the remaining Guardians come super close to removing the Infinity Gauntlet from his hand. However, Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) learns that the Titan killed Gamora and punches Thanos in anger, breaking the trance and allowing him to get away. This is one moment from 2018's Avengers: Infinity War that understandably prevents some fans from calling it one of the best Marvel movies.

The Descent (Juno Chooses An Unmapped Cave To Explore)

We are not sure if we can count Juno (Natalie Mendoza) as a hero of 2005's The Descent, due to the idiotic stunt she pulls in the otherwise great horror movie. Her friends learn that she chose an unexplored cavern for their spelunking trip only after they get trapped inside with man-eating, nocturnal mutants.

Hancock (Hancock Fights Mary)

It is revealed in Hancock that Will Smith's eponymous superhuman gets weaker the longer he stays in contact with Mary Embrey (Charlize Theron), who turns out to be part of his kind, too. That does not stop him from engaging in a cataclysmic fight with her near the end of the superhero movie not based on a comic book from 2008.

The Blair Witch Project (Mike Throws The Map In The River)

It is not unusual for horror movie characters to make questionable decisions but when Mike (Michael C. Williams) tosses the map to the Black Hills Forest in The Blair Witch Project is simply unforgivable. He argues in the 1999 found footage thriller that the map was ultimately useless, and he may have been right, but discarding the one chance you may have of reaching safety is never the right move.

Skyfall (Q Connects Silva's Computer To MI6's Mainframe)

There is a reason they say you should go through IT before you investigate a suspicious piece of equipment at the office yourself and Q (Ben Whishaw) demonstrates why in 2012's Skyfall. Perhaps the older version of the tech wizard from previous James Bond movies would have been smarter about hooking up Silva's (Javier Bardem) laptop to MI6's main system, which causes the organization to lose control of their tech to the villain.

Army Of Darkness (Ash Speaks The Wrong Incantation)

Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams becomes increasingly dumber in each of the Evil Dead movies, leading up to his absolute worst mistake while trapped in the Middle Ages in 1992's Army of Darkness. He does not even bother to properly memorize a set of words that will take him back to modern times when he finds the Necronomicon and, in attempting to fake his way through it, ends up unleashing more evil forces.

The Big Lebowski (Walter Destroys A Stranger’s Car)

Suspecting that teenage Larry Sellers used stolen ransom money to purchase a hot Corvette, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) smashes it repeatedly with a crowbar, only to discover it belongs to Larry's angry neighbor. It is easily one of the funniest moments from one of the best movies of the 1990s, The Big Lebowski, but also makes us sad for The Dude (Jeff Bridges) that he is best friends with such an impulse-driven dolt.

Jeepers Creepers (Darry Tries To See Into The Creeper's Pipe)

In Jeepers Creepers, witnessing the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) shoving dead bodies down a large pipe sticking out of the ground, Darry (Justin Long) tries to investigate by looking down the pipe himself but ends up sliding right into the killer's lair. If only he had listened to his sister, Trish's (Gina Philips), meta warning: "You know the part in scary movies when somebody does something really stupid, and everybody hates them for it? This is it."

The Flash (Batman Sacrifices Himself To Destroy Zod's Ship)

While Michael Keaton's return as Batman in 2023's The Flash was awesome, one not-so-stellar moment sees him attempting to save the day by crashing the Batwing into Zod's ship. Unfortunately, the otherwise valiant effort caused very little damage to the craft and only the Dark Knight fatally succumbed to the crash.

Moana (Maui Steals The Heart Of Te Fiti)

The opening scene of the modern Disney animated movie classic, 2016's Moana, explains how Maui (Dwayne Johnson) stole and misplaced the heart of Te Fiti, which he insists was for humanity's benefit. It is not until he meets the title character (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho) that he realizes that the artifact's absence caused damage to the Hawaiian Islands and their locals.

Jumanji (Peter Tries To Cheat The Game)

In the original 1995 adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's children's book, Jumanji, Peter (Bradley Pierce) tries to end the wild board game's reign of terror by dropping the dice at the right number to finish. Unfortunately, the game knows better and punishes him for trying to beat it by reverting the evolutionary process, turning him into a monkey.

Iron Man 3 (Tony Stark Gives The Mandarin His Address)

One of the major issues fans have with Iron Man 3 is Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) rash decision to challenge The Mandarin to a one-on-one duel, going as far as revealing where he lives on a video recorded by a press member. Well, the fearsome terrorist clearly got the message, based on the violent attack on Stark's home, which forced him to jump ship and get stuck in Tennessee.

Paranormal Activity (Micah Breaks Out A Ouija Board)

If we were to make a list of the worst significant others in horror movie history, there would definitely be a place for Micah (Micah Sloat) from the first Paranormal Activity movie, released in 2009. Exhibit A: after a medium warns against using a Ouija board, as that would make his and Katie's (Katie Featherston) haunting situation much worse, Micah decides to bring one into the house and makes their haunting situation much worse.

Sleeping Beauty (Flora And Merryweather Fight Over Aurora's Dress Color)

In 1959's Sleeping Beauty, Aurora's fairy guardians want to make a dress just for her but Flora wants it to be pink and Merryweather is dead set on making it blue. Despite being advised not to, they use magic to change the dress' color over and over, which ends up alerting Maleficient of their location and putting Aurora in danger.

Evil Dead (Eric Reads From The Necronomicon)

Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead is considered one of the best horror movie remakes of its time but is certainly not without its flaws. In fact, the demonic carnage is caused when Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), for no reason at all, reads aloud from the Necronomicon, ignoring blatant warnings written into the flesh-bound, blood-inked book to leave it alone.

Deadpool (Wade Leaves His Ammo Bag Behind)

Twice in the 2016's Deadpool does the Merc with the Mouth (Ryan Reynolds) leave behind a huge duffle bag full of weaponry that certainly would have really come in handy against his foes. Instead, he is forced to rely on "maximum effort"... and his immortality, of course.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (Peter Gives Mysterio E.D.I.T.H.)

In 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home, feeling that he has found a trusted friend in Quentin "Mysterio" Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), Peter Parker (Tom Holland) decides to give him full control of E.D.I.T.H. – an augmented reality security, defense, and artificial tactical intelligence system designed by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Unfortunately, that is exactly what the disgruntled former Stark Industries employee wanted him to do, planning to use it to launch an attack on London.

Annabelle Comes Home (Daniela Explores The Warrens' Artifact Room Alone)

Whether or not you believe in the stories behind the Conjuring Universe movies, we imagine no one wants to be caught dead where Ed and Lorraine Warren keep their collection of haunted heirlooms. However, Daniela (Katie Sarife) braves the forbidden room in hopes of making contact with her late father but ends up unleashing the demon that possesses the eponymous doll in Annabelle Comes Home.

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (Clark Fails To Properly Explain His Situation To Bruce)

In the moments leading to the climactic battle of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) takes way too long to explain to Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) that Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is holding his mother (Diane Lane) captive and, instead, resorts to doing exactly what the evil billionaire wants him to do and fight the Dark Knight. When he finally gives an explanation, with Batman seconds away from killing him with a Kryptonite spear, he says, "Save Martha," instead of the more matter-of-fact, "Lex is going to kill my mom."

The Marvels (Carol Destroys The Supreme Intelligence)

In The Marvels, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) is forced to work with Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) after their powers become linked but the hero otherwise known as Captain Marvel is reluctant to rope her friends into the battle against Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton). This is because she is personally responsible for their enemy's vengeful motivation, having created a Civil War among the Kree after destroying their A.I. leader.

Fantastic Four (Reed And Others Test Their Teleportation Device While Inebriated)

The 2015 Fantastic Four adaptation was widely disliked for a multitude of reasons, including the dumb decision that leads to the four main characters gaining their superpowers. After a few too many drinks, the designers of a groundbreaking teleportation device decide to test it out themselves, changing their lives forever.

Thor: Ragnarok (Loki Summons The Bifrost To Escape Hela)

In 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, when he and the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) are confronted by their sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), Loki (Tom Hiddleston) tries to make a quick getaway with the Bifrost. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time but Hela ends up chasing after them, ultimately leading her right to Asgard while the half-brothers get stranded on Sakaar.

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (Austin Keeps The Receipt For His Special Pump)

In the spy movie parody, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, when the titular agent (Mike Myers) is collecting the belongings he left behind before being cryogenically frozen, he claims that a certain special, Swedish-made pump does not belong to him. However, a credit card receipt for the item, a warranty slip with his name on it, and a book about his experiences using the product found with his stuff prove otherwise.

Nowadays, we have the ultra rare rating of NC-17 when something goes beyond the R-rating. However, back in the day (“the day” being prior to the 1990s), there was the much cooler-sounding X-rating that came attached to movies that were seen as being way too hardcore for anybody under the age of 17.

Now, a lot of these movies were later changed to an R-rating, but the legacy of the X-rating still lives on today, as it remains an important part of cinema history. So, here are six famous X-rated movies, and what made them so controversial at the time. 

Midnight Cowboy (1969) 

The only X-rated movie to ever win Best Picture (and also one of the greatest), Midnight Cowboy is about a sometimes gigolo – but mostly a male sex worker for gay men – played by Jon Voight, and the relationship he forges with an enfeebled con man, played by Dustin Hoffman. 

I just mentioned how Voight’s character mostly works for gay men, and that’s mainly why the movie got its X-rating. That said, it might not be for why you think. There’s a tremendous Vanity Fair article that details how the movie actually could have had an R-rating, but some of the powers that be were legitimately concerned that the movie would turn some young men gay. 

Obviously, it is a silly notion that any movie could make a whole generation of teenage boys gay, but this was the late 1960s, mind you, and people thought differently back then. These days, we widely support gay rights, and even promote movie and TV characters played by gay actors. So, we’ve come a long way since 1969. Not as far as we need to go, but progress has definitely been made.  

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

And now for a bit of the old ultraviolence. One of Stanley Kubrick’s best movies is also one of his most controversial. My older sister once warned me not to watch this movie, and for good reason. The content of this film is definitely not for kids. 

A main reason for this is all of the sexual violence. According to Slashfilm, the tipping point that caused the censors to likely tear out their hair is probably the most famous moment in the entire movie (Well, besides the part where Malcolm McDowell has his eyes forced open with clamps), and it’s the infamous home invasion scene, where McDowell’s character belts out “Singing in the Rain” before sexually assaulting a man’s wife right in front of him. 

These days, the droogs are apparently seen as being so harmless that they’re included as audience members in the Space Jam sequel. But, back in the early ‘70s, this movie was way too harsh for younger eyes. Now, they cheer on Bugs Bunny.  

Fritz The Cat (1972) 

The very first X-rated cartoon, Fritz the Cat took pride in that distinction, even proclaiming, “We’re not rated X for nothin’, baby!” on the movie poster. And, it’s pretty easy to understand why this movie’s Rated-X, but BBC has a pretty detailed article on why it received that usually dreaded rating. 

Directed by Ralph Bakshi (In his directorial debut!), and based on the R. Crumb comic strip of the same name, Fritz the Cat seems like the kind of movie that the X-rating was invented for. 

Featuring drug use, sex, political activism, and some pretty dated racial stereotyping (though, you get a sense that Bakshi was riffing off of the black crows from Disney’s Dumbo), there was no way that the film industry wanted parents to take their children to see a movie where a cat has a foursome.

That said, without Fritz the Cat, we likely wouldn’t have had more adult-themed cartoons like The Simpsons (which I’m glad that I grew up watching), Family Guy, and South Park, so thank Ralph Bakshi and R. Crumb for that.  

The Evil Dead (1981) 

The Evil Dead is my favorite horror franchise of all time. With five films under its belt, I would argue that there hasn’t been a bad one yet, with the most recent entry, Evil Dead Rise, getting a respectable four out of five star review from us. 

The series has wildly varied in tone, though. In the last two entries, 2013’s Evil Dead, and the aforementioned Evil Dead Rise, the creative teams have gone back to making straight up horror movies. That said, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness are definitely examples of horror comedies. 

However, it’s the first movie, 1981’s The Evil Dead that was considered so extreme, that it received an X-rating when it first released. Looper goes into why this was, but the long and short of it is basically down to one specific scene, which even Sam Raimi regrets these days. Basically, if you’ve seen the movie, then you’ll know it involves a woman out in the woods…and a tree. I’ll leave it at that.

There’s also a great deal of bloodshed, and all of the demonic stuff definitely didn’t help its case. These days, the film is still kind of shocking, especially when you think about when it was initially released. 

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) 

A forebear to the blaxploitation genre, Melvin Van Peebles’ Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song perfectly exemplifies why the X-rating was created. The film can be seen as many things – political statement, a Black empowerment film, or, as some people likely deem it as, borderline pornography. 

In fact, according to Den of Geek, that was partly how the film got away with some of the more salacious elements in the film, such as a scene that was excised out of some later versions involving Van Peebles' own son, Mario (at 13, no less), playing a younger version of his character who copulates with a sex worker. 

But, Van Peebles proudly took upon the X-rating, as nobody in Hollywood would touch this movie with a ten foot pole. That’s why he starred in it (performing his own stunts, even) and funded it.

As somebody who’s seen a great many films, and hardly ever gets shocked, I have to tell you, Sweet Sweetback’s Badasssss’ Song genuinely shocks me (Like, how did he get away with a movie like this?!), which is no small feat.  

Last Tango In Paris (1972) 

Lastly, I want to talk about Last Tango in Paris, which, believe it or not, was the seventh highest grossing film of 1973. Starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider, the film is basically about two lovers who have lots of anonymous sex…until they don’t.

Now, the reason for this movie’s X-rating is, like many of the movies on here, for one particular scene. But, unlike The Evil Dead, which had a graphic moment featuring a tree, Last Tango of Paris has a graphic scene featuring butter. 

I don’t even want to get into the scene in question, because it’s sickening, but even more sickening is the revelation that the actress didn’t even know the scene was going to happen. 

There’s a Glamour article all about it, and even though Marlon Brando is still a highly revered actor, this movie is definitely a stain on his career, as there’s no excuse for what he and the director, Bernardo Bertolucci, colluded to do to Maria Schenider. No excuse at all. 

And, that’s the list. There are many other X-rated films I could have talked about, but these were the six that I feel are the most widely discussed. How many of these X-rated movies have you seen? 

There was a time when seeing iconic horror movie villains such as Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees slashing up young, defenseless civilians was the genre’s main draw. However, these days, audiences have come to better appreciate the Scream Queens and Scream Kings who know how to hold their own against the likes of masked killers, vicious extraterrestrials, mischievous demons, and more. With that in mind, let’s take a minute to shine the spotlight on the clever and courageous heroes from the best horror movies of all time and point out what makes them worth rooting for.

Ash Williams (The Evil Dead Movies) 

The Ash we meet in 1981's The Evil Dead is completely in over his head, struggling desperately to defend himself against his possessed friends in whatever way he can find. However, by the end of 1987's Evil Dead II, when he replaces his severed hand with a working chainsaw, Bruce Campbell's most iconic role becomes one of the horror genre's grooviest heroes… even if he is prone to a few flubs and mishaps here and there.

Laurie Strode (Halloween) 

Out of all of the babysitters working in Haddonfield on All Hallow’s Eve, Laurie Strode is the only one who manages to survive the escaped Michael Myers' killing streak in 1978's Halloween. The young woman’s courage and avoidance of distracting vices in John Carpenter's quintessential slasher made the character the ultimate “final girl” and Jamie Lee Curtis the quintessential Scream Queen.

Ben (Night Of The Living Dead) 

Duane Jones made history as the first Black actor to play the lead hero in a horror movie with his role in 1968's Night of the Living Dead. Ben is the one character in George A. Romero's groundbreaking thriller who manages to keep a level head when struggling to survive against hungry reanimated corpses.

Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare On Elm Street) 

Played by Heather Langenkamp, Nancy Thompson certainly takes a little while to figure out how to defeat the subconscious-haunting Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund) in writer and director Wes Craven’s supernatural slasher classic. Near the end of A Nightmare on Elm Street, when she realizes that bringing him into reality is the key, she turns the tables on him with a series of elaborate traps that predate Home Alone.

Ellen Ripley (Alien) 

Sigourney Weaver’s career-defining role of Ellen Ripley became the sole survivor of  1979’s Alien and, as a result, one of the most inspirational female heroes in horror movie history. Her previous experience contending with the Xenomorph provided her with the resilience and wherewithal to ensure there would be more survivors in 1986’s Aliens, making her one of the greatest female action heroes of all time.

Sidney Prescott (Scream) 

When you have been targeted by masked killers as many times as Sidney Prescott, you tend to pick up on a few helpful tips and tricks for survival. Even before the original Ghostface first struck in 1996's Scream, the tragic murder of her mother a year prior prompted Neve Campbell's character to be prepared for such things.

R.J. MacReady (The Thing) 

Easily one of Kurt Russell's best roles is R.J. MacReady in John Carpenter's The Thing. The pilot brings a well-conceived, no-nonsense approach to weeding out who among his fellow researchers is a shape-shifting alien in disguise while stranded at their outpost in the Arctic.

Elise Rainier (Insidious)

When your house (or, maybe, your child) is haunted, the first person you should call is someone with a direct line to the afterlife, such as Lin Shaye's Elise Rainier from the Insidious movies. The medium comes to the Lambert Family's aid after young, unwitting astral traveler Dalton (Ty Simpkins) flies too far into "The Further" — a spiritual realm she named herself.

Chris Washington (Get Out)

Jordan Peele made a point to have a protagonist capable of making intelligent decisions for his Oscar-winning directorial debut, Get Out. He achieved that goal beautifully with Daniel Kaluuya's Chris Washington, with his adept suspicions of unusual circumstances and ingenious plan to escape the Armitage Family’s clutches.

Grace (Ready Or Not) 

Samara Weaving's newlywed in Radio Silence's breakthrough hit, Ready or Not, proves to be an ideal Hide-and-Seek player when her in-laws forced her to play it to the death as part of a matrimonial ritual. While she does get spotted a few times, it is in those moments when Grace also proves to be quite the fighter.

Dutch (Predator) 

Even the biggest fans of the Predator movies seem to forget that, when it comes to defeating the cunning, titular extraterrestrial, being the toughest, strongest, and best marksman is nowhere near as important as being the smartest. Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character from the 1987 original) realizes this after becoming the last of his crew and taking him on with old-school hunting tactics.

Sienna Shaw (Terrifier 2) 

Played by Lauren LaVera, the hero of Damien Leone's sequel to his shockingly brutal, old-school slasher throwback, Terrifier, is not just a final girl by circumstance. As foretold in artwork crafted by her late father, it is Sienna Shaw's destiny to cross paths with and defeat the sadistic Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton).

Clarice Starling (The Silence Of The Lambs) 

Jodie Foster won her second Academy Award for her performance in Jonathan Demme's adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel, The Silence of the Lambs. Her role as Clarice Starling — an FBI trainee seeking help from a manipulative, cannibalistic psychiatrist (played by Anthony Hopkins) — is one of the most intelligent and inspirational heroes in cinematic history, regardless of whether or not you want to call the Best Picture Oscar winner "horror."

Casey Cooke (Split, Glass) 

In M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, it eventually becomes known that Casey Cooke's calm demeanor and resourcefulness when she and her friends are kidnapped by a DID patient (James McAvoy) are the result of years of abuse from her uncle. Her trauma also allows Anya Taylor-Joy's character to have a unique connection with her captors' core identity, Kevin Wendell Crumb, that helps bring him back to earth in the 2019 sequel, Glass.

Randy Meeks (Scream)

The only original Scream cast member as resourceful as Sidney (if not more) is Randy Meeks, whose obsession with horror movie tropes allows him to, successfully, figure out at least one of Ghostface's true identities. Even though Jamie Kennedy's movie buff does not survive 1997’s Scream 2, his prime suspect in that sequel also turns out to be halfway correct.

Chief Martin Brody (Jaws)

Roy Scheider's Brody is the one member of Jaws' heroic trio with the least amount of experience with sharks. Yet, he makes up for it with the courage and skill needed to rid the waters of that man-eating beast.

Erin Harson (You're Next) 

When masked assassins turn an already bitter family reunion into a bloody nightmare in You're Next, the first one to take charge (and take out these adversaries) is Sharni Vinson's Erin, who is dating one of the family members. It is later revealed that she was trained for situations like this when she was a child, having grown up on her father's survivalist compound.

Peter Washington (Dawn of the Dead)

In the midst of the apocalypse, there is no one better to have in your crew than a member of SWAT, like Peter Washington. Ken Foree's role in George A. Romero’s 1978 zombie movie classic, Dawn of the Dead, is not only a master at slaying zombies, but a devoted survivalist and clever strategist.

Mindy Meeks-Martin (Scream, Scream VI) 

Like uncle, like niece. You would not be able to tell that Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown) never got to meet the slain Randy based on how remarkably similar she is to him, particularly in her wide range of horror movie knowledge that proves to be very beneficial for the Scream franchise's new generation of targets.

Dr. Sam Loomis (Halloween) 

In Halloween, Laurie Strode manages to defend herself against Michael Myers, but is unable to expect when, where, and how he might strike — unlike the killer's psychiatrist. Donald Pleasence's Dr. Loomis is not necessarily one step ahead of his former patient, but is not too many steps behind him either, and there might have been fewer casualties in Haddonfield if more people actually accepted his advisement.

Marty (The Cabin In The Woods) 

Fran Kranz's character in the 2012 horror-comedy movie favorite The Cabin in the Woods, Marty, is chosen to represent the "Fool" archetype by The Organization, but they largely misjudged him. He is the first among his vacationing friends to pick up on the strange circumstances surrounding them and call them out on poor decisions often made in less self-aware horror movies.

Maddie Young (Hush) 

In Mike Flanagan's Hush, when a masked killer (John Gallagher Jr.) discovers his target, Maddie Young (Kate Siegel), is deaf, he takes advantage of that fact to intimidate, manipulate, and trap her in her secluded home. What he does not expect is that, as an author, she possesses a sharp analytical mind that keeps her one step ahead of her adversary.

Naru (Prey) 

In Dan Trachtenberg's 2022 Predator prequel, Prey, Amber Midthunder's aspiring Comanche warrior, Naru, proves her worth as a hunter by besting the greatest hunter in the universe. Much like Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch from the original classic, she manages to take out the hulking extra-terrestrial with her wits.

The Janitor (Willy's Wonderland) 

Similarities between 2020's Willy’s Wonderland and the popular Five Nights at Freddy’s series are allegedly coincidental, but there are some audiences who believe that said recent underrated horror movie is a better cinematic counterpart than Blumhouse’s official feature adaptation. The reason is that Nicolas Cage's silent, unnamed drifter manages to absolutely lay waste to a rundown family entertainment center's evil-possessed animatronics with his bare hands, all while cleaning the place up to an immaculate degree and scoring big in pinball.

Tess Marshall (Barbarian) 

In 2022’s Barbarian, Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) wastes no time scoping out the strange man she finds staying in her vacation rental home (played by Bill Skarsgård) — asking for his ID, avoiding a drink he prepares for her, etc. — which is only the first sign of her wisdom. The most definitive sign is when she finds a creepy hidden room in the basement and, instead of taking a look inside, her first instinct is one big, "Nope."

Scarlett Marlowe (As Above, So Below) 

Scarlett Marlowe (Perdita Weeks) proves her worth as a Final Girl hall-of-famer in one pivotal scene from the 2014 found footage favorite, As Above, So Below. She single-handedly runs all the way back through the, literally, devilish caverns she and her comrades have traveled through to find a mystical artifact that will save a man's life.

The Abbott Family (A Quiet Place) 

A post-apocalyptic world overrun with aliens that hunt by sound is the ingenious concept behind 2018’s A Quiet Place from director John Krasinski, who also stars alongside his real-life wife, Emily Blunt, as a family struggling to stay undetected. For the most, the Abbotts manage this pretty well with tricks like creating paths of sand for quieter walks, building a soundproof bunker for their newborn, and speaking exclusively in American Sign Language.

Lionel Cosgrove (Dead Alive) 

While initially known for his clumsiness, Lionel (Timothy Balme) proves to be a real hero in Peter Jackson's comedic classic, Dead Alive, by making mincemeat about out of a zombie horde with a makeshift lawnmower. What an ingenious idea!

Sang-hwa (Train To Busan)

It is no wonder Don Lee went on to star in Marvel's Eternals cast after playing Sang-hwa in Train to Busan. Fewer characters might have survived the onboard outbreak in the South Korean zombie movie favorite if not for his remarkable skills as a strategist and a bare-knuckle brawler.

Cecelia Kass (The Invisible Man) 

Writer and director Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man is an ingenious modernization of H.G. Wells’ novel for multiple reasons — including its narrative from the perspective of the victim, and a very bright and cautious one at that. Elisabeth Moss' Cecelia Kass is one of the few horror movie characters who leaves absolutely no stone unturned in a fierce battle of wits against her adversary — in this case, her manipulative former husband, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), whom she suspects has figured out a way to stalk her without being seen.

Blade (Blade) 

What makes Blade — originally played by Wesley Snipes in his own trilogy — the ultimate vampire hunter? He technically is one himself. The Marvel Comics hero is known as a Daywalker, having been born with vampire blood and similar abilities that allow him to think just like his prey.

Tommy Jarvis (Friday The 13th Movies) 

Few of Jason Voorhees' targets have been about to successfully outsmart the hockey-masked killer like Tommy Jarvis. In his debut appearance in 1984's Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, the young man (played then by Corey Feldman) shaves his head to appear like a young Jason, disorienting the killer and giving him a clear shot to defeat him.

Tired of watching horror movies and getting frustrated over the characters’ ill-advised decisions? You shouldn’t have that problem with these characters.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Halloween or any season on the calendar for that matter: when the hunger for horror hits, it must be heeded. And as it just so happens that we here at CinemaBlend have our fingers on the pulse of that blood-soaked genre.

However, if you want something past our rundown of the 50 best horror movies of all time, and you’re into the gory details, you’re in luck. Here, without further interruption, is 12 of the goriest horror movies and how to watch them, no matter when the mood arises.

Dead Alive (1992)

Oh, Peter Jackson. Before he was running around with Hobbits or making documentary history with The Beatles, the man was indulging in some extreme tastes in horror. Dead Alive, or Braindead, as it’s sometimes known, is one of his most notable classics in such a realm, as the blood and body parts fly after a zombie plague hits a small town. You’ll never look at lawnmowers the same way again. 

Buy Dead Alive on Blu-ray on Amazon

Evil Dead (2013)

Among the various points of order in Evil Dead 2013’s history and legacy, one of the things that always comes up is the blood. As poor Mia (Jane Levy) fights for her life through a particularly massive crimson rain with chainsaw in hand, director Fede Alvarez’s legacy-quel to Sam Raimi’s classic horror series comes to a heart-stopping conclusion. According to reports from Bloody-Disgusting before its release, 50,000 gallons of fake blood were used on that scene alone, so revisiting this one from time to time makes those efforts worth the mess.

Rent/Buy Evil Dead (2013) on Amazon
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Terrifier 2 (2022)

Our own Eric Eisenberg's Terrifier 2 review mentions the fact that when writer/director Damian Leone’s sequel hit theaters, people were vomiting and/or passing out during early screenings. The mega-sized return of Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) goes big when it comes to running time, as well as pure gory horror. With kills as visceral as they are absolutely painful to watch, you won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for a bloody good time.

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Saw (2004)

Hey readers, want to play a game? For almost two decades, the Saw series has been doing just that, using audiences as its guinea pigs to see how far it can take things when it comes to the cinematic loss of blood and other vital organs. Director James Wan and writer/star Leigh Whannell created an anti-hero for the ages with John Kramer (Tobin Bell), as his potentially deadly traps test every victim’s drive for survival. The original still cuts pretty deep after all this time.

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Society (1989)

It’s not easy to talk about director Brian Yuzna’s Society without ruining the big surprise. Though it’s a decades-old horror-thriller about a young man (Billy Warlock) who senses a sinister conspiracy in his ritzy Beverly Hills community, it’s a film that’s obscure enough that many haven’t seen it yet. If you’re in that group, I suggest going in as cold as possible. However, I’ll give you this small bit of food for thought: not all gore has to involve blood, especially when there are plenty of fresh bodies to... perhaps I’ve said too much.

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Hellraiser (1987)

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser is the epitome of horror films that earn qualifiers like “exquisite,” “meticulous” and, yes, “bloody.” Originating the story of everyone’s favorite pain dealer Pinhead (Doug Bradley), the very first entry in this iconic saga doesn’t skimp out on the blood and guts. At the same time, the way this literally bloody hell is exacted upon its victims is so exacting that this picture should be considered the gold standard of gore with a purpose.

Stream Hellraiser (1987) on Prime Video
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Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Is it cheating to have two different installments of the same loosely bound anthology on the same list? Who can really tell? All I know is that Evil Dead Rise earned its title as one of 2023’s best horror movies, and it did so with a horrific amount of possessed red sauce. Director Lee Cronin claimed 1,700 gallons of fake blood were used in the film. While that doesn’t eclipse Evil Dead (2013)’s potentially record setting amount, that’s still a pretty huge drop in this frightfully bleak, but fun bucket.

Stream Evil Dead Rise on Max
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Hostel (2005)

One of our own writers, Alexandra Ramos, once provided her thoughts after watching Hostel for the first time. Without spoiling too much, her assessment of the gore being “on another level of disgusting” is a pretty neat summary of what to expect in Eli Roth’s torture porn opus. Just beware, although it takes a little while for the bloodletting and dismemberment to start, it gets pretty intense once it does.

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The Fly (1986)

The words “body horror” almost automatically conjure two images: bloody transformations beyond the laws of nature and director David Cronenberg. As the Canadian auteur is a mythic purveyor of all things grisly, yet thought provoking, his 1986 remake of The Fly sits square at the crossroads of those thoughts. Watching the tragic metamorphosis of the brilliant, but cocky Dr. Seth Brindle (Jeff Goldblum) from man into beast is assuredly terrifying, but it’s also a study in sadness as he loses his humanity and the woman he loves (Geena Davis).

Rent/Buy The Fly (1986) on Amazon
Buy The Fly (1986) on Blu-ray on Amazon

Possessor (2020)

Much like his father, writer/director Brandon Cronenberg has a habit of making the human body a thoughtfully playground of destruction and mutilation. That’s just the beginning of what to expect from his film Possessor, which starts with a concept that feels more at home in an espionage thriller. Following assassin Tasya (Andrea Riseborough) and her jobs that require hijacking another person’s body as a cover, what starts as a novel concept becomes a nightmarish experience with plenty of blood and flexible skin to spare.

Stream Possessor on Hulu
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Tokyo Gore Police (2008)

Here’s another movie that feels like an automatic home run when it comes to the subject of “goriest horror movies.” The operative word is right in the title for co-writer/director Yoshihiro Nishimura’s Tokyo Gore Police, and that’s not all you should expect. Blood, mutations and apparently a killer sense of humor fill this horrific tale of a world where viral terror has caused people’s bodies to spontaneously change. Again, with the word “gore” prominently displayed in the title, potentially squeamish audiences have been fully warned.

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Demons (1985)

Let’s close out our rundown of the goriest horror movies with a subgenre that’s an old favorite: demonic possessions! Lamberto Bava’s Demons takes that phenomenon and puts a lot more blood and body horror into it, as a random infection at a movie screening turns into a full on apocalypse. Also, the movie being shown within Demons is a flick that mirrors the events of the film, so you’re kind of getting a “2 for 1” deal here on gory wonders. 

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And there you have it, dear readers! If you're in the mood for vicious, horrific delights that'll make your skin crawl, you have your orders. So be sure to stock up on the essentials, like popcorn, soft drinks and barf bags, before diving into these shocking cinematic offerings. Don't say we didn't warn you though!

Fans of horror movies know that Evil Dead Rise marked the return of the series and a hint of where the franchise might go moving forward. But what if one of the next installments in one of the greatest horror movie franchises was handled by the House of Mouse? OK, it's probably not going to happen, but that didn’t stop one fan from posting an adorable Pixar-inspired poster of The Evil Dead, and the piece of adorable fan art got the almighty Bruce Campbell's thumbs up of approval. My only question: What would they do with the demonic tree scene? 

The iconic Ash Williams actor hopped onto X (formerly Twitter) and shared a fantastic piece originally shared by user @Jopane22 with a big thumbs up. You can take a look at the image below—it brilliantly transforms the horror series into a charming Pixar-style realism that's both adorable and yet true to the essence of the OG series. The Bubba Ho-Tep star didn't hold back on the love, captioning the post with a cheerful, "Golly, what a great idea!"

The idea of Ash battling Deadites and navigating the blood-soaked, gore-filled world that defines the series in a family-friendly setting might seem too far-fetched to picture. The franchise is renowned for some of the most terrifying scenes in horror film history, such as the infamous demonic tree scene. This chilling sequence appears in the first two original Raimi films and the 2013 reboot, depicting a tree violently trapping one of our protagonists with its deadly vines. Horror hounds with keen eyes may have noticed the groovy easter egg homage in Evil Dead Rise to the original iconic scene when the elevator attacks Ellie.

It's hard to picture Disney diving into animated horror, especially tackling something as intense as the Evil Dead. However, given the recent success at the box office and the overwhelmingly positive Rise reviews from critics for the latest installment, it's clear more chapters of the series are on the horizon. Could some of them venture into the realm of animation? After all, horror can pack a punch even in animated form. Here's a roundup of fantastic animated horror movies to prove the point.

• Coraline (2009): A stop-motion animated film that skillfully blends eerie visuals with a captivating storyline.
• ParaNorman (2012): This stop-motion animated feature offers a mix of humor and horror, making it an engaging watch for a broad audience.
• Corpse Bride (2005): Tim Burton's animated film, using stop-motion, tells a dark yet enchanting tale with a touch of romance and macabre humor.
• Monster House (2006): A computer-animated horror-comedy that brings a haunted house to life, catering to both scares and laughs.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): A classic stop-motion film that seamlessly blends elements of Halloween and Christmas, proving the versatility of animated horror.
• Spirited Away (2001): While not strictly horror, this animated masterpiece by Studio Ghibli incorporates elements of fantasy and eerie creatures, showcasing the diversity of animated storytelling.
• Mad God (2021): With a commendable 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, Mad God by Phil Tippett explores a surreal and visually stunning world.

The films above demonstrate how animated horror can be successful, so come on, Disney/Pixar, let's get the ball rolling on an Evil Dead animated installment! Wishful thinking? Perhaps. 

No animated Evil Dead is in the pipeline for upcoming horror movies, fear not – there's a slew of thrilling scares lined up for the 2023 movie release schedule. Alternatively, if you prefer getting spooked from the cozy confines of your home, why not dive into the chills of Evil Dead Rise? Catch it on streaming with a Max (formerly HBO Max) subscription.

So, I have a confession – I’ve never watched Evil Dead. 

Sure, I’ve seen bits and pieces of the movie here and there, but I’ve never fully sat down and watched one all the way through. As much as I love horror movies, the Evil Dead franchise was one that never really stood out to me – mainly because, for a long time, I didn’t know if I could handle the gore that everyone talked about when it came to it. 

Gore in horror movies is something I can handle, but to a certain level. I like gore, but when I feel like it’s used too much, it turns me off. It’s a big reason why I’m not the hugest fan of the Saw movies even though I have seen those and can admire the puzzles that Jigsaw put his victims through. 

However, Evil Dead Rise got such great reviews, and since I was lacking in any serious horror right now, I decided to give the movie a shot, without seeing any other Evil Dead movie before it, hoping I didn’t make a huge mistake – and thankfully, I don’t think I did. Here’s why:

(Spoilers from Evil Dead Rise ahead!) 

The Gore Is Legit On Another Level – Like I Expected

Like I said in my introduction, I know the Evil Dead movies are known for their gore. It’s a very standard thing to understand about the horror franchise, as it’s really one of its defining features. Even so, I still found myself staring in shock when the opening minutes of the movie featured an intense amount of blood on the screen. 

But for the first time in a while, it didn’t really bother me. I felt like the gore sort of fit with the plot of the movie considering these creatures, the Deadites, as I have learned, are pretty psychotic and demons who thrive off of violence and fear. 

I will say that the gore only got more intense as the movie went on, and sometimes, it was hard to watch as someone who is not primarily used to horror movies filled with blood – but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. 

One of my co-workers said that the older movies are somehow even gorier, and I genuinely don’t know how that could be – but I suppose I'd have to dive deeper into a franchise to find out. 

And The Cinematography Was Really On Point

I can not get over how skillful the cinematography was in this movie. That opening shot was, hands down, the best opening sequence I have ever experienced in a horror film. Jessica, hovering over the water, an evil look in her eye after she just decapitated one of her friends, while the title rises in the background – god, so good. 

Somehow, Dave Garbett, the cinematographer behind Evil Dead Rise, was able to make gore and the scariest situations look utterly stunning. Horror movies can truly become perfect in the way they are filmed and this movie had some excellent shots that had me impressed, from that first shot of Ellie stepping out of the bath and screaming, to that final moment with the chainsaw, to everything else. 

There’s a lot to love about this movie’s cinematography, and it’s currently in my book as one of the best recent movies that has some amazing shots. 

But The Acting Was Also Extremely Good, Too – Especially From Alyssa Sutherland

Acting in horror movies can either be really good or really campy. I’ve seen some truly terrible performances, and then ones that should have been nominated for Academy Awards, such as Keke Palmer in Nope, or Toni Collette in Ari Aster’s horror movie, Hereditary. I know that people can bring the talent when it comes to horror movies. 

The acting in this film is so good. So good. I swear, it felt like every actor was having the time of their lives while filming Evil Dead Rise. It really takes a lot from an actor to act utterly evil in one moment and terrified in the next, and the whole Evil Dead Rise cast truly brought so much to the table. 

Specifically, I have to give props to Alyssa Sutherland. I’ll be honest – before Evil Dead Rise, I hadn't seen her work, just because she primarily was in smaller roles in movies and/or in television shows that I never had the chance to watch. But God, does she show off her acting skills in this movie. Her portrayal of Ellie was on another level the whole entire time. 

Sutherland captured the perfect vision of terror before switching over into evil so quickly, and somehow did it while making it feel realistic as well. She was what kept me watching this movie because it was so good. I loved it. 

The Story Was So Much Fun – And I Genuinely Want To Learn More About That Book

Okay, again – I know practically nothing about this franchise, so I went into this movie completely blind and unaware of how any of this was going to go down. I knew there was a book from the franchise that basically summoned all the evil forces that cause issues as time goes on, but other than that, I knew nothing else. But of course, that book – called Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, was there in this movie. 

First off, I just have to say this – who the hell would open up a book with fangs on the edge? I would be out that door in an instant. That’s just begging for something bad to happen. 

But if we’re being honest, I really want to learn more about it. The story was so much fun because the book is what made these characters into intense demons that truly killed every last thing in front of them. It’s a miracle Beth survived. Watching this movie really made me want to learn more about the book, and see just how dangerous it can be. The story was a lot of fun and truly brought the horror, but that book is even more interesting. 

I’m Sure There Are Plenty Of Easter Eggs I’m Not Getting – Which Makes Me Want To See The Others In The Rest Of The Franchise 

I do want to watch more movies in this franchise. Evil Dead Rise made me a fan. 

I’m sure there were plenty of Easter Eggs in this movie that I didn’t get because I’ve never seen any other Evil Dead movie, but now, I genuinely want to watch more to learn about them. I want to see if the older movies are truly gorier like my coworker said. I want to see just how far this rabbit hole goes. 

I don’t think I’m ever going to be an Evil Dead fanatic, just because it’s still not my cup of tea in terms of horror – I tend to stray more towards the ones that mess with you psychologically – but it’s still intriguing, and my curious mind is telling me to check it out more. 

But curiosity killed the cat, so I guess check on me in a few weeks? 

Evil Dead Rise was truly a fun time and I enjoyed the heck out of it – and I’m also very glad I watched it early in the morning before I ate anything because good lord, it was almost too much for my stomach to handle. Either way, it was enjoyable, scary, and everything I was expecting, so there’s nothing to complain about here. On to the next horror movie. 

While a horror icon through and through, Ash Williams is the kind of everyman character that one might think would be easy to squeeze into just about any franchise. Perhaps that's why Mortal Kombat fans have long campaigned to see the "groovy" hero appear in the franchise, with the latest rumors tied to hopes that he'll be playable in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 12. Well, Bruce Campbell just shared his thoughts on the possibility of Ash crossing over into that game's universe, and wasn't cryptic in the slightest about how he felt about it. 

You won't see Ash Williams in Evil Dead Rise, even if you may hear him if you listen hard enough, and fans apparently won't see him holding his own in Mortal Kombat 12, either. Bruce Campbell dashed the hopes of any fighting-game enthusiasts with chainsaw dreams, and flat-out rejected the idea of Ash appearing in non-Evil Dead video games (or any other franchises, it sounds like) during an interview with AV Club. In his words:

Bruce Campbell is receptive to the idea of bringing iconic characters from other horror franchises into the world of Evil Dead, but he's not into the business venture of loaning Ash out to other games. Campbell didn't expound on that thought specifically, but one would imagine that he's intent on keeping the universe's creative tangents fall under the guidance of Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, and a possible lack of trust in giving another company the rights to do what they want with Ash. Campbell probably doesn't care as much about taking a shit on Jason or Freddy in the Dead-verse so long as Ash is the one doing the squatting.

Bruce Campbell's stance of being protective of Ash is perhaps surprising, especially given the willingness of brands to cross-promote in gaming. Fortnite is a game that practically runs on promotions and has skins for multiple characters from franchises like Deadpool to Will Smith's Mike Lowery from Bad Boys. But Campbell is more old school than any of that, and doesn't have a need to see Ash taking on every other hero in pop culture. 

What fans of Mortal Kombat want is not so uncommon, but obviously, Campbell is free to have his opinion. That's not to say his opinion will never change, but it'd probably take another version of Campbell to convince him. 

This may be the most disappointing news for Evil Dead fans since Bruce Campbell officially retired as Ash Williams on the live-action front. The character's run concluded after Starz opted not to continue the much-beloved Ash vs. Evil Dead. As such, one of the only ways people are able to see the character anymore is by checking out the Evil Dead movies on streaming and/or putting one's gaming skills to use in last year's Evil Dead video game, which features the as-of-now final Ash performance from the Burn Notice vet. 

If Ash Williams isn't allowed in other video games, and Bruce Campbell is done playing the character in live-action, it may be time for fans to accept the character is just officially retired. Then again, Campbell did specifically mention the idea of doing more video games, and people always change their minds in Hollywood. Hell, we're living in a world where Hugh Jackman is returning to play Wolverine after a near-perfect exit for the character, so I'd like to believe anything can happen. 

Evil Dead Rise is in theaters now, and while it lacks Ash, it's loaded with Evil Dead easter eggs fans of him will appreciate. Check out the movie, and see how it stacks up against the other movies in the franchise. 

The Evil Dead movies are considered by many fans to be the greatest horror movie franchise of all time for its uniquely grotesque depiction of demonic possession, cheekily cartoonish approach to gore (in some cases), and — most of all — being one one of the few series in the genre without a single disappointing installment. As far as I (and most critics) are concerned, the intense fifth entry, Evil Dead Rise — which sees writer and director Lee Cronin take over from executive producer and franchise creator Sam Raimi — continues that bloody streak and, quite frankly, I would really like it to stay that way.

Considering how well the latest chapter did at the box office in its opening weekend, there is a good chance that the “ultimate experience in grueling terror” is far from over. Such a possibility has me positively ecstatic, but also cautiously optimistic, because, if we are going to see more Evil Dead movies, I would want them done right. So, if I were Raimi, or Bruce Campbell, or whoever they choose to helm the next installment, this is how I might handle it. 

Stick With The Anthology Route

From the moment when the sequel was first announced, Evil Dead Rise already marked a major milestone in the franchise by going where no installment had gone before: a Los Angeles apartment complex. With the exception of 1992’s medieval adventure fantasy, Army of Darkness, of course, and the bulk of the spin-off TV show, Ash vs. Evil Dead, the series has typically been set in a cabin in the woods, which made the urban setting a very welcome change of pace in my eyes. In fact, I would not mind if future installments continue to stay out of the woods, among other more refreshing elements.

That being said, I do like the idea of another movie set in the past — not necessarily another time travel movie like Army of Darkness, but a prequel to the original classic from 1981 that goes even deeper into the lore of the Necronomicon and sees characters forced to use more primitive weaponry against Deadites — a la Prey — instead of chainsaws and boomsticks. A key factor in my pitch here, as well, is the involvement of new characters — an element of both Fede Alvarez’s 2013 reboot and Evil Dead Rise that I also really enjoyed and crave more of in the franchise.

My point here, essentially, is that I believe the world of the Evil Dead franchise is one of great versatility with potential to tell many different stories involving new characters, new tones, and in a variety of interesting places that do not need to be a woodland vacation home. Seeing the franchise evolve into an anthology, with each installment set in the same universe, is an idea that really excites me if it becomes true. Of course, it would require a certain sacrifice that I already know would have some fans pissed off. 

Keep Ash Retired

I remember seeing a lot of preemptive grumblings over the announcement of 2013’s Evil Dead — not just because of the reputation for horror movie remakes (even though it just barely counts as a definitive remake), but because it would not be starring Bruce Campbell as Ash. As I recall, Evil Dead Rise came under fire from some die-hard fans of the horror movie icon for the same reason. Well, I can tell you that I was certainly not one of those people and, in fact, the absence of the chainsaw-handed hero had me even more excited for the new horror movie.

Now, let me make something clear: Ashley “Ash” J. Williams is my favorite horror movie character of all time — one whom I quote endlessly and, just a few years ago, dressed up as for Halloween, complete with a battery-powered chainsaw hand with realistic sound effects. However, I recognize the fact that Campbell officially retired from the role following Starz’s cancellation of Ash vs. Evil Dead in 2018 and I have since made an effort to respect that decision, especially because — and I think we can all agree — no one else can or should play the role like him.

I think that — for Bruce’s sake, especially — it is only fair that the franchise continue without its flagship character, unless Campbell voices him in more video game adaptations or the animated series that is supposedly in development, according to Bloody-Disgusting. As for the movies, I am perfectly satisfied with having Campbell involved from behind the scenes. I think it give the franchise more of a reason to evolve and be able to stand on its own two legs.

Go Easier On The Easter Eggs

Speaking of being able to stand on its own two legs, I must admit that I actually think this is an area in which the Evil Dead movies still have some room to grow. What I mean by that is, for example, there came a point during Evil Dead Rise when the umpteenth reference to one of the previous installments came up and I almost found myself asking, Are all of these really necessary?

I am certainly not anti-Easter-Egg and I really enjoyed picking out all the ways the Evil Dead Rise Easter Eggs paid tribute to previous films — especially Campbell’s vocal cameo and how the chainsaw Beth (Lily Sullivan) uses is the same color as Ash’s car (which is also in, just about, every one of Sam Raimi’s movies). I also love the way Jane Levy’s Mia wears a Michigan University T-Shirt (similar to Linda’s sweatshirt in the original) and reimagines key scenes from the franchise in very inventive ways. Yet, what I admire about these homages is their subtlety and the way they fit into the story organically.

I do not feel that all of the Easter Eggs in Evil Dead Rise land in that way — such as how Beth almost randomly utters the Army of Darkness quote “Come get some!” at one point. Thus, I think it might be in the franchise’s favor to put more attention towards each forthcoming film’s own subject material and less in how they can wedge in a few familiar quotes and hints. 

Go Darker

As for what I admired the most about Evil Dead Rise: I think it perfectly nails the tone of the original from 1981 by being yet another viscerally horrifying and relentlessly gory work of art, while also intensifying the emotional trauma by making it a family story involving a possessed mother preying on her own children. The last film in the franchise to stick the landing like that for me was, well, the last film in the franchise: the 2013 reboot, which I think is still is the darkest and most brutal of the bunch. That being said, I would honestly love to see them up the ante a little bit.

You see, as much I love Evil Dead II as one of the best horror-comedy movies ever made (if not the best) and think Army of Darkness is an absolute blast of cartoonish fun, I still prefer the more earnest films in the series so far over both of them. In fact, if Ash vs. Evil Dead was the last sign of any overt humor in this franchise, I would be more than OK with that.

I recognize and respect that I am more in the minority with this issue and a part of me is open to see the Evil Dead movies bring back that “splatterstick” tone. However, I would rather Raimi be the one to handle that and that would mean bringing Campbell out of retirement and I do not see that happening for a a live-action film, at least. Therefore, I think it is best to follow in the footsteps of Alvarez and Cronin and continue to plunge the series deeper into darkness on the big screen.

With each new installment, the Evil Dead movies continue to prove that they are the greatest horror movies of all time, for my money. I will spend the rest of my years watching these thrillers on streaming on various occasions and I look forward to seeing the marathons grow longer and longer. Let’s see how groovy the next experience in grueling terror turns out to be. 

SPOILER WARNING: The following contains many crucial plot detail from Evil Dead Rise, so, unless you have experienced the brutal latest chapter, you might want to treat this article like a volume of the Necronomicon and read through with caution.

Based on its impressive opening weekend box office returns, it appears that a lot fans of the genre crawled to their local movie theater to see the new horror movie, Evil Dead Rise. However, only true fans likely noticed the many ways that this fifth installment of the beloved, bloody franchise paid loving homage to the classics that preceded it.

One of the most fun things about writer and director Lee Cronin’s terrifying family drama about possessive, demonic spirits run amok in a L.A. apartment complex is pointing out all the callbacks to one of the best horror movies ever made — Sam Raimi’s 1981 breakout hit, The Evil Dead — and its sequels. If you had trouble keeping up with the homages, here is a breakdown of all the cleverly hidden or overt ways that one of the most iconic and acclaimed horror movie franchises lives on in Evil Dead Rise… that I could spot myself, at least. 

Jessica Psychically Reads Wuthering Heights 

Before shifting to its central urban setting, Evil Dead Rise opens in a more familiar way: at a woodland cabin where a small group of young friends are staying. It becomes clear that things are not quite right, however, when Teresa (Mirabai Peace), tries to read Wuthering Heights and starts to hear her ill friend, Jessica (Anna-Marie Thomas), reciting direct lines from the Emily Brontë novel without looking at it. 

This is a clever reimagining of a scene from the original Evil Dead movie when Shelly (Theresa Tilly) challenges Linda (Betsy Baker) to guess what suit from a deck of cards she is holding and Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) correctly calls out a series of cards in rapid succession before revealing it was the malevolent spirit possessing her talking.

Henrietta's Pizza

To have a moment alone with her sister, Beth (Lily Sullivan), Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) sends her children — Danny (Morgan), Bridget (Gabrielle Nichols), and Kassie (Nell Fisher) — to pick up dinner and they come back with a carryout order from Henrietta’s Pizza. One of the most iconic, and grotesque, characters in the entire Evil Dead movies is Henrietta Knowby (played by Sam Raimi’s brother, Ted, under heavy prosthetics in Evil Dead II), who is the possessed wife of Raymond Knowby — an archaeologist responsible for the Necronomicon’s presence at the cabin.

Bruce Campbell's Vocal Cameo

Personally I was never dismayed by the idea of an Evil Dead movie without Bruce Campbell, but anyone who might have walked into this reimagining with a hint of sourness at that thought was probably delighted by his subtle cameo. When Danny is playing a vinyl recording from 1923 that he found with the Necronomicon, the ancient text’s reading is interrupted by a man claiming it is “called the Book of the Dead for a reason!” Not only is that the horror movie icon’s voice delivering the warning, but Lee Cronin’s interview with NME hints that it could very well be Campbell reprising an Ash Williams stuck in another time period.

The Elevator Assaults Ellie

The malevolent forces from these movies are not the kind of demons that slowly and insidiously take control of their prey, but begin by making their human hosts suffer — as evident by an infamous scene from the original film — a pivotal reason for its NC-17 rating — in which Cheryl is assaulted by vines and tree branches manipulated by the evil spirits. While the depiction of Ellie’s possession certainly (and thankfully) does not delve into such risqué territory, it does play out in a similar fashion in how the wires from her building’s elevator wrap around her limbs, suspending her in mid air and painfully pulling her every which way.