Every Movie Directed by Sam Raimi, Ranked

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For almost four decades, Sam Raimi has been a celebrated director known for creating memorable films. He first gained recognition with his low-budget horror debut, The Evil Dead, which was filmed in Tennessee with a small crew of just 13 people. This film launched a successful franchise and allowed Raimi to direct numerous projects. Though he’s best known for horror, Raimi has also directed films in a variety of other genres, including thrillers, dramas, crime, fantasy, and even sports. He’s also achieved significant success in the superhero world with his popular Spider-Man trilogy.

Sam Raimi is a talented director known for skillfully combining different genres, which consistently creates compelling movies. While not every film is a hit, the majority are highly entertaining. Here’s a ranking of all the movies he’s directed, from least to most enjoyable:

‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ (2013)


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Directed by Disney, Oz the Great and Powerful is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz and stands out as quite different from the usual style of director Sam Raimi. The film tells the story of Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a traveling magician who unexpectedly finds himself in the Land of Oz. There, he encounters three witches who think he’s the legendary wizard they’ve been expecting. Oscar has to figure out who he can trust and use his illusions to become the powerful Wizard of Oz.

While the idea for this movie was intriguing, especially given the enduring popularity of the original, it sadly didn’t connect with most viewers. It feels unlike director Sam Raimi’s typical style, and its reliance on excessive computer effects and unappealing characters make it his weakest film. As a result, many people have quickly forgotten about it, and it’s unlikely to be remembered fondly.

‘Crimewave’ (1985)


Columbia Pictures

Sam Raimi’s second film maintains the playful, over-the-top humor found in much of his work. Crimewave has a quirky and unusual style that might not appeal to everyone, but it can still be a fun watch. The story centers around two wildly eccentric exterminators who moonlight as hitmen and end up killing the owner of a security company.

This film follows two men as they track down the person who hired them, his wife, and the man who falsely accused them of murder – who narrates the story through flashbacks while being executed. The plot is complicated and filled with strange, illogical twists. Given that it was co-written by Sam Raimi and the Coen brothers, it’s ideal for fans of either director.

‘Spider-Man 3’ (2007)


Sony Pictures

The third Spider-Man movie, directed by Sam Raimi, isn’t as strong as the first two. Spider-Man 3 tries to do too much with too many characters and storylines, losing sight of the core theme: Peter Parker’s journey to becoming a better hero. A particularly overconfident and arrogant side of Peter, which emerges after he’s influenced by the symbiote, has become a popular meme online, often referred to as “Bully Maguire.”

Many fans consider this Spider-Man movie to be one of the weakest in the series because of its complicated plot and poorly developed characters, especially Peter Parker. While dedicated Spider-Man fans might still enjoy it, it’s generally seen as a disappointing film for both the franchise and director Sam Raimi.

‘The Gift’ (2000)


Paramount Classics

The Gift stands out as a rare serious film from director Sam Raimi, known for often including humor in his work. The story centers on Annabelle Wilson (Cate Blanchett), a woman with psychic abilities. When Jessica King (Katie Holmes) disappears, the town turns to Annabelle, believing she can solve the mystery. Though Annabelle doubts her abilities, she begins to have unsettling visions related to Jessica’s disappearance.

The film boasts strong performances from Cate Blanchett, Holmes, and Greg Kinnear, and Keanu Reeves surprisingly plays a difficult role as the town’s abusive husband. While it doesn’t fully deliver on its promise, it’s still an enjoyable movie, even with a few plot holes.

‘The Quick and the Dead’ (1995)


Sony Pictures Releasing

Unlike many of his other films, Sam Raimi’s The Quick and the Dead is a fast-paced Western with a love story at its heart. The film centers on Ellen (Sharon Stone), a skilled gunslinger who arrives in a small town seeking revenge for her father’s murder just as a major gunfighting contest is about to begin.

Driven by a desire for revenge, Ellen joins the competition, which leads to a series of over-the-top, cartoonishly violent gunfights – a classic element of director Sam Raimi’s style. The movie also includes appearances by well-known actors like Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, and a young Leonardo DiCaprio before he became famous with Titanic. While it’s not a standout Western, it’s a fun watch for fans of the genre.

‘A Simple Plan’ (1998)


Paramount Pictures

Sam Raimi’s movies are often known for featuring well-known actors. His film, A Simple Plan, starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, and Brigette Fonda, tells the story of three working-class men who find $4 million in a plane and decide to keep it if no one comes forward to claim it.

The characters are fiercely protective of something, even if it means questioning their own ethics. They attempt to rationalize their questionable actions by believing they’re ultimately working towards a positive outcome, but they grapple with the blurry line between selflessness and selfishness. Unlike director Sam Raimi’s usual visually dynamic style, this film opts for a more subdued and intensely compelling narrative.

‘For Love of the Game’ (1999)


Universal Pictures

While perhaps not as stylistically unique as some of his other films, Sam Raimi’s For Love of the Game (1999) is a solid sports drama, especially if you’re a baseball fan. The film stars Kevin Costner as Billy Chapel, a Detroit Tigers pitcher contemplating his career as he pitches what might be his last game against the New York Yankees.

Looking back on his work, he also fondly remembers his long relationship with Jane (Kelly Preston) and her daughter, who he considers like his own. Raimi films the baseball scenes with genuine warmth, something fans of the sport will notice. Some viewers find that the movie focuses too much on the romance between Billy and Jane, and that this distracts from the baseball story.

‘Darkman’ (1990)


Universal Pictures

Darkman marks Sam Raimi’s initial foray into the superhero world, but with his unique creative touch. This thrilling revenge story blends classic monster movie elements with a contemporary crime drama, creating a surprisingly effective combination. The film centers on Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), a gifted scientist who develops an artificial skin with the potential to transform skin grafts. Unfortunately, this synthetic skin only lasts for about 100 minutes when exposed to light.

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After a brutal attack leaves Peyton severely burned and presumed dead, he seeks revenge by using artificial skin to disguise himself as others, becoming the mysterious Darkman. While some moments echo the horror of his Evil Dead films, it’s primarily a fast-paced, thrilling action movie and considered one of his strongest works.

‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ (2022)


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness marked director Sam Raimi’s return to superhero films after finishing the Spider-Man trilogy in 2007. The movie centers on Doctor Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) as they journey through different universes to fight evil alternate versions of themselves and a corrupted Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).

This movie marked a shift for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, leaning into horror thanks to director Sam Raimi’s distinctive style. Several scenes featuring the Scarlet Witch under the Darkhold’s influence strongly recall his earlier films, Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell, and that’s a good thing. By adding elements like zombies, skeletons, magic, and a world facing destruction, the movie offers something different from the usual Marvel formula.

‘Drag Me to Hell’ (2009)


Universal Pictures

With Drag Me to Hell, Sam Raimi returned to horror films after five years of directing superhero movies. The story centers around Christine (Alison Lohman), a loan officer who evicts an elderly woman to impress her boss. This act unleashes a terrifying supernatural curse, and Christine desperately seeks help from a psychic to break it, all while facing increasingly frightening and overwhelming forces.

Drag Me to Hell is a fantastic return to the classic, low-budget horror that made Sam Raimi famous. It’s a thrilling, over-the-top, and often funny movie with plenty of scares.

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2026-02-04 02:12