Sam Raimi has a long trajectory under his belt. Some of his movies are classics all across the board, while some are more of an acquired taste among moviegoers. Nonetheless, Raimi's versatility has given critics a wide range of movies to choose from when ranking his best, and worst films. Here are Sam Raimi's best films, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
10 The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) - 60%
While Raimi didn't direct The Hudsucker Proxy, he did help write it. This early '90s film ranks low on the list, but it isn't a particularly bad movie. Following the story of Norville, a recent graduate who is caught up in a scheme by a greedy business executive, Sidney J. Mussberger. Mussberger realizes that he's way over his head when Norville proves to be a bigger asset to the company than first expected, threatening Mussberger's plan to take over the company himself. Funny and cleverly written, The Hudsucker Proxy deserves a higher Rotten Tomatoes rating.
9 Army Of Darkness (1992) - 68%
Army of Darkness took a different turn for The Evil Dead franchise, transporting Ash to the Middle Ages. What can be said about Army of Darkness that hasn't already been said? It's hilarious, thrilling, and has Bruce Campbell at the top of his game as the fearless Ash Williams, unwilling to take any backtalk from anyone, even a medieval Lord. Of course, there's always the excitement of seeing Ash battle against the deadites, that are just as deadly as ever as they cause havoc on Lord Arthur's empire. A pleasant twist for The Evil Dead franchise, Army of Darkness shows that subversion in a series isn't always a detriment.
8 Darkman (1990) - 84%
Starring Liam Neeson, Darkman is a film adaptation of a Sam Raimi short story. Similar to his character in Taken, Neeson's Peyton Wilder is out for revenge after a group of crime lords leave him scarred for life. Using his scientific research of synthetic skin transplants, Wilder transforms into the vigilante Darkman, keeping the peace in his city while tracking down those who changed his life forever.
Bruce Campbell was originally set to play Darkman, but due to studio opposition, Campbell instead makes a cameo in the film's final scene as one of Wilder's many facial disguises. A relatively successful superhero flick, Darkman set Raimi on the path to directing the highly successful Spider-Man films in the early 2000s.
7 The Evil Dead (1981) - 85%
Sam Raimi'smonumental, low-budget indie film, The Evil Dead, set him on the path to success as a director. The beauty in The Evil Dead is that despite the limited technology of the time, it still shocked audiences through its contained setting, macabre tone, and an impeccable performance by Bruce Campbell as the series protagonist, Ash Williams. The Evil Dead remains a horror gem, more than 40 years since its original release.
6 Evil Dead 2 (1987) - 88%
Evil Dead 2 actually proves to be a superior installment to its predecessor, The Evil Dead. Changing the genre from horror to horror comedy, Evil Dead 2 increases the bloodshed, the brutality, and the campiness in the series. Of course, what makes Evil Dead 2 such a standout is the introduction of the titular chainsaw weapon seen in every sequel moving forward. Evil Dead 2 cemented the series legacy, while establishing Ash Williams as a horror film icon.
5 A Simple Plan (1998) - 90%
Starring Billy Bob Thorton and Bill Paxton, A Simple Plan tells the tale of two brothers, Hank and Jacob, who stumble upon a considerable fortune upon discovering a crashed airplane. When they decide to keep the money, their lives shift for the better, and just as quickly, the worse, as tensions, greed, and danger quickly consume the brothers and their loved ones.
4 Spider-Man (2002) - 90%
The first film adaptation of the web-slinging superhero, Spider-Man has Spider-Man fighting the evil Green Goblin while keeping his alter ego a secret from his friends and family, all while longing for the affections of Mary Jane. Spider-Man is a solid introduction of the classic Marvel superhero to the big screen, with Tobey Maguire embodying the sweetness and inner conflict of Peter Parker to a tee.
3 The Gift (2000) - 91%
The Gift takes place in the small town of Brixton, Georgia, when a woman with psychic abilities, Annie, discovers the untimely fate of a missing woman, prompting her to aid in the police investigation to find the woman's body. As the investigation unfolds, Annie finds herself in danger as a game of cat and mouse ensues between her and the killer at large. Mysterious, thrilling, and philosophical, The Gift proves that Sam Raimi has a wide directorial range.
2 Drag Me to Hell (2009) - 92%
Drag Me to Hell is a dark comedy that actually covers some heavy topics during its ninety-nine-minute runtime. Following the story of Christine, an executive longing for an overdue promotion at her company, Christine's life soon takes a dark turn when she becomes cursed by a vengeful client. As Christine looks to lift the curse before she's dragged to hell, she must deal with internalized trauma from her childhood while assessing her own morality. One of the more tragic horror films of the 2000s, Drag Me to Hell ends with Christine ultimately being dragged to the fiery pits of the underworld.
1 Spider-Man 2 (2004) - 93%
Spider-Man 2deserves its number one Rotten Tomatoes ranking. Spider-Man 2 improves on everything the first Spider-Man installment established for itself. Peter and Mary Jane further explore their relationship in a compelling and breathtaking manner; Alfred Molina humanizes his villainous Doc Ock in an interesting contrast to Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin; and lastly, the ending Spider-Man swing just as he and Mary Jane decide to give their love a fighting chance, is poetic and cathartic. Spider-Man 2 is arguably one of Sam Raimi's best films, if not his best.
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