Sam Raimi has become a cult favorite director over the years. His unique visual flair has resonated with audiences for many years. While in the '80s and '90s he successfully made a name for himself with horror, he has directed movies in other genres to various success. His most notable work, outside of The Evil Dead and its sequels, is probably the Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire.
Soon, Sam Raimi is returning to the Marvel universe with the hotly anticipated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It should be a hit, given that (according to Rotten Tomatoes), Sam Raimi has been a popular figure with critics over his many years in the industry.
The Gift - 57%
Just before Sam Raimi started work on Spider-Man, he came out with The Gift. The Gift was c0-written by Billy Bob Thornton and stars Cate Blanchet as a psychic who is tasked with finding a missing girl, played by Katie Holmes. The cast is rounded out by Keanu Reeves and the spooky tone of the film is right up Sam Raimi's alley.
With 122 reviews, The Gift sits at a score of 57% which does give it a "rotten" score. Many critics commented that the film felt like a labor of love for those involved. Some even talked about Raimi's visual style as a highlight. Many felt that the premise was served well by the movie moving into a by-the-numbers whodunit and were really put off by the ending.
The Quick and the Dead - 58%
The '90s saw a mini-resurgence of westerns with the likes of Maverick and Wild Wild West, and Sam Raimi got in on the action with The Quick and the Dead. The film follows Sharon Stone as she enters a quick draw competition in order to kill Gene Hackman and get her revenge. It also sports an all-star cast with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Russel Crowe.
While it's not the worst score that Sam Raimi received on Rotten Tomatoes, 58% is still certified "rotten." The unique premise of the film was something that many critics enjoyed, with Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman turning in good performances. It sounds like most critics were put off by the fact that it wasn't a traditional horror film, and judging by the audience scores, they were as well.
Spider-Man 3 - 63%
Anticipation was high for the third installment of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Sam Raimi was riding high off of the success of Spider-Man 2. In Spider-Man 3, the titular hero has to go up against Sandman, Harry Osborne, and Venom. Things aren't going well for Peter Parker's life in this movie and it doesn't help that the Venom suit is messing with his mind.
With 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, Spider-Man 3 is the worst-reviewed of the first three Spider-Man movies. Critics found this one overly stuffed with plots and villains. Sam Raimi's usual charm was not seen in this film, almost like he was going through the motions. The general consensus on Rotten Tomatoes suggests the film "isn't quite as refined as the first two" which sounds like a polite way to say it's messy.
Army of Darkness - 73%
The third film in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness, sees Bruce Campbell's Ash thrown far back in time where he has to fight the Deadites once again. After the events of Evil Dead II, Ash has to find a way to get back to the present and stop the evil that he unleashed once and for all.
This time around, Sam Raimi went full comedy, with a lot of action scenes going full slapstick. While it's not the highest-rated of the Evil Dead trilogy, critics still found a lot to enjoy in this film. The madcap humor of the film was a major highlight but coming off of Evil Dead II, there just wasn't enough shock or horror to satisfy.
Darkman - 83%
Darkman was Sam Raimi's first attempt at a superhero film. In 1990, he teamed up with Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand to tell the story of a scientist who was burned alive and now seeks revenge. The character of Darkman, one of Raimi's strongest characters, normally appears in bandages that cover burns but he can take on the identity of anyone by recreating their face and wearing it as a mask.
With only 60 reviews, it's not all that surprising that it sits at 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film definitely gained a cult following. Those who reviewed it found much to love in Sam Raimi's over-the-top stylings that invoked comic book paneling. Not only did they enjoy the style of the film but the gothic romance of it resonated well with critics.
Spider-Man - 90%
One of Sam Raimi's most popular films, Spider-Man, practically kicked off the superhero craze we're living in today. Coming two years off of Bryan Singer's X-Men, the film follows Peter Parker as he grows to become the superhero Spider-Man. All while having to fight Green Goblin and save Mary-Jane.
90% on Rotten Tomatoes is no easy feat. Upon release, critics loved this film. Many talked about the bright colors and inventive CG to bring the wall-crawler to life. The general consensus, however, talks about its heart and humor cultivating a very charming experience.
Drag Me To Hell - 92%
Written by Sam Raimi and his brother Ivan, Drag Me To Hell saw Sam Raimi return to his horror roots after he finished his Spider-Man Trilogy. The film sees Alison Lohman, who plays a loan officer, deny an old woman another loan on her house. Because of this, the old woman places a curse on Lohman, and demons begin to terrorize her.
Critics found Drag Me To Hell a delightful return to horror for the director, after the disappointing third outing of his Spider-Man trilogy. With 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics made it clear that many found it frightening, hilarious, and campy, which all came together to form a delightful ride.
Spider-Man 2 - 93%
Often named as the best Spider-Man film, Spider-Man 2 saw Sam Raimi return to direct the sequel just two years later. This time around Spider-Man has to go up against another one of his most iconic comic book foes, Doctor Octopus. After an experiment goes from Otto Octavious becomes obsessed with recreating his experiment and threatens to destroy the city.
With a solid 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie secured its "fresh" rating pretty early on with reviewers. The film takes everything that succeeded with the first film and improves on it in every way. The film delivered a fun and energetic story with plenty of drama and super-heroics.
The Evil Dead - 95%
Sam Raimi's first feature film and one of his most iconic was The Evil Dead. Made on a shoestring budget, the film follows a group of friends as they arrive in a cabin in the woods where they accidentally release the evil of the Necronomicon. Afterward, they try to survive the horrifying experience while they get picked off one by one.
The Evil Dead is tied with its sequel, but this is the one many points to as being more horror-focused. Raimi and company delivered on creating a horrific experience that made many viewers uncomfortable. But through the years, critics have found a lot to love in this low-budget cult classic. The thrills, laughs, and effects keep this film at a comfortable 95%.
Evil Dead II - 95%
Before the term "soft reboot" was coined, there was Evil Dead II. The film tells a different version of the events of the first and moves beyond them to say what happens next. This time Ash is alone in the cabin with his girlfriend before the horror begins and he's forced to fight the Deadites before they drive him insane. Also, he cuts off his hand and puts a chainsaw on it.
This film had a bit more money behind it so they were able to update the special effects, which ended up impressing many critics. The comedy and horror are much more in balance in this film as the film serve as equal parts horror and slapstick comedy. Many consider it better than the first, but all agree it's a thrilling ride.