Horror, superhero, magic, or western-- it seems that film director Sam Raimi has done it all with ease, making such memorable classics as Spider-Man 2, The Evil Dead, and The Quick and the Dead. Raimi went to Michigan State University where he pursued a degree in English. He would eventually leave the college to film his future cult classic The Evil Dead. The director would earn greater recognition when he made the commercially successful Spider-Man series from 2002-2007. The series grossed over $3 billion at the box office and was the start of the Spider-Man franchise.

Raimi has yet to win or even be nominated for an Oscar for his work in the superhero and horror genre, though his mark on the cinematic landscape is indisputable. The director will be releasing his highly-anticipated new film Doctor Strange in the multiverse of Madness this year. With all that being said, it’s only fair to reevaluate the best films in this director's career.

7 Spider-Man

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Sony

The film that was the beginning of the never-ending Spider-Man era that told the tale of a nerdy outcast named Peter Parker, who gets unparalleled superpowers thanks to a spider bite, becoming the iconic hero Spider-Man. Despite what many fans believe, this was not Raimi’s strongest movie and in many cases, has been incredibly laughable when looking back at the technical aspects. However, Raimi’s direction is efficient and spot on, and thanks to the combined efforts of Tobey Maguire (as Spider-Man) and Willem Dafoe (as Norman Osborne’s Green Goblin), the film is still memorable in the eyes of superhero fanatics. Fans also get to see a hilarious wrestling scene where Spidey trounces Bone-Saw.

Related: Explained: Why Superhero Movies Are So Popular

6 Evil Dead II

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Rosebud Releasing Corporation

Admittedly, Evil Dead II film falls back on the themes of its predecessor and might be somewhat bonkers, but it should still provoke a few scares and giggles from the most niche horror fans. Bruce Campbell returns as Ash Williams in this gory sequel along with his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler). The two uncover the Book of the Dead and everything goes to hell in a handbag for the remainder of the runtime. Raimi employs his old stop-motion and practical effects used in the previous film to horrific new heights, and has enough gas in the tank to create an ambitious and entertaining horror flick.

5 The Quick and the Dead

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Sony

In 1995, the director took a different turn through genre by taking a bite into a gritty western about a woman entering into a duel to avenge her murdered father. Raimi makes the most out of this all-star cast with Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Sharon Stone and Leonardo DiCaprio with guns ablaze amidst clashing factions. With it's energy, a subversive female lead from Stone, and its surprising violence, The Quick and the Dead makes for a strong entry in his repertoire as a filmmaker and a wondrous first time western for him.

4 Oz the Great and Powerful

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Disney

This might have been one of Disney’s less successful spin-offs, but it sure is one entertaining visual treat. The Wizard of Oz spin-off follows Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus con man who hops aboard a balloon and gets whisked away to the marvelous land of Oz. While the civilians believe that he is the chosen one there to help rid them of an evil witch, Diggs becomes insecure of his own abilities but reluctantly helps them anyway. Raimi pays proper homage to the original 1939 film by starting Oz the Great and Powerful Kansas scenes in black and white, and not only shifting to color but also changing the aspect ratio, which proved to be a sentimental touch.

Related: Sam Raimi Explains Why He Directed Doctor Strange 2 After Spider-Man 3 Backlash

3 The Evil Dead

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New Line Cinema

This was the film that launched Raimi’s career and made him a reputable director. In The Evil Dead, a group of college students come across a remote cabin and awaken demonic spirits harassing them throughout the run of the film. The film was not only the spark that lit the fuse for Raimi’s career (and Bruce Campbell's) but also a milestone in horror films by utilizing a series of inventive POV shots to create tension that the audience could nearly cut with a knife. Thrilling, sprawling, and gory, the movie is a nightmare of a ride for viewers.

2 Spider-Man 2

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Sony

Spider-Man 2 has been cited as one of the greatest superhero films of all time, and it certainly has its moments of awe and genius. Comic-book fans find Peter Parker battling it out with a new villain named Doctor Octopus while struggling to keep his romantic life with Mary-Jane Watson afloat. However, all that comes to a raging halt when, all of a sudden. Spidey loses his powers for some inexplicable reason and begins to question his status as a superhero. The visuals may still seem somewhat dated and uninspiring in 2022, but this film was action-packed, thrilling, well-acted, and a joy to see on the silver screens in 2004. Also, the set-piece of its heart-throbbing train scene remains unforgettable.

1 Spider-Man 3

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Sony

Yes, that's right, Raimi's trilogy actually gets better with each installment. Spider-Man 3 is better than its predecessors and finds the director at the top of his game. In this final Raimi installment, Parker ties up some loose ends with a friend-turned-foe-turned-friend again, comes across his Uncle Ben’s true killer, and has a power upgrade when he comes across an alien symbiote. This film improves on the latter two with more realistic visuals, drawn-in action, and heart-breaking themes of forgiveness. Many fans have derided the film for Emo Peter Parker, the fact that it had too many villains, and its casting of Topher Grace as Eddie Brock, but the positives greatly outweigh whatever flaws fans may find, although Tom Hardy still played a better Brock.