Bruce Campbell is a megastar in the horror movie world thanks to the Evil Dead franchise. He’s also known for other roles like Sam Axe from the TV show Burn Notice, Autolycus, King of Thieves in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, and having memorable cameos in movies usually directed by Sam Raimi. Just know if Sam Raimi is directing the film, there’s a pretty high chance Bruce Campbell will pop up in some way.
Though Bruce Campbell is mostly known for playing Ash Williams in the Evil Dead, there are plenty of other movies he’s starred in. Though not as highly recognized, these movies are really entertaining and some have gone on to achieve cult status. For anyone wanting to see more of Bruce Campbell, these movies are must-watches.
10 Man With The Screaming Brain
A sci-fi comedy that just seems perfect for Bruce Campbell. It also helps that he’s the one who directed and helped write the film as well as being his directorial debut. The film shows Campbell playing a wealthy man named Cole that was nearly killed by a woman. He was saved by two scientists who removed the damaged parts of his brain and replaced the parts with another man’s (who is dead) healthy bits. Cole finds out that he can hear the deceased man’s voice in his head and they decide to seek revenge against the same woman.
The movie is a pure slapstick sci-fi comedy that’ll leave viewers laughing at the extreme and exaggerated ridiculousness that’s going on. Bruce Campbell shows that he knows how to direct and write a pretty good movie while also being the leading man.
9 Alien Apocalypse
Everything about this sci-fi movie is so over the top, it’s amazing. This has everything that viewers who love campy, action sci-fi B-movies want. Watching Bruce Campbell fight off aliens that look like giant insects is a treat and peak Sci-Fi Channel (now known as the SyFy channel) campy goodness.
Campbell stands out among the cast and carries the whole movie. It’s an entertaining movie to watch and if viewers see it playing on the SyFy channel, it’s worth checking out.
8 Going Back
This movie might be a bit surprising because it’s so different from what most fans are used to seeing Bruce Campbell in. Instead of an action and sci-fi flick, Going Back is a romance drama movie that shows Campbell can act in a different genre and still do an amazing job. The natural charisma he has on-screen still shines through but in a very different way.
Bruce Campbell might be known as an action star, but Going Back shows he can do drama too. If anything, this movie might make some fans wish he would act in more dramas or different genres to show off his versatility as an actor.
7 Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat
It was only a matter of time before Bruce Campbell would be seen going up against vampires, and Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat did not disappoint. In this movie, Campbell plays a descendant of the famed vampire hunter, Van Helsing, and goes to a small town that’s being haunted by vampires. But there is a bit of a twist to the movie that keeps it from being a typical vampire film.
The movie is a perfect blend of comedy and horror with some Western elements to it. The vampires in this movie are hilarious to watch, and it’s not every day viewers see them putting on sunscreen to protect themselves.
6 Maniac Cop
An action slasher movie that has some murder-mystery elements. Campbell plays a cop who was framed by the “Maniac Cop,” a killer who is dressed like a cop, who is killing innocents. Naturally, this causes the public to distrust all cops for fear it could be the killer. It’s up to Campbell’s character Jack Forrest and his mistress to find out the identity and stop the killer before more people die.
It’s a classic B-movie slasher flick that’s not too campy but has just enough to keep viewers entertained. Bruce Campbell is over-the-top while portraying his character, but he’s not as over-the-top as he is while portraying Ash Williams.
5 Running Time
A movie that shows off that Bruce Campbell doesn’t need any cuts because it’s all in one continuous shot. Plus, the movie is in black and white, giving it a Golden Age Hollywood look with neo-noir vibes. It also helps that Campbell’s natural charisma helps give off these vibes and at first glance, one might think he’s an actor from the Golden Age because of his appearance.
Similar to Going Back, Running Time shows Bruce Campbell in a different setting than what most fans are used to seeing him in. He shows that he has versatility and doesn’t have to always be an over-the-top action hero star. This movie is an underrated gem and a must-watch for Bruce Campbell fans.
4 My Name Is Bruce
A movie where Bruce Campbell plays a fictional version of himself might sound a little silly, but that’s the beauty of the film. Bruce shows that he can poke fun at himself and has a sense of humor. All the while there are some horror elements that fans will love to watch because he has to fight an evil spirit haunting a small town.
Overall, My Name is Bruce is just Bruce Campbell fanservice that shows viewers just how awesome he is. It’s also directed by him, making it almost meta.
3 Mindwarp
A post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror movie that can be argued to be one of the bloodiest films of all time. Admittedly, the film looks very low-budget, but watching Bruce Campbell fight off cannibalistic creatures is a treat that fans will love to watch. The movie itself might have mixed reviews, but Campbell still manages to shine as a leading man even covered in leeches.
This movie is a little bit more on the horror side, but the sci-fi elements are very strong. There’s plenty of blood and gore along with gross-out moments that’ll leave fans wanting to look away, but also watch to see what happens next.
2 Bubba Ho-Tep
A movie where Bruce Campbell plays a man residing in a nursing home who claims to be the real Elvis Presley. He is friends with a man who claims to be the real President John F. Kennedy and the two of them team up to fight an evil Egyptian mummy. The mummy is terrorizing the nursing home that they’re living at and feeding on the souls of the residents.
It sounds a little silly, especially since the movie takes place in a retirement home, along with watching Bruce Campbell using a walker to get around. Campbell himself deserves recognition for portraying Elvis Presley pretty well and not being a caricature of him despite the plot of the film.
1 Within The Woods
The short film that sparked the Evil Dead franchise. This movie is basically a shorter version of the first Evil Dead movie with some differences. Fans will be able to see how this movie was the blueprint for the franchise and appreciate the efforts the cast and crew put into it. Despite the very low budget they had (reportedly less than $2,000), Within the Woods was well-written, and can be argued that it accomplished more in a short time than some full-length films do.
It’s enjoyable seeing a younger Bruce Campbell show that he can be a leading man in a film. Fans of him and the Evil Dead series will appreciate this film because it’s what provided the foundation for the popular series and showcases Bruce Campbell’s significant acting talent.