Directed by Alex Proyas, in his feature film debut, The Crow movie stars Brandon Lee in his final film appearance. The movie is considered one of the best films based on a comic book and is credited with bringing the goth subculture into the mainstream.
Lee's death during filming (from an accidental gunshot wound) added an extra element of tragedy to the film, which was released shortly after his death.
When Eric and Shelly's car breakdown, they find themselves stranded in a small town called Paradise. When they go to the local bar, they meet up with a group of rowdy bikers who start harassing them. Eric and Shelly try to leave, but the bikers follow them and force them off the road. Shelly is raped and killed, and Eric is brutally beaten to death.
As Eric lies dying, a large crow comes and sits on his chest. The crow seems to be urging him to get up, and when he does, he finds that he has been resurrected. He soon realizes that he has been brought back for a reason – to exact revenge upon those who wronged him.
The Crow movie series is a set of four American films based on the comic book character of the same name created by James O'Barr. It is the story of a Large Crow who resurrects a murdered rock musician (played by Brandon Lee) in order to exact revenge upon his killers. The first film premiered in 1994, and the franchise has grossed over $150 million at the box office worldwide.
List of All Crow Movies in Order of Release
- The Crow (1994)
- The Crow: City of Angels (1996)
- The Crow: Salvation (2000)
- The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)
The Crow (1994)
Director: Alex Proyas | Writers: James O'Barr, David J. Schow, John Shirley | Stars: Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, Rochelle Davis | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 42 minutes. | Release Date: May 13, 1994 | Language: The languages are English, French and Italian. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, drama, fantasy, horror, and thriller. | Filming Locations: EUE/Screen Gems Studio - 1223 N 23rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA | Production Companies: Crowvision INC, Entertainment Media Investment Corporation, Image Comics | Budget: The budget for the movie was $23 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $50 million.
The first film was released in 1994 and is considered one of the best films based on a comic book. The movie follows the story of a murdered rock musician (played by Brandon Lee) who a Large Crow resurrects in order to exact revenge upon his killers.
The movie was directed by Alex Proyas and written by James O'Barr, David J. Schow, and John Shirley. It starred Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, and Rochelle Davis. The Crow was a box office success, grossing $50 million against its $23 million budget.
It received positive reviews from critics, with many praising Lee's performance. The film has since been considered a cult classic and has spawned numerous comic book spin-offs, video games, and merchandise.
Sergeant Albrecht arrives at a crime scene just too late to save the victim, a young woman named Shelly. He's plagued by guilt over his failure to protect her. After one year, a crow taps on Eric's grave, bringing him back to life. He sets out on a mission of justice, seeking revenge against Top Dollar and his gang for the murders of himself and Shelly.
Eric returns to his apartment, where he has memories of the night T-bird and his gang killed him and Shelly. He smashes all the mirrors in his apartment because he can't stand to see his reflection. He goes to T-bird's club, The Pit, and starts a fire.
As the club burns, Eric watches T-bird and his gang leave in their limo. He follows them and causes the limo to crash. He then kills Tin-tin, Funboy, and T-bird. Afterward, Eric visits Shelly's grave and tells her that he loves her.
READ: All 9 Hailey Dean Mystery Movie Series In Order with Details
The Crow: City of Angels (1996)
Director: Tim Pope | Writers: James O'Barr, David S. Goyer | Stars: Vincent Perez, Mia Kirshner, Richard Brooks | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 24 minutes. | Release Date: August 30, 1996 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, drama, fantasy, horror, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Front Street Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA | Production Companies: Bad Bird Productions, Dimension Films, Image Comics | Budget: The budget for the movie was $13 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $17 million.
The sequel to the first movie, The Crow: City of Angels, was released in 1996. The movie follows Ashe Corven (played by Vincent Perez), a man who a Large Crow resurrects in order to exact revenge upon those responsible for the death of his wife and child.
The movie was directed by Tim Pope and written by James O'Barr and David S. Goyer. It starred Vincent Perez, Mia Kirshner, Richard Brooks, and Iggy Pop. The Crow: City of Angels was a box office disappointment, grossing $17 million against its $13 million budget. It received mixed reviews from critics, with many criticizing the film's plot and acting.
Ashe Corven and his eight-year-old son witnessed Drug dealer Judah Earl kill three police officers. Judah Earl kills Ashe and his son, too. A year later, a crow taps on Ashe's grave, bringing him back to life. He sets out on a mission of justice, seeking revenge against Judah Earl and his gang for the murders of himself and his family.
Ashe goes to Judah's apartment and starts a fire. He then goes to Judah's nightclub and kills everyone inside, except for Judah himself. Ashe chases Judah to a rooftop, where Judah begs for mercy. Ashe then throws him off the roof to his death.
READ: All 5 Cars Movies In Order With Details (Including Planes)
The Crow: Salvation (2000)
Director: Bharat Nalluri | Writers: James O'Barr, Chip Johannessen | Stars: Kirsten Dunst, William Atherton, Eric Mabius | Country of origin: United States, Germany | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 42 minutes. | Release Date: June 14, 2000 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA | Production Companies: Fallen Bird Productions INC, IMF International Medien and Film GmbH & Co. Productions KG, Image Comics | Budget: The budget for the movie was $10 million.
The third installment in the series, The Crow: Salvation, was released in 2000. The movie follows Alex Corvis (played by Eric Mabius), a man who is wrongly convicted of murdering his girlfriend and is executed. A Large Crow resurrects him in order to exact revenge upon those responsible for his wrongful death.
The movie was directed by Bharat Nalluri and written by James O'Barr and Chip Johannessen. It starred Kirsten Dunst, William Atherton, Debbie Fan, and Eric Mabius. The Crow: Salvation was a box office bomb. It received negative reviews from critics, with many panning the film's plot, acting, and special effects.
Alex Corvis's girlfriend Lauren Randall gets accused of murder and sentenced to death row. During her execution, a power outage occurs, and Alex uses the opportunity to try and save Lauren. However, he is unsuccessful, and she is electrocuted.
Later, a crow taps on Alex's grave, bringing him back to life. He sets out on a mission of justice, seeking revenge against those responsible for Lauren's wrongful death. He first kills Detective Grimes, who was in charge of Lauren's case.
He then goes after Fox, the man who actually committed the murders that Lauren was accused of. After killing Fox, Alex visits Lauren's grave and tells her that he loves her.
READ: How To Watch The Hunger Games Movies In Order? Explained
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)
Director: Lance Mungia | Writers: Norman Partridge, James O'Barr, Lance Mungia | Stars: Yuji Okumoto, Marcus Chong, Tito Ortiz | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 39 minutes. | Release Date: June 3, 2005 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, drama, fantasy, horror, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA | Production Companies: Dimension Films, Pressman Film, Jeff Most Productions
The fourth and final installment in the series, The Crow: Wicked Prayer, was released in 2005. The movie follows Jimmy Cuervo (played by Edward Furlong), a man who is executed for a crime he didn't commit. A Large Crow resurrects him in order to exact revenge upon those responsible for his wrongful death.
The movie was directed by Lance Mungia and written by Norman Partridge, James O'Barr, and Lance Mungia. It starred Yuji Okumoto, Marcus Chong, and Tito Ortiz. The Crow: Wicked Prayer was a box office bomb. It received negative reviews from critics, with many panning the film's plot and acting.
Jimmy Cuervo lives in a polluted town and works at a gas station. His girlfriend, Lily, is a stripper. One night, they're both killed by a group of Satanists.
A year later, Jimmy is resurrected by a crow and sets out on a mission of revenge against the Satanists. He first kills their leader, Lucifer. He then goes after the other members of the group, one by one. After killing them, Jimmy visits Lily's grave and tells her he loves her.
READ: Back To The Future Movies In Order: FAQ, Overview
Movies in order by IMDB Rating
| Movies | Rating on IMDB |
|---|---|
| The Crow | 7.5/10 |
| The Crow: City of Angels | 4.6/10 |
| The Crow: Salvation | 4.9/10 |
| The Crow: Wicked Prayer | 3.0/10 |
List of all Crow Movies and Television Series According to Storyline
Besides four full-length feature films, a television series titled The Crow: Stairway to Heaven also aired from 1998-1999. The series is not considered canon by fans, as it strayed away from the original source material and featured a new protagonist.
Here is the list of all the Crow movies and series in the proper chronological order :
- The Crow (1994)
- The Crow: City of Angels (1996)
- The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998-1999, television series)
- The Crow: Salvation (2000)
- The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)
What to Watch After Watching Crow Movies?
If you loved the Crow movies, you might enjoy watching other movies with similar themes. These movies feature characters seeking revenge after being wronged and are often dark and gritty in nature. Some recommended films include :
- Oldboy (2003)
- I Saw the Devil (2010)
- Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
- Lady Snowblood (1973)
- Man on Fire (2004)
In order to get the most out of these movies, it is recommended that you watch them in order. This will allow you to follow the characters' journeys as they seek revenge and see how their stories intertwine.
READ: Chucky Movies In Order: All Child's Play Series In Details
FAQs
Are All of The Crow Movies Part of The Same Series?
No, The Crow: Wicked Prayer is not part of the same series as the other Crow movies. It is a stand-alone film. Other than that, all of the Crow movies are part of the same series and are in release order.
Do You Need To Watch Crow Movies In Order?
No, you don't need to watch the Crow movies in order. However, it is recommended that you do so, as watching them in order will allow you to better understand the story and characters.
What Is The Best Order To Watch Crow Movies In?
The best order to watch the Crow movies would be a release order. This is because the story builds upon itself, and watching them in release order will allow you to understand the story better.
What are the Crow movies about?
The Crow movies are about a man who is brought back from the dead by a crow and takes revenge on those who killed him.
Do all of the Crow movies take place in the same universe?
Yes, all of the Crow movies take place in the same universe.
Do All Of The Crow Movies Have The Same Lead Actor?
No, all of the Crow movies do not have the same lead actor. However, they all feature Brandon Lee in some capacity, either as the lead character or in a flashback.
What Happened To The Crow Movies?
The last Crow movie to be released was The Crow: Wicked Prayer in 2005. Since then, there have been no plans for any more Crow movies. It is unknown what happened to the franchise or why no more movies are being made.
Do All of The Crow Movies Have the Same Plot?
No, all of the Crow movies do not have the same plot. Each movie has its own unique story. However, all of the movies do share some common elements.
What Is The Best Crow Movie?
This is a matter of opinion, but many fans consider The Crow to be the best movie in the franchise. It is the movie that started it all and is considered to be a classic.
Where can I watch Crow Movies?
All of the Crow movies are available on DVD and Blu-ray. You can also watch them online through various streaming services, such as Hulu or Amazon Prime Video (members who subscribe to the Paramount+ channel).
Conclusion
Crow is a popular crime fantasy franchise that started with the 1994 movie of the same name. The franchise includes four movies and one television series, all of which are available on DVD and Blu-ray.
The movies follow the story of a man who is brought back from the dead by a crow and takes revenge on those who killed him. If you're looking for a dark and gritty revenge story, then the Crow movies are definitely for you.
In this article, we discussed the Crow movies, including the chronological order of the movies and where you can watch them. We also answered some frequently asked questions about the franchise. Finally, we recommend other movies you might enjoy if you loved the Crow movies.
I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us in the comments below. Thank you for reading!
Hey, My name is Charles Eames, I am a designer, filmmaker, and lover of photographic arts. And I usually write about movies, Famous/Influential People. I am running this blog with my girlfriend Bernice.