How many ‘The Crow’ movies are there and how to watch them in order?
The original version of the gothic superhero film was released 30 years ago. Since then, there have been numerous sequels and, more recently, a remake.
The Crow movie franchise began in May 1994 with the release of Alex Proyas original film (The Crow) which gained notoriety even before it was released for the tragic, accidental death of one its chief protagonists. The film is an adaptation of James O’Barr’s comic book series published in 1989.
On the eve of his wedding day, rock star Eric Draven, played by Brandon Lee and his fiancée Shelly Webster are murdered by members of a violent inner-city gang. His soul is escorted to the next world by a crow but as his life was prematurely cut short, his restless spirit is eager to return to earth to sort out its unfinished business. With help from the crow, it is able to return and avenge those who took his and his fiancée’s lives.
Brandon Lee’s death filming ‘The Crow’
On 31 March 1994, Lee was fatally shot in the stomach while filming the scene following the rape of Eric’s fiancée. A dummy cartridge had been left in the gun by mistake and not taken out by a newbie props assistant. It was decided that Lee’s scenes should be kept in the film and a stunt double was used for the remaining ones.
The Crow was an instant hit at the box office and has since grossed $50.6 million in the United States and Canada and $43 million internationally. The film was released on VHS at the time and subsequently on DVD in 1998. A two-disc collector’s edition DVD featuring widescreen and full frame versions plus extras was released in 2003 with a Blu-ray release in 2012 and a 4K edition in May this year.
The Crow can be streamed on Prime Video, Apple TV, fubo, MGM+, Roku - all of which offer free seven-day trials and is also available to rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV and Microsoft Movies & TV.
‘The Crow’ sequels and remakes
There has since been four sequels, starting with 1996′s The Crow: City of Angels in which a mechanic Ashe Corven (Vincent Pérez) and his eight-year-old son Danny are brutally murdered by a drug lord. Corven is resurrected and guided by the crow to the drugs gang, who he takes out one by one.
The Crow: City of Angels was released in DVD format in 2014 and on Blu-ray as part of a three-disc box set. It can be streamed free on Hoopla, or on subscription platforms: Apple TV or for rent on Amazon Video, Apple TV and Microsoft Movies & TV.
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven is a television adaptation of O’Barr’s comic book series starring Mark Dacascos as Eric Draven/The Crow, with 22 episodes originally aired from September 1998 to May 1999. The complete series was released as a five-CD box set in 2005. Unfortunately, it is not available for streaming.
Directed by Bharat Nalluri, and Eric Mabius as Alex Corvis, The Crow: Salvation followed in 2000. Corvis returns to earth to resolve the murder of his girlfiend that he was framed for and sent to death row. It was issued in DVD format in September 2014 and on Blu-ray. It can be streamed on Prime Video, Hulu, Apple TV, fubo, Peacock Premium, Roku, Pluto TV, Shout TV, Plex, Disney+.
And finally, The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005) is the fourth film in the series. Edward Furlong stars as Jimmy Cuervo / The Crow. A convoluted and often unbelievable fantasy storyline, it was poorly received and rated 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on nine, none too complimentary reviews.
The Crow: Wicked Prayer, was released in 2005 on DVD with extra features including deleted scenes, Making of... and a commentary track. Also as a double feature on DVD and Blu-ray with The Crow: City of Angels. It can be streamed free on Hoopla or is available to rent or buy from Apple TV, Microsoft Movies & TV and Amazon Video.