Let's start this off with some key takeaways:
• The Crow movie franchise has six entries so far, including the latest release in 2024.
• The Crow (1994) featuring Brandon Lee tops the list as the best in the franchise.
• Despite outrage over the new iteration of The Crow (2024), it offers commendable performances from Bill Skarsgård and Danny Huston.
• The Crow: City of Angles and The Crow: Salvation were criticized for their post-production processes and certain dated aspects.
• The fourth sequel, The Crow: Wicked Prayer wasn't particularly well-received, but the TV series, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, takes the dishonourable mention for its feeble attempt to replicate the movie's success.
Don't let the controversy fool you, folks, not all of The Crow movies are worth dismissing. Let's take a quick dive into each one.
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998)
Yes, you read that right; a TV version of The Crow was made! Unfortunately, it met the same fate as other poor TV adaptations of successful movies. Despite boasting decent reviews and a single season of twenty-two episodes, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven couldn't quite leave a favorable impression in the franchise's legacy.
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005)
The fourth Crow sequel made a quiet entrance and exit, thanks to the Weinstein Brothers' decision to launch it directly to video. It was pegged as the comeback movie for the franchise but failed to deliver on that promise. Despite Edward Furlong's best attempts at playing The Crow, the movie falls flat due to its over-the-top pseudo-spaghetti western tone.
The Crow: Salvation (2000)
This installment was intended for a theatrical release, however, poor test screenings led to its direct-to-video release. With its dated elements, like the misguided Matrix-inspired bullet time effects, it struggles to make an impact. However, the performance by Eric Mabius as The Crow offers a slight redeeming factor.
The Crow: City of Angles (1996)
A stark victim of post-production editing, City of Angles couldn't escape the chopping board of Harvey Weinstein's infamous tendency to drastically trim movies. This, coupled with its last-minute direction change, resulted in a less than ideal sequel. Despite this, it's not all doom and gloom; the film has a unique visual style and an impressive soundtrack.
The Crow (2024)
Despite the initial backlash that surrounded the latest version of The Crow, Bill Skarsgård manages to capture the essence of the title character in his performance. The film faced a few hiccups due to its lackluster story beats, but for what it's worth, this entry is certainly not the worst.
The Crow (1994)
And finally, the crowning glory of the franchise, the original The Crow movie featuring the unforgettable Brandon Lee. The film enjoys a unique place in movie history due to the tragic on-set demise of Lee. However, it remains a beautifully directed movie with one of the best soundtracks of the '90s and Michael Wincott delivering one of the most memorable villain performances as Top Dollar.
That's our ranking of The Crow franchise, folks! Now, how would you rank these films? Leave us a comment and let's get chatting.
We hope you found this rundown enjoyable. And if you're a fan of the original, do yourself a favor and check out the stunning new 4K disc!
