OVERALL: Draw

The Australian Definitive Collection has the US theatrical cut, director's cut, and the TV cut of the film with the most extras, though note the theatrical and director's cuts are in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio.
The US "Screwhead Edition" from Universal has the theatrical cut in the original theatrical 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
The 2-Disc UK Anchor Bay release has both the theatrical cut and director's cut, a DTS-ES 6.1 track for the theatrical cut and all the extras from the US Anchor Bay release, but the film is presented in 1.66:1.
The R3 Hong Kong release features the best presentation of the director's cut with uncut status, 5.1 sound, and in the OAR of 1.85:1.

There are four different versions of the film, with each having exclusive footage:
- US theatrical cut (81 mins) – with studio-mandated, reshot 'happy' ending, against director's wishes
- International theatrical cut (89 mins) – 'happy' ending
- TV cut (93 mins) – 'happy' ending; SD only, 1.33:1 aspect ratio
- Director's cut (96 mins) – restores original 'downbeat' ending
More info here: Book of the Dead: Army of Darkness Different Versions.

Movie Censorship Comparisons:
- R-Rated and Director's Cut
- US TV Version and US Theatrical Version
- US Director's Cut and German Director's Cut

GENERAL NOTES:
The AB version looks cropped on all four sides in some scenes and even zoomed in others.

All Anchor Bay´s prints are MISSING a short 2 second shot: After Sheila is first captured and presented to Evil Ash, he rips Sheila's dress down to her waist. Explaining the next shot of looking her up and down. The following shot of the nude slave girls is also much clearer. The R2 Optimum & R3 HAVE this shot (previously shown only on the Japanese "Captain Supermarket" Laserdisc). The bodice ripping scene was actually an idea of a producer Dino DeLaurentis, and Raimi cut it from his "director approved" versions.

Anchor Bay's releases consist of only 2 different discs released separately or as a combination. One is the Theatrical Cut, the other one the Director's Cut. The differences between the releases are only covers and booklets.

There are also vanilla releases available from Anchor Bay UK under there 'Horror Classics label which should be avoided.

CUTS:

• R0 Definitive Collection Australia- Via Vision - No cuts. Includes the Director's Cut (95:51 NTSC), Theatrical Version (80:41 NTSC), and the TV Cut (90:32 PAL).
• R1 America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No Cuts. Theatrical Cut (80:40 NTSC).
• R1 America- Universal Pictures - No cuts. Theatrical Cut.
• R1 Boomstick Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Includes both the Theatrical Cut and the Director's Cut.
• R1 Director's Cut America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Director's Cut (95:51 NTSC).
• R1 Limited Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Includes both the Theatrical Cut and the Director's Cut.
• R1 Screwhead Edition America- Universal Pictures - No cuts. Theatrical Cut.
• R2 France- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts. European Version (85:07 PAL).
• R2 France- Studio Canal - No cuts. Theatrical Cut.
• R2 Germany- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts. European Version (85:07 PAL).
• R2 Red Edition Germany- Laser Paradise - No cuts. Director's Cut.
• R2 Italy- DVD Storm - No cuts.
• R2 Scandinavia- MGM/Sandrew Metronome - No cuts. European Cut (85:07 PAL).
• R2 United Kingdom- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Includes both the Theatrical Cut and the Director's Cut.
• R2 United Kingdom- Optimum Releasing - No cuts. Full 96:00 min cut of the film, Along with the R3 release, the longest cut of all the releases. And includes the 2 second scene of Evil Ash stripping Sheila which is not on the Director's Cut (92:26 PAL).
• R2 Limited Edition - The Evil Dead Trilogy United Kingdom- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Director's Cut.
• R3 Hong Kong- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts. Full cut of the film. Along with the R2 Optimum version, the longest cut of all the releases. And includes the 2 second scene of Evil Ash stripping Sheila which is not on the Director's Cut (96:12 NTSC)
• R4 Australia- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts. European Cut (85:07).
• R5 Russia- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts. European Version (85:07 PAL).

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Adrian_Busby on 24/11/01
Comparison last updated by Matthew_B_Harrah on 27/03/23

UPDATE LOG:

01/08/11: Major comparison clean-up.
18/11/10: Russian release added.
22/08/13: R2 Optimum added & overall notes updated.
14/07/16: ASINs added. R2 Germany (MGM) added.
21/05/17: Note added.
09/06/17: Added Australia DC.
17/06/19: Clean-up and addition of the Caps-A-Holic link.
01/05/21: Clean-up.
27/03/23: Movie Censorship Comparisons.