25 films about zombies, from which it is impossible to tear yourself away

Classic zombie horror

1. Night of the Living Dead

USA, 1968.
Horror.
Duration: 96 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 9.

Brother and sister Johnny and Barbara come to the cemetery to visit their father's grave. The young man is attacked by a strange man who looks like a living dead man. The girl runs away and hides with several strangers in the house. Here they will have to wait out the zombie invasion.

It was with this film by George Romero that the procession of the living dead began on the movie screens. By the way, it is interesting that the director himself did not use the word "zombie", but called the monsters flesh eaters. The picture has become a real legend and has spawned many sequels and remakes. Moreover, critics note the social component of the plot: "Night of the Living Dead" for the most part tells that people, even in the most dangerous situation, cannot agree with each other.

2. Reanimator

USA, 1985.
Horror, fantasy.
Duration: 105 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 2.

Medical student Dan Kane and his new partner Herbert West, who was recently transferred after a scandal, are looking for a means to raise the dead. They use fresh corpses from the morgue for their experiments. And then one day they succeed. But the revived dead behave violently and aggressively.

The film is based on the story of the legendary writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft. And the authors of the picture not only conveyed the very atmosphere of the work, but also invested in realistic special effects. The director and his assistants studied the pathology textbook in detail so that the corpses and individual parts of the bodies looked as believable as possible. Therefore, the film looks impressive to this day.

3. I walked with zombies

USA, 1943.
Horror, drama, melodrama.
Duration: 69 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 1.

Nurse Betsy travels to the West Indies to care for the wife of a wealthy farmer, Jessica. The patient behaves very withdrawn during the day, and walks aimlessly at night. Soon Betsy learns that the locals practice the voodoo cult.

Movies about zombies appeared on screens long before the release of "Night of the Living Dead". But initially this term was used to denote slaves who were hypnotized by a voodoo priest. The 1942 painting tells exactly about such zombies.

4. Zombie 2

Italy, 1979.
Horror.
Duration: 94 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 9.

A ship sails to the shores of the United States without a command. An evil zombie is found on it and a letter from Dr. Bowles, who talks about a mysterious island in the Caribbean. Doctor's daughter Anna and journalist Peter West go there. Arriving at the place, they find that the surroundings are overrun with the living dead.

Despite the fact that the movie is called "Zombie 2", do not try to find the first part, it does not exist. It's just that the year the picture was released under this heading, George Romero's Dawn of the Dead was rolled out in Italy. In "Zombie 2", hints of voodoo cults are interestingly mixed with the idea of corpses revived by the virus. And you need to understand that the director of the film, Lucio Fulci, is a big lover of all sorts of unpleasant scenes. In his tape, a close-up shows how they pierce the eyes, gnaw out the throat, dismember and do other abominations.

Modern thrillers and horror stories about zombies

1.28 days later

UK, 2002.
Horror, fantasy, thriller, drama.
Duration: 113 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 6.

Courier Jim lay in a coma for a long time and missed the beginning of the apocalypse. When he regains consciousness, he discovers that the country is engulfed in an epidemic: an unknown virus turns people into mindless killers. With new acquaintances, he tries to get to the shelter, but soon realizes that the survivors can be no less dangerous than the zombies.

Director Danny Boyle has turned classic horror into an interesting metaphor for modern society. "28 Days Later" is dedicated not to the invasion of the living dead, but to human aggression. But as a horror movie, the picture works perfectly. Moreover, excellent actors starred in it: Cillian Murphy, Naomi Harris and Brendan Gleeson. And five years later, the sequel "28 weeks later" appeared, which was also received very warmly.

2. Train to Busan

South Korea, 2016.
Horror, thriller, action movie.
Duration: 118 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 5.

Cynical manager Seok Woo decides to take his daughter Soo An to her mom's birthday. When the heroes are already getting on the train from Seoul to Busan, a woman infected with a zombie virus jumps into the last carriage. The whole world around is captured by the evil dead, and passengers need to contain the spread of the infection inside the train in order to get to a safe place.

Director Young Sang Ho has only directed cartoons before. But in his first fictional film, he managed to create an incredibly tense environment. The confined space and the atmosphere of doom make you worry about the heroes literally until the last minute. In the year of its release, "Train to Busan" deservedly became the most popular South Korean film. The director later released the animated prequel Seoul Station, and the sequel to Peninsula is slated to premiere in 2020.

3. Reporting

Spain, 2007.
Horror, thriller, detective.
Duration: 75 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 4.

TV journalist Angela Vidal dreams of bringing a sensational report to the editorial office. Upon learning of a mysterious incident in a residential building, she takes an operator and goes to the site. Soon, the main character realizes that she is trapped: the inhabitants of the building are struck by a zombie virus and are eager for new victims. Angela is fighting for her life, and the camera captures everything that happens.

This film was filmed in the genre of mocumentari, that is, as if by the participants in the events themselves. Rumor has it that the actors were not allowed to read the script to the end before filming, so neither of them knew what would happen to his character in the next scene. Together with a shaky handheld camera and realistic setting, this gave the story a chilling believability.

4. Dawn of the Dead

USA, Canada, Japan, 2004.
Horror, thriller, action.
Duration: 109 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 3.

The zombie invasion begins in the USA. A group of survivors - a nurse, her husband, a policeman, a young couple and other townspeople - are hiding from the living dead in a shopping center. The heroes understand that this cannot last long, and begin to develop an escape plan.

Cult director Zach Snyder began his career with a remake of one of George Romero's most successful films. But if in classical paintings the zombies barely hobbled, limping on both legs at once, then in the new version the living dead run fast, which adds tension to the story. And besides, over the years, the level of special effects has increased greatly, and therefore the brutal murder scenes look much more spectacular.

5. I am a legend

USA, 2007.
Horror, fantasy, thriller, drama.
Duration: 96 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 2.

Military doctor Robert Neville lives alone in a devastated city. An epidemic of an unknown virus has turned people into zombies, and now the hero is desperately trying to find a cure. Soon he meets a woman for whom he begins to feel real feelings.

The authors of this film in a strange way turned the plot of the book by Richard Matheson inside out. In the original, the ending completely changed the perception of the whole story, and the monsters were more like vampires. In the film adaptation, they can be called zombies with assumptions. But first of all, the film pleases with a very realistic atmosphere of the post-apocalypse.

6. Planet of Fear

USA, 2007.
Horror, fantasy, action, comedy.
Duration: 95 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 1.

The military group did not share experimental biological weapons with the scientist. As a result, gas entered the atmosphere, turning people into predatory zombies. The fate of humanity is now in the hands of the dancer Cherry, who has a machine gun instead of a leg, her tough boyfriend El Rey and several other brave townspeople.

Famed director Robert Rodriguez decided to pay homage to the films he grew up on by filming a fake bad operational movie. In Planet of Fear, not only the plot twists look ridiculous, it even creates the effect of low-quality film. But all this creates a parody atmosphere. At the same time, the heroes behave quite seriously and destroy zombies with all available means.

7. War of the Worlds Z

USA, 2013.
Horror, fantasy, thriller.
Duration: 116 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 0.

UN investigator Gerald Lane gets stuck with his family in a traffic jam and sees how very fast, strong and aggressive zombies begin to attack people. After 12 seconds, each bitten one also turns into a monster. After getting out of trouble, Lane joins a team of scientists who must investigate the zombie virus and find a cure for it.

This film has a very unusual structure: it starts as a dynamic horror, but soon turns into a leisurely exploration of the virus, moving into the genre of scientific thriller. However, the large-scale scenes of the invasion of the living dead are still impressive, especially the moment where they storm the wall, climbing over each other.

8. Resident Evil

USA, Germany, 2002.
Horror, action, fantasy.
Duration: 100 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 7.

In a secret laboratory, someone steals a flask with a dangerous T-virus and breaks it. Everyone who gets under the influence of the drug turns into zombies. A special forces detachment is sent to investigate the laboratory, and with them the policeman Matt and the girl Alice, who has lost her memory.

Screening the game of the same name, the authors greatly changed the plot and made the main character Alice, who was not at all in the original. Over time, "Resident Evil" turned into a huge film franchise dedicated to the zombie apocalypse. True, each new part was received worse and worse.

Modern and classic zombie comedies

1. A zombie named Sean

UK, France, 2004.
Horror, comedy.
Duration: 100 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 9.

Lazy sales assistant Sean is interested in almost nothing, all his days are similar to one another. And he does not even immediately notice that the city has been captured by hordes of zombies. But now Sean and his friends need to organize and fight back against the flesh eaters.

The first full-length work of Edgar Wright could have turned out to be just a comedy about zombies, if not for the talent of the director. Firstly, from the very first frames his film is filled with references to pop culture, and even the soundtrack plays an important role. And secondly, through the story of the living dead, Wright was able to tell about people who are so stuck in everyday life that they themselves are no different from zombies.

2. Welcome to Zombieland

USA, 2009.
Horror, fantasy, comedy, adventure.
Duration: 84 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 6.

Young Columbus can hardly be called a tough hero. But he has developed clear rules that help him survive during the zombie apocalypse. The teenager goes home to find out if his parents are still alive. On the way, he meets the rude but kind Tallahassee and two sisters - Wichita and Little Rock. The company continues its journey together.

In the main plot of the film, the same set of rules is perfectly inscribed, as well as all kinds of inserts like "zombie-killing of the week". Excellent actors in the lead roles are also delighted: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson. Although all of them are overshadowed by Bill Murray, who starred only in a small episode.

3. Living carrion

New Zealand, 1992.
Horror, comedy.
Duration: 104 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 5.

At the zoo, a monkey rat brought from a distant island bites Lionel Cosgrove's mother. Gradually, the woman turns into a zombie, and the young man needs to somehow restrain her so that the infection does not spread throughout the city.

It's hard to believe that director Peter Jackson, now known as the author of the epic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, once started out with trash comedies. The main goal of this film is to show as many black jokes as possible (up to the birth of a child in love with a zombie couple) and methods of killing the living dead. The finale is considered the most impressive scene, where the hero cuts his way through the hordes of undead with a lawn mower. We spent 400 liters of artificial blood on the shooting.

4. Return of the living dead

USA, 1984.
Horror, fantasy, comedy.
Duration: 91 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 3.

Zombie Comedy: Return of the Living Dead

The heroes of this film, working in a warehouse of medical supplies, watch "Night of the Living Dead". One of the characters says that all the events of the picture were real, and they still keep containers with zombies. Of course, curiosity prevails, the heroes go to look at the living dead. And zombies are filling the city.

One of the co-authors of the first film by George Romero, John Russo, decided to shoot his own picture. Moreover, the director managed to knock out the rights to the phrase "living dead". His film is more a parody of the classics than a continuation of them. Zombies here are funnier and for some reason smarter, and all people, on the contrary, behave as stupid as possible.

5. About death, about love

Italy, France, Germany, 1993.
Horror, comedy.
Duration: 104 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 2.

Comedy about zombies: "About death, about love"

Francesco Dellamorte works in a cemetery, where all the dead in a strange way rise from their graves a week after the funeral. The hero has to smash their heads in order to send them back to the coffin. One day he falls in love with a young widow who has just buried her husband. But then the late spouse intervenes in the plans.

The film by Italian director Michele Soavi parodies both horror about zombies and all kinds of melodramas. Therefore, even love stories here are presented funny to the point of surrealism. All three women Francesco are played by the same actress. Well, the second storyline, in which the main character's assistant falls in love with the head of a deceased girl, is simply gorgeous.

6. A zombie named Fido

Canada, 2006.
Horror, comedy.
Duration: 93 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 7.

In the 50s, the United States experienced a zombie apocalypse. The Zomkon Corporation has come up with collars that pacify the aggression of the living dead. And then people began to plant monsters instead of servants. In the Robinson family, the zombie Fido became the best friend of the boy Timmy. But one day he got out of control and bit their neighbor.

You need to know the main thing about this simple and funny film: the great comedian Billy Connolly starred in the image of Fido. And since the zombies do not show emotions on their faces, he played his entire role with just one glance.

7. Operation Dead Snow

Norway, 2009.
Horror, comedy.
Duration: 88 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 3.

A group of medical students travel to the mountains for a few days of rest and fun. They soon find gold belonging to long-dead Nazis. But the villains who have become zombies want their jewelry back.

The Norwegian low-budget film, which mixes brutality with comedic grotesque, pleases with the apotheosis of on-screen villainy. After all, these monsters are both Nazis and zombies - what could be worse?

Bonus: the most unusual zombie movies

1. Paris. Zombie city

France, 2018.
Horror, drama.
Duration: 93 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 0.

Sam went to his ex-girlfriend to pick up things, and fell asleep in a closed room. When he woke up, he found that everyone around him was either dead or turned into zombies. From that moment on, the hero locks himself in the house and tries to survive without going outside. Although in this situation, the most difficult thing is just not to go crazy.

Paris. City of Zombies”is perhaps the most realistic film about the invasion of the living dead. After all, he shows that ordinary people most likely will not fight and look for a cure, but will simply lock themselves at home. And the picture very well demonstrates how difficult it is for a modern person to be alone in a confined space. Very relevant during a pandemic.

2. Anna and the apocalypse

UK, 2017.
Horror, comedy, musical.
Duration: 93 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 0.

A small British town is getting ready for Christmas. High school student Anna had a fight with her father because of her study plans. But all this becomes unimportant when zombies appear in the city.

Perhaps the strangest thing you can imagine: a musical about a zombie. The authors claim to have been inspired by West Side Story and other classics of the genre. They turned out, of course, much weaker. But the experiment itself is amusing.

3. Hungry Z

Canada, 2017.
Horror, drama.
Duration: 104 minutes.
IMDb: 5, 9.

A zombie virus is spreading in a small settlement in Canada. The few survivors form groups and try to get out of the contaminated area. But monsters chase people, in parallel arranging strange rituals with mountains of garbage.

The traditional plot in this film is combined with a very unusual presentation. The authors took the styles of Tarkovsky and Bresson as a basis and turned the zombie horror into a leisurely metaphorical parable.

4. Pride and prejudice and zombies

USA, UK, 2015.
Horror, action, melodrama.
Duration: 108 minutes.
IMDb: 5, 8.

Zombie Movies: Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters, living in 19th century England, constantly hear that they need to find husbands. One of the best candidates is the rich but arrogant Mr. Darcy. But the Bennet sisters themselves are not a mistake: there is a war with zombies around, and the girls have perfectly learned to kill monsters.

The meaning of the film is clear from the title: it is a retelling of the famous novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, and even with the preservation of most of the author's text. Only a confrontation with a zombie was added to the plot. It turned out very strange and funny.

5. The dead don't die

USA, Sweden, 2019.
Horror, comedy.
Duration: 104 minutes.
IMDb: 5, 5.

In a quiet American city, where nothing has happened for years, strange events take place: animals disappear, and the day is getting longer. After that, long-dead people begin to revive. Several police officers have to deal with an insane situation.

Director Jim Jarmusch decided to talk about the problems of the consumer society in the form of a horror comedy. After all, zombies here are obsessed not only with the desire to eat people: some ask for coffee, others cannot tear themselves away from their gadgets. And in addition to this, the author added a lot of metaumor to the plot: the characters can even directly discuss the script of the film. Judging by the estimates, not everyone understood the irony.

6. Zombie beavers

USA, 2014.
Horror, fantasy, thriller, comedy.
Duration: 78 minutes.
IMDb: 4, 8.

Several teenagers decided to spend the weekend by the lake. But the fun holiday quickly turned into a fierce struggle for survival: the heroes are attacked by zombie beavers.

Finally, it is worth paying attention to the film, which is terrible in all respects. The very idea of zombie beavers already looks ridiculous. And horrible special effects and acting are added to it. But it adds up to a very funny trash comedy from the series "so bad, it's even good."

What kind of zombie movies did you like? Do you like classic horror, comedy or modern blockbusters about the living dead? Or maybe you didn't find a good movie on the list? Then share your options in the comments!

This material was first published in July 2018. In May 2020, we updated the text.