The 10 Best Zombie Movies of All Time 2023

There’s something about zombie movies that resonates with audiences. Whether it’s watching fast-moving zombies chase their victims or the frequent social commentary, zombie movies always seem to attract fans.

Most zombie conspiracies begin with a single infection wiping out the population, while others begin with a full-blown apocalypse that causes the undead to rise. No matter what, they always end up with the undead slaughtering the unfortunate survivors. There are a lot of zombie movies out there these days, with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming platforms being the best places to get your fix.

You can choose from classic zombie horror movies or movies that combine other genres like action, comedy, sci-fi, horror, and romance. Choice is part of the thrill of watching a horror movie, but we also know it can take a while to choose the perfect movie. For that reason, we’ve proactively narrowed down the options for you.

So if you want to pee your pants or hide behind your pillow as the dead bodies pile up, here are the 10 best zombie movies of all time. Grab your snacks, popcorn, and soft drinks and get ready. It’s zombie movie night.

1. Dawn of the Dead (Original)

To start, we have Dawn Of The Dead, which is the perfect zombie movie. This classic was directed by George A. Romero and takes place in modern society under a zombie attack, about four desperate survivors seeking shelter inside a shopping mall. Tom Savini’s landmark gore effects are also featured in this pure horror film.

Critics have welcomed this film because it celebrates the materialistic aspect of society. It has been described as controversial and influential, with the zombie element fading into the background of more pressing concerns about human solidarity. A “compelling and entertaining zombie movie,” this 1978 film has received positive reviews on movie review websites for many years. It is also part of the acclaimed Night of the Living Dead series, which will be covered below as you go through this article.

2. [•REC]

You may be familiar with the word •TAKE NOTE – it stands for “record”. If you guessed this might have something to do with recording and cameras then you are 100% correct. •REC advises you to run, hide, survive, but most importantly: keep recording.

This 2007 Spanish film looks at the zombie attack from a different perspective. A found-footage thriller, Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza (director and co-writer) reveal the events that took place in an apartment building during the intervention of firefighters.

•REC was a huge commercial success, spawning a franchise with three sequels. These are Rec 2 (2009), Rec 3: Genesis (2012) and Rec 4: Apocalypse (2014), directed by Balagueró and Plaza, respectively. In 2008, a remake of the American film Quarantine was released. As they say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

3. Shaun of the Dead

Like we mentioned, you can choose a zombie movie mixed with other genres. If you’re a fan of comedy but also want to see some zombies munching on human flesh, then Shaun of the Dead is a great movie to watch.

This 2004 film stars Simon Pegg as Shaun, a famous slacker who decides to become a hero by turning his mundane life around during a zombie apocalypse. Watch his adventures trying to save his friends and hit the pub in this fun film from director Edgar Wright.

Shaun of the Dead is one of the greatest comedy/horror films of all time, becoming a model for the crossover comedy genre. This film also deals with the realities of being a zombie as an adult and depicts the level of anxiety associated with the post-9/11 attacks.

4. Planet of Terror

Planet Terror is a 2007 film by Robert Rodriquez released as part of the Grindhouse double feature alongside Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. Despite performing slightly below box office analysts’ expectations, the film still received positive reviews and had enough blood and brains to keep zombie lovers happy.

The film is set in a small town in Texas, where a dangerous toxic gas has turned many locals into flesh-eating zombies. There are two groups of survivors, a military unit and a group of miserable locals who argue with each other throughout the film. It has gross effects, terrible dialogue, and deadpan action.

There is an alternate version of this film that supposedly makes it more horrifying than it already is, which is currently available outside the US.

5. Return of the living dead

If you’re looking for a mix of fun and terror, then you’ll enjoy The Return Of The Living Dead. On the Fourth of July weekend, two medical warehouse workers accidentally released a fatal gas into the air. Steam brings the dead back to life as zombies and horrors ensure.

Director Dan O’Bannon steers clear of flesh-eating zombies and introduces the concept of brain-eating zombies. This new wave of zombies appearing in Return of the Living Dead can also talk, run, and survive being shot in the head.

Besides next-level zombies, the 1985 horror film also promoted punk music, as heard in its soundtrack. Like REC, Return of the Living Dead also spawned sequels – Return of the Living Dead II (1988), Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993), Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005) and Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005). However, none of the sequels were able to achieve the huge success of the first part.

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6. Re-animate

Another horror/comedy film released in 1985, Re-Animator revolves around a medical student named Herbert West and his invention that allows dead bodies to be re-animated.

Directed by Stuart Gordon, Re-Animator brought science fiction to the ’80s horror genre. This film, inspired by HP Lovecraft’s 1922 novel Re-animator, evolved from stage production into a half-hour television pilot and then into a feature film.

The main character, Herbert West, and his classmate, Dan Cain, inject serum into dead tissue. When the reagent yielded the expected results, conflict arose when another person, Dr. Carl Hill, wanted to take credit for their discovery.

With its success, two more sequels – Bride of Re-Animator (199) and Beyond Re-Animator (2003) – were released. Both are not good. There are also two manga series and a remake, but nothing compares to the original movie.

7. Train to Busan

If you’re looking for another genre crossover, the Korean movie Train to Busan Maybe you are interested. When a zombie accidentally slips onto a train traveling from Seoul to Busan, its passengers struggle to survive as the number of infected people begins to multiply.

Like Dawn of the Dead, this book also offers social commentary and symbolism. Train to Busan sets the gears running between choreographed action and pure horror – all confined to a single vehicle.

This film was a huge success both in Asia – where it originated – and around the world. Train to Busan was part of the midnight screening of the 2016 Cannes Festival in France. It also broke the record as the first Korean film to reach over 10 million viewers in 2016.

A sequel titled Train to Busan: Peninsula also came out shortly after in 2020. If you want less gore without compromising on the thrill and horror then it’s the one for you.

8. 28 days later

A Danny Boyle film, 28 Days Later is a British post-apocalyptic horror film from 2002. With one of the boldest social commentaries seen in a politically focused horror film , this gripping film follows four survivors trying to pick up the pieces of a society destroyed by a deadly virus.

Although the director himself did not consider 28 Days Later to be a zombie film, critics praised the film for its fresh take on the genre and character-driven drama. The film’s overall performance, including its soundtrack, grossed millions of dollars worldwide, topping the list of most profitable horror films of 2002.

9. Night of the Living Dead

George A. Romero set the bar high in directing top-notch horror films using guerrilla filmmaking techniques without the subpar quality often associated with such methods. In 1968, he directed Night of the Living Dead, co-written by John Russo.

Night of the Living Dead is a horror film about seven people trapped on a rural farm and attacked by cannibalistic vampires. Because of its explicit violence and gore, the film initially received many negative reviews. However, this stream of reviews did not last long as the film went from a controversial film to a cult classic due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

Five official sequels make up the Night of the Living Dead franchise. Including; Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), Land of the Dead (2005), Diary of the Dead (2007) and Survival of the Dead (2009).

If you’re looking for more than just a zombie movie, this is a marathon you can get through.

10. Brain Dead (also known as Dead Alive)

This movie begins with a mother being bitten by a mouse-monkey hybrid and becoming sick and dying. Of course, in true zombie movie style, the mother comes back to life to feast on living creatures from pet dogs and cats to small children and adult neighbors.

Brain Dead (a.k.a. Dead Alive) delivers massive amounts of gore, humor, and horror all in one. Although the film was made on a budget of $3 million and received positive reviews from critics, the Peter Jackson movie (yes, Lord of the Rings Jackson!) was initially considered a failure.

But of course, we wouldn’t include Braindead on this list if it were a bad movie. After creating a huge buzz, this movie became known as one of the bloodiest and funniest movies of all time. If you’re looking for a bloodbath with a few laughs then I recommend you check this out.

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Categories: Entertainment
Source: Tekmonk Bio