I am a big fan of the zombie film genre. Similarly Robert Kirkman’s the Walking Dead books have been on my pull list for years. As you can imagine I have been also watching The Walking Dead television series religiously. While all these films are good, my list is a bit subjective based on my personal taste. I am sure some people might have a different ranking/personal preference with regards to this list. I am also quite certain that their will be some glaring omissions to my list of zombie films that I have yet to see. Yeah I am rambling a bit so lets cut to the chase.
10.)Planet Terror: Rose McGowan has a machine gun leg!!!!! That alone should convince you to give this film a watch. Their is plenty of fast paced action and over the top zombie killing in this Robert Rodriguez addition to the Grindhouse double shot film. It was nice to see Saeed the torturer from Lost and Bruce Willis turn up in this film. As an added bonus the other film contained with this movie Death Proof is also a good watch.
9.) 28 Weeks Later: More fast-moving zombies ahhhhh. Lets not get nitpicky and point out that these people are infected with the rage virus and not zombies. You sort of know a bit more of what to expect in this film as this is a sequel. The film still sports plenty of gore and commentary on a society run amok for any fan of zombie films to enjoy. A great film for those government conspiracy theorists out there.
8.)Fido: The heartwarming tale of boy and his best friend the family zombie. This film is more of a comedy/horror/drama mashup than the other zombie pics on this list. While not as hide under the covers scary as some of these films, the unique spin on the formulaic boy and his dog tale is refreshingly original.
7.) Zombieland: This is a goofy fun classic road film. Stars Woody Harrelson and Jessse Eisenberg travel cross-country meet girls and have good times in this fun-filled romp. The road is also filled with zombies which our stars dispatch with videogamesque glee ,trying to outdo each other with skillful kills. Don’t want to spoil the fun but this film has one of the better cameos of all time.
6.) Shaun of the Dead: This may be the funniest zombie film of all time. Simon peg is stuck in a mindless job, with slacker roommates, an ex-girlfriend he wants to win back and a stepfather who is a pain in his ass. He attempts to set things straight and improve his lot in life, however the outset of a zombie apocalypse throws a wrench into his plans. This film is also littered with inside jokes and nods to other zombie films of the genre.
5.) Dawn of Dead (remake 2004): While this film uses a bit of the original source material, this is more of a new take on the premise than a remake per say. Once again we have fast-moving zombies which sort of ramps up the tension in some respects but lessens the impact in others. Solid acting by the cast adds to the watchability of the film immensely. Also enjoyed the subplot of pregnant lady during the zombie apocalypse and will she or won’t she have a zombie baby.
4.) 28 Days Later: This film scared the crap out of me. Fast moving zombies and an eerie abandoned London will have you on the edge of your seat. yeah I know it’s a rage virus not zombification. I still view this as a zombie film. As with most zombie films, who you really need to watch out for are the other survivors and figuring out who you can trust.
3.) Return of the Living Dead: This is one of the more vile looking zombie pictures with some super gross out special effects. Lots of dark comedy intermingled with some of the more disgusting zombie scenes I have watched. In addition their is a nice take on teenagers in the 1980′s in this horror comedy that may make the film a bit dated, but it’s still highly enjoyable watch. This film also has the first fast-moving zombies that I had seen up till that point.
2. Night of the Living Dead: The grand daddy of them all George Romero’s first film released in 1968. Night of the Living Dead still manages to bring major scares. Low budget special effects and low production values take nothing away from this classic tale of zombie horror. This film is a commentary on society and race in the 1960′s as much as it is a film about zombies. This classic is available via streaming, if you have never seen it do yourself a favor and check it out now.
1.) Dawn of the Dead: My all time favorite zombie film. My buddy had this film on VHS back when we were in high school and we watched this film a lot. That will happen when you have about a dozen VHS films. I still have nightmares about that creepy one-legged priest in the opening of this film. Romero’s film is part zombie film, part commentary on over consumerism and part gross out comedy. Besides being one of the greatest zombie films this is one of the greatest horror films as well.
What are your thoughts on this list? Let us know what your favorite zombie film is and if you have any suggestions of zombie films I need to view?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! I really enjoyed this post. I have not been a fan of zombies in the past but The Walking Dead has changed that a bit. I saw one zombie movie growing up and I believe it was Dawn of the Dead. hehe. Cheers!
Hey thanks for stopping by and checking out our blog. If you like that walking dead tv series you should really check out the source material. Robert Kirkman has an amazing series of graphic novels which differ signifcantly from the show.
Excellent review of the “greats” in the zombie genre. The 2004 remake of DOTD is one of the best IMO. I’ll admit I’ve never really paid attention to 28 weeks later (loved the first one) but since it made your list I may need to rematch.
Hey Maria thanks for checking out our blog
I know making that list made me want to rewatch all those films again. Could be time for a zombie film marathon.
BRAINS!! Indeed!!
Love the list–Shaun of the Dead is one of my ALL time favorites–period. And Walking Dead is brilliant!
You may want to check out Dead Alive (Braindead in Europe) by Peter Jackson (before LOTR he was quite a gore/comedy master–Frighteners is good too). It was banned in several countries due to excessive Zombie gore!
Also I love the Evil Dead trilogy–Army of Darkness is classic! Ash ROCKS!
Thanks Nedi, I will try to check out that Dead Alive film that sounds interesting.
Spot on about the Evil Dead films being awesome
I heard some rumors about a remake ???? sort of makes me apprehensive
Hi Ned,
I have seen Dead Alive, one of the most over the top gore-tastic films ever made. It will put you off custard for life. Lol
I am not sure Adam is up to the task of watching that one. But rest assured one of the three guys has scene it.
What? Come on now, I still eat clam chowder after seeing that movie The Fly with Jeff Goldblum
Damn Hollywood and their remakes!! I swear sometimes there are no original ideas left and now it looks like zombies are being targeted to be the next “Young Adult” thing–a romantic zombie movie called Warm Bodies is in the works and now the new Ash (blasphemy) is a wooden, brooding good looking kid! If they make them sparkle too I will have to kill someone! -_-
And Adam just watch Dead Alive on an empty stomach–you’ll be alright!
And The Fly is awesome! “Don’t try this a home kids!”
I love zombie movies! Just watched Dead Snow – sub-titled Nazi zombies. Swedish, maybe.. I’ve forgotten which country it originated from. Lots of gore, but not as funny as it could have been.
Hey Heidi, I have not seen that film yet but I saw it was streaming on Netflix. I am going to to have to give it a watch. Making this list got my zombie juices flowing. Thanks for stopping by and checking out our blog.
loved the first “dawn of the dead,” especially when the guy gets his head blown to shreds with a shotgun. was probably a watermelon for the spfx.
i was too freaked to watch 28 days later. i started it, and then someone spoiled it and told me about a scene with a kid that was hard to watch. that’s when i stopped watching. if you have kids, things change.
loved the cemetery scene in the original “night of the living dead.” “they’re coming to get you, barbara!” and later when that same girl is saying, “it’s okay. johnny’s got the keys.”
Hey, RMV thanks so much for stopping by and checking out our blog.
That is an awesome scene in dawn of the dead, I also liked the chopper scene where that zombie gets the top of his head clipped by the blades lol
I hear what you are saying about kids changing things, I have a 3.5 year-old myself, certainly makes you look at things with a new perspective. 28 days later still worth a watch its a good one
Adam
I’ve seen them all except for Fido. Enjoyed the first season of The Walking Dead, still waiting to see the second. Loved Stakeland… it felt more like a zombie movie to me. The Omega Man with Carlton Heston had zombie-like people in it, that’s a great film! I love the idea of someone having the zombie virus but not being a zombie, as in 28 Weeks Later. The opening scene in that movie is frantic, but, overall, it’s not a patch on 28 Days Later!
Hey Val thanks for stopping by and checking out our blog.
I did like that Omega man film with Heston. Did you ever catch the original with Vincent Price “The Last Man On Earth”? It’s a cool black and white dystopian zombie film.
No but Ive just found the full movie on Youtube! Apparently it was based on the book ‘I Am Legend’. I always wondered where the Will Smith movie got its title, and now I know.
Sweet let me know what you think….. I heard there was a sequel in the works for I Am Legend not sure how they plan on pulling that off.
A shower scene maybe?
Loved Zombieland as well as Shaun of the Dead. I’m trying to get more into zombie movies. It’s really never been a favorite “genre” of mine in film, but both of those are really hilarious, and I would definitely agree that the cameo in Zombieland is super hilarious. Recently started watching The Walking Dead and I am hooked. Fun post!
Thanks Kristin, agreed The Walking Dead is highly addicting. Not sure if I am going to tivo the Oscars or The walking Dead this evening. If you like the zombie comedy Fido is worth a watch if you have not seen it yet. I am also looking forward to Brad Pitt in World War Z later this year.
Adam
My top five would be pretty similar although I might’ve like Shaun of the Dead a little more than where you placed it. Fun list. Zombies are the true hotness.
Hey Max, Yeah I did love Shaun of the Dead as well. This list got crowded pretty fast and I have received a lot of suggestions for zombie films I have never seen. May have to add a second 10 at some point.
Totally agree with your number one choice. That is about as good as a zombie film can be. I love Night as well but Dawn trumps it.
Dan that was a tough call at number one. Other than Animal House and Top Gun I don’t think there was a film I watched more between the ages of 13-17 so Dawn of the Dead had a lot of sentimental value going for it.
Mmmm love zombies. My faves are NOTLD, 28 Days Later, Dawn OTD (Remake), Shaun OTD and Evil Dead 2. Didn’t much like the cheapo ‘Colin’ or the The Zombie Diaries 1 and 2 so steer clear of them. Perhaps I might have to watch Fido though I always suspected it might be a bit dodgy. Looking forward to World War Z!
Right on Pete those are good selections. I have very high hopes for World War Z as well. Its one of my more anticipated films of the year. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a big screen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies at some point.