If you’re looking for the best zombie movies available, I’ve saved you the trouble of tracking them down. The following five films are as good as it gets, no matter if the featured undead are shuffling about or running at full speed. Before you can call yourself a true fan of zombie movies, you need to see each and every one.
Dawn of the Dead (1978) – According to the poster for the film, “When there’s no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth.” And that’s exactly what happens (well, except maybe for the part about Hell), as the dead rise up and begin to spread panic and infection throughout the still-breathing population. Within a short time, society is ready to crumble, and a mismatched group of survivors (including Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross, David Emge, and Scott H. Reiniger) seek refuge in a shopping mall abandoned by all but the undead. George A. Romero made sure to throw in plenty of social commentary to go with all the gore, and the battle between our heroes and a marauding band of bikers is one of the film’s many highlights. While it may not have started the genre, Dawn of the Dead undoubtedly had a major impact on every zombie film that followed. And unlike many other movies about shambling corpses, Dawn brought in praise from critics as influential as Roger Ebert.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) – Zack Snyder directed this remake of the Romero classic, and once again a group of desperate survivors find themselves trapped in a mall with ravenous zombies outside. But this time the zombies can run, making them far more deadly than the slow corpses in the original version. The soundtrack adds nicely to the mood of the film, and the cast is filled with recognizable names such as Ving Rhames, Sarah Polley, Mekhi Phifer, and Jake Weber. Also keep an eye out for cameos from original cast members Ken Foree, Tom Savini, and Scott Reiniger.
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Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Combine a zombie flick with a British comedy, and you’ll get this hilarious film from director Edgar Wright. Simon Pegg stars as Shaun, a lovable loser who’s just been dumped by his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield). But when the zombie apocalypse hits, he and chubby pal Ed (Nick Frost) must mount a rescue effort of Liz and her wacky roommates (Lucy Davis and Dylan Moran). Try to spot all the subtle tributes to previous zombie films, and enjoy the solid supporting performances from Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton. If you see only one romantic zombie comedy this year, Shaun of the Dead has to be the one.
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28 Weeks Later (2002) – Danny Boyle is a versatile and Oscar-winning director who’s worked on comedies, thrillers, dramas, and even science fiction films. But this time he turns out a tale of an England overrun with zombies and the bicycle messenger (Cillian Murphy) who awakens from a coma to find the world gone suddenly mad. Some would debate that the creatures aren’t really zombies, as they’re actually infected by something known as the “Rage Virus.” Personally, I don’t care, as they certainly seem close enough to zombies for me. The score by John Murphy adds an appropriate level of dread, and Murphy’s strong performance is complimented by turns from Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, and Christopher Eccleston. A successful sequel, 28 Weeks Later , would follow five years later.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985) – Freddy (Thom Mathews) is the newest employee at a Kentucky medical supply warehouse. In an effort to impress the young man, Frank the foreman (James Karen) shows him sealed containers in the basement containing human corpses. According to Frank, the events in Night of the Living Dead were real, and the reanimated dead bodies were shipped to their warehouse by mistake. Of course, the two bumbling fellas accidentally unleash the contents, and before long unstoppable zombies are running amok. This doesn’t sit well with their boss (Clu Gulager), and Freddy’s punk rocker friends soon find themselves under attack while waiting for him to get off work. Boasting a clever script, lots of unique characters, and genre favorite Linnea Quigley as a punk with a fetish for old men (and going topless), The Return of the Living Dead still ranks as one of the most entertaining zombie movies ever made.
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