With so many zombie movies available, it can be hard to know where to begin! We’ve put together a list of some of our top recommendations, perfect for both newcomers to the genre and anyone wanting to revisit the best zombie films.
What are the best Zombie movies as of 2025?
Zombies first appeared in movies in 1932, but they didn’t become truly popular until George A. Romero’s *Night of the Living Dead*. Since then, the zombie genre has exploded with all sorts of different takes – from genuinely scary horror to surprisingly funny comedies, and even stories that include romance, science fiction, musicals, and cartoons. We’re still captivated by these undead creatures, and filmmakers keep reimagining them to reflect what scares us now. Even after decades, zombies continue to entertain, frighten, and sometimes make us laugh.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero’s *Night of the Living Dead* essentially created the zombie movie as we know it. The film centers on a diverse group of people barricaded in a farmhouse while the recently deceased come back to life and attack the living. Beyond being a scary movie, *Night of the Living Dead* was groundbreaking for its time, offering a dark and intense experience and also serving as a commentary on the social issues of 1960s America, particularly racial and economic divides.
Made in Pennsylvania with very little money, the film was a collaboration between George Romero and John A. Russo, and produced independently by Romero’s own company. Even though it didn’t have a large budget or famous stars, *Night of the Living Dead* became incredibly popular and breathed new life into the horror genre. It earned over $30 million globally and is now considered a classic horror film.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
George A. Romero’s *Dawn of the Dead* is a must-see sequel and deserves a place on this list. It takes the zombie story to a much larger scale, shifting the action from the isolated farm of the first film to a shopping mall – a defining icon of 1970s America. The film follows a small group of people trying to survive while trapped and surrounded by countless zombies. A particularly striking moment perfectly captures the film’s strange and darkly humorous tone: one character asks why the zombies are gathering at the mall, and another replies that it’s some kind of ingrained habit or memory of their past lives, as the mall held significance for them. The idea that even in death, these creatures are drawn back to the mall – not their homes, but the mall – is both funny and deeply sad.
Okay, so “Dawn of the Dead” isn’t just about zombies, it’s surprisingly smart. Sure, the screaming and family members turning on each other are terrifying, but the movie really gets under your skin when you think about *where* all this is happening – a shopping mall! It seems like a practical place to hole up during a zombie outbreak, right? But George Romero isn’t just being convenient. He deliberately chose the mall to show how obsessed we are with buying stuff, even when the world is ending, and even when the people *doing* the buying are, well, technically already gone. It’s a really biting commentary on consumerism, and it’s brilliant.
28 Days Later (2002)
Danny Boyle’s 2002 film, 28 Days Later, presents a grim and unsettling depiction of the end of the world. Though it sounds bleak, this accurately reflects the story’s core: a society falling apart due to a spreading infection. The film feels frighteningly realistic, especially looking back. Luckily, we haven’t experienced a zombie outbreak ourselves! Boyle didn’t simply bring the zombie genre back to life with this film; he reimagined it for a modern audience, creating a truly innovative horror movie and arguably the first major apocalyptic film of the new millennium.
Unlike traditional zombie movies, Boyle’s film features incredibly fast and aggressive infected individuals. When animal rights activists free an infected chimpanzee, a worldwide outbreak begins. Twenty-eight days later, Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma to find London completely abandoned. He joins forces with other survivors, Frank (Brendan Gleeson) and Selena (Naomie Harris), to try and find safety, but they soon realize the infected aren’t their only threat. The film’s shaky, realistic camera work adds to the unsettling atmosphere, and the empty cityscapes, combined with intense chases and scares, create a truly terrifying experience.
If you like this one, check out the sequel, 28 Years Later.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
While Danny Boyle might offer a fresh, modern take on zombies, Edgar Wright delivers a funny and affectionate tribute to the genre. The film centers on Shaun, a directionless man living in London, whose life is complicated by a zombie outbreak – and his girlfriend breaking up with him. Determined to win her back, Shaun sets out to rescue her. The film brilliantly combines the horror of a zombie apocalypse with the British talent for dry wit, creating a uniquely enjoyable experience.
As a huge film fan, I absolutely adore *Shaun of the Dead*. Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg – who also *stars* as Shaun – wrote this gem on a pretty tight budget, filming mostly around North London. What’s amazing is how much of a hit it became worldwide, really putting them on the map. It’s just so smart and charming, packed with references to all sorts of pop culture, and the comedy is brilliant. Plus, Wright uses these incredible, long, unbroken shots – we film nerds call them ‘oners’ – that are visually stunning. Honestly, it’s a film that’s hard *not* to fall in love with.
Train to Busan (2016)
I was absolutely on the edge of my seat watching *Train to Busan*! It’s a relentlessly tense ride where a zombie outbreak happens on a speeding train, and things go downhill *fast*. The movie centers around a workaholic dad, Seok-woo, and his daughter, Su-an, as they try to survive against overwhelming odds. I was really impressed with how well director Yeon Sang-ho balanced everything – it easily could have been just another zombie action film, but it’s so much more. You can definitely see influences from filmmakers like Danny Boyle, George A. Romero, and even South Korean horror masters like Boon Joon Ho. In fact, one review in *The Guardian* said it was faster-paced than the *Dawn of the Dead* remake, funnier than *Pride and Prejudice and Zombies*, and more exciting than *World War Z* – and I totally agree!
Train to Busan was a critical and commercial success after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming a huge hit in Asia and around the world. Beyond being a thrilling ride, the film offers a powerful message: selfishness leads to suffering, and true humanity lies in compassion and looking out for others, even during a catastrophic event. It asks us to consider what truly defines us as human when everything falls apart.
How we picked the best zombie movies
There are a lot of great zombie movies out there, so we picked the very best ones, covering all the most popular types. We didn’t just want to be entertained; we wanted to showcase films that really pushed the boundaries and changed the zombie movie genre.
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2025-10-06 22:52