Focusing on the fictional undead creatures known as zombies has been one of the most popular in the many subgenres of survival horror films. Alongside werewolves and vampires, zombies have tantalized and left audiences in horrified awe, with multiple films spawned to show the potential worldwide catastrophes a zombie outbreak could result in.
Related
Horror movies in 2024 certainly came with a theme, and there are many standouts to add to your watchlist.
Although Hollywood has produced several gems over the years, some of the best zombie films ever created have come from the hardworking entertainment machines of South Korea and Japan. Without further ado, here is a rundown of the best zombie flicks you should watch now.
10
The Crazies
2010
A remake of a Romero classic of the same name, 2010’s The Crazies is an engaging and underrated horror flick that puts a spin on the entire ‘zombie’ concept. Instead of being spread by bites, the ‘Trixie Virus’ is a biohazardous agent that ends up poisoning the town of Ogden Marsh’s water supply.
Unlike your conventional groaning, decaying zombie, the infected in this film appear normal and functioning at first but gradually surrender to a terrible psychotic rage. This is what our protagonists, David and Judy Dutton, are faced with as their town slowly goes mad. With the government stepping in, it’s only a matter of time before things go from bad to worse.
9
The Night Eats The World
2018
France isn’t keen to be left out of the tide of zombie movies, releasing The Night Eats The World in 2018. The film’s story follows musician Sam, who goes to his ex-girlfriend’s flat to retrieve his things and accidentally falls asleep, only to wake up to a world of horrors vastly different from the one he lived in mere hours before.
Unlike other zombie films, The Night Eats The World focuses more on character development and our journey into Sam’s psyche, as it seems he’s the only living human left in the world. The movie deals with themes of loneliness and grief as Sam copes with his situation and begins to suffer from hallucinations of a deceased survivor.
8
#Alive
2020
Following in the footsteps of the trailblazing Train to Busan, #Alive shows just how South Korea has mastered the art of creating excellent zombie films. The story takes place in one flat and a single apartment block, focusing on a video game livestreamer named Joon-woo.
Although Joon-woo’s occupation and his shut-in tendencies cause strain in his family relationships, it inadvertently saves his life when a zombie outbreak wreaks havoc all around him. #Alive is a compelling tale of survival that doesn’t solely rely on action to carry its narrative, as Joon-woo gets creative to draw the attention of authorities while struggling to know who to trust as he encounters other survivors.
7
Dawn Of The Dead
2004
Dawn of the Dead is a fun, entertaining zombie flick. Its iconic, heart-pumping introduction sequence sets the tone for the rest of the film. A respectable remake of Romero’s 1978 Dawn of the Dead, the 2004 version follows a nurse named Ana who’s forced to escape her home after a zombie infestation spreads around the neighborhood.
Related
Horror movies and franchises are usually remembered by their villains. Here are the most iconic antagonists you can see on the big screen.
Ana eventually joins another group of survivors, and they fight their way into a shopping mall, where they hole up for the majority of the film along with other survivors already taking shelter in the mall. Although the mall has been turned into a veritable fortress, the group decides to make a break for it to an island they presume is safe and take casualties along the way. Despite the confusing decision by the characters to leave the well-stocked shopping mall, 2004’s Dawn of the Dead is a memorable addition to the zombie subgenre.
6
Zombieland
2009
Zombieland is yet another gem of a zombie flick, a horror action comedy that features a star-studded cast with the likes of Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone. The movie not only provides you with excellent pacing but also relatable, well-written characters and comedic dialogue.
The story centers on Columbus, a college student who acts as the film’s narrator. Early on, he tells the audience the strict rules he uses to survive. He meets another survivor, Tallahassee, and the two quickly build rapport. Eventually, they meet other survivors, banding together to cross the country and reach a presumed zombie-free zone at an amusement park.
5
World War Z
2013
Adapted from a book of the same name, World War Z is a thrilling, action-packed movie that succeeds in giving you a picture of the sheer scale of the zombie infestation the characters face. What stands out is the film’s CGI and visual effects, especially when creating the horror of having towering mountains of reanimated corpses.
The movie follows Gerry Lane, an ex-UN Officer who, with his family, managed to survive by the skin of his teeth from the zombie rampage that overtook the city. Due to his previous occupation, Gerry is tasked to find a cure for the virus, traveling first to South Korea, then Israel, and lastly, ending up at Cardiff’s medical research institution after surviving a plane crash. World War Z never fails to keep you entertained from beginning to end as we follow Gerry’s journey in solving the mystery of the Solanum Virus.
4
Shaun Of The Dead
2004
One of the best zombie horror comedies ever made, Shaun of the Dead takes you for a spin as we follow Shaun and his best friend Ed’s chaotic antics while trying to stay alive. This movie stands apart from other zombie films because although they’re not afraid to get gory when necessary, the movie is more focused on Shaun and Ed’s development while providing satirical social commentary about the world.
The story follows down-on-his-luck salesman Shaun and his friends, who end up at his favorite pub, the Winchester, and they try to hold out as long as they can. Shaun goes through emotional ups and downs throughout the story, losing his family and eventually losing his best friend, Ed, to a zombie bite. However, in a humorous twist, the world stabilizes in the end, and the zombies end up being used, essentially, as slave labor.
3
I Am A Hero
2015
2015’s I Am A Hero is a Japanese horror zombie film that’s truly unique in the way its zombies work. Although the zombies are created through bites as usual, they continue to perform actions that they routinely did when they were humans, such as a former salaryman taking his morning commute. However, some zombies are stronger than others due to their former occupations, like a gymnast-turned-zombie able to leap great heights and distances.
Related
8 Horror Movies With The Best Practical Effects
Learn all about the best practical effects in horror movies!
I Am A Hero is a live adaptation of a 2009 manga serial of the same name, which follows a disillusioned manga assistant Hideo Suzuki’s struggle for survival. Despite the plot diverging somewhat from the source material, I Am A Hero is faithful to the themes and spirit of the manga, with excellent performances from its talented cast.
2
28 Days Later
2002
One of the most iconic survival films ever made, 28 Days Later kickstarted a popular film series and catapulted Cillian Murphy’s career to the stratosphere. Although its director refused to classify it as a zombie film, 28 Days Later is widely considered by critics and the general public alike as a zombie thriller that stands out from what’s been done before.
In the film, the ‘Rage Virus’ is responsible for causing worldwide chaos, leaving those infected to be afflicted with uncontrollable, violent anger. The movie’s title refers to what happened 28 days after the virus was first accidentally released, focusing on Jim, who had recently awoken from a coma and miraculously missed the entire outbreak. 28 Days Later is not afraid to explore the darker side of humanity, giving you as realistic an experience as possible when in the face of Armageddon.
1
Train To Busan
2016
Just when you think there’s nothing more to add to the zombie subgenre, South Korea took the world by storm through 2016’s Train to Busan. Emotionally gripping and unapologetically gory, Train to Busan largely focuses on a group of survivors attempting to keep their heads above water while they make their way to safety in the city of Busan.
Most of the movie is set inside a speeding train, centered on workaholic Seok-Woo and his daughter Su-an, as a zombie outbreak occurs, not only outside the train but spreads among its passengers. The movie deals with themes of survival, family, and self-sacrifice, following the strained father-daughter relationship between Seok-Woo and Su-an and how a parent’s love trumps all.
