Zombie movies have fascinated audiences for decades, blending horror, drama, and comedy into unforgettable narratives. From George A. Romero’s foundational works like Night of the Living Dead to contemporary films such as Zombieland, the zombie genre continues to offer a fresh take on the undead.
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Whether it’s the slow-moving resurrected corpses or the frenzied infected, these films tap into primal fears and existential questions about life, death, and human nature. The settings vary from isolated cabin retreats to global outbreaks, but the intrigue remains consistent. Join us as we delve into the world of the undead and explore the best zombie movies.
Updated by Dev Tugnait on June 17, 2025:We have revisited our Best Zombie Movies article and added five more entries. Take a moment to re-explore the list to catch the newest additions and see how the classics continue to fare in the realm of zombie lore.
15The Serpent And The Rainbow (1988)
The Serpent and the Rainbow is a horror film directed by Wes Craven, inspired by Wade Davis' non-fiction book. Unlike typical zombie movies, it delves into the Vodou traditions of Haiti. The story follows anthropologist Dennis Alan, who journeys to Haiti to investigate a drug used in local resurrection ceremonies.
Facing political unrest, dark sorcery, and nightmarish visions, Alan delves deep into Vodou, confronting the boundary between life, death, and zombification. The film explores the cultural context of zombies, different from the contemporary undead portrayal.
Braindead, known as Dead Alive in North America, is a gory horror-comedy directed by Peter Jackson before his Lord of the Rings fame. Set in 1950s New Zealand, the story revolves around Lionel, a timid man dominated by his mother.
After she’s bitten by a Sumatran rat monkey, she becomes a flesh-eating zombie, leading to an outbreak. As Lionel tries to contain the escalating situation, hilariously grotesque chaos ensues. Braindead holds the title of one of the bloodiest films ever made, making it a cult classic.
13Fido (2006)
Fido is a dark comedy in an alternate 1950s universe where zombies are domesticated. Following the Zombie Wars, a company named Zomcon creates collars that tame zombies, turning them into docile servants. The film centers on Timmy Robinson and his family’s zombie servant, Fido.
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In their picture-perfect suburbia, owning a zombie is a status symbol. However, when Fido’s collar malfunctions, mayhem follows, leading to humorous and macabre situations. Fido has a stellar cast, including Carrie-Anne Moss and Dylan Baker, offering a satirical take on the zombie genre.
12Little Monsters (2019)
Little Monsters is a horror movie set in Australia. The story follows Miss Caroline, a dedicated kindergarten teacher, and Dave, a washed-up musician. While on a school field trip with Dave’s nephew, a sudden zombie outbreak from a nearby military facility puts the group in danger.
Miss Caroline, determined to protect her students, and Dave, seeking redemption, team up to ensure the children remain safe and blissfully ignorant of the undead threat. Using humor, songs, and resourcefulness, they fend off zombies while maintaining a facade of a normal excursion.
11Re-Animator (1985)
Re-Animator is a cult horror-comedy based on H.P. Lovecraft’s Herbert West–Reanimator. The film follows medical student Herbert West, who discovers a serum that can resurrect the dead. However, the reanimated corpses become uncontrollable and violent.
West and his roommate, Dan Cain, delve deeper into these dark experiments, leading to gruesome and often humorous consequences. The film, known for its graphic horror and dark comedy, gained significant attention for its over-the-top gore and theatrical performances. Re-Animator has since become a revered classic in the zombie genre.
10Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil is an action-horror film inspired by the popularvideo gameseries. The movie centers around the secret underground facility, The Hive, run by the Umbrella Corporation. After a virus breaks out, turning the staff into zombies, the corporation seals the facility and sends in an elite military unit.
Alice, suffering from amnesia, and Matt join the unit, battling hordes of zombies and mutated creatures. As they venture deeper, Alice begins to recover her memories, revealing dark secrets about Umbrella and her mysterious connection to their bioweapons.
9Zombieland (2009)
Zombieland is a comedy andmeta horror filmset in a post-apocalyptic America overrun by zombies. Columbus, a timid college student with a list of survival rules, teams up with gun-toting Tallahassee, who’s on a quest for the last Twinkie. They meet Wichita and Little Rock, sisters skilled in con artistry.
The group heads to Pacific Playland, an amusement park, seeking normalcy. Upon arrival, they battle a massive zombie horde. Amid the humor, the film emphasizes how it’s not just about surviving zombies but also about finding a family in unexpected places.
8World War Z (2013)
World War Z follows former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane as he races against time to halt a global zombie pandemic. After a sudden zombie outbreak, chaos ensues worldwide. Gerry and his family narrowly escape the mayhem in Philadelphia, eventually finding temporary refuge on a U.S. Navy ship.
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The military, recognizing Gerry’s expertise, tasks him with tracking the virus’s origin to develop a solution. His journey takes him to South Korea, Israel, and Wales, facing intense challenges and uncovering crucial information at each location.
Shaun of the Dead is a British horror-comedy film. Shaun, an aimless electronics salesman, grapples with his mundane life. Distracted by his woes, he’s oblivious to a zombie apocalypse unfolding around him. After realizing the dire situation, Shaun, armed with a cricket bat, teams up with his best mate, Ed.
They devise a plan to rescue Shaun’s mother and his estranged girlfriend, Liz. Their ultimate goal? To hole up in their favorite pub, The Winchester, and wait out the crisis. Amidst humorous misadventures, the group faces a relentless zombie horde.
6Train To Busan (2016)
Train to Busan is a South Korean horror film set primarily on a bullet train journeying from Seoul to Busan. Seok-woo, a workaholic father, reluctantly accompanies his estranged daughter, Su-an, on the train to visit her mother in Busan. As they board, a mysterious infection rapidly spreads across the country, turning victims into aggressive zombies.
The outbreak infiltrates the entire train, causing pandemonium. The passengers unite to fend off the infected and ensure their survival. As they near Busan, a supposed safe zone, the dwindling group faces a heart-wrenching climax.
