The 17 Best Zombie Movies to Watch for Halloween and Beyond
From gory thrillers to funny "zom-rom-coms," these films offer the best (and scariest) of the walking dead.
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Would you survive a zombie apocalypse? We've all wondered this very question at one point or another, and though it may not become a reality in our world, there's a reason why everyone loves a good, terrifying zombie flick. Ever since zombies made their debut on the big screen, these frightening, flesh-eating monsters of the undead have dominated not only the horror movie genre, but also other genres such as drama, comedy (or should we say "zomedy"?), and even the popular rom-com. Luckily, we've rounded up some of the best zombie movies of all time on our list, from classic Halloween movies to horror-thrillers you can watch if you're just in the mood for a good scare.
Whether you want lots of guts and gore or you'd rather watch Brad Pitt traverse across the world to fight the undead, you'll find something to love in this comprehensive list of zombie films — including scary movies you can stream right now on Netflix and Amazon Prime. And if you're watching during the Halloween season, you'll want to keep the monster movie marathon going with the best vampire films, werewolf flicks and witch movies.
Army of the Dead (2021)
After a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas leads the city to be walled off from the rest of the world, Dave Bautista leads a rag-tag group of mercenaries right into the heart of Sin City on a mission to pull off a $200 million heist. You'll be on the edge of your seat watching this Zack Snyder-directed action flick.
World War Z (2013)
In this thrilling and intense apocalyptic action film, Brad Pitt stars as a former U.N. investigator who leads a worldwide search to stop the rapid spread of a lethal zombie infection. There's gripping action, scary zombies and Brad Pitt as the hero — need we say more?
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Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Meet your new favorite movie genre, the "zom-rom-com"! Edgar Wright's witty horror-comedy flick — which follows the titular Shaun (Simon Pegg) during a zombie outbreak in London — combines the best laughs (and a touch of romance) together with some brilliant zombie gore.
28 Days Later (2002)
Often credited with reinvigorating the zombie horror genre (and the popularity of fast-moving zombies who sprint to chase their prey), this critically-acclaimed post-apocalyptic horror film follows four survivors as they struggle to to cope with a highly contagious zombie outbreak. Be sure to watch the sequel film, 28 Weeks Later, afterwards!
Train to Busan (2016)
This South Korean action-thriller about a speeding train full of zombies is often considered one of the best zombie movies ever (even by Shaun of the Dead's director Edgar Wright!), and for good reason: It's exhilarating, intense, and offers one of the most original and unique takes on the genre.
Zombieland (2009)
Zombieland follows a nerdy college student (Jesse Eisenberg) who finds himself on a road trip with three other survivors during a zombie apocalypse. The result? A lot of hilarious gags and plenty of zombie gore — not to mention one of the most iconic celebrity movie cameos of all time.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
The first of George Romero's cult classic film series basically invented the modern zombie flick as we know it (it's even preserved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry for its historical significance), and tells the chilling story of seven people under attack from a group of undead corpses. You'll definitely want to watch the five subsequent films in the series, too!
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
This 2004 remake of George Romero's second film in the Night of the Living Dead series pays homage to the 1978 original, but also puts it own terrifying spin on the classic story of a group of human survivors who take refuge from flesh-eating zombies in a Midwestern shopping mall.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
What happens when a group of five college students (including Chris Hemsworth!) go into a remote cabin in the woods ... and then fall victim to scary backwood zombies? Though it may sound like a clichéd horror movie trope, The Cabin in the Woods offers a fresh take that's simultaneously funny and terrifying.
ParaNorman (2012)
Looking for a kid-friendly zombie film? You (and the entire family) will love ParaNorman, a stop-motion animated movie that follows a young boy who must use his paranormal abilities to save his small town from — you guessed it — zombies.
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Warm Bodies (2013)
Sometimes you can't resist a good rom-com ... especially if the love story is between a zombie and a human. Based on a novel of the same name (which in turn was inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet), this offbeat flick focuses on the unique relationship between a young woman (Teresa Palmer) and a zombie named "R" (Nicholas Hoult).
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Cargo (2017)
For fans of captivating survival drama films, this Netflix flick offers stirring drama together with apocalyptic horror — and stars Martin Freeman as a father who, after recently being infected by a virus that turns people to zombies after 48 hours, takes on the mission of trekking through rural Australia to get his infant daughter to safety.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Ever wondered where the concept of zombies eating brains came from? This notable '80s film is known for introducing the first brain-eating zombies, offering an original punk twist on the classic genre as a group of people in Louisville, KY face off with the undead.
RELATED: 50 Movies From the '80s That You Totally Forgot About
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
Take all of your favorite actors and celebs ... then put them in one epic zombie movie. The result is The Dead Don't Die, a witty horror-comedy film that centers on a small-town zombie invasion and features an all-star cast including Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Danny Glover and more.
REC (2007)
The zombie genre may typically be known for its epic big-budget movies, but this 2007 Spanish horror flick — which follows a news crew at the center of a zombie outbreak in an apartment complex — reminds us that there's nothing like a simple found-footage film to truly scare you out of your wits.
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The Girl With All The Gifts (2016)
Based on the 2014 novel of the same name, this thought-provoking — yet still horror-packed — post-apocalyptic sci-fi film centers on a gifted young girl who is immune to a mutated fungal disease that has turned the rest of humanity into zombies.
Re-Animator (1985)
Horror meets dark comedy in this '80s film, loosely based on the classic horror tale by H.P. Lovecraft, about a medical student who invents a process to re-animate dead bodies. Prepare for a terrifying mix of bloody gore and dark humor!
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Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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