I wasn’t really a fan of zombie movies until recently. In fact, I don’t think I’d ever seen a zombie movie per se (except for The Evil Dead which a friend insisted I watch when it first came out on VHS tape). It wasn’t until 2002 when 28 Days Later hit theaters that I really started to get interested. Even then, I didn’t seek out zombie movies as preferred entertainment, too entrenched was I in my love affair of classic monsters and tales of the supernatural. What finally got to me and made me a fan was The Walking Dead TV series on AMC.

As a comic book enthusiast, I’m embarrassed to admit I wasn’t even aware of The Walking Dead until it had already become a phenomenon and the book’s first issue was selling for thousands of dollars on eBay. By the time the show premiered in 2010 I was fairly ravenous to see it and, as of this writing, have watched the first eight seasons at least half a dozen times. In my mind the show should have ended after the eighth season but AMC had other ideas. The comic book, however, was brilliant right up until the end, thanks to the combined talents of writer Robert Kirkman and artists Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend that you do.

After The Walking Dead’s first season I started keeping an eye out for zombie movies, and there have been some good ones in the last two decades (as well as more than a few stinkers). I also decided to go back to the beginning, with George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead from 1968 and subsequent sequels. Around Halloween each year I will inevitably turn to my wife and in my best imitation of actor Russell Streiner’s voice say, “They’re coming to get you, Barbara.” I love that movie, and always watch it close to Halloween. It still gets my heart racing. And Zach Snyder’s 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead still creeps me out—and for that, he has my thanks.

Top 10 zombie movies of all time, in no particular order:

  1. Night of the Living Dead (1968) – A disparate group of people take refuge in an abandoned house while corpses gather outside searching for human flesh to devour. Directed by George Romero, this black-and-white film laid the foundation for the zombie subgenre. Its social commentary, minimalist style, and the grim, claustrophobic atmosphere, make it one of the great films of all time.
  2. 28 Days Later (2002) – A group of misguided animal rights activists free a caged chimp infected with the “rage” virus and kicks off a zombie apocalypse. Directed by Danny Boyle, and featuring a star studded cast that includes Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Naomie Harris, and Chris Eccleston, the film introduced fast-moving infected and revitalized the genre with its gritty realism and frenetic pace.
  3. Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Simon Pegg and Nick Frost deliver a hilarious take on the zombie apocalypse. The film’s witty satire and affectionate nod to classic zombie tropes, along with Edgar Wright’s directorial style, result in a unique and endlessly rewatchable experience. A must-see for fans of both comedy and horror.
  4. Zombieland (2009) – A rollicking horror-comedy that strikes the perfect balance between humor and mayhem, with Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin forming an endearing and entertaining ensemble of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. The film’s fast-paced action, witty dialogue, and unique rules for surviving the undead combine to create a wildly enjoyable and quotable entry in the zombie subgenre.
  5. Train to Busan (2016) – An emotionally charged South Korean film that takes place almost entirely on a speeding train, delivering intense action sequences, well-drawn characters, and a compelling examination of ordinary people under pressure. Director Yeon Sang-ho’s masterful storytelling combined with the film’s breakneck pace result in one amazing zombie movie.
  6. World War Z (2013) – An intense, globe-trotting zombie apocalypse film that stands out for its large-scale action sequences and Brad Pitt’s compelling performance as a former UN investigator trying to save the world from a zombie pandemic. Based on the novel by Max Brooks, the movie delivers a thrilling, fast-paced take on the subgenre, with memorable characters and locations.
  7. The Night Eats the World (2018) – After waking up in a Paris apartment building after a late-night party, a young man discovers the zombie apocalypse has begun and he is one of the lone survivors. Directed by Dominique Rocher, this French film offers a thought-provoking exploration of loneliness and despair in the face of the undead.
  8. Dawn of the Dead (2004) – A high-octane remake of George Romero’s classic, delivering a terrifying, fast-paced experience as a group of survivors take refuge in a shopping mall during a zombie apocalypse. Directed by Zach Snyder from a screenplay written by Zack Snyder, George Romero, and James Gunn (talk about a dream team!).
  9. The Girl with All the Gifts (2016) – An emotionally charged British film that reinvigorates the zombie subgenre with a thought-provoking twist on the infected, complemented by a standout performance from young actress Sennia Nanua. A gifted young girl escapes a special school run by the military and helps guide mankind’s survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
  10. The Evil Dead (1981) – A low-budget horror classic that launched the careers of director Sam Raimi and actor Bruce Campbell. Although primarily a supernatural horror film, it introduced “Deadites” that can be likened to zombies. A cult favorite that redefined the cabin-in-the-woods horror subgenre. Raimi’s energetic direction and the film’s inventive camera work create a sense of frenetic horror that remains influential and beloved to this day.