The 20 Best Zombie Movies of All Time – Who is afraid of the undead?

With their astonishing versatility, good zombie movies form among the Horror movies, probably the most popular subgenre. Fascinating is what a zombie brings with it mystical and bizarre. The horror begins here only after the death of a person.

1. 28 Days Later (2002)


The moment Jim wakes up, and the question of where everyone has gone opens up, the beginning is a little reminiscent of “The Walking Dead.” Somehow everyone is gone, and something seems to be wrong. But what is not true is made clear to the protagonist quite quickly and most unpleasantly.

28 Days Later gave the genre an extreme push and is a must-see film in the scene. The story spun around Jim, and the emotional depth of the strip, coupled with the healthy brutality as well as the hardness of an FSK 18 film, make “28 Days Later,” even in this day and age, absolutely watchable and the best that the genre has to offer.

2. Dawn of the Dead (2004)


Also among the best zombie movies is “Dawn of the dead.” As with other representatives of his guild, the zombies here are rather confused and seem chaotic. But in this case, they are additionally very fast.

Four terrified people survive a zombie apocalypse in a shopping mall. After all the undead is eliminated, they must watch powerlessly as the rest of humanity is wiped out by zombies.

Despite a small budget, “Dawn of the Dead” became a box-office hit with its sometimes gruesome and disgusting storytelling and, with 55 million USD generated, is one of the most successful zombie films.

3. The Girl with All the Gifts (2017)


Almost all of humanity has turned into flesh-eating zombie-like monsters. The reason is an aggressive fungal infection. A group of infected children maintains the only hope. They can keep their feeding impulse under control because the infection has not yet affected the young mind.

The story of the lovable Melanie ensures that the drama is very pronounced. Thus, the film is recommended for viewers who like a story that makes them think. For “The Walking Dead” fans actually a must-see.

4. Resident Evil (2002)


Some 500 scientists, mechanics, and security guards are employed at the high-tech Umbrella Corporation’s sprawling factory compound, which lies deep underground beneath Racoon City. There, one day, a biochemical accident occurs, releasing a deadly virus. This turns all present into bloodthirsty monsters.

A futuristic environment and tough zombie monsters provide plenty of excitement in the film adaptation of the classic “Resident Evil” games.

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5. Shaun of the Dead (2004)


The sale of television sets is a professional goal of Shaun, who otherwise lacks any perspective in life. The constant hanging around with the equally uncool and losing roommate unnerves his girlfriend, Liz, so much that she breaks up with Shaun. Suddenly zombies appear on London’s streets, and Shaun realizes how much he really cares about Liz. Now Shaun must hurry so that his ingenious plan to win back Liz’s heart succeeds before the zombie attack.

The main character “Shaun of the Dead” ‘s funny self-irony” owes to its wonderful mood. Funny zombie comedy delights zombie fans and horror-comedy lovers at the same time.

6. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)


The plan is a relaxing weekend in a cabin in the woods, in the middle of nowhere, far away from the internet and cell phone reception. Simply relaxing far away from any civilization. Five friends want down-to-earth fun in nature, a great adventure. The shack seems to hold all promises until the friends discover a hidden basement entrance. Of course, curiosity prevails over reason, and the five descend the creaky stairs into the unknown darkness.

What starts as one of the typical “teen horror movies” turns into a gripping horror movie in the middle section. The original ending makes this movie a good recommendation for any fan of monster or zombie movies.

7. Zombieland (2009)


The teenager Columbus has developed idiosyncratic methods with which he defends himself against the zombies who have walked the earth since a viral catastrophe. Unexpected support comes from a cool, fearless, and heavily armed cowboy.

The film comes across as a mixture of comedy and zombie movies. Entertaining even for audiences who are rather less into zombies. The outstanding acting by Bill Murray and the positive portrayal of the protagonists make this a top movie.

Zombieland is not a zombie movie at all, but rather a fun horror-comedy that shines with varied zombie kills and great actors.

8. Rec (2007)


“Rec” is considered one of the best zombie movies out there. A TV crew accompanies the night shift of a firefighting team. There’s not much worth mentioning to record until an emergency call finally arrives. In this one, screams are reported from an apartment building apartment. Once there, the TV team accompanies the task force into the house. The events that await the protagonists then spread credible fear and terror and can hardly be more shocking.

The horror film “Rec” captivates the viewer atmospherically to such an extent that the impression of being “right in the middle of it” arises continuously. The additional top staging lets “Rec” rise to the absolute prime example of found-footage films.

9. The Crazies (2010)


With “The Crazies – Fear thy Neighbor,” George A. Ramos’s work “Crazies,” from 1973, was again filmed. Contrary to other well-known zombie films, in “The Crazies,” the population of a small town is transformed into zombies due to a military agent. The residents commit acts of violence and lose control of their own actions. The remake has a few new alternatives in-store, from the possible spill-over into a major city to the unnamed immune serum.

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Ogden Marsh is basically a typical small town, which is located in the Midwest of the USA. At every corner, you are greeted warmly by the polite inhabitants while the teenagers dutifully attend high school. But one day, the peaceful idyll is clouded. With a loaded shotgun, Rory Hamill, a respected local resident, walks across a baseball field.

Since he does not give up the shotgun despite several requests, the sheriff has no choice but to shoot Hamill. But that is not enough. For no apparent reason, Bill Farnum sets fire to his farm and kills his family. The lawman of the small town, David Dutton, and his wife, get on the track of solving the mystery when the National Guard arrives. From this, all are killed, regardless of whether he is infected or healthy. For the “Crazies” are everywhere, the threat seems omnipresent, and panic arises.

“The Crazies – Fear thy neighbor” shows exciting scenes, dramatic aspects, and horror scenarios. All in all, this makes it one of the more interesting end-times horror movies.

10. World War Z (2012)


Director Marc Forster brought together Hollywood star and leading actor Brad Pitt with “World War Z,” a post-apocalyptic adventure in theaters. In addition to Brad Pitt, other prominent colleagues appear, such as Matthew Fox, known for “Lost” and “Gangster Squad” actress Mireille Enos.

The end is near. A deadly pandemic of incomprehensible proportions begins to spread worldwide. Beside war-like conditions, which prevail everywhere in the streets, murder, vandalism, and looting add to the agenda.

The caring family man Gerry Lane works as an investigator and lives with his wife and children in a respectable home. External circumstances suddenly force Gerry to realign his priorities. You have to protect your own family and save humanity from complete annihilation.

In contrast to the book, the action-packed film spectacle with its top-class cast only revolves around the main character. Throughout the film, Gerry is the main protagonist. Action, suspense, and realistic zombies are present until the end.

11. Night of the Living Dead (1968)


In a cemetery, the siblings Barbara and Jonnie are attacked by a horde of zombies. While Barbara manages to hide in a farmhouse, her brother does not survive the encounter. Only Ben can fight his way to Barbara. Together Barbara and Ben fend off this first attack, then suddenly appearing zombies everywhere. In the basement, the two, in search of weapons, come across five comrades-in-arms. As night falls, more hordes of the undead try to invade the farmhouse, despite barricades on doors and windows.

“The Night of the Living Dead” is considered par excellence as the zombie classic. The black-and-white film may not be as shocking as it once was, but it’s still an oldie among zombie movies and well worth seeing.

12. 28 Weeks Later (2007)


In “28 Weeks Later,” the devastation and terror believed banished become the new horror for the survivors of “28 Days Later”. The U.S. Army announces the successful fight against the Rage virus and the construction of a safety zone. But the zombies return!

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Although “28 Weeks Later” is bloody and features brutal as well as fast zombies, a good story between the protagonists is not neglected. Still, it doesn’t quite reach the mood of its predecessor – “28 Days Later”.

13. Braindead – Dead-Alive (1991)


With this cult film, “The Lord of the Rings,” director Peter Jackson became famous. The strip is considered the film with the highest consumption of artificial blood of all time. Lionel’s mother is strict, domineering, and goes overboard.

Outraged, she catches her son dating the beautiful salesgirl Paquita. While chasing him, Lionel’s mother is bitten by a rare rat monkey. This one makes her go through eerie changes. To make matters worse, Mother’s spitefulness is joined by an insatiable hunger for the flesh of the living. In the sequel, Lionel tries to keep the growing band of undead at bay.

The story about zombie Vera and her son is bloody, funny, original, and has never been seen before. Since this film is all about fun and splatter, the scenes don’t always seem logical.

14. I Am Legend (2007)


After a strong first half, “I am Legend” with Will Smith runs out of steam in the film’s second part.

In “I am Legend,” Will Smith plays the only leading role, making the flick seem monotonous regarding character interaction. A big plus is the outstanding acting performance of Will Smith, who plays the scientist Robert Neville.

On the whole, “I am Legend” scores with a great actor Will Smith, and it’s good action.

15. Train to Busan (2016)


With the South Korean zombie film “Train to Busan,” director Yeon Sang-ho makes his horror film debut. Kim-Su-an, as Su-an, and Gong Yoo, in the role of Seok-woo, are the main actors. Over 11.6 million viewers saw the zombie apocalypse in South Korea’s cinemas. The film has only made it to a few theaters in Germany, but it is now available on Blu-ray.

The South Korean film’s international screening at Cannes in 2016 received exclusively good reviews. In addition to the award-winning editing, the playtime also received positive reviews. Since “Train to Busan” is set in broad daylight, all the nuances of the bloody carnage become visible.

Daughter Su-an convinces her loving father, Seok-woo, to take a fast train to Buran on her birthday. Right after boarding the train, it becomes clear this will not be a normal train ride.

Su-ann experiences the attack on a railroad worker while her father is asleep. As more attacks occur, it becomes clear that the train is unsafe because an infection spreads rapidly among the passengers on the train.

The next station is already the destination of the journey. But father and daughter were separated. To get to his daughter, Seok-woo has to run through several train cars where the zombies are waiting for him.

The zombie apocalypse in Asian style was shot excitingly differently with lots of blood and zombies. The refreshingly different approach provides variety and makes the film worth seeing.

16. ParaNorman (2012)

17. Planet Terror (2007)

18. Re-Animator (1985)

19. Army of Darkness (1992)

20. Dead Snow (2009)

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