Top 20 Zombie Movies: The Grit and Gore of the Undead World

Unlike vampires or other ghouls with roots in folklore, zombies (also known as walking corpses with a taste for human brains) were essentially a product of George A. Romero’s frightening imagination. Since 1968’s Night of the Living Dead, zombies have become an iconic staple of the horror genre, with tens of movies, TV shows, and comic book series centering on their destructive nature. 

Sure, most zombie movies follow the tried and tested formula of pitting a group of dysfunctional survivors against a horde of the infected. But if you’re looking for gruesome gore, unmatched violence, and the collapse of civilization, you can’t go wrong with a good zombie flick. These are the best and scariest features – perfect for a spooky night in. 

Shaun of the Dead (2004) 

• Director: Edgar Wright
• Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield

Official synopsis: A bad day gets worse as Shaun finds himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. But for Shaun, it’s an opportunity to play hero, save his friends and family, and win back his ex-girlfriend.

Night of the Living Dead (1968) 

• Director: George A. Romero
• Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman

Official synopsis: A casual cemetery visit turns into a horrifying night when Barbra and Johnny are surrounded by zombies. Along with other survivors hiding in a farmhouse, they must overcome their differences and work together to survive the endless night of horrors. 

Train to Busan (2016)

• Director: Sang-ho Yeon
• Starring: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok

Official synopsis: Train to Busan takes viewers on a chilling ride from Seoul to Busan with Sok-woo and his daughter Soo-ahn. Their quest for survival begins when their train journey turns into a fight against flesh-craving zombies. 

World War Z (2003) 

• Director: Marc Forster
• Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz

Official synopsis: Gerry Lane’s calm life takes a horrifying turn when a zombie outbreak sweeps the planet. Volunteering to investigate this deadly infection, he ventures on a perilous global trek in search of answers, with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

Zombieland (2009)

• Director: Ruben Fleischer
• Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson

Official synopsis: This quirky zombie survival tale follows a college student who’s perfected the art of avoiding the undead. As he travels across America to check on his family, he meets a trio of fellow survivors, resulting in an epic road trip through the zombie apocalypse.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

• Director: Zack Snyder
• Starring: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer

Official synopsis: Dawn of the Dead offers a chilling tale of survival as a group of survivors seek refuge in a deserted mall following a terrifying zombie attack. But as resources run low and more people need help, they must plan their escape from this temporary haven.

Warm Bodies (2013)

• Director: Jonathan Levine
• Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich

Official synopsis: The world overtaken by zombies takes an unexpected turn with R, an introspective undead who forms a bond with human Julie. This unlikely friendship stirs a change in R and fellow zombies, challenging the very nature of their existence.

Slither (2006) 

• Director: James Gunn
• Starring: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker

Official synopsis: A meteorite crashes into a quiet South Carolina town, bringing a malevolent parasite with it. As a local man starts to morph into a ghastly creature, the town faces a race against time to halt the alien onslaught.

28 Weeks Later (2007)

• Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
• Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Robert Carlyle

Official synopsis: 28 Weeks Later picks up six months after the catastrophic Rage Virus hit London. Despite the U.S. Army’s efforts to bring peace and repopulate, the deadly virus resurfaces with the return of unsuspecting refugees, marking the beginning of a new, even more terrifying nightmare.

28 Days Later (2002)

• Director: Danny Boyle
• Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston

Official synopsis: A well-meant act of animal liberation unleashes a devastating virus that turns victims into furious creatures. Jim wakes up from a coma to find a deserted London and ventures into a world dealing with the aftermath of the outbreak and the darker side of human nature.

One Cut of the Dead (2017)

• Director: Shin’ichirô Ueda
• Starring: Takayuki Hamatsu, Yuzuki Akiyama, Harumi Shuhama

Official synopsis: One Cut of the Dead tells the story of a low-budget zombie film production plagued by clashes between an unlikely cast and their crew. They all journey through an unexpected learning curve before getting attacked by actual zombies. 

Little Monsters (2019)

• Director: Abe Forsythe
• Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Alexander England, Josh Gad

Official synopsis: Stream Little Monsters on Hulu for a unique spin on zombie invasions. When Dave joins his nephew’s school trip to woo the charming Miss Caroline, he doesn’t anticipate battling zombies.

Maggie (2015)

• Director: Henry Hobson
• Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson

Official synopsis: This touching story is set against the horrifying backdrop of a lethal outbreak. Wade’s daughter falls victim to the zombie virus, and in her gradual transformation, he must confront the painful reality of what he might have to do to protect his family.

I Am Legend (2007)

• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan

Official synopsis: Scientist Robert Neville is the last human in a world devastated by a man-made virus. With mutants watching his every move, he has one mission –  use his immunity to reverse the effects of the virus. 

[Rec] (2007) 

• Directors: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza
• Starring: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano

Official synopsis: A routine assignment for a TV reporter and her cameraman at a local fire station spirals into horror. After responding to a distress call from an elderly lady, the two face a night of relentless terror. 

Dead Snow (2009)

• Director: Tommy Wirkola
• Starring: Jeppe Beck Laursen, Charlotte Frogner, Jenny Skavlan

Official synopsis: A group of friends on a relaxing break in the mountains are thrust into a terrifying conflict with Nazi zombies. The legend of WWII-era invaders returning from their icy graves sets the stage for a horrific encounter they’ll never forget.

Re-Animator (1985)

• Director: Stuart Gordon
• Starring: Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton

Official synopsis: Re-Animator follows medical student Herbert West as he tests the boundaries of life and death. His experiments on dead tissue draw unwanted attention and bring a spiral of danger as the dead come back to life.

Resident Evil (2002)

• Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
• Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Ryan McCluskey

Official synopsis: A secret facility known as ‘The Hive’ becomes ground zero for a horrifying virus outbreak, turning its staff into zombies. An elite military unit, alongside amnesiac Alice, must navigate the zombie-infested complex to shut it down before the virus spreads.

The Crazies (2010)

• Director: Breck Eisner
• Starring: Radha Mitchell, Timothy Olyphant, Danielle Panabaker

Official synopsis: A peaceful Iowa town becomes a nightmare when a toxin infects residents, turning them into violent lunatics. Amidst this chaos, Sheriff David Dutton, his wife, and two others fight for survival, trying to make sense of the horrifying situation.

Contracted (2013)

• Director: Eric England
• Starring: Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams, Alice Macdonald

Official synopsis: Samantha’s life takes a horrifying turn after a nightmarish encounter at a party. As she undergoes disturbing physical changes, she must confront an unimaginable fate — her body is disintegrating in plain sight.

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