The 20 Best Zombie Movies Of All Time

[Forkboy]

Sure, even coming up with 20 zombie movies is as hard as coming up with the 20 Best, but this collection of a score of undead classics would make for one kickass boxed set of flesh eating goodness. I’ve managed to find YouTube links for all but a couple of the films, so enjoy, but be warned that some of the clips are rather loud and may contain excessive gore, so due to their extreme nature, nobody will be allowed on this website during the last 20 minutes of this article.

http://www.retrocrush.com/index.php/2009/08/the-20-best-zombie-movies-of-all-time/

The guy is wrong about one thing. Coming up with 20 zombie movies really isn't that hard at all. ;)

[LostInAnomie]

1. This guy is wrong on more than one thing.

His definition of zombie flips around like crazy. He's got Romero zombies, voodoo zombies, zombies that technically aren't zombies, undead monsters that aren't technically zombies, etc.

My one BIG objection to this list is the lack of Dawn of the Dead (2004). I know a lot of Romero purists hate the movie, but as far as zombie movies go it should definitely be in the top 10. For the first 10 minutes alone, DOTD deserves to be on the top 5 on that list.

[Lorax7844]

2. I hate that movie

it left out all of smart things in original DotD, which is hands down the best zombie movie ever.

[LostInAnomie]

4. They were two different movies.

The original was more of a social commentary. The remake (and I hesitate to even call it a remake) focused more on survival, social relationships, and the mental strain caused by facing a horrible death you can only postpone.

I think the remake was more real (in terms of behavior) than the original. It should be viewed as a stand alone movie not as a parallel.

[Lorax7844]

17. sorry to be harsh

I just loved the original sooo much. It's one of the best horror movies for the smart decisions and social commentary, the new one doesn't have either element. Everything the characters do in the original is what smart people would do: get a helicopter, find the floor plans to the mall, lock the place off, get guns and gas and try to get to an island.

I do like Sarah Polley though, she's boss.

[Forkboy]

3. I wouldn't put in the top 5, but I did like it more than I expected to.

Other than the spider man zombie it was a good flick, and better than Romero's Land of the Dead, imo.

The list is pretty haphazard, but I am glad to see Versus in there as it's fairly unknown but a lot of silly fun.

My top 5 would be:

Zombi 2 (aka Zombie Flesheaters)
Shaun of the Dead
Night of the Living Dead (original)
Dead Alive
Dawn of the Dead (original)

And I'd thrown in some unknowns like The Vanguard, Bio Zombie, I Love Sarah Jane (which is awesome for a 10 minute short), The Beyond (more Fulci goodness), and Undead, which is either brilliant or horrible, but funny as hell either way.

[LostInAnomie]

5. I'd put it in the top five on that guy's list.

Land of the Dead shouldn't have even been made. I don't think Romero was even trying on that one.

My top five would be:

28 Days Later (I know they aren't technically zombies)
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Dawn of the Dead

I bet when World War Z comes out though, it blows away most of my list.

edit: replace 28 Days later with Return of the Living Dead. I forgot about that one.

[Forkboy]

6. World War Z has massive potential.

Both for success or failure.

If done right it could be the Citizen Kane of zombie flicks! :)

[LostInAnomie]

7. I was wishing that HBO would have turned it into a series.

I knew it wasn't happening though when they picked up True Blood. They weren't going to have two undead super-natural shows. Too bad they sold out and picked the sexy vampire.

[Forkboy]

8. Vampires. Pfffft.

They just drink your blood. They don't even begin to munch on brains or intestines. All show and no go. :)

[LostInAnomie]

14. Exactly.

I don't know what it is, but I've never like vampires. I've never got the whole "sexy monster" thing.

[Forkboy]

19. I like a handful, but overall they bore me.

Ones worth watching to me are Shadow of the Vampire (Willem Defoe rules), Nightwatch and Daywatch, Near Dark, Nosferatu, any of the hammer films with Christopher Lee and peter Cushing, and I really want to see the movie Thirst by Park Chan-wook, the director who did Oldboy.

When I was kid I loved the Wolfman and Frankenstein pics by Universal Studios, but the Lugosi Dracula never interested me. And if you notice, the ones I list above have no sexy vamps, though the Hammer movies sure added some sexiness to their flicks in the form of yummy English women. :)

[Orrex]

35. Shadow of the Vampire is fantastic--Defoe should have gotten the Oscar

The scene in which he's drinking with Udo Kier, and the scene when he watches the sunrise on film are some of the best vampire-related footage ever shot IMO. And Orlock's commentary on Dracula is fantastic.

[Forkboy]

38. Love it when he bites the head off the bat.

"What dedication!" :rofl:

The movie was brilliant.

[Lorax7844]

22. hmm

mine are

4 Pet Cemetery
3 28 Days Later
2 Night of the Living Dead
1 Dawn of the Dead

I didn't really like Shawn of the Dead as much as my friends but I do think that it's American cousin Zombieland looks hilarious.

http://www.zombieland.com/

I adore when Woody Harrelson goes all badass. YUM

[Forkboy]

23. Zombieland sounded terrible when it was announced.

But now that's it's pretty much in the can it looks hilarious. And Woody is always good for a laugh or two. :)

[AllenVanAllen]

27. I'm looking forward to Zombieland too

I try to keep no expectations when I see new movies. If I do ever have any it's that they don't totally suck.

[ZombieHorde]

20. I surprised to see Versus as well.

Versus was great and after watching that movie I bought a few others by the creator.

Azumi 1 & 2, which are awesome, and Godzilla: Final Wars, which I have mixed feelings about. Most of the movie is fun, but the Matrix scenes put me off some. Godzilla is way cooler than the Matrix. Aragami was OK, but seemed longer than it needed to be, the ending was fun after watching Versus though.

[Forkboy]

21. Final Wars was too influenced by the Matrix.

It was like the Power Rangers at times even. Even the lead guy was picked because he looked like Neo. But, other than that stuff, I find the movie to be a blast. It was a tribute to the old Godzilla movies of the late 60's/early 70's, especially Destroy All Monsters, which it's almost a remake of. It wasn't meant to be a serious flick (obviously). At first I wasn't crazy about anything other than Don Frye, who is hilariously deadpan, but it's grown on me a lot with repeated viewings. Once I got where he was coming from, and how he tried to pay homage to the older, sillier G films, I liked it. And it's fun to say "Gigan...RISE!" :D

And it was great to see so many cameos and roles for long time Godzilla actors like Akira Takerada and Kumi Mizuno.

Versus is just great fun. One of the few movies I've bought blind, not knowing a damn thing about when I got it. Glad I did.

I still haven't seen those others. I'll have to check them out.

[ZombieHorde]

30. Azumi 1 & 2 are awesome ninja/kunoichi/arterial spray movies.

The sequel picks up right after the first, it is a true continuation of the story.

[Forkboy]

39. "arterial spray movies"

:rofl:

Now that sounds like something right up my twisted alley. :)

[madinmaryland]

9. Anything that Belicheck video taped is a "zombie" movie to me!

:hi:

[Forkboy]

10. You had to stretch like Plastic Man for that one.

:D

[madinmaryland]

11. Nice post, Stretch Armstrong!

:wow:

[Forkboy]

16. Nice reply, Mr. Fantastic.

:rofl:

[Orrex]

34. You're no Ralph Dibney, that's for damn sure!

[Forkboy]

41. LOL

I love this place. :)

[Orrex]

45. Incidentally, his creator was born in my town

[Drunken Irishman]

12. Night of the Comet is a childhood favorite of mine.

I caught it on cable back in the late 90s for the first time and loved it.

Bought it on DVD not too long ago.

Though it doesn't have many zombies.

[Forkboy]

15. I watched it again last January.

Hadn't seen it in about 20 years. It was still a fun movie. :)

[Drunken Irishman]

13. I agree with his top-3. Though I'd flip Night of the Living Dead with Return of the Living Dead.

[ZombieHorde]

18. Some omissions...

The Beyond should definitely be in there.

Burial Ground: Nights of Terror is great, though I guess I can see why some may not like it.

Attack Girls' Swim Team vs. the Undead is awesome.

My copy of Bio Zombie has fairly poor audio, but the movie is still pretty funny.

"The guy is wrong about one thing. Coming up with 20 zombie movies really isn't that hard at all."

No shit, I own over 30.

[Forkboy]

25. The Beyond is one of my all time fave horror flicks, zombies or not.

It's even better than the movie it's a sequel to, City of the Living Dead (aka The Gates of Hell). Fulci's movies are always both cheesy and wonderfully atmospheric at the same time. I love the scene in The Beyond where the blind girl is the room and the zombie is in there with her, watching her. Creepy stuff.

I just watched Attack Girls Swim Team last week. It was pretty good. The girl who pretended to be the friend is a porn star, Yuria Hidaka. Or so I've been told. Yeah, that's it.

You have to land a better copy of Bio Zombie as the dialog is the best part. That movie cracks me up. :)

[ZombieHorde]

29. "The Beyond is one of my all time fave"

Very awesome. The chaining scene in the beginning is so gratuitous, the way it zooms in after each hit, let's you know you are watching one of "those" movies.

"The girl who pretended to be the friend is a porn star, Yuria Hidaka. Or so I've been told."

I googled her name, here is some of her movie titles...

Acting Procession Lolita Sex Object

Lessons for a Lovely Bitch Angel

Horny Porno Face

Insult Animal Bitch 10

Masochism Anal

Terrible Treatment Continuous Orgasm Hell

Sound like winners.

"You have to land a better copy of Bio Zombie as the dialog is the best part."

My copy is subtitled so the dialog is easy to follow, but I would still like to get a better copy. The first copy of Final Wars I owned had a messed up sound track, the sound was about 2 seconds off from the picture, very irritating.

[AllenVanAllen]

24. Here are my Zombie favorites

1.Dawn of the Dead
2.Night Of the Living Dead
3.Return Of The Living Dead
4.Zombie
5.Shaun of the Dead
6.Dead Alive
7.Day of the Dead
8.Cemetery Man
9.28 Days Later
10.Night of the Living Dead 90' (Yeah, I said it.)

[Forkboy]

26. The remake of Night wasn't bad.

Pretty much impossible to live up to the original, both in feel and in acting. I was surprised with the lack of gore for a Savini directed film though. It's actually pretty mild gore wise for a zombie flick, and especially for horror from that era. I didn't like the female lead getting all bad ass though. But overall it's still a cool flick. Hell, I'd rewatch any of the ones on that list. :)

[AllenVanAllen]

28. I didn't like it at all when it came out.

I wondered why even bother. The original was already perfect, but over the years it's grown on me.

[Orrex]

32. Have you seen the 2006 "remake" with Sid Haig?

Very close to unwatchable.

[Forkboy]

37. Let's just say I've heard about it.

Usually, a ton of bad reviews make me WANT to see something, but in this case everyone has said it's not even fun bad, just painful bad. :)

[AllenVanAllen]

54. No, I did attempt it.

A friend told me to stay away from that one. I'm glad I did!

[redqueen]

47. Oooh Cemetary Man

Nice to see that get a mention. :thumbsup:

[AllenVanAllen]

50. That movie is sick fun.

The disembodied "bride-head" gets around pretty good... :hi:

[stewartcolbert08]

31. Shawn of the Dead was my fave!

Its hilarious!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Juche]

36. land of the dead should be on that list

That was my favorite 'of the dead' series. The remake of dawn of the dead was good too.

[Forkboy]

40. Land seems to be the most polarizing of his movies.

It seems very love or hate with people for some reason. I wasn't crazy about it myself, but you're not the only one I've heard say it's their favorite either.

But of course, as a zombie movie, even if I'm not crazy about it I'd watch it over 90% of any other kind of movies. Zombies rule. :)

[Juche]

46. I liked it because it looked at long term life with zombies

Most zombie movies only cover the beginning of a zombie attack. Movies like 28 weeks later or land of the dead talk about life down the road, which is an interesting perspective to me. Of course 28 weeks later had so many plot holes it made it hard to enjoy too much.

You'd assume a few armored personnel carriers armed with machine guns could eliminate most of the zombies in a few weeks. I don't get why humans are so defenseless against zombies.

[charlie and algernon]

48. heh, I watched 28 Weeks Later last night

those kids might be the dumbest people on the planet. Of all the refugee British kids that are wondering the planet, the US chooses the two kids most likely to sneak out the first night and find the only infected person left in the entire nation.

[Juche]

49. There are too many plot holes

The concept was interesting (rebuild a city that is under martial law after a zombie attack ends), but the plot had trouble.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463854/board/thread/132070446

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.arts.movies.current-films/2007-06/msg00498.html

lol

Five: This is the big one for me. Why would the army give all-access
security to what amounted to a HVAC technician? Is that supposed to be
some darkly comic slam on how corrupt the Halliburton contractors are?
Okay? Fine. Except that still doesn't answer why there are no armed
guards around the wife, when they bring her back to medical and no
video monitors placing her under video surveillance (god knows,
they're surveilling everywhere else, as the command post has lots of
monitors). So, an all-access pass gets him into his wife's medical
"trailer" but why in the world would that not be guarded? It makes
absolutely no sense at all. Period.

[deucemagnet]

42. re: #19 on the list, Shock Waves

There was a new Nazi zombie flick released this year, Dead Snow. I'm looking forward to the DVD.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_snow/

[Forkboy]

43. Dying to see that one.

Well, not literally. :)

[deucemagnet]

44. The zombies look great!

[Deep13]

51. Twenty? I thought there were only about a dozen zombie movies anyway.

I mean a dozen or so worth watching.

[hippywife]

52. I had no clue

there were even twenty of them. :rofl: :hi:

[Swede]

53. No mention of one of my favorites - Messiah of Evil

Now that was a creepy zombie movie.