By Yael Tygiel
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From the reanimated hand reaching out of a desecrated grave to the lifeless, staggering gait, zombie tropes have definitely not gone out of fashion. So, it’s no surprise that every once in a while, we all get in the mood to see some blood, gore, and humans doing what they do best — survive. Let’s face it, zombie movies are filmed by the dozen these days, but there are classics scattered across numerous streaming sites, and we’ve dug them up so you don’t have to. Here are the best Zombie movies streaming now.
For more recommendations, check out the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video.
'World War Z' (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 7.0/10
World War Z
Action
Horror
Sci-Fi
Thriller
- Release Date
- June 20, 2013
- Director
- Marc Forster
- Cast
- Brad Pitt , Mireille Enos , Daniella Kertesz , James Badge Dale , Ludi Boeken , Matthew Fox
- Runtime
- 116
Based on the beloved anthology novel by Max Brooks, World War Z is the best example of “fast moving” zombies since the Danny Boyle classic 28 Days Later. World War Z manages to create tension without all that much gore, but for a PG-13 film, it can get pretty graphic. Rather than focus on the zombies themselves, the film shows the gradual collapse of society. World governments are helpless to respond to the pandemic paranoia; it's all a little frighteningly familiar. Despite the chaotic production, World War Z flows pretty well between set pieces. You also get one of Brad Pitt’s best recent performances; he stars as Gerry Lane, a loving family man whose experience in the U.N. makes him the perfect guy to travel between the various continents overrun with undead. - Liam GaughanWatch on Paramount+
'Ravenous' (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 5.8/10
Ravenous
Drama
Horror
Western
- Release Date
- March 19, 1999
- Director
- Antonia Bird
- Cast
- Guy Pearce , Robert Carlyle , Jeremy Davies , Jeffrey Jones , John Spencer , Stephen Spinella Neal McDonough , David Arquette
- Runtime
- 100 Minutes
Written and directed by Robin Aubert, Ravenous takes place in an isolated Quebec village after a flesh-eating virus outbreak has terrorized the residents, leaving survivors of the zombie outbreak to retreat to the woods. Starring Marc-André Grondin and Monia Chokri and presented in French, Ravenous balances plot expressed creatively through heightened horror styles with philosophical themes and even humor. Aubert produces a suspenseful examination of characters finding themselves battling for – and at times against – their own loved ones. Through a dark journey to an unconfirmed sanctuary, Ravenous considers whether hope is lost or worth fighting for. – Yael TygielWatch on Netflix
'#Alive' (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 6.3/10
#Alive
Horror
Action
Drama
- Release Date
- September 8, 2020
- Director
- Il Cho
- Cast
- Yoo Ah-in , Park Shin-Hye , Jeon Bae-soo , Hyun-Wook Lee
- Runtime
- 98 minutes
If there is one thing Cho Il-hyung gets right with this picture, it’s the sheer realness he brings to a ‘not-so-real’ situation. There is no precision ass-whooping or other forms of badassery, just humans fumbling their way through a zombie-infested apartment building, holding on for their dear lives. Stuck indoors in the middle of a zombie outbreak, Jon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) reacts to his predicament with fear, uncertainty, and an expected sense of dread. On the verge of ending it all, he discovers that there is another survivor in the neighborhood, and the two team up to make it out alive. While it may not be the otherworldly, action-packed zombie movie people are used to these days, it is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat.Watch on Netflix
'Army of the Dead' (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 5.8/10
Army of the Dead
Action
Horror
Sci-Fi
- Release Date
- May 14, 2021
- Director
- Zack Snyder
- Cast
- Chris D'Elia , Dave Bautista , Omari Hardwick , Ana de la Reguera , Ella Purnell , Garret Dillahunt
- Runtime
- 139
One of the newest movies on this list, Zack Snyder’s 2021 release brings together various genre elements to get the ball rolling; at the forefront, zombies and heists. The latter should not come as a surprise since the movie is set in the land of the best heists, Las Vegas. With most of the city’s population infected, the undead are placed under quarantine with a handful of survivors boxed in. Years after living in the middle of a zombie-infested wasteland becomes the new normal, Scott Ward (Dave Bautista) is approached with an offer he can't refuse (even in the middle of a zombie apocalypse): to steal a fortune locked away in the apocalyptic wasteland before it gets nuclear-bombed out of existence. From the intense team-assembling montage to the journey into the heart of the zombie territory, the plot does play right into a few zombie-apocalypse tropes. However, it’s just the fast-paced, action, and emotion-packed picture you’d want to soak in on movie night, with all of Snyder’s signature cinematic style. Plus, two words: zombie tiger.Watch on Netflix
'Cargo' (2018)
IMDb: 2.8/10
Cargo
Drama
Horror
Sci-Fi
Cargo (2018) is an Australian post-apocalyptic thriller directed by Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke. Starring Martin Freeman as a father desperate to save his infant daughter amidst a zombie outbreak, the film explores themes of survival, parenthood, and sacrifice. Adapted from the directors' 2013 short film, Cargo is set against the backdrop of the Australian outback and offers a somber and introspective take on the zombie genre.
- Release Date
- May 18, 2018
- Director
- Ben Howling , Yolanda Ramke
- Cast
- Martin Freeman , Anthony Hayes , Susie Porter , Caren Pistorius , Kris McQuade , Natasha Wanganeen
- Runtime
- 105 minutes
If one thing is evident, it's that Cargo challenges the status quo when it comes to what we've come to expect from zombie pictures. With a 48-hour window for humans to go rabid after infection, this 1 hour, 45-minute movie follows a father's plight to deliver his infant daughter to safety before the virus completely takes him over. Though it doesn't stray too far from the norm (there's still the usual “survival of the fittest” vibe) it does lend a more sympathetic eye to the undead and reframes the emotional impact of the zombie apocalypse through its unique set-up. So, if you're in it for a more heartfelt vibe, this is a top pick.Watch on Netflix
'Little Monsters' (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 6.3/10
Little Monsters
Comedy
Horror
Sci-Fi
- Release Date
- October 11, 2019
- Director
- Abe Forsythe
- Cast
- Lupita Nyong'O , Josh Gad , Stephen Peacocke , Kat Stewart , Nadia Townsend , Alexander England
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
Let’s start off by saying that this is not your run-of-the-mill zombie movie — it’s light, quirky, yet action-packed in the right measure. While volunteering on his nephew’s field trip, Dave (Alexander England) ends up having to fight for his life alongside a kindergarten teacher (Lupita Nyong'o) and an annoying children's TV personality (Josh Gad). Unfortunately, fate has it that zombies escape from a testing facility nearby, making a beeline for the farm where the kids are indulging in some field-trip-related fun. There are a bunch of hitches along the way which deliver a comic and bizarre take to an outrightly horrific situation. What a gem in the rough!Watch on Hulu
'Night of the Living Dead' (1968)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Night of the Living Dead
Horror
- Release Date
- October 4, 1968
- Director
- George A. Romero
- Cast
- Duane Jones , Judith O'Dea , Karl Hardman , Marilyn Eastman , Keith Wayne , Judith Ridley
- Runtime
- 96
Zombie movie fiends assemble! Night of the Living Dead is not just any zombie movie, it's considered the mother of all modern zombie movies, directed by the so-called Godfather of Zombies, George A. Romero. This 1968 independent production is packed with tons of elements that contemporary movies have mimicked over the years. Here's the gist, a group of strangers must band together to survive a full-on zombie attack, but the question is, will their differences let them? From the abandoned house in the ‘middle of nowhere’ to the unruly group dynamic, this picture gives you that authentic zombie feel, and it set an incredibly high bar for lacing in social commentary - a favorite of zombie storytellers - from the get-go.Watch on Max
'Train to Busan' (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.6/10
Train to Busan
Action
Horror
Mystery
Thriller
- Release Date
- July 20, 2016
- Director
- Sang-ho Yeon
- Cast
- Yoo Gong , Yu-mi Jeong , Dong-seok Ma , Su-an Kim , Eui-sung Kim , Woo-sik Choi
- Runtime
- 118
Of all the recent zombie movies to come out this century, there is no more instant of a classic than the imaginative Train to Busan. Just as the title suggests, the film is set almost entirely on a speeding train as the world descends into the clutches of a zombie apocalypse. Centered on an incredible cast who all bring their distinct characters to life, it is one of the most compelling and creative works of genre cinema in recent memory. It makes the most of its premise, creating both claustrophobia in the confines of the train itself and an expansive sense of scale with each new destination at which it arrives. As we see the film’s heroes and villains emerge in the catastrophe, the film’s sense of humanity shines through the depravity of the world in which they're now trapped. There is nothing that has been able to hold a candle to all it manages to achieve, making it one of the all-time greats of the genre. Even if you’ve seen it before, it only gets better each time you rewatch it, as all the wondrous details emerge on each new viewing. It is truly one of the most fantastic zombie flicks you will ever get to see. - Chase HutchinsonWatch on Peacock
'Warm Bodies' (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 6.8/10
Warm Bodies
Comedy
Horror
Romance
- Release Date
- January 31, 2013
- Director
- Jonathan Levine
- Cast
- Nicholas Hoult , Teresa Palmer , Analeigh Tipton , Rob Corddry , Dave Franco , John Malkovich
- Runtime
- 97
Warm Bodies is a hybrid of zombie movies and rom-coms (a zom-rom-com, if you will). Told from the perspective of R (Nicholas Hoult), the movie follows this zombie’s quest to regain his humanity. While out and about on the hunt for brains, R meets Julie (Teresa Palmer) and goes against his instincts to save her life. The more time they spend together, the more they both realize that maybe the zombies aren’t beyond saving. However, not everyone is eager for zombies and people to coexist once again. R and Julie not only have to convince her colony, but they also have to fight against the Boneys – zombies that are literally shells of their human selves and beyond saving. Warm Bodies is light on gore but full of heart. - Brynna ArensWatch on Hulu
'Dead & Buried' (1981)
Rotten Tomatoes: 68% | IMDb: 6.5/10
Dead and Buried
Horror
- Release Date
- May 29, 1981
- Director
- Gary Sherman
- Cast
- Melody Anderson , Jack Albertson , Robert Englund
- Runtime
- 1 hr 32 min
It took a while for audiences to catch up with this one, but like fine wine, Dead & Buried only gets better with age. Set in a quaint, coastal town confronted with one grisly murder after the other, Sherriff Dan Gillis (James Farentino) discovers that the town coroner (Jack Albertson) has been pulling the strings all along. As the body count rises, the coroner adds more ammo to his zombie arsenal. The question here is, can one man take down a whole town of zombies?Watch on Peacock
'The Night Eats the World' (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 6.0/10
The Night Eats the World
Horror
Drama
Thriller
- Release Date
- July 13, 2018
- Director
- Dominique Rocher
- Cast
- Anders Danielsen Lie , Golshifteh Farahani , Denis Lavant , Sigrid Bouaziz , David Kammenos , Jean-Yves Cylly , Nancy Murillo , Lina-Rose Djedje
- Runtime
- 93 Minutes
Visiting his ex-girlfriend’s apartment to retrieve a few music tapes may have very well been the best decision Sam ever made — or the worst. Bottom line, he wakes up in her house the next day and is not just confronted with evidence of a party gone wild, the streets of Paris are overrun by zombies. Managing to barricade himself inside the apartment complex, only time can tell what he loses first; his life or his mind.Watch on Peacock
'The Cured' (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 5.6/10
The Cured
Horror
Drama
Sci-Fi
- Release Date
- February 23, 2018
- Director
- David Freyne
- Cast
- elliot page , Sam Keeley , Tom Vaughan-Lawlor , Stuart Graham , Peter Campion , Amy De Bhrún
- Runtime
- 95 Minutes
Part zombie movie, part socio-political statement, David Freyne offers a fresh take on zombiism by calling it the Maze Virus. Set in the aftermath of the outbreak, humanity attempts to rebuild itself and even administers a vaccine that works on 75% of the infected population. Naturally, this creates a further division between the uninfected, cured, and the infected, which makes for some uncomfortable dynamics. In a wake of uncertainty, underground resistance groups begin to form, triggering governmental intervention. A bit slower than your average zombie horror, this is a thought-provoking picture flanked with violence and gore.Watch on AMC+
'White Zombie' (1931)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 6.2/10
White Zombie
Horror
- Release Date
- August 4, 1932
- Director
- Victor Halperin
- Cast
- Béla Lugosi , Madge Bellamy , Joseph Cawthorn , Robert Frazer , John Harron , Brandon Hurst , George Burr MacAnnan , Frederick Peters
- Runtime
- 69 Minutes
The first feature-length film of its kind, the 1931 movie White Zombie, plays to the strengths of its main character, Bela Lugosi. As Murder Legendre, the zombie master of Haiti, he strikes a deal with, Charles Beaumont (Robert Frazer), an affluent plantation owner vying for Madeline Short’s (Madge Bellamy) affection. The thing is, her wedding is a few days away, so at the time it's pretty logical to turn her into his zombie bride (or is it?) In a not-so-unexpected twist, Murder has plans of his own — plans that Madeline’s fiancee intends to thwart. It's old-timey, zany, and dark in all the right ways.Watch on Prime Video
'The Girl With All the Gifts' (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 6.6/10
The Girl With All the Gifts
Horror
Action
Adventure Drama
- Release Date
- January 26, 2017
- Director
- Colm McCarthy
- Cast
- Sennia Nanua , Fisayo Akinade , Dominique Tipper , Paddy Considine , Anamaria Marinca , Gemma Arterton , Anthony Welsh , Glenn Close
- Runtime
- 111 Minutes
One of the more inventive and reflective works of zombie horror in recent memory, The Girl With All the Gifts sets a very high bar of what is possible in the well-tread genre. It all centers on young Melanie, played with an incredible sense of maturity by first-time actor Sennia Nanua in her feature debut. Held in an underground facility, she is taught while being restrained to a chair. The reason for all this is that Melanie is one of many children who have been infected with a zombie virus where they are still able to cling to some sense of consciousness while hungering for human flesh. When things go wrong, she tries to escape with her kind teacher Helen (Gemma Arterton) and a group of remaining survivors into what is left of the world. Based on the novel of the same name by Mike Carey, the film finds new heights with an eerie yet all-encompassing score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer that takes us deeper into its world. It is a film that gets at more fundamental questions of what it means to be human and whether the world is even ours to save, arriving at a destination as stunning as any such work can be. - Chase HutchinsonWatch on Tubi
'Dance of the Dead' (2008)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 5.8/10
Dance of the Dead
Comedy
Horror
- Release Date
- October 14, 2008
- Director
- Gregg Bishop
- Cast
- Jared Kusnitz , Greyson Chadwick , Chandler Darby , Carissa Capobianco , Randy McDowell , Michael V. Mammoliti
- Runtime
- 95
Dance of the Dead merges teen angst and a thirst for brains in the most tasteful way possible. In other words, though there are some pretty off-the-hook death scenes, it is not as gory as some of the options on this list. In this picture, the fates of the students at a high school prom depend on the misfits who couldn’t land dates. With reanimated corpses swarming into town from the cemetery nearby, it’s a matter of time before the teens are forced to work together to stay alive. If you can look past the obvious budget constraints, the commitment to character development is worth it.Watch on Prime Video
- Horror
- Movie Features
- Netflix
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