The 7 Best Zombie Movies of All Time

Zombies! These undead movie monsters have had many alterations through the years. From the supernatural voodoo zombies of the 1930s to the infectious viral zombies of today, filmmakers continue to find ways to keep these creatures alive (undead rather) and relevant. A large reason why the zombie subgenre has remained so popular is because of the human aspects present within the films. The human characters in zombie movies are meant to be reflections of ourselves and representations of our own humanity. The best zombie films recognize the importance of both the zombies and the humans.

Following the release of Zack Snyder’s newest zombie movie, Army of the Dead, I wanted to revisit the best the genre had to offer. In honor of Army of the Dead’s Las Vegas setting, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the top 7 zombie movies ever made. There are a few spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.

Splinter

Splinter is a criminally underrated horror movie. Written and directed by Toby Wilkins, the movie is just as exhilarating as it is terrifying. Splinter is largely elevated by its unique concept. Like the title suggests, the infection is spread through parasitic splinters that take over an organisms’ skeletal and muscular systems. Those infected still have control of their mind, but not of their movements or actions. This leads to several memorably brutal and gory scenes that stay with you long after the credits roll. Unlike a lot of other zombie movies, animals can be infected also.

Although the movie was made on a relatively low budget, Splinter made the most of it. Both the visual and practical effects are remarkably well-done. The movie is tense and thrilling throughout its runtime despite most of the story taking place in a gas station. Lastly, Shea Whigham (Joker) and Jill Wagner (Wipeout) did a tremendous job as the leads. Splinter is a must watch for every horror fan.

Zombieland

Zombieland’s opening sequence perfectly sets the tone for the movie. As Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) lays out his extensive zombie survival rules, you get a sense for the self-aware humor the movie’s going for. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) steals every scene he’s in, and his connection with Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) throughout the movie is endearing. Bill Murray’s cameo as himself is hilarious, as is Tallahassee’s hunt for some elusive Twinkies. The end sequence at Pacific Playland is arguably the best part of the movie. Tallahassee’s rampage through the amusement park is full of carnage. The movie also utilizes various carnival rides at the park to create some tense and exciting moments. It’s nice to see the carnival setting explored in a horror movie. Finally, I like that the movie has a relatively happy ending as Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock become a nice post-apocalyptic family.

28 Days Later

Danny Boyle’s genre-bending zombie film is more relevant now than ever before. 28 Days Later explores people’s fears of mass contagion. Rather than noshing on human flesh, the zombies in this movie have one goal in mind… infect! The ‘Rage’ virus fully infects a person within mere seconds, changing the individual into a ravening monster. What’s more, the rage zombies don’t slowly shamble around like we’ve all been accustomed to. These zombies sprint and are unrelenting in their pursuit, making them all the more horrifying.

28 Days Later is made even scarier by its realism. The beginning of the film is iconic as Jim (Cillian Murphy) awakens to an eerily desolate London. Additionally, the movie benefits from great acting. The bond between Jim, Selena (Naomie Harris) and Frank (Brendan Gleeson) develops in a very natural way making us care about the characters and their survival. Overall, 28 Days Later reinvigorated the zombie subgenre, helping pave the way for titles such as The Walking Dead and World War Z.

Train to Busan

One of the best things about Train to Busan is the amount of social commentary within it. The film’s main character, Seok-Woo (Gong Yoo), is a self-centered fund manager. Conversely, his young daughter Soo-An (Kim Soo-Ahn) is selfless, creating an interesting duality from the onset of the film. Train to Busan repeatedly poses a question to viewers: would you help someone if it meant putting your own life in jeopardy? Writer-director Yeon Sang-ho expertly explores these types of moral and ethical dilemmas throughout the movie. Besides its depth, Train to Busan is also wildly exciting.

Coincidentally, the zombies in this movie remind me a lot of the ones from 28 Days Later. That is to say, they sprint instead of walk and act like rabid animals. Train to Busan also uses its train setting perfectly. The movie has many tense and claustrophobic scenes, especially as the characters traverse through different cabins of the train. The acting in the movie is also tremendous. Seok-Woo’s character arc in the movie is compelling, ultimately leading to a heart-wrenching finale. Ma Dong-seok (Eternals) provides some nice comic relief as Sang-Hwa, and Kim Ui-Seong acts as a stubbornly selfish businessman, furthering the themes of the movie.

Shaun of the Dead

Edgar Wright’s dynamic directing style is put on full display in Shaun of the Dead. Wright’s horror-comedy examines people’s increasing detachment from the world around them. Main characters Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) are so oblivious to the impending zombie apocalypse, that they only realize something’s wrong after a zombie stumbles through their front door. Shaun of the Dead is full of many comedic scenes like this. There’s a 2-minute long continuous shot as Shaun walks to the corner store and back, unaware of the zombies and mayhem surrounding him. The bar fight scene has made Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ synonymous with this movie for me. And to think a zombie extra thought this movie was going straight to video. Now all that’s left to do is wait until Edgar Wright’s new horror movie Last Night in Soho finally releases.

Night of the Living Dead

You can’t talk about zombie movies without mentioning Night of the Living Dead. While George A. Romero’s 1968 classic wasn’t the first zombie movie ever made, it did popularize the infamous movie monster. By 1968, doing a movie in black & white was considered outdated. However, the film’s color grade makes it more ominous. The dark black shadows make it seem like a hidden zombie could lurch out and attack at any moment. The cinematography in the movie is also beautiful as Romero uses a full gamut of creative shots and angles. There are several chilling scenes in Night of the Living Dead as well.

The horde of zombies that gather at the end of the movie is an unsettling spectacle. Helen (Marilyn Eastman) and Harry’s (Karl Hardman) demise at the hands of their daughter (Kyra Schon) is shocking, especially considering when this movie was made. The main character, Ben (Duane Jones) is one of the smartest and most adept zombie survivalists in movie history. Also, having an African-American as the lead was unheard of back then. All this goes to show how progressive Romero was as a filmmaker and why he’s considered the Godfather of the zombie subgenre.

Planet Terror

The first film of Grindhouse’s double feature is an exploitative, gory ode to ’70s horror. Planet Terror has a certain unique quality to it, similar to Robert Rodriguez’s other horror movie From Dusk Till Dawn. Impressively, Rodriguez did the editing and music for Planet Terror in addition to writing and directing it. The movie’s story structure is reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino’s work as several subplots all converge into one by the end of the film. Even though the movie was shot digitally, it was edited to look like the grimy films of years past (perfect for a drive-in). The movie’s intentional cheesiness makes for some unforgettable scenes. Cherry (Rose McGowan) receives a machine gun leg rivaling that of Ash William’s chainsaw arm. The splatter gore and special effects are absurdly grotesque, courtesy of Greg Nicotero. Planet Terror also has some funny cameos including the likes of Tom Savini and Quentin Tarantino. It’s hard to have a bad time watching this movie.