More Braaaains! Ranking the Top 5 Zombie Movies

Supernatural possession. The walking undead. Widespread infection. Zombies might actually be the scariest monster of them all.

As we approach the mid-21st century, the horror of zombie films takes on new meaning. We see every day what happens to a society in crisis. Now more than ever, in a post-pandemic world, the notion of a rapid infectious outbreak is terrifying. Unfortunately, we can all imagine it a little more clearly.

Since their inception, zombies have represented humans losing their agency. We fear that loss of control deeply. It always seems to be lurking in the shadow of a lab or the scheme of a corporation. Zombies are the destruction of society as we know it. With the release of 28 Years Later, it’s time to revisit the best zombie movies ever made. Stretch those undead muscles, horror fans. These are my picks for the top 5 zombie movies and they’re a no-brainer.

Beware! Slight spoilers ahead.

---

5. Return of the Living Dead (1985)

You know you’re in for a good time when a movie features music from The Cramps — especially a deathrock hit like “Surfin’ Dead.” Since this movie is definitely based on actual events with totally true names and places, Return of the Living Dead hits the ground running with its own bizarre brand of self-aware horror humor and slightly more articulate zombies. Tarman (pictured above) is easily the undead breakout star, but the movie’s band of misfit punks also steals the show. After all, there’s no forgetting Freddy’s iconic quote, “I know you’re in here because I can smell your brains!”

This movie comes from a story by John Russo, the co-writer of Night of the Living Dead. Russo famously struck a deal with George A. Romero that both could create separate offshoots of the 1968 film they co-wrote, with Russo’s movies being part of a Living Dead franchise and Romero creating his Dead universe. Another fun fact: Return of the Living Dead was almost directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Now there’s something to make your flesh crawl. Bring an umbrella and shake out that rigor mortis because Return of the Living Dead is one of the wildest zomedies around.

---

4. Dead & Buried (1981)

Welcome to Potters Bluff! Life’s a little different in a small town … especially when that town’s got a secret. But hey, a slice of the slow peaceful life isn’t so bad when you also get a slice of human to go with it. A local sheriff slowly begins to unravel as he suspects something weird is going on among his neighbors (look out for Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund). Dobbs, the creepy mortician, quickly stands out as a top suspect, especially since he says things like, “The cosmetologist gives birth. I make souvenirs.” Sir, this is a morgue not a theme park.

Speaking of the undead, the film’s special effects are done by horror legend Stan Winston. According to in-movie lore, these zombies must be made from the bodies of those who died a violent death. That means Winston’s special effects are stunningly grotesque, most notably the embalming table scene. In addition, the film taps into a bit of the voodoo aspect of zombies, calling back to folklore found in older films like White Zombie. With that in mind, these zombies are given a tragic twist, almost like souls trapped in reanimated prisons of flesh. At every turn, the plot twists make Dead & Buried into a compelling mystery. Who’s in charge of creating the zombies? And who’s next?

---

3. 28 Days Later (2003)

A man wakes up from a coma to discover he’s the only person around. His plaintive hellos echo in a desolate cityscape, and all it took was 28 days for everything to collapse. Seeing Jim wander around a deserted Westminster Bridge is still haunting to this day. Zombie films expose our fragility, both biologically and socially. After the harrowing opening sequence for 28 Days Later, which demonstrates that the road to hell is lined with misguided intentions, we’re introduced to a bleak post-apocalyptic London. But don’t worry. One of Jim’s foolish hellos soon awakens a pack of screeching infected.

Fortunately for Jim, he’s rescued by fellow humans. That’s when the film really picks up as it examines what it’s like to survive in an overrun world. At one point, Selena muses that all original culture will now be gone. Other zombie films focus on the chase, which is done well here too, but 28 Days Later shines when it slows down to think about life in a zombie-infested world. Sure, you could go the comedy route with Zombieland if you’re looking for a zombie road trip. But 28 Days Later elevates the genre. Some parts of the film are shot with a digital camera, adding to the gritty realism, and even the convenience store raid feels poignant. Plus, that chilling theme by John Murphy will stay with you far longer than a heartbeat.

---

2. Train to Busan (2016)

In nearly every zombie movie, there’s some element of self sacrifice. However, it’s not an exaggeration to say I was abysmally unprepared for the emotional weight of this film. Even with proper warning, the characters’ impacts and choices hit harder than any strain of zombie infection. Train to Busan brings devastating heartbreak like never before in a zombie movie.

Compared to other zombie survival movies, Train to Busan truly makes you connect with each of the characters. All of the commuters and travelers are given a backstory that forces you to consider how and why they could do what they do. Even if you don’t like them or agree with them, you understand their reactions. And how do people react in these horrific situations? Well, it really just depends. Sometimes humanity prevails but it’s also so easy to be selfish. Unlike the chaotic opener of 28 Days Later, the outbreak in Train to Busan feels slower. There’s an excellent build up of tension, paired with the terror of confinement in an impossibly small space. You’ll definitely think twice the next time you buy a train ticket.

---

1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

They’re coming to get you, Barbra … and they won’t stay dead! George A. Romero’s iconic Night of the Living Dead established many classic zombie features within pop culture, such as the sunken eyes, a loping gait, and a shoot-the-brain-to-kill strategy. As always, the danger of a zombie situation drives people to show who they truly are: leaders, followers, antagonizers, problem-solvers, or even traitors. Duane Jones really carries the movie with his presence as Ben, at once strong yet also vulnerable in his fear. Barbra, played by Judith O’Dea, has a bit of a frustrating character arc, especially by modern standards. She’s understandably paralyzed by fear, yet this renders her essentially useless for a good chunk of time.

The film’s menacing mood ambles just as slowly as the undead, and the continuous radio broadcasts contribute to the ghastly feeling of being stuck with minimal information but rampant fear. There isn’t a lot of gore. In fact, most violence is offscreen. Yet the film still shocked audiences to their core. Even as a seasoned horror fan, you can’t help but get swept up in the terrifying news segments, as we learn bit by bit that these “ghouls” are “creatures who feast upon the flesh of their victims.”

Within the context of 2025, the ending is still just as tragic and perhaps even more so. The zombies lose their humanity but Ben, despite being the hero, fails — not through any fault of his own but by a society now controlled by fear. If that’s not true horror then I don’t know what is. Night of the Living Dead set the standard for all zombie films that followed.

---

How do you prefer your zombies — black and white or modern and in full-color? Slow-moving or impossibly fast?

Share your favorite zombie movies with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!