Although these movies aren’t necessarily the best zombie movies, in my opinion they are ones that any movie buff should own. They are listed in no particular order.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) George A. Romero.
What list isn’t complete without this little gem? Not the first zombie movie, but possibly one of the few that have has had such a cultural impact while revitalizing the zombie genre altogether. Before Night of the Living Dead, zombie movies were forgettable flicks that only served as fodder for MST3K. Romero changed all that by giving us an exploitation movie that touched on controversial social issues whilst scaring our pants off with its eerily realism. The only downside is that the female lead screams way too much.
Shaun of the Dead (2004) Edgar Wright.
More of a romantic comedy with zombies, Shaun of the Dead introduced many to the comedic geniuses known as Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, and Nick Frost. Essentially its about a loser (Pegg) trying to work out his relationship with his girlfriend but is faced with obstacles, namely zombies, which threaten to separate the couple for good. I know I am doing it no justice in describing it in such a way, but there are so many different plot complications that it would be impossible to state them all in one sentence.
Dawn of the Dead (1978) George A. Romero.
The sequel to Night of the living dead, it is a bit more cartoonish than its predecessor but is completely serious about the threat of zombies and what they represent. Romero takes his time in this one as well since the movie moves at a sluggish pace (as do the zombies), but eventually it does pay off. Overall, a commentary on American societies and a very entertaining piece for any zombie enthusiast.
Dead Alive/Braindead (1992) Peter Jackson.
Back before the Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson was known for his low-budget flicks that were known for being over-the-top and reminiscent of Loony Tunes. Dead Alive has to be the goriest and cartooniest zombie movie ever created which still has a sensible plot. And yes, that’s a good thing. This is a landmark film not only because it introduced many to Peter Jackson but because it was one of the first movies that successfully combined the zombie/romantic comedy genres. If you are going to watch this movie be warned, it will make you queasy. And yes, that’s also a good thing.
28 days later (2002) Danny Boyle.
One of the smartest zombie flicks since the original Night of the Living Dead. I was hesitant to watch this when it first came out because I was tired of the fast-moving zombies that have taken over Hollywood. But after watching this for the first time the other day, I can safely say that it is an amazing movie. If not for the thematic elements, it should be for the minimalistic soundtrack which seems to haunt the viewer in the background rather than overplay what’s going on in the picture. Be warned, there is a bit of nudity in the first couple of minutes. Surprisingly, this is also one of Danny Boyle’s most optimistic films, at least in my opinion.
Those were my top five zombie movies, if you feel that I didn’t do any of these movies justice or think that another movie should have been listed please feel free to tell me so. I have viewed a large amount of zombie movies and it was extremely difficult to leave out a few from the list but that’s what happens when you have a top five list.
