Zombies in film have evolved over the decades, from corpses reanimated through witchcraft to infected individuals driven to acts of violence and cannibalism. They can be created by paranormal, scientific, or unknown forces. Most often, they feast on the living. However, sometimes they are simply the dead brought back to life.
With all of these iterations of the classic monster, there are tons of movies out there to enjoy. And some of the best are currently available on several streaming sites, so anyone can find their perfect zombie from the comfort of their home.
28 Days Later - Hulu
While prior films focused on the dead coming back to life, 28 Days Later focused on an infection that causes the living to transform into manic killers who lose all sense of their humanity, survive nearly anything and turn others by biting them or having their blood or saliva enter their victims' systems. The film also made zombies a bigger threat by having them be more resilient and move faster than their predecessors. Despite the manic nature of these zombies, the film also provides beautiful moments of humanity among the core cast while also reminding viewers the real antagonist is a corrupt society, not the victims of it.
Anna and the Apocalypse - Amazon Prime
The zombie movie has been done many times, which leaves many filmmakers wondering how they can revamp these classic monsters. Anna and the Apocalypse gives a musical, holiday twist to this genre, reminding viewers that despite the gore and death, zombie movies can be campy, fun, and weird. The film is also a more cheerful version of the zombie apocalypse, adding levity to a genre that can often feel bleak.
The Evil Dead - Netflix
Sam Raimi's classic is considered to be a zombie movie by some and a possession movie by others. However, the antagonists still conform to a lot of the tropes from prior zombie films, including the dead coming back to life, feasting on the living, having inhuman resilience and only being stopped when decapitated or having the source of their possession destroyed. This movie is equal parts campy as it is horrific with tons of practical effects, body horror, blood, and pus along with performances that are over-the-top in a great way.
Night of the Living Dead - Amazon Prime and Hulu
Night of the Living Dead is the most iconic zombie movie, hammering home many of the classic cinematic tropes associated with this monster: the slow walk, the gaunt expression, the people eating, and the guttural groan. While these seem played out nowadays, the tropes were fresh for 1968. It's also an impressive film, balancing a large ensemble cast, creating plenty of tension in a set location and having social commentary that's still relevant, along with an unexpected end that hits hard no matter what year it is.
Overlord - Amazon Prime
The fun of the zombie genre is that it can be applied to any location or time, and in doing so, there are unlimited possibilities to explore, like the horrors of World War II. Overlord manages to do this while feeling like a modern B-movie with plenty of gore. To put it short, the film is a bloody thrill ride, perfect for anyone looking for a classic action movie with a zombie twist.
Scooby-Doo: Zombie Island - Netflix
While the Scooby-Doo television shows and movies often have the gang go against pretend monsters, Scooby-Doo: Zombie Island has them face real-life monsters with cat creatures who use magic to suck the life from others in order to stay young. As a result, they turn their victims into zombies. While these zombies are scary, especially for a young audience, they are also victims to the real villains of the movie, which makes this cartoon a more traditional look at how zombies are more so victims of the living than they are forces of evil.
Shaun of the Dead - Hulu with Starz
Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead is an amazing romance, comedy and zombie picture rolled into one. While the movie is technically a satire of the genre with plenty of jokes at past films and tropes, it still provides amazing tension, memorable and bloody kills, and heartbreaking scenes between characters who've grown throughout the film. Now sixteen years old, the quick and dry humor still holds up, making it a perfect movie for a few scares and laughs.
Train to Busan - Netflix
In many zombie films, the survivors have to hunker down somewhere that starts off as shelter and soon becomes a trap. Train to Busan does this to the next level by having a good chunk of the action take place in a confined train. This allows the movie to show how catastrophic a zombie apocalypse can be with literal waves of the undead flooding the cars and stations. With high-level action, sleek style and emotional performances that hammer home how horrific zombies are, this movie is a phenomenal entry into the huge catalog of zombie flicks.