Zombie films are nothing new. In fact, they date back as far as the 1930s. Since then, they've since been popularized by the legendary George A. Romero through such classics as Night of the Living Dead, as well as in more recent iterations, like 28 Days Later and the series The Walking Dead. That being said, the zombie genre (or arguably horror subgenre) is still alive and kicking to this day. From action-packed thrill rides to dark turns that leave us pondering, this gory brand of cinema has survived all these years thanks to filmmakers being willing to twist the genre to make it their own.
Netflix continues to offer a variety of critically acclaimed movies based around the undead. From Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead and its spinoffs to zombie films with international flare, here's a closer look at the best offerings currently on the popular streamer.
Updated May 12, 2023: If you're a fan of blood-pumping action (and still have a Netflix subscription), you'll be happy to know that this article has been updated with additional content by Amanda Minchin.
This version of Dawn of the Dead film follows a ragtag group of survivors who take refuge in a mall. Snyder is known for his intense action scenes and use of visual effects, and he did not disappoint here. The crew even resorted to using plastic sheeting during filming as they were constantly in the splash zone.
This new, iconic take on zombies is effortless in all the right ways. Few films outside of Shaun of the Dead had portrayed zombies as funny before this premiered in 2009. This version, however, is all-American to its core, from the amusement parks to the Twinkies.
Valley of the Dead, also known as Malnazidos, is set during the Spanish Civil War in 1938. The story chases two opposing platoons who join forces in order to survive an intense onslaught of the undead following a nefarious Nazi experiment. Now the warring sides must unite to protect the civilians of their country despite their own inner turmoil and hate, all while the zombies leave blood and gore in their terrifying wake. The adrenaline-pumping Spanish picture is an adaptation of Manuel Martn Ferreras' novel Noche de Difuntos del 38, and, needless to say, it's a fun and unique take on the ever-popular zombie genre.
The film had its worldwide premiere at the Sitges Film Festival, where it earned positive reviews for its impressive production design, sharp humor, and sensational action sequences. Valley of the Dead has also been nominated for two of Spain's prestigious Goya Awards.
The Outback serves as the unusually haunting backdrop to a zombie outbreak in this Australian horror film, which takes a restrained, character-driven approach to the apocalypse. Cargo follows Andy (Martin Freeman), who must navigate the dangerous new normal of Australia's zombie-infested interior alongside his wife and infant daughter.
This post-apocalyptic horror drama film from Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke was based on their 2013 short film of the same name. It received positive reviews from critics and was praised by all for its emotional depth and Freeman's performance, though some argue the project is a nod to the 2009 film The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen.
While the rest of the cast is equally star-studded, and the compelling visuals of zombie hordes overtaking whole swaths of land are truly stunning, this film suffers from trying to fit too much into a short time frame. It is, however, a good resource for those wanting to crack open the book. We recommend watching the film for reference first before diving right in.
Robin Aubert directed the critically-acclaimed French-language horror knockout Ravenous, which is also known as Les Affams. The story centers around the inhabitants of a remote, rural town in Quebec as they are plagued by the flesh-craving undead. Their hopes of finding salvation and safety are swiftly dashed when they realize there is no place left to go to escape the vicious horde. Aubert drew inspiration for the look and feel of the film from fellow auteurs Andrei Tarkovsky and Robert Bresson. His version of zombies features the creatures being mindful enough to have a religion in which they are able to assemble altars of worship.
Ravenous debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it nabbed the award for Best Canadian Film. It also went on to receive a whopping five Canadian Screen Awards. Variety praised the gripping flick in a glowing review, writing, "Robin Aubert's idiosyncratic and nuanced drama breathes fresh life into the zombie apocalypse subgenre."
The recent zombie film out of South Korea revolves around a video game live streamer's struggle for survival as he is forced to stay alone at his Seoul apartment during a zombie apocalypse. As the grisly virus takes hold of the city, the streamer remains locked in his apartment, cut off from the world, but with a dogged will to survive nonetheless.
#Alive, also known as #Saraitda, premiered on Netflix in September 2020. It achieved global first place on the platform just two days later, going on to top the Netflix daily chart in 35 countries. It ultimately became the first Korean film to top the Netflix Movies Worldwide chart.
The mysterious illness caught by some of the characters is ultimately revealed as men formerly lost at sea returning to take possession of Dakar's inhabitants on the Atlantic coast. Some may argue Atlantics isn't strictly a zombie film; however, director Mati Diop does offer a mysterious examination of the unquiet dead that more than secures it a spot on this list.
The trailblazing action horror extravaganza Resident Evil famously follows the butt-kicking heroine Alice as she takes on both the ruthless undead and the malevolent Umbrella Corporation in a battle to save humanity. This 2002 flick launched a lucrative and enduring film franchise. Loosely adapted from the popular video game series of the same name, Resident Evil stars the stellar Milla Jovovich as notorious zombie assassin Alice, who awakens with no memory of who she is and how she became stuck in a mysterious underground facility brimming with flesh-eating monsters.
The mass appeal and success of Resident Evil went on to spawn five additional films centering on Alice's quest to eliminate Umbrella Corp. The series has grossed over $1.2 billion and amassed a passionate fan following that has only added to its longevity, both as a game and as a film franchise that truly re-creates the gaming experience for viewers.
Zack Snyder delivered one of the great modern zombie movies in 2004 with his Dawn of the Dead remake, and his grand return to zombie horror is scaled suitably to size. Army of the Dead, starring Dave Bautista, turns Vegas into a hive of undead depravity. The opening credits sequence (a Snyder specialty) presents this takeover in a series of slow-motion tableaux that easily sets up a promising franchise.
Critics praised the humor in the film, which became one of the most-watched originals on Netflix with an estimated 75 million viewers. The film spawned the prequel Army of Thieves, the upcoming anime series Lost Vegas and a direct sequel titled Planet of the Dead, which is currently in stop-and-go development.
The movie starts out well with a scene of the small town and the people in it. Suddenly, there is a black cloud that begins to fill the air and everyone starts to turn into zombies, this was one of my favorite scenes from the movie.
When she goes back inside to wash it off she starts to have a seizure and her eyes turn all black. Next, her body starts to change into a more hideous form. When it comes to zombie movies, I like to see special effects stand out, which is one of the reasons this scene put me on the edge of my seat.
The success of the Resident Evil video games revealed an audience appetite hitherto untapped, inspiring a gushing fount of zombie movies released between 2000 and 2005. Now we got to see the true versatility of the zombie movie. There was the loving spoofery of Shaun of the Dead. The blockbuster theatrics of the Resident Evil adaptation. Cutting-edge, gritty filmmaking with 28 Days Later. Japanese kinetic action in Versus, and most recently the creative, micro-budget One Cut of the Dead.
Ever since, zombies have shown no sign of slowing down. (Some have even figured out how to run.) TV show The Walking Dead is an obvious behemoth to point towards, but in the film world, zombies have made their way into found footage ([REC]), rom-com (Warm Bodies), and grindhouse throwbacks (Planet Terror).
Of course, you could hunker down with all those shows you're behind on, or have been meaning to start watching (Better Call Saul or The Great British Baking Show or Homeland or Bojack Horseman). But shouldn't you use this downtime to avail yourself of the many plague and pandemic-themed offerings out there? There are quite a few!
The pandemic viewing theme could include some genres like zombie apocalypse movies, post-apocalyptic movies, disaster movies, urban flight movies, survivalist movies, cult movies (as in movies about actual cults) and other themes of social collapse. Here are some of my favorites.
Summary: The world of entertainment never gets complete without your favorite genre movie. While comprehending your cinema craving the online OTT platforms have come up with an ocean of options for your favorite movies in one click. When talking about the movie territory the terrifying zombie movies are all-time tempting and inviting, being one of the leading OTT platforms Netflix would surely live up to your expectations while offering the best zombie movies on Netflix collection. Here you will get the top 8 best zombie movies on Netflix and other new zombie movies.
Being a Zombie movie buff, you will not be surprised to know that in surgery it has been shown that 14% of Americans believe in the real existence of the living dead, whereas on the other hand, 12% of the audience has taken the "zombie plan" for their entertainment. So, while keeping the day-by-day increasing popularity of the Zombie genre, you probably want to experience the best new zombie movies on Netflix streaming while going through the given list below of the best new zombie movies on Netflix.
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