The Best Zombie Movies on Netflix Make 2023's Headlines Look Normal As Hell
Zombie films were all but dead until The Walking Dead debuted in 2010. But like the undead monsters, the hunger for more brought the ravenous fiends back into the mainstream. The Last of Us didn't just change video games, it was also the first great live-action television adaptation on HBO. Recently, Netflix also adapted an anime titled Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead into live-action—adding to its already impressive roster of zombie films.
The streamer may have hit the gas on Korean-programming after the success of Squid Game, but horror fans recognize that films such as Train to Busan and series like Kingdom rocketed zombie content to a whole new peak of creative energy. Timing is everything, and the genre's focus on survival elements certainly felt familiar during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people felt like they were living in a post-apocalyptic world, and films such as #Alive certainly capitalized on the moment.
Netflix curiously lacks both Train to Busan and World War Z in its library, but the streaming service is still chockfull of other heavily worthy fare. These are the best zombie films on Netflix.
Army of the Dead
Zack Snyder's zombie cut featuring Dave Bautista in his first major leading role hit Netflix right around the same time as the re-released Justice League. And the zombie heist film reminded fans of the superhero director's debut, 2004's Dawn of the Dead remake—which was a very good thing. Army of the Dead's success even earned it a spin-off: Army of Thieves.
See the original post on Youtube
Kingdom: Ashin of the North
Spinning off the South Korean zombie series Kingdom, Ashin of the North is a prequel film that goes more in-depth into the mysterious Ashin's backstory. The period drama also explains how the dead in this story become reanimated. We won't spoil that for you here, though.
See the original post on Youtube
#Alive
A Korean gamer, checked out from the news while streaming with friends, leaves his game to find that an outbreak of zombies has taken over his block—and chaos ensues. Thanks to superb acting from Yoo Ah-in, the film's comedic-yet-frightening tone shines through as he and his introverted friends struggle to survive.
See the original post on Youtube
Cargo
Martin Freeman stars in this zombie survival film that focuses more on emotional storytelling than elements of horror. With little-to-no gore and a baby in tow, Cargo is more about preserving humanity than it is about scaring you out of your wits—ain't nothing wrong with that.
See the original post on Youtube
Ravenous
Through a series of vignettes, Ravenous (AKA Les Affamés abroad) tells the stories of members of a small, Quebecois rural community during the early days of a zombie outbreak. It won Best Canadian Film at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, impressing audiences and voters with its brooding, meditative horror sensibility.
See the original post on Youtube
Doom: Annihilation
Sometimes you watch a movie based on a video game and you think: "have they ever even played a video game before?" (Looking at you Monster Hunter!) Thankfully, Doom: Annihilation did its homework. It may not be the best film about Marines who must kill demon zombies on a strange planet, but Doom: Annihilation suitably answers the question "what if Doom was a movie?"
See the original post on Youtube
I Am Legend
The monsters in I Am Legend may not be zombies exactly, but the vagueness of their origins means that they're not not zombies either. Starring Will Smith in a last-man-on-earth role, I Am Legend centers on a virus that turned 99% of humanity into cannibalistic mutants who are harmed by sunlight. Setting out to find a cure (since he seems to be the only one who is immune), Smith and his trusty dog venture into the barren city.
See the original post on Youtube
Day of the Dead: Bloodline
When a horror franchise gets to its 10th film, it's usually time to hang up the hat. Movies like Hellraiser: Judgment didn't exactly wow fans of the '80s cult classic over 40 years later, but rare exceptions like last year's Halloween Kills (the franchise's 12th film), still made over $130 million at the box office. Day of the Dead: Bloodline, the third remake of Romero's celebrated Day of the Dead, falls somewhere in between those very wide goalposts, but the creepy, suspenseful zombie flick is still sure to scare the pants right off of you.
See the original post on Youtube
All of Us Are Dead (Series)
Like Battle Royale meets Train to Busan, All of Us Are Dead is the second-most popular South Korean-produced TV series for Netflix behind Squid Game, drawing in over 361 million viewing hours in just its first 10 days on the streaming platform. With fun zombie acting and a large cast of young talent, this show—yes, we're bending the rules!—is a great new watch.
See the original post on Youtube
You Might Also Like
