Zombie films were rampant throughout the Horror genre in the 2000s and early 2010s. The "undead fad" gripped theaters and it seemed like a new and terrifying zombie film was popping up almost every month. Some would argue that the genre became completely oversaturated and while it is true that an abundance of b-movies and questionable films were produced, there were still some absolute gems.
Even today, the zombie trope is running strong, although the hype has died down considerably compared to what it was a decade ago. Thankfully, those that are looking to satiate their cravings for the undead have a wide array of films to choose from. Here's a look at some of the best, but possibly forgotten, zombie films to ever hit theaters and streaming services.
Slither
Before director James Gunn and actor Michael Rooker teamed up for Guardians of the Galaxy, they were busy making Horror movies together. Rooker featured in one of Gunn's most visually alarming films, Slither. This parasite-based Sci-Fi Horror is one part The Thing and one part zombie infestation.
Rooker plays an unfortunate everyman that's possessed by a space-based organism that hitches a ride to Earth via a meteor. Once infected, the parasite begins its sinister plan to reproduce and infect the entire town. It's body horror to the next level, featuring some truly stomach-turning special effects and makeup work.
Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop (and its sequels) have gained somewhat of a cult status since its original release back in 1988. In what feels like an episode of Cops meets Friday the 13th, the story follows a recently reanimated police officer that begins stalking the streets in search of those who wronged him when he was alive. The zombie officer goes on a killing spree, prompting the general public to descend into absolute chaos.
Bruce Campbell makes an appearance as a pivotal character, helping to cement his icon status in the Horror genre.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
This 2016 film attempted to capitalize on the zombie-fueled craze in one of the weirdest ways possible. It's hard to look at Pride and Prejudice as a Horror film (unless one considers marriage proposals and potential suitors to be an absolute nightmare) but that's exactly what director Burr Steers aimed to bring audiences.
The end result is a surprisingly tense and action-packed zombie riot that features solid effects and some tense scenes at times. The 19th century setting is a unique backdrop for a zombie uprising and the comedic and witty dialogue feels right at home in the genre.
28 Days Later
There have been a lot of "typical zombie films" created over the years. Zombies come associated with some particular tropes and many films feature the undead as lumbering, feral, and clumsy. These types of zombies don't seem to pose much threat to survivors unless they sneak up on them or overwhelm them with numbers.
This concept was flipped completely on its head in 28 Days Later, which features zombies created from a "strain of rabies." These modified human beings are much faster and much deadlier than their slow-moving counterparts. They're quick on their feet and really help to amp up the terror levels thanks to their speed.
Train To Busan
Most would have a hard time forgetting Train to Busan, as it was released recently, but a lot of American and European viewers missed this zombie gorefest because it came from Korea. Those that found the film online were met with a gloriously tense tale centered around one man's journey to save his daughter from ravenous ghouls.
It's a "classic trope," centering around a chemical leak that leads to hordes of the undead roaming the streets but it's definitely not a re-hashed or b-movie zombie flick. Train to Busan is truly frightening at times and features enough high-octane action to keep any zombie enthusiast entertained.
Resident Evil
Fans of the video game series will surely know about this release but the general public may have slept a little bit on the game-based feature film. Although it's a farcry from what dedicated Resident Evil enjoyers wanted, it still offered up enough action and references to keep most watchers on the edge of their seats.
Taking place in Umbrella's NEST, Resident Evil follows Alice as she races to escape the research lab and discover more about her hazy past. There's more than just zombies in this action-packed release.
Dead Alive
Fans of George A. Romero know they can expect stomach-turning zombies and gruesome scenes littered throughout his most iconic films. A director that isn't nearly as "first-hand" when it comes to zombies is Peter Jackson, but that didn't stop the legendary director from creating a couple of Horror flicks of his own.
Dead Alive is perhaps the most impressive among them, showcasing some incredible practical effects and a good dose of comedy to counteract the absolutely nauseating scenes sprinkled throughout its runtime. Those that enjoy the Evil Dead series should have a blast with Dead Alive.
Quarantine
A lot of zombie films feel pretty tense because they showcase massive waves of the undead swarming over survivors like a vengeful sea. But the ghouls can be just as unnerving, if not more, in fewer numbers and much more claustrophobic locations.
This idea is amped up to eleven in Quarantine, which concentrates its "zombie apocalypse" to a single apartment building. A news crew is sent to investigate a strange occurrence at a residential building and soon find themselves quarantined. Everything seems to be routine until the undead start prowling through the area.
I Am Legend
Will Smith is a great actor but he really went above and beyond for his role in I Am Legend. Although it didn't get the worldwide attention it so rightfully deserves, it did exceedingly well at the box office and feels like a truly unique premise thanks to its "seemingly empty world."
As perhaps the last remaining man on Earth, Will Smith plays a regretful scientist haunted by his inability to stop a virus from consuming the world and turning humans into hungry monsters. I Am Legend feels extremely lonely with its massive empty streets, drawing viewers in with the idea that Smith really is the last man alive, creating a palpable tension that builds steadily throughout the film.
Return Of The Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a classic, helping to usher in the "zombie genre" with its terrifying black-and-white Horror about a graveyard springing to life with reanimated corpses crawling from their eternal resting grounds. This film helped to shape the genre as a whole and was a terrifying concept for viewers back in the day.
Return of the Living Dead shares a similar name to the iconic classic but is a much different film in both its presentation and advancements. Smack dab in the middle of the 80s Horror boom, this campy flick features some solid practical effects and some truly horrific-looking zombies.