19 Zombie Horror Movies Like World War Z
This weekend was the first time I saw World War Z, and it turns out it was pretty good.
Zombie horror movies have been popular for years, and with growing interest in the undead genre I thought we’d look at some similar flicks. Films like World War Z and Train to Busan have brought a modern angle to traditional zombie motifs, but there have been plenty throughout the years.
From horrific and gore to funny, this compilation of movies about the undead has something for everyone:
Best zombie horror movies like World War Z
1. Train to Busan (2016)
Train to Busan his in the top five of most people’s lists, and for good reason. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it asap. It’s one of the best zombie movies in years.
This South Korean horror flick tells the story about a man (Gong Yoo), his estranged daughter and other passengers who become trapped on a speeding train during a zombie outbreak.
I love that it combines my favorite closed space, must-get-out vibe with a fun zombie film. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for the best zombie movies like World War Z.
2. Blood Quantum (2019)
I watched Blood Quantum at the Calgary International Film Festival just after it’s Toronto debut, and it was fantastic. If you like your zombie movies with a side of social commentary, then this one is for you.
Set in the ’80s on a First Nations reserve, the residents are immune to the zombie outbreak that’s decimating the rest of the world. The movie follows local sheriff Traylor (Michael Greyeyes) as he tries to keep order and protect the people under his care
It’s a great addition to our list of zombie movies like World War Z.
3. Zombieland (2009)
Zombieland is probably my favorite zombie movie because I happen to love Woody Harrelson.
This hilarious movie is a little different than your typical zombie flick (there are a lot of horror traditionalists that say it doesn’t count), instead it’s more of a road trip comedy.
After the world ends in a zombie apocalypse, four strangers (Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson and Abigail Breslin) end up teaming together to travel across America in search of a safe place to call home. If you’re looking for a light-hearted take on the zombie genre, it’s a great choice.
It’s one of the best zombie movies in my books.
4. 28 Days Later (2002)
Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later is one of the more intense and graphic zombie movies on our list. If you’re not a fan of gore, probably isn’t the zombie movie for you.
The gory thriller follows Jim (Cillian Murphy) as he wakes up from a coma, only to find that London has been overrun by an infection that turns people into rage-filled zombies. He eventually joins up with a small group of survivors, and they attempt to escape the city.
If you’re looking for more of a traditionalist zombie movie, 28 days Later is a great choice. It’s intense and scary, so you might want to have a special someone over while you give it a try.
5. Shaun of the Dead (2007)
Shaun of the Dead also falls into the zombie comedy area. This hilarious movie pokes fun at all things zombie, while also managing to be a pretty great horror movie in its own right.
It’s a little ironic that fans love this and hate Zombieland but I digress, both are worth it for black comedy fans. The film follows Shaun (Simon Pegg), a man who’s trying to get his life together after he ‘s dumped by his girlfriend.
But when a zombie apocalypse hits London, he has to put aside his personal problems and team up with his best friend (Nick Frost) to survive.
It’s a great movie if you’re looking for something that’s both funny and scary. If you want a good laugh while still getting your zombie fix, Shaun of the Dead is the movie for you.
6. Dead Snow (2009)
Dead Snow is a Norwegian zombie movie that’s great if you’re looking for something a little different. The movie follows a group of medical students who travel to a remote cabin in the snowy woods, only to be attacked by an army of zombies.
Word of warning, while this is a funny film it does involve Nazis — who (not to spoil it but are) the zombies. So, if you’re not a fan of that particular topic, it might not be the movie for you. It’s both a gory and funny.
7. The Girl With All the Gifts (2016)
The Girl With All the Gifts is a British zombie movie that’s a little different than your typical fare.
The film follows Melanie (Sennia Nanua), a girl who seems to be immune to the zombie outbreak that has decimated the world. She’s being studied by a group of scientists, in the hopes that they can find a cure. But when the facility is attacked, Melanie must team up with her teacher (Gemma Arterton) to survive.
The Girl With All the Gifts is a great choice if you’re looking for something that’s a little different than your standard zombie movie. It’s got a great mix of action, suspense, and horror.
8. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Dawn of the Dead is a classic zombie movie, and one of the best in the genre.
The film follows a group of survivors who hole up in a shopping mall to escape the hordes of zombies that have taken over the world. It’s described as being a “heart-pounding action” with “bone chilling thrills.”
But if you’re a fan of the classic style of zombie movies, Dawn of the Dead is a great choice.
9. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Another classic zombie flick, Night of the Living Dead is a must-watch for any horror fan.
The movie follows a group of people who are trapped in a farmhouse, as they attempt to survive an onslaught of zombies. As the dead starts to quite literally ride from the cemetery, members of a small Pennsylvania town box themselves inside a farmhouse.
It’s a bit dated, but it’s still a great movie if you’re looking for something that’s classic and scary.
10. The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
The Dead Don’t Die is one of the more recent movies on the list, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for something that’s both funny and scary.
The film follows the residents of a small town, as they deal with a zombie outbreak. The cast is full of big names, including Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloë Sevigny, and Tilda Swinton.
If you’re looking for a zombie movie that’s both funny and gory, The Dead Don’t Die is the perfect choice.
11. Warm Bodies (2013)
Warm Bodies is one part zombie movie, one part romance. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for something that’s a little different than your typical zombie fare.
The movie follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a zombie who falls in love with a human girl named Julie (Teresa Palmer). As their relationship develops, R starts to become more human, and the two must fight to survive in a world that’s full of zombies so that everyone — both living and partially dead — survive.
Warm Bodies is a great choice if you’re looking for something that’s both funny and romantic.
12. Day of the Dead (1985)
Another dated movie from 1985 is Day of the Dead, another traditional zombie classic.
If you’re looking for something a bit scary (well, ’80s scary) and gory. When the world is overrun by zombies, a group of scientists and military people are hanging out in an underground bunker in Florida, deciding if they want to educate, escape or kill the undead horde threatening them.
The movie is full of gore, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you’re a fan of zombie movies, it’s definitely worth a watch.
13. Little Monsters (2019)
Little Monsters is a zombie comedy starring Lupita Nyong’o. If you want something a little fun and a little scary, this is the flick for you.
The movie follows Dave (Alexander England), as he takes his niece, her friend, and a group of kindergarteners on a field trip. But when zombies invade, the adults need to do everything he can to protect the kids and get them to safety.
Little Monsters is a great choice if you’re looking for a zombie movie that’s both funny and gory… but you’ll need a Hulu account to check it out!
14. REC (2007)
Non-English films are often the scariest, and Rec is a great Spanish zombie flick you’ll want to see. This is one of the films that has you questioning what a zombie actually is.
It falls into the found footage genre as a documentary film crew follows a group of firefighters into an apartment complex that’s under lockdown. The residents are acting strange, and it quickly becomes clear that there’s something very wrong going on.
If you’re looking for a zombie movie like World War Z that’s scary and gory, this is a good choice.
15. Pontypool (2008)
Pontypool is a Canadian zombie movie that’s a bit different than your typical zombie fare.
The movie follows Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie), a radio shock jock who’s stuck in Pontypool, Ontario during a zombie outbreak. But as the outbreak grows, Mazzy discovers that the virus is spread through language, and he must find a way to stop it.
Pontypool is a great choice if you’re looking for a zombie movie that’s both creepy and unique.
16 . Cargo (2017)
Cargo is an Australian zombie movie that’s both scary and touching.
The movie follows Andy (Martin Freeman), as he tries to find a way to safety with his daughter, Kay (Milla Jovovich), after a zombie outbreak. But when they’re stranded in the wilderness, Andy must find a way to keep his daughter safe while also dealing with the fact that he’s been infected.
Cargo is a great choice if you’re looking for a zombie movie that will make you both scared and emotional.
17. House of the Dead (2003)
House of the Dead is an early 2000s zombie movie that’s a lot more fun than scary.
The film follows a group of friends that are headed to a rave on a remote island. Unfortunately, they miss the ferry and end up having to spend the night on the island. But when they find a house full of zombies, they have to fight for their lives.
If you want something that’s heavy with comedy, then you’ll need to add this bad boy to your list.
18. The Evil Dead (1981)
The Evil Dead is a classic zombie movie made in the 80s that’s still has a scary edge today.
In this supernatural horror film, a group of friends head to a remote cabin in the woods, where they find an evil book that unleashes killer zombies. Unfortunately, they decide to use it, releasing a flood of evil, and they’re forced to fight for their lives or become one themselves.
This might be the OG zombie comedy, and it’s still revered today as being a zombie favorite. If you haven’t seen it, you should add this one to your list.
19. Dead Alive (1992)
Dead Alive is a zombie movie made in the early 90s that’s both gory and hilarious.
The movie follows Lionel (Timothy Balme), as he tries to keep his zombie-like mother hidden from the public. But when she escapes and starts infecting people, Lionel has to find a way to stop her. This is one of the goriest movies on the list, but it’s also one of the funniest.
If you’re looking for a zombie movie that will make you both laugh and cringe, then this is the one for you.
What is Word War Z?
If you haven’t seen it yet (like me a few days ago), World War Z is a 2013 American apocalyptic action horror film directed by Marc Forster. Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator who must travel the world to find a way to stop a zombie pandemic.
It has a mediocre rating on Rotten Tomatoes (63%) but I literally just watched it and it was pretty good. It was more suspenseful and violent than scary and gory like some of the other movies on this list, but it was still a good zombie flick.
