10 Zombie Movies That Can Be Called Masterpieces, Ranked

Name a cinematic monster arguably more popular than the zombie. Besides maybe vampires, hardly anyone else could match their success in the entertainment world. These undead flesh-eaters have dominated the horror market, become the most recognizable, beloved, and watched creatures ever shown in pop culture. For over a century now, they've invaded everything from books and comics to some of our favorite TV shows, and, of course, cinema wouldn't have been the same without them.

Today, zombies are an essential part of horror history. They make up some of the most exciting stories ever introduced in cinema, and many of them are considered timeless masterpieces. We simply have too many to choose from these days, but, of course, there are some that stand out as all-time greats. The following are ten zombie movies that are undeniably iconic and hailed as masterpieces of the subgenre. From black-and-white classics to one from the present day, they pack one hell of a bite.

10 'One Cut of the Dead' (2017)

From Japan, 2017's One Cut of the Dead is J-Horror's greatest contribution to the subgenre, one that's already hailed as a modern masterpiece. Packed with loads of thrills, hilarious comedy, and some great, bloody zombie action, it tells of an amateur horror film crew in a fight for their lives when they are ambushed by the undead while shooting at an abandoned World War II facility.

Boasting an incredible 100% freshness on Rotten Tomatoes, it's certainly also one of the most acclaimed zombie films in recent years. Its acclaim is testament to how truly unique and well-crafted this one is. One Cut of the Dead is the perfect mix of comedy and zombie horror that anyone, even those who aren't even fans of the subgenre, can truly appreciate. It's worth the watch, and, of course, all the recognition it's received.

9 'Dead Alive' (1992)

From The Lord of the Rings filmmaker, Sir Peter Jackson, comes the gory, spectacular horror comedy that put him on the map, Dead Alive, also known as Braindead when it was released in its native New Zealand. Wildly considered one of the bloodiest, most shocking, and yet insanely hilarious dark comedies ever, it's an absolute delight that follows a Wellington man as he struggles to protect his neighborhood from his slowly deteriorating mother, after she'd become infected by a hybrid animal, turning her into a flesh-hungry zombie.

It's an over-the-top splatter masterpiece that somehow gets more deranged and grotesque as the story progresses. It culminates into having one of the most brutal and bloody endings in movie history, in which the hero Lionel (Tim Balme) dices up his zombified neighbors with a lawnmower. It's intense, incredibly gory, and just a blast to watch. Truly, for those who love an insane amount of blood in their movies, this film is right for you.

8 'I Walked With A Zombie' (1943)

Featuring one of the earliest appearances of a zombie in cinema, 1943's I Walked With A Zombie is a black-and-white classic that's an essential piece of the subgenre's history. Set on a Caribbean island, it follows a caring nurse as she finds an unusual treatment to cure her patient, a catatonic plantation owner's wife, by asking the locals to conduct a voodoo ritual.

Though not featuring the typical flesh-eating, undead zombie type we know and love today, I Walked With A Zombie features the most authentic depiction of this legendary monster as it was described in Haitian folklore. Though not the most thrilling when compared to some later zombie films, this one still feels quite unsettling and atmospheric. It scares viewers with its slow build-up and its eerie visuals. It's timeless and significant, one that certainly deserves to be called a masterpiece.

7 'Train to Busan' (2016)

From South Korea, 2016's Train to Busan is a pulse-pounding, action-packed roller coaster ride of a zombie film that thrills from start to finish. With a perfect mix of riveting action and heartbreaking drama, it follows passengers aboard a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan as they fight for their lives and race to reach a safe zone as the country becomes devastated by a fast-spreading zombie epidemic.

The action is intense and well choreographed, looking highly realistic as a lot of effort was put in to keep the fight and chase scenes as smooth as possible. Its acting is on a whole other level, as each actor truly makes the audience care and root for the characters' survival, and then becomes distraught when they see that most of them don't make it. Train to Busan is a fast-paced, riveting modern masterpiece, one that's certainly the best international zombie film in recent years.

6 '28 Days Later' (2002)

Reinvigorating audience's fascination with zombies going into the 21st century, Danny Boyle's intense zombie disaster thriller 28 Days Later is one of the most significant classics of the subgenre. A terrifying thrill ride, with epic chases, heartbreaking deaths, and a horrifyingly realistic apocalyptic setting, it's an undeniable masterpiece that follows an ordinary bike messenger as he wakes up from a coma to find Great Britain being ravaged by a virus that's turning victims into aggressive killers.

This popularized the fast-moving, highly aggressive variant of zombie, which is arguably scarier than most other versions, and today this type is a mainstay that pops up in other films. It's intense, fast-paced, and never lets go of your attention for a second. Its thrills and intensity have attributed 28 Days Later to being the scariest zombie film in history, and it shows no signs of losing this title even today.

5 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968)

While it may not be the first, it certainly is the most classic zombie film of all time. Changing the horror genre forever in 1968, the late George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead birthed the modern zombie subgenre, giving it some of its most legendary tropes and ideas. Telling the iconic tale of survival during the start of a zombie apocalypse, it follows survivors struggling to last the night in an isolated farmhouse as the undead surround them on all sides.

It's not just a perfect zombie movie; it's one of the greatest horror masterpieces of all time. It's well accepted that these iconic monsters wouldn't have ever become so popular had Night of the Living Dead never even existed. It's timelessly creepy, atmospheric, and full of legendary scares, making a highly rewatchable masterpiece that every horror lover should see.

4 'The Return of the Living Dead' (1985)

The Return of the Living Dead is the film that best represents the wacky, fun spirit of horror comedies in the 1980s. Set in a world where Romero's Night of the Living Dead was based on actual events, it follows a group of punks battling indestructible zombies after two bumbling warehouse workers accidentally release toxic chemicals that resurrect an army of the dead.

It's a blast of entertainment that has become a major standout in the zombie subgenre, featuring hilarious bits of comedy, impressive gore and practical effects, and even moments of genuine terror. It's all elevated by its campy tone and '80s style, which, despite looking drenched in the decade it came out in, has made the film feel timeless and endlessly exciting.

3 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004)

Director Edgar Wright and comedian Simon Pegg's Shaun of the Dead is the ultimate zombie comedy. It's an utterly hilarious laugh-riot, full of brilliant jokes that poke fun at the zombie subgenre. The story stars Pegg and his frequent comedic partner Nick Frost as two London slackers who become unlikely heroes and must lead their group to safety as Great Britain is overrun by the dead overnight.

It's a comedy masterpiece that somehow gets more hilarious with age. From Wright's tightly written script and competent direction to the cast's comedic performances and great chemistry together, Shaun of the Dead has remained steady as a must-watch among zombie lovers. It can be watched again and again, and still leave viewers howling with laughter and enjoying the wacky situations and the amusing characters within its story.

2 'Day of the Dead' (1985)

Romero wasn't done after Night of the Living Dead, as he created a legendary trilogy which chronicled survival tales across different parts of America, each showing humanity's downfall and the rise of the dead. Concluding this trilogy in 1985, his last film, Day of the Dead, wasn't initially a critical success, but has since come around to be considered a masterpiece. It follows a stressed out group of survivors in a bunker as hostilities between two factions, the soldiers and scientists, reach a boiling point once the villianous Captain Rhodes (Joseph Pilato) takes over as leader.

With thought-provoking dialogue, excellent performances, and Oscar-worthy makeup and effects, Day of the Dead is truly the best-looking and striking entry of Romero's Dead trilogy. The practical gore effects are still incredible and disgustingly brutal today, and the designs for the zombies have them looking much scarier than in the previous two movies. It's a shame this was initially panned by critics, but just like Romero's other two films, Day of the Dead is hailed by zombie lovers everywhere as a nearly flawless masterpiece.

1 'Dawn of the Dead' (1978)

Romero's glorious second entry in his Dead trilogy, Dawn of the Dead, is not just one of the greatest zombie masterpieces; it's one of the most perfect horror movies in cinematic history. Ken Foree and the late David Emge lead a stellar small cast in a story that follows four survivors as they work together to turn a massive shopping mall into their new home during a chaotic zombie outbreak.

A legendary classic that further cemented zombies as a pop-cultural phenomenon, Dawn of the Dead is a zombie lovers' dream, one with a talented cast, excellent writing, bloody violence, and an iconic setting. This gave the subgenre tremendous inspiration, and everything from the story's thought-provoking commentary on society's rampant consumerism, to its intriguing mall setting, have been endlessly praised by horror fans for years since its release. There truly is no better word to describe Romero's magnum opus than masterpiece.