8 Best Fast Zombie Movies and TV Shows

Zombies have been part of film and television viewing forever, but this horror subgenre truly transformed when creators expanded beyond the image of slow, shuffling corpses. The emergence of fast zombies changed the rules entirely. Where once there was the slow creep of impending doom, there is now a new sense of panic and power injected into zombie horror stories. They don’t just engulf the populous by volume — they overwhelm characters in seconds.

This also helped push zombie movies and TV shows into the mainstream, creating zombie stories that can be considered masterpieces of horror. Many of the fast zombie projects elevated what the modern undead genre could accomplish. Their stories made audiences question if they could even survive a zombie apocalypse.

28 Days Later (2002)

Any movies in Danny Boyle’s zombie horror franchise are recommendations, but 28 Days Later is the most important one. It’s hard to believe now, but 28 Days Later reinvented the modern zombie genre. The film’s impact on pop culture cannot be overstated.

Its stripped-down depiction of a deserted London gave the story a realism that grounded its horror in plausibility rather than fantasy. The fact that Boyle shot 28 Days Later on the real streets of London makes it even more haunting.

Frequently cited as the movie that popularized fast zombies, 28 Days Later introduced rage-infected humans who sprint, snarl, and overpower survivors in a flash. Its popularity helped launch Cillian Murphy into international stardom. It also directly influenced countless later projects, from video games to television series. Its gritty tone, political subtext, and unforgettable infected still define the genre decades later.

Kingdom (2019 – 2021)

Netflix’s Kingdom stands apart by blending political intrigue with brutally fast zombies. Set during Korea’s Joseon period, the series uses sprinting undead to heighten palace conspiracies and social collapse. The infected move with alarming speed, making every outbreak feel like an unstoppable wave.

The South Korean show earned widespread acclaim for elevating the zombie genre through lavish production design and sharp writing. Its 98% Rotten Tomatoes score cements Kingdom as a zombie horror masterpiece.

Its creation proves that historical zombie stories can be done without sacrificing intensity. It also played a key role in expanding global interest in Korean television through Netflix originals. This solidified Netflix’s reputation for high-quality international programming and helped redefine how zombie storytelling could resonate across cultures.

Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)

Zombieland: Double Tap benefited from the cult status of its 2009 predecessor by bringing back its core cast and expanding its world. While the film prioritizes humor, its action sequences depend on the relentless pace of its undead threats. Its popularity comes from balancing fast zombie chaos with sharp comedy.

The sequel steps up its tension by introducing evolved zombies that move faster and hit harder than ever before. Continuing on the naming conventions Columbus used in Zombieland, Zombieland: Double Tap now includes T-800s, named after the Terminator. Also known as Bolts, they’re faster, stronger, and much harder to kill.

Though not an awards darling, Zombieland: Double Tap reinforced how flexible the zombie genre could be, proving that even rapid-fire horror could coexist with blockbuster comedy appeal.

The Last Of Us (2023 – Present)

When it comes to fast zombies on TV, HBO’s The Last of Us is the series most viewers immediately think of. The series brings zombie-esqude beings to life through the terrifying Cordyceps-infected. These threats provide the background for character-driven drama, which grounds the horror in emotional human relationships.

In The Last of Us season 1, the infected’s evolution barely slows them down. If that wasn’t enough, season 2 introduced a terrifying new strain of infected known as Stalkers. These particular variants are cunning, stealthy, and monstrously fast. Pure nightmare fuel.

The series achieved massive critical and commercial success, winning awards and breaking viewership records. By combining fast infected horror with emotional depth, HBO’s The Last of Us cemented itself as one of television’s most acclaimed zombie dramas.

Dead Set (2008)

From the twisted mind of Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, Dead Set is a British zombie horror series set inside the UK Big Brother house. The show uses fast-moving zombies to devastating effect, separating Dead Set from more traditional zombie TV series. The Big Brother contestants are trapped inside their game show home while the world collapses outside, where the infected move quickly.

Though it is likely one of the best zombie shows no one remembers, the series did initially gain recognition for its biting satire and brutal realism.

Dead Set’s tight pacing and tone are synonymous with Brooker’s work. The setting creates a rapidly escalating, claustrophobic nightmare. Its use of fast-moving zombies enhances the show’s social commentary. The British horror is a great example of how to mix horror with cultural critique.

Ash Vs Evil Dead (2015 – 2018)

Ash vs Evil Dead reanimates Bruce Campbell’s cult classic hero Ash Williams from The Evil Dead franchise. While he’s not the undead, he does have to tackle "Deadites." Not your traditional zombies, Deadites are parasitic demons that take human hosts. Much like zombies, they are capable of infecting others and creating an army.

Ash vs Evil Dead embraces frenetic, fast-moving undead threats. The possessed don’t shamble or stalk their victims; they sprint, lunge, and attack with manic unpredictability, often overwhelming Ash and his allies in seconds.

The show earned acclaim for its unapologetic gore and practical effects, all of which echoed Raimi’s signature style. Many cite Ash vs Evil Dead as one of the best horror movie spin-offs. Ash vs Evil Dead has secured its status as a cult favorite that continues to resonate with horror fans long after it ended.

Black Summer (2019 – 2021)

Netflix’s Black Summer is one of the most brutal and overlooked zombie series in modern zombie canon, stripping the genre down to its rawest elements. There are no grand speeches, elaborate backstories, or moments of safety. The series also avoids clear heroes, emphasizing how fear fractures morality when survival becomes the only goal.

The series uses minimal dialogue, fragmented timelines, and extended tracking shots that force the audience to experience terror in real time. Its use of silence and long takes amplifies how unpredictable and deadly the infected are. The show’s rapid zombies attack without warning.

The series gained a passionate following for its uncompromising realism, with Stephen King praising Black Summer, believing it is more intense than many contemporary zombie shows. Its reputation rests on how effectively it portrays fear, making fast zombies feel genuinely unstoppable and redefining tension in modern zombie television.

Train To Busan (2016)

Train to Busan is a Korean zombie horror movie, also praised by Stephen King, who named it one of the best horror films of the 21st century. The film delivers some of the fastest, most aggressive zombies ever put on screen. Confined in a speeding train, the infected swarm with terrifying efficiency, forcing characters into constant motion.

The film reimagines zombie horror through sheer velocity. Once the outbreak begins, the undead don’t hesitate or dawdle. They sprint, pile up, and engulf entire train cars in seconds, turning confined spaces into suffocating death traps that keep the tension permanently dialed up.

The movie became an international hit, widely recognized for blending emotional storytelling with relentless horror. Helping elevate Korean horror cinema globally, Train to Busan is often ranked among the best zombie movies ever made. It remains a benchmark for intensity and emotional resonance.