Zombies have been a staple of horror cinema for decades, with filmmakers using the undead to explore themes of survival, social commentary, and good old-fashioned scares. Luckily for fans of the zombie subgenre, Hulu has an impressive collection of zombie flicks available to stream. From classic Romero films to modern indie hits, here are the 25 best zombie movies on Hulu that you can watch right now.
1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
The godfather of the modern zombie film, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead essentially created the template that the subgenre would follow for decades to come. The low-budget black-and-white film follows a group of survivors holed up in a farmhouse while fending off hordes of undead ghouls. In addition to its scares, the film provides biting social commentary that elevates it to classic status.
2. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Romero’s follow-up to Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead is an ambitious sequel that expands the scope of the zombie apocalypse. Set largely in an abandoned shopping mall, the film is a clever satire of consumerism, while also delivering plenty of gore and scares. Many consider it Romero’s masterpiece and one of the greatest zombie films ever made.
3. Day of the Dead (1985)
The third film in Romero’s original Dead trilogy, Day of the Dead moves the action to an underground bunker where scientists and military personnel clash while trying to deal with the zombie outbreak. It’s a darker, more claustrophobic film than its predecessors, with incredible special effects by Tom Savini. While not as well-known as Night and Dawn, it’s an underrated gem in Romero’s filmography.
4. 28 Days Later (2002)
Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later helped revitalize the zombie genre for a new generation, with its fast-moving infected and gritty digital cinematography. The film follows a man who wakes up from a coma to find London overrun by a highly contagious virus that turns people into rage-filled killers. With its intense action and surprising emotional depth, 28 Days Later is a modern horror classic.
5. 28 Weeks Later (2007)
The sequel to 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later picks up six months after the initial outbreak, as the U.S. military attempts to secure a safe zone in London. However, the virus inevitably breaks out again, leading to another round of bloody chaos. With its bigger budget and scope, 28 Weeks Later is a worthy follow-up that expands the world of the franchise.
6. Train to Busan (2016)
This South Korean blockbuster follows a group of passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan as a zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out across the country. Confined to the claustrophobic setting of the train, the film ratchets up the tension as the survivors try to make it to their destination alive. With its well-drawn characters and emotional stakes, Train to Busan is a fresh take on the zombie formula.
7. The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
In a post-apocalyptic future where most of humanity has been wiped out by a fungal infection, a young girl who is immune to the disease may hold the key to a cure. As she and a group of soldiers embark on a perilous journey, they must fight off hordes of “hungries.” Based on the novel by M.R. Carey, The Girl with All the Gifts is a smart, emotionally resonant zombie film with a great cast that includes Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, and Glenn Close.
8. One Cut of the Dead (2017)
This Japanese indie film starts off as a low-budget zombie movie, but soon reveals itself to be something much more clever and meta. To say any more would spoil the surprises of One Cut of the Dead, but suffice to say it’s a hilarious and heartfelt ode to the joys of filmmaking, with a zombie twist. It’s one of the most original and entertaining zombie comedies in years.
9. Little Monsters (2019)
In this horror-comedy from Australia, a washed-up musician volunteers to chaperone his nephew’s kindergarten field trip, only to find himself in the middle of a zombie outbreak. He teams up with the kids’ teacher (Lupita Nyong’o) and a children’s TV personality (Josh Gad) to try to keep the children safe. Little Monsters balances gory zombie action with heartfelt comedy, anchored by a stellar performance from Nyong’o.
10. Overlord (2018)
This action-horror hybrid follows a group of American paratroopers who discover sinister Nazi experiments while on a mission behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day. As they infiltrate a church to destroy a German radio tower, they find themselves up against mutated creatures that are a result of the Nazis’ attempts to create super-soldiers. With its intense, gory action and creepy monster effects, Overlord is a fun B-movie thrill ride.
11. The Beyond (1981)
Italian horror master Lucio Fulci’s surreal and gory film follows a woman who inherits a hotel that turns out to be built on one of the gates to hell. As zombies and other supernatural beings start to emerge, the film becomes a nightmarish odyssey of graphic violence and hallucinatory imagery. The Beyond is a cult classic of Italian horror cinema, not for the faint of heart.
12. Re-Animator (1985)
Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story, this horror-comedy follows a medical student who has discovered a way to bring the dead back to life. His experiments soon spiral out of control, leading to all sorts of gory mayhem. With its mix of gross-out humor and inventive practical effects, Re-Animator is a beloved cult classic that launched a franchise.
13. Dead Snow (2009)
In this Norwegian horror-comedy, a group of friends on a ski vacation in the mountains are attacked by a horde of Nazi zombies. Yes, you read that right: Nazi zombies. Dead Snow leans into the absurdity of its premise, delivering equal parts laughs and scares. Its inventive gore effects and self-aware humor make it a standout in the crowded zombie comedy subgenre.
14. The Battery (2012)
A low-budget indie film, The Battery follows two former baseball players as they traverse the back roads of New England in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. More of a character study than a traditional zombie film, it’s a minimalist and contemplative take on the genre that relies on strong performances and a sense of creeping dread.
15. Pontypool (2008)
In this unconventional Canadian horror film, a deadly virus spreads through the English language itself, turning the infected into zombie-like killers. Set almost entirely within a small-town radio station, Pontypool is a clever and cerebral take on the zombie genre, using language and ideas as its source of terror rather than just gore and jump scares.
16. The Crazies (2010)
A remake of George A. Romero’s 1973 film of the same name, The Crazies follows the residents of a small Iowa town who are suddenly turned into violent killers by a mysterious toxin. As the military attempts to contain the outbreak, a sheriff and his wife try to survive and escape. With its mix of zombie horror and paranoid thriller elements, The Crazies is an effective update of Romero’s original vision.
17. Cargo (2017)
In this Australian drama set in the aftermath of a zombie pandemic, a man traverses the outback with his infant daughter, searching for a safe haven after being bitten and infected himself. Faced with a 48-hour ticking clock before he turns, he encounters other survivors and makes difficult choices to try to ensure his daughter’s safety. Based on a short film, Cargo is a character-driven and emotionally weighty take on the genre.
18. Zombieland (2009)
This horror-comedy follows a ragtag group of survivors navigating the zombie-infested ruins of America, adhering to a list of rules to stay alive. With an all-star cast including Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, Zombieland is a hilarious and action-packed road trip movie with plenty of zombie-killing mayhem. Its witty script and self-aware humor make it a standout in the genre.
19. The Rezort (2015)
In a world where zombies are real and the outbreak has been contained, the ultra-wealthy can pay to hunt the undead for sport at a remote island resort. But when the security systems fail and the zombies escape, the guests and staff must fight for survival. The Rezort is a clever riff on the zombie genre, using its premise to comment on class and exploitation while still delivering gory action.
20. Ravenous (2017)
This French-Canadian film follows a group of survivors in a small village in rural Quebec in the aftermath of a zombie outbreak. As they attempt to fortify their homes and ration their supplies, they are faced with difficult moral choices in their fight for survival. Ravenous is a character-driven drama that uses the zombie apocalypse as a backdrop to explore themes of human nature and community.
21. The Night Eats the World (2018)
After waking up from a night of partying to find Paris overrun by zombies, a man barricades himself inside his ex-girlfriend’s apartment building. As he scavenges for supplies and tries to maintain his sanity in isolation, he discovers another survivor hiding out in the building. The Night Eats the World is a minimalist and atmospheric take on the zombie genre, focusing more on the psychological toll of survival than on gore and action.
22. Blood Quantum (2019)
Set in the 1980s, this Canadian film follows the residents of a First Nations reserve who discover they are immune to a zombie virus that is decimating the rest of the world. As they attempt to protect their community and survive the outbreak, they are faced with difficult choices and the legacy of colonialism. Blood Quantum uses the zombie genre to explore issues of indigenous identity and generational trauma.
23. The Dead Don’t Die (2019)
Jim Jarmusch’s star-studded horror-comedy follows the residents of a small town as they deal with a sudden zombie invasion. With an absurdist sense of humor and fourth-wall-breaking meta-commentary, The Dead Don’t Die is a quirky and idiosyncratic take on the genre. Its cast includes Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, and many more.
24. #Alive (2020)
In this South Korean thriller, a video game live streamer is trapped alone in his apartment when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Seoul. As he tries to survive and maintain his sanity, he makes contact with another survivor in the building across from him. #Alive is a tense and claustrophobic take on the genre, using modern technology and social media as a key part of its storytelling.
25. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
A British horror-comedy-musical set during the Christmas season, Anna and the Apocalypse follows a group of high school students whose town is suddenly overrun by zombies. As they fight to survive and save their loved ones, they also break out into musical numbers. With its genre-blending premise and charming cast, Anna and the Apocalypse is a fresh and entertaining take on the zombie genre that’s perfect for the holidays.
From classic Romero films to international hits to indie gems, this list represents the impressive breadth and depth of the zombie genre available on Hulu. Whether you’re in the mood for serious scares, gory action, clever comedy, or thought-provoking social commentary, there’s a zombie movie on Hulu for every taste. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a undead movie marathon!
