The Top Zombie Movies of All Time – The Top 10 Scariest Zombie Movies We All Love

Hollywood zombie movies have been delighting and terrifying audiences in equal measure for decades. From the seminal Night of the Living Dead in 1968 to the hilarious Shaun of the Dead in 2004, we've watched heroes and heroines dodging the shuffling undead army for decades. 

If you’re new to the gory delights of zombie films, we’ve put together the top zombie movies of all time, as judged by their IMDb scores. There are only 10 on the list, so once you've watched these, there are plenty more to discover – if you dare!

I Am Legend, 2007

Starring Will Smith, the top zombie movie of all time according to IMDb is this post-apocalyptic masterpiece by director Francis Lawrence. A lone man, the sole survivor of a plague that has turned the rest of the population into deranged monsters, tries to find the answer to mankind’s greatest challenge. His faithful dog is by his side as he dodges the zombies in a decimated and bleak cityscape as he continues to work towards finding the cure for the pandemic. Also starring Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan and Salli Richardson-Whitfield.

World War Z,  2013

A pandemic is destroying the world's armies and governments, and humanity's survival is threatened as more succumb to the plague. The planet is spiralling towards anarchy and devastation, with only tiny pockets of humanity trying to survive the onslaught. One man, played by Brad Pitt, stands against the armies of the undead and fights to save the future of mankind in a heroic battle that will keep you glued to your seat from start to finish. Also starring Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz and James Badge Dale. Directed by Marc Forster, this sweeping film is one of the best action-adventure films and definitely one of the scariest zombie movies of all time.

Zombieland, 2009

The zombie genre has thrown up some fabulous comedies as well as horror films, and Zombieland ranks as one of the best. The classic road trip film but with added undead and some unique characters, it’s a rip-roaringly funny film with jump-out-of-your-seat moments of real horror. The characters interplay with one another brilliantly, with Woody Harrelson stealing every scene he’s in. Also starring Jessie Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin. Directed by Ruben Fleischer.

Shaun of the Dead, 2004

This British comedy horror is one of the finest and funniest zombie movies of the lot. Written by and starring the brilliant Simon Pegg, it tells the story of how the mundane everyday life of a salesman and his mate are turned upside down by a rather inconvenient zombie apocalypse. When family and friends start succumbing to the occasional infected chomp from one of the living dead, things get personal. It’s time to head to the Winchester, have a pint, and wait for this to all blow over. Also starring Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield and Lucy Davis. Directed by Edgar Wright.

28 Days Later, 2002

Waking up in a deserted hospital, ‘Jim’ has to run for his life as a terrifying plague has turned everyone around him into raging beasts, caused by the misplaced good intentions of a few animal rights activists. This seminal film captures the desolation and sense of hopelessness of an apocalyptic disaster and gives it a distinctly human touch. The empty London streets are exquisitely filmed, and the movie is filled with a sense of the everyday world turned on its head by the folly of mankind. Starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston and Alex Palmer. Directed by Danny Boyle.

28 Weeks Later, 2007

The follow-on to 28 Days Later, this film is unusual in that it takes the original storyline to the next stage. The first plague may have subsided, but that doesn’t mean that attempts to repopulate will succeed. Has the Rage virus truly abated? Or could just one unknowing person carrying the mutated version scupper the chances of survival for a small, isolated enclave of untainted humans? Sometimes, there are no happy endings and we are doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again. Starring Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, Robert Carlyle, and Harold Perrineau. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Resident Evi, 2002

What happens when you add an out-of-control super-computer to a zombie plague? You get one of the most important zombie franchises of all time, and one of the most successful. It all starts here with the original Resident Evil, and features some of the most breath-taking action sequences of the entire horror genre. A seminal film of its type and one of the best zombie movies ever filmed, Resident Evil grabs you from the very start and refuses to give you a chance to catch your breath until the end. Starring Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Ryan McClusky and Oscar Pearce. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.

Dawn of the Dead, 2004

A shopping mall provides refuge for an unlikely bunch of survivors in this classic zombie movie. Outside (but not for long) are the armies of the undead, and they’re not here for a bit of retail therapy. Dawn of the Dead is everything you want from a zombie movie and is high-octane action from start to finish. It draws on the sense of menace from the original 1978 film of the same name, but with more of a sense of claustrophobia to add even more terror. Starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, and Jake Weber. Directed by Zack Snyder.

Warm Bodies, 2013

Can you have a zombie romance? Warm Bodies says yes, you can. This unusual take on the run-of-the-mill zombie theme is funny, heartwarming and a bit gory, but ultimately shows how the human spirit can conquer any adversity. It treads a fine line between horror and rom-com but without falling over into the cheesy, clichéd and predictability that you get with the average girl-meets-boy film. It’s an intelligent and surprisingly upbeat take on the zombie theme that stars Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich, and Lio Tipton. Directed by Jonathan Levine.

Train to Busan, 2016

One of the most claustrophobic, terrifying and extreme zombie movies of all time, Train to Busan is a non-stop horror ride from Seoul to Busan. The sheer relentless action and the continual threat of death-by-zombie just beyond a thin glass sheet keep these passengers battling for survival every step of the way. The use of hand-held cameras and the close-quarter combat scenes give Train to Busan an intensity that chills your blood – in this film, there really isn’t any escape. A film that takes the zombie genre to a whole new level of terror. Starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, and Su-an Kim. Directed by Sang-ho Yeon.

Click the link and grab new movie tickets and enjoy VOX Cinemas. You can also check our upcoming movies and book your place in advance! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest movie news and check back here for more VOX Voice articles.