Splatter / Zombie
1980
City of the Living Dead
City of the Living Dead: family and mortality, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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Explore the genre
Zombie movies from the 80s
Zombie cinema became bloodier, stranger and often much funnier during the 1980s, with filmmakers pushing practical effects and undead mayhem in increasingly inventive directions.
The decade carried forward the darker tradition of zombie horror while also embracing splatter, science fiction and horror comedy.
21 movies so far
Zombie movies
Horror / Zombie / Science Fiction / Mystery
1981
Dead & Buried
Dead & Buried: mortality and fear, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie
1981
The Beyond
The Beyond: the safety of home and loss, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Supernatural Horror / Zombie / Drama / Fantasy / Splatter / Body Horror / Horror / Mysticism
1981
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead: fear and freedom, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie / Slasher
1981
The House by the Cemetery
The House by the Cemetery: the safety of home and loss, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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Horror / Monster / Zombie / Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Ghost / Anthology / Science Fiction Horror / Fantasy / Thriller / Black Comedy
1982
Creepshow
Five nasty little tales, a comic-book wrapper and one perfectly awkward professor.
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Horror / Monster / Zombie / Slasher / B Movie / Science Fiction
1984
C.H.U.D.
C.H.U.D.: fear and authority, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Science Fiction Comedy / Action / Comedy Horror / Zombie / Post-apocalyptic / Horror / Comedy
1984
Night of the Comet
Sisters, malls and a comet — Night of the Comet is a B-movie that learned how to be fun and oddly wise about survival.
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Horror / Science Fiction Horror / Action / Zombie / Thriller / Drama / Independent / Splatter / Post-apocalyptic / Mystery / Suspense / Dystopian
1985
Day of the Dead
A bunker drama with zombies, a scientist who won a festival, and a soldier who won't listen.
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Horror / Thriller / Suspense / Drama / Mystery / Action / Supernatural Horror / Supernatural / Zombie
1985
Demons
Demons: freedom and friendship, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Adventure / Vampire / Zombie / Science Fiction Horror / Monster / Horror / Thriller / Suspense / Drama
1985
Lifeforce
Lifeforce: mortality and freedom, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Zombie / Splatter / Body Horror
1985
Re-Animator
A medical-school madman, a glowing green reagent and enough stage blood to cause moral indigestion.
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Zombie / Comedy Horror / Science Fiction
1985
The Return of the Living Dead
Brains, bad decisions and Burt — a punky, gory little time-bomb.
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Zombie Comedy / Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Comedy
1986
Night of the Creeps
Night of the Creeps: the safety of home and mortality, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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Comedy Horror / Zombie / Splatter / Parody
1987
Evil Dead II
A one-man brawl with the Book of the Dead: nasty, daft and brilliantly alive.
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Comedy Horror / Zombie / Horror
1987
House II: The Second Story
House II: The Second Story: family and the safety of home, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Horror / Fantasy / Zombie / Supernatural Horror / Supernatural / Religious Horror / Suspense / Mystery / Thriller
1987
Prince of Darkness
Prince of Darkness: fear and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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Science Fiction / Comedy Horror / Zombie Comedy / Comedy
1988
Return of the Living Dead Part II
Return of the Living Dead Part II: freedom and family, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie / Supernatural / Supernatural Horror / Fantasy / Adventure / Suspense / Thriller / Folk Horror / Mystery
1988
The Serpent and the Rainbow
The Serpent and the Rainbow: mortality and lifespan and corporate power, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Zombie Comedy / Comedy Horror / Crossover Fiction / Vampire / Horror
1988
Waxwork
Waxwork: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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Horror / Zombie
1989
Pet Sematary
Grief, temptation and a very bad burial decision.
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