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Alongside spooky horror films, Halloween movies, Thai horror, and more, zombie movies – the undead – are among the most beloved genres. These films go beyond mere horror, as filmmakers creatively explore various themes such as family, comedy, school, politics, action, and more. Join Mytour in discovering the TOP 15 Korean and American zombie movies!
TOP Korean Zombie Films, Undead Wonders in 2024
The Korean film industry boasts a diverse range of cinematic creations. Beyond romantic couple films, comedies, sitcoms, school dramas, and family stories, Korea is currently renowned for its horror and action genres, including zombie films. Korean zombie movies are known for their diverse, captivating plots intertwining multiple intriguing and meaningful stories. Here are the best undead wonders from Korea!
#Alive (2020) – Korean Horror Excellence
- Genre: Zombie Film, Horror, Intense, Romance, Drama, Sci-Fi
- Duration: 98 minutes
- Director: Cho Il-hyeong
- Starring: Yoo Ah In, Park Shin Hye
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
A classic, intense Korean zombie film, #Alive (original title: #Tôi còn sống) tells the story of the zombie apocalypse and Joon Woo (Yoo Ah In), a gamer who stays home all day. The film revolves around his journey to find a way to survive, connecting with a girl in the opposite building – portrayed by Park Shin Hye. This movie takes the audience through various emotional twists and turns.
Korean horror film #Alive (Tôi còn sống) (Source: Internet)The Odd Family: Zombie On Sale (2019)
- Genre: Zombie Film, Comedy, Family, Horror
- Duration: 112 minutes
- Director: Lee Min-Jae
- Starring: Jung Jae Young, Kim Nam Gil, Lee Soo Kyung, Uhm Ji Won, Jung Ga Ram, Park In Hwan
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
A refreshing addition to the zombie film genre is Zombie On Sale. Taking the audience from suspenseful moments to hearty laughter, the film follows the Park family using zombies to make money. Unlike the typical gory portrayal of zombies, this film introduces a completely new palette, and the zombies even have a touch of handsomeness thanks to actor Jung Ga Ram. It's a must-watch with a heartwarming ending.
The Odd Family – Zombie On Sale is a humorous zombie film (Source: Internet)Zombie Films 2021: Kingdom – Korean Historical Zombie Drama
- Genre: Horror, Drama, Historical, Period
- Duration: Season 1 (6 episodes), Season 2 (2 episodes)
- Directors: Kim Seong-hun (Season 1), Park In-je (Season 2)
- Starring: Joo Ji-hoon, Bae Doona, Jeon Seok‑ho, Kim Sang‑ho, Kim Hye-jun
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Creating a buzz on social media for quite some time is Kingdom, the historical zombie drama. This series is set in the backdrop of a zombie pandemic and power struggles during the Joseon era. The brilliance lies in bringing zombies into ancient times, along with meaningful messages about class and gender distinctions of that era.
Kingdom is a Korean zombie drama worth watching (Source: Internet)Train to Busan – Journey of Survival – Meaningful Korean Zombie Film
- Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama, Horror, Suspense
- Duration: 121 minutes
- Director: Yeon Sang-ho
- Starring: Ma Dong-seok, Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
The 2016 box office sensation, Train to Busan, quickly captured the hearts of millions with its compelling storyline and integration of profound lessons. Especially, the presence of the handsome Gong Yoo and action star Ma Dong-seok brought breathtaking action scenes. The film emphasizes sacrifice, courage, and various relationships such as parent-child, husband-wife, friendship, and siblings.
Journey of Survival is a meaningful Korean zombie film, worth watching (Source: Internet)All of Us Are Dead – Zombie School – Extremely Engaging Korean High School Zombie Film
- Genre: Undead, High School, Horror, Survival Battle
- Duration: 12 episodes
- Director: Lee Jae-kyoo
- Starring: Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo, Cho Yi-hyun, Park Solomon, Yoo In-soo
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
The brilliance of this film lies in the fusion of the undead with a high school setting, conveying valuable lessons about love and friendship. Faced with the zombie phenomenon, high school students must rise and strive to survive, unraveling the school's stories and secrets, keeping the audience surprised at every turn.
Zombie School is an outstanding Korean high school zombie film (Source: Internet)Peninsula – The Peninsula (2020)
- Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
- Duration: 116 minutes
- Director: Yeon Sang-ho
- Starring: Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Re Lee
- IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
An exciting Korean action-horror zombie film worth watching is Peninsula – The Peninsula. This film revolves around the post-zombie apocalypse story. The survivors have moved to a safe place, but rumors suggest there is a large sum of money left behind by criminals on the Peninsula. The protagonist, Jung-seok, is tasked with returning to the Peninsula to retrieve the money, and the journey unfolds with thrilling action and horror scenes that captivate the audience.
The Peninsula is an intriguing Korean action zombie film (Source: Internet)Seoul Station (2016)
- Genre: Animation, Action, Horror
- Duration: 92 minutes
- Director: Yeon Sang-ho
- Starring: Shim Eun-kyung, Ryu Seung-ryong, Lee Joon
- IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
Seoul Station is an animated film in the zombie genre and a prequel to Train To Busan, both directed by Yeon Sang-ho. The film follows the desperate search for a daughter in the midst of a zombie apocalypse in the sinking city of Seoul.
Seoul Station is the prequel to Train To Busan (Source: Internet)Rampant (2018) – A Must-Watch South Korean Zombie Film
- Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
- Duration: 121 minutes
- Director: Sung-hoon Kim
- Starring: Jang Dong-Gun, Hyun Bin, Seo Ji-Hye
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
The film takes us on an intense journey with Prince Lee Chung, portrayed by the talented Hyun Bin. The story unfolds as Lee Chung is captured and taken to the Qing dynasty as a hostage, following Korea falling into the hands of powerful ministers. The prince's return comes after the heartbreaking news of the suicide of Crown Prince Lee Young, portrayed by actor Kim Tae-woo. However, Lee Chung's journey back home is far from easy as he must confront the most formidable enemy – a horde of flesh-eating zombies wreaking havoc at night.
The movie not only focuses on horror and the undead but also crafts a complex battle against the dark machinations of Prime Minister Kim Ja-joon, brilliantly portrayed by actor Jang Dong-gun. The script is tightly woven, cleverly combining political intrigue and the zombie apocalypse. Moreover, the action sequences are executed with finesse and visual appeal, keeping the audience glued to the screen.
Rampant is the must-watch South Korean zombie film (Source: Internet)Top 7 Most Terrifying and Action-Packed American Zombie Films
Here are the top 7 intensely thrilling and horrifying American Zombie films that you shouldn't miss.
Zombieland
- Genre: Action, Comedy
- Duration: 88 minutes
- Director: Ruben Fleischer
- Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin
- IMDb: 7.6/10
Zombieland – Land of the Undead is an action-packed, humorous American zombie film. The film follows the journey of 4 main characters as they try to survive in the apocalypse with unique and hilarious ways of defeating the peculiar undead, bringing abundant laughter and joy to the audience.
Zombieland is a thrilling American zombie film (Source: Internet)Dawn of the Dead – Sunrise of the Reaper
- Genre: Horror, Action
- Duration: 101 minutes
- Director: Zack Snyder
- Starring: Sarah Polley, Mekhi Phifer, Ving Rhames
- IMDb: 7.3/10
Dawn of the Dead, with the message 'Find opportunities to survive,' tells the struggle for survival in the context of the zombie outbreak. The main character, Ana, must endure numerous sacrifices and losses, living in agony after witnessing her husband's death in the fight for survival.
The Dawn of the Dead portrays the struggle for survival (Source: Internet)World War Z
- Genre: Horror, Action, Intense
- Duration: 121 minutes
- Director: Marc Forster
- Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Lucy Aharish
- IMDb: 7.0/10
At the top of the list of the world's best zombie movies is World War Z, starring Brad Pitt. The film is set in the midst of a zombie pandemic, where humans suddenly erupt into biting and devouring each other. The film caused a sensation around 2020 (although produced in 2013) due to many situations similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving viewers moved.
World War Z, the best zombie movie of all time (Source: Internet)Warm Bodies – Zombie Love – A creatively scripted American zombie movie
- Genre: Comedy, Romance, Love
- Duration: 98 minutes
- Director: Jonathan Levine
- Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Analeigh Tipton, John Malkovich
- IMDb: 6.8/10
Switching up the atmosphere from action-packed zombie movies, Warm Bodies is a humorous, romantic film. The movie tells the love story between a young girl (Hoult in the lead) and a zombie. It emphasizes the idea that the 'human' still exists within zombies, conveying their thoughts and perspectives.
Warm Bodies, a romantic zombie movie (Source: Internet)The Walking Dead – Undead – The best zombie TV series of all time
- Genre: TV series, Horror, Post-apocalyptic, Dramatic, Action
- Duration: 11 seasons (177 episodes)
- Director: Frank Darabont
- Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden
- IMDb: 8.1/10
This is a long-running American TV series spanning 11 seasons. This zombie show revolves around the story of humans trying to resist the spreading epidemic of the undead worldwide. It is a captivating and thrilling American horror series with intense action sequences and the emotional developments of its characters.
The Walking Dead is a long-running American TV series (Source: Internet)28 Weeks Later – 28 Weeks Later (2007) – A highly acclaimed zombie movie
- Genre: Fantasy, Horror
- Duration: 100 minutes
- Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
- Starring: Jeremy Renner, Robert Carlyle
- IMDb: 6.9/10
The film explores a zombie virus outbreak in London, and Alice, immune to the virus, embarks on a journey to save the world. Praised for its profound, captivating, and innovative storyline, the movie captivates the audience with a unique twist.
28 Weeks Later is a highly acclaimed zombie movie from 2007 (Source: Internet)Overlord – The Battle of Overlord (2018)
- Genre: Fantasy, War, Horror
- Duration: 110 minutes
- Director: Julius Avery
- Starring: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell
- IMDb: 6.6/10
This zombie movie blends with the theme of war, incorporating intense action elements. The film is set during the Normandy beach assault in World War II. Following the battle, a group of paratroopers narrowly escapes and stumbles upon a village with a mysterious secret. There, they must battle against the experimental creations of Nazi scientists to survive.
Overlord is set against the backdrop of World War II (Source: Internet)Some related questions
What are the best South Korean zombie, undead movies of all time?
Best South Korean zombie movies you should watch: All of Us Are Dead (School of the Dead), Train To Busan, Kingdom, Alive, Zombie On Sale, etc.
What are the most terrifying American zombie, undead movies worth watching?
Most terrifying American zombie movies to watch: The Walking Dead, Zombieland, Overlord, etc.
Above are details about the best zombie movies from South Korea, the United States, and more of all time that you definitely have to watch. This is an entertaining genre that you can enjoy with friends and family in your free time. Don't forget to follow Mytour Blog to stay updated on other great movies!
