Zack Snyder is known for his huge blockbusters in the DC Universe and for his memorable hits like 300 man of steel, and Dawn of the dead. In 2021, he decides to dust off the cobwebs and direct Netflix’s new zombie thriller, Army of the dead. As viewers still soak up Snyder’s incredible creation, they might find themselves on the hunt for other films to live up to the recent zombie release.
While Scott Ward (Dave Bautista) and his brave group of mercenaries can be hard to beat, there are other films on the popular streaming platforms that deserve a chance or a second look. In case horror fans need any recommendations, check out the movies below and get ready to keep the lights on.
ten Dawn Of The Dead (2004) – Available for rendering on Amazon Prime Video
Dawn of the Dead is an easy choice because in 2004 Snyder played a major role in the making of the action-horror film. Although George A. Romero and James Gunn co-wrote it, Snyder gave the classic zombie a new take on all things zombies. In fact, Dawn of the Dead is one of the best remakes in zombie movie history, and rightly so. When a small Midwestern town is suddenly attacked by an unknown virus, nearly all of its residents turn into bloodthirsty undead and hunt the few remaining survivors in the local mega-mall.
There were some notable performances from Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, and Ty Burrell, and the film is generally scary and action-packed. Not only is Dawn of the Dead headed by the same director as Army of the dead, but it focuses on a group that is fighting to stay alive while navigating a vicious zombie world.
9 Zombieland (2009) – Netflix
Apparently, there’s nothing funny about a virus invading the human body, but in 2009 director Ruben Fleischer made the impossible possible. the land of zombies is categorized as an adventure comedy that focuses on a small group of survivors who roam the United States to find safety. While the land of zombies is funnier than scary, it has a long and memorable impact on audiences, and is now considered one of the top rated zombie movies of the 2000s.
As Army of the dead, he takes on terrifying zombies who want nothing more than to rip off the faces of all the remaining survivors.
8 Little Monsters (2019) – Hulu
Leading actress Lupita Nyong’o is best known for her incredible performances in Black Panther, 12 years old slave, and We, but in 2019 she mixed her acting skills with a horror comedy titled Little monsters. Not to be confused with the 1990s film of the same name, Little monsters focuses on a teacher named Miss Caroline (Lupita Nyong’o) and her class who are on a school trip. What was meant to be a light day turned out to be a bloodbath filled with undead and a unique take on the horror subgenre as a whole.
As Army of the dead, Little Monsters doesn’t take itself too seriously and is filled with comedic relief and good acting. The female-led movie is also rated as one of the best zombie movies of the past decade, which is understandable after viewers watched it.
7 World War Z (2013) – Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video
In the 2010s, Marc Forster decided to knock down zombie fans and release the well-regarded horror thriller, World War Z. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, the film centers on a former United Nations employee named Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) who is trying to figure out how and why the zombie pandemic happened. Which sets World War Z apart from other films of its genre, there are the fast-paced zombies and the tension-filled moments that never seem to end.
Because it nails the action-packed scenes and the terrifying zombie hordes, World War Z has the potential to stand next Army of the dead with ease.
6 Cargo (2017) – Netflix
While many zombie movies focus on big cities and large masses of people, Cargo decides to keep it simple. For the most part, the film centers on a father named Andy (Martin Freeman) who was recently bitten by a zombie and knows he only has less than two days to get his little girl to safety. As Andy sets out on this journey, he encounters other survivors and even dangers that could disrupt his mission.
As Army of the Dead, Cargo has moments of action, but both of these films have moments that show the humanitarian side of people and the efforts they will make to protect their families. While some zombie movies are overrated and not as good as they claim to be, Cargo is definitely an under-the-radar gem that deserves more attention.
5 I Am Legend (2007) – Hulu
I’m a legend is a 2007 action drama that focuses on a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by disease. It also focuses on a scientist named Robert Neville (Smith) who continues to search for a cure. While Robert has his routine in this dark new world, he is also tasked with hiding from the evil that lurks in the dark buildings until nightfall.
I’m a legend has a modern take on the classy zombie genre and strikes a chord with viewers in more ways than one. As Army of the dead, this film has a pulse and is filled with emotion.
4 Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – HBO Max
To begin, Eleven from the ocean has nothing to do with zombies or an apocalyptic world, but it does involve a group of people trying to carry out a big heist in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the crime thriller doesn’t have any bloody make-up or people seeking refuge, it offers great cast and is one of the film industry’s best crime storylines. Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts, the film received excellent reviews and just happens to be one of Julia Roberts’ best films to date.
As Army of the dead fans know, the story follows a group of people entering “The City of Lights”, hoping to come out alive and rich. Without zombies, that’s exactly it Eleven from the ocean turns out to be.
3 28 Days Later (2002) – Hulu
No zombie movie list is complete without mentioning one of the best movies of all time, 28 days later. Set in today’s London, a man named Jim (Cillian Murphy) comes out of a coma and is confused by the state of the outside world. As he wanders the deserted streets of downtown, he realizes that the locals are not friendly and everyone has become carnivorous maniacs. 28 days later was such a hit, a sequel was born, and to this day it’s hard to beat the low budget horror movie.
The film doesn’t offer viewers the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas, but it does provide a great ride alongside Jim and his companions.
2 Resident Evil (2002) – Amazon Prime Video
Based on a popular video game, the resident Evil the franchise did not disappoint. In 2002, the original was released and starred Mila Jovovich as Alice, a former security guard at a secret underground research center. After Alice wakes up with no memory of what happened, she quickly realizes that Raccoon City has been overrun by zombies. After a leak in the lab, residents and employees were infected with the virus and it’s up to Alice and a military team to find a solution.
There’s no shortage of action, thrills or zombies in resident Evil, and now it’s considered one of the best video-to-movie transitions in the film industry.
1 Train to Busan (2016) – Hulu
The South Korean film industry is known for its spectacular horror films like The Lamentations, Peninsula, and The zombie neighbor, but none can compare to the horror thriller of 2016, Train to Busan. Centered on a short trip from Seoul to Busan, a workaholic father named Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) accompanies his daughter Soo-an (Su-an Kim) by train to his ex-wife’s house. Along the way, a zombie outbreak takes place and it is up to Seok-woo to protect his daughter at all costs while becoming a leader for the other passengers on the train.
It sounds like a story similar to Army of the dead because the character of Dave Bautista must take care of his daughter while leading the team towards wealth and security.