Dawn of the Dead

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Dawn of the Dead

R

2004

1h 40m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

192 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When her husband is attacked by a zombified neighbor, Ana (Sarah Polley) manages to escape, only to realize her entire Milwaukee neighborhood has been overrun by the walking dead. After being questioned by cautious policeman Kenneth (Ving Rhames), Ana joins him and a small group that gravitates to the local shopping mall as a bastion of safety. Once they convince suspicious security guards that they are not contaminated, the group bands together to fight the undead hordes.

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Critics Consensus

A kinetic, violent and surprisingly worthy remake of George Romero's horror classic that pays homage to the original while working on its own terms.

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Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

It is ferocious and young and exciting.

Dec 18, 2017

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The new version has its share of disturbing moments, but writer James Gunn and director Zack Snyder have stripped away the social satire of the original and put little in its place.

May 27, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Extremely gory horror movie; not for kids.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

David Day

Horror Movie Talk

This may be one of the best zombie movies ever made, and I think that has a lot to do with all these spectacularly talented people that come together on this Dawn of the Dead.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 23, 2025

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... the screenplay by James Gunn has its own survivalist drive, and first time feature director Zack Snyder delivers something what Romero didn’t: he turns it into a high octane zombie action film.

Jun 11, 2023

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Kristy Strouse

Wonderfully Weird and Horrifying

Dawn of the Dead provides new digs for the Romero classic, with heightened energy and wonderfully gory thrills.

May 18, 2023

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ja A.

Starts off really strong but gets dull at the halfway mark. It’s good but long winded

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

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Uncle R.

One of the only zombie movies that is actually horrifying.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/20/25

Full Review

Clarence H.

Great movie that I think is one of the best zombie movies ever. Really intense and fast moving. Excellent.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

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Derrick M

The only reason you wouldnt like this movie is because you dont like how its connected to George's movie cause this is literally Top 5 for me all time. Its great, its thrilling, some spookiness to it and it has great pacing if nothing else

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

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Adam Massacre G

I saw this on its original release at the cinema and what an absolute ride it was. 20 some years later and many many re-watches its still absolute badass! It drops the social commentary of its original and goes for more of the fast paced rollercoaster ride and replaces the slow shuffling walking dead with super aggressive fast running dead that adds some realy intense scenes. A brutal violent rush of end of the world action horror filled with hungry dead cannibals and a baby. Marvelous.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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TheReviewer _.

Exciting throughout the beginning and middle of the movie but lost traction at the end. Primarily with the zombie baby scene. A fun, cult classic overall.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

Full Review

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Zack Snyder

Director

Sarah Polley

Ana

Ving Rhames

Kenneth

Jake Weber

Michael

Mekhi Phifer

Andre

Ty Burrell

Steve

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Two Buses From Hell

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Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Holy S***!

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Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Blow My Head Off

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Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - I'm In

2:23

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Zombies Ate My Neighbors

1:58

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Zombie Janitor

1:45

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Fire Power

2:21

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - The Dead Will Walk the Earth

2:13

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - Regime Change

1:43

Dawn of the Dead: Official Clip - A New Batch of Survivors

1:35

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Synopsis

When her husband is attacked by a zombified neighbor, Ana (Sarah Polley) manages to escape, only to realize her entire Milwaukee neighborhood has been overrun by the walking dead. After being questioned by cautious policeman Kenneth (Ving Rhames), Ana joins him and a small group that gravitates to the local shopping mall as a bastion of safety. Once they convince suspicious security guards that they are not contaminated, the group bands together to fight the undead hordes.

Director: Zack Snyder
Producer: Marc Abraham, Eric Newman, Richard P. Rubinstein
Screenwriter: James Gunn, George A. Romero
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Metropolitan FilmExport, Toho-Towa, New Amsterdam Entertainment Inc., Strike Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Gore|Pervasive Strong Violence|Sexuality)
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.9M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby SRD, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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