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Night of the Living Dead

Play trailer 0:29 Poster for Night of the Living Dead 1968 1h 36m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 82 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the United States.
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Night of the Living Dead

Night of the Living Dead

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Critics Consensus

George A. Romero's debut set the template for the zombie film, and features tight editing, realistic gore, and a sly political undercurrent.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) ... A must-see for film fans. Sep 16, 2022 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Night of the Living Dead is taut and uncompromising, ending on a note of bitter irony. Performances are adequate and often better, especially in the case of Jones, who clearly has what it takes to go on to bigger things. Sep 8, 2021 Full Review Elliott Stein Sight & Sound Romero was offered a budget for colour; he preferred shooting in black and white; the result is a flat murky ambience which is perfect for the ramshackle American Gothic landscape where the events occur. Sep 8, 2021 Full Review Serge Daney Cahiers du Cinéma Clumsily shot, awkwardly acted and as for being scary, completely ineffective. Oct 4, 2023 Full Review Sarah Vincent Cambridge Day Romero’s distrust of authority is reflected in the ending, with cops brandishing guns and German shepherds on taut leashes carrying out extrajudicial executions conjuring the imagery of then contemporaneous civil rights marches under siege by the police. Aug 16, 2023 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film Made for almost nothing, the timing of the release certainly helped its release as it seemed to be an allegory for what was happening in America at the time... Feb 14, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack F I mean, I know it's the most famous zombie movie, because it practically started the genre, but it's so old, it's just not scary. Just watch it to escape your boring mundane afternoon. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/28/25 Full Review Luis Ivan M A remarkably well-executed horror film for 1968. Given its release year, one might expect technical limitations, but the film looks and feels surprisingly strong. Even the makeup and special effects are effective, and the editing holds up well. The performances, while still of their era, are solid and largely withstand the test of time. That said, I did have issues with the plot, specifically choices that can’t be excused by the film’s age. The story focuses heavily on character dynamics, while the haunting element remains present but doesn’t fully come into play until the final act. This approach isn’t inherently wrong, but its execution feels uneven. We’re introduced to characters who serve little purpose and are quickly brushed aside, and the central interpersonal conflict isn’t compelling enough to carry so much of the film. Without the zombie element, there simply isn’t enough narrative substance to hold onto. Some harsher critics might also point out that the zombies themselves don’t feel especially threatening; their slow movement and limited aggression make them less intimidating by modern standards. Still, the film is undeniably a classic, and its influence on later horror (especially zombie cinema) is unmistakable. It delivers striking, iconic imagery for its time and sustains a steady sense of tension throughout. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, but fans of classic horror and the zombie genre will find plenty to appreciate. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/25 Full Review D. Hunter P I watched this movie many years ago in my 20's and I did like it, but I didn't really appreciate it. I have watched this movie in the last couple of years now a number of times, and I have to say that there are so many elements of this movie that are amazing. Seeing the main protagonist lead these people, and him being a black man felt so natural, and this was in the 60's. They didn't even have nicknames for the dead guys, no zombie names or anything. It was just a part of the setting. And the end of this thing is so tragic and has a number of messages that one could argue. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/28/25 Full Review Movie F. I understand its significance for the zombie genre and appreciate the courageous casting of a black man in the late 60’s during the civil rights movement with such a strong role. However much of the writing and dialog were subpar. Worth seeing once for its historic significance. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/26/25 Full Review Daniel D An undeniable classic that even with the test of time holds up remarkably well due to its earnestness and unpolished charm. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review Christopher R. A classic film that aged well. There wouldn't be a zombie genre without this movie. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Night of the Living Dead

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Movie Info

Synopsis A ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the United States.
Director
George A. Romero
Producer
Karl Hardman, Russell Streiner
Screenwriter
George A. Romero, John A. Russo
Distributor
UAV Entertainment, Navarre Entertainment, BijouFlix Releasing, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Vestron Video, Master Movies, Continental Distributing Inc., Sinister Cinema, United Video, Republic Pictures, Reel Media International [us], Elite Entertainment Inc., Something Weird Video, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Market Square Productions, Laurel, Off Color Films, Image Ten
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 1968, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 13, 2017
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$68.7K
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Academy (1.33:1)
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