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The Return of the Living Dead

Play trailer Poster for The Return of the Living Dead R Released Aug 16, 1985 1h 31m Horror Comedy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 44 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When foreman Frank (James Karen) shows new employee Freddy (Thom Mathews) a secret military experiment in a supply warehouse, the two klutzes accidentally release a gas that reanimates corpses into flesh-eating zombies. As the epidemic spreads throughout Louisville, Ky., and the creatures satisfy their hunger in gory and outlandish ways, Frank and Freddy fight to survive with the help of their boss (Clu Gulager) and a mysterious mortician (Don Calfa).
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The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead

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Critics Consensus

A punk take on the zombie genre, The Return of the Living Dead injects a healthy dose of '80s silliness to the flesh-consuming.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Hewitt (UK) Empire Magazine Essential, enormous fun. Rated: 4/5 Jun 6, 2012 Full Review Simon Abrams House Next Door The Return of the Living Dead is in fact the real deal. Feb 25, 2011 Full Review Variety Staff Variety O'Bannon deserves considerable credit for creating a terrifically funny first half-hour of exposition, something in which he is greatly aided by the goofball performance of James Karen as a medical supply know-it-all. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The makeup effects are tremendous, and Calfa and especially Karen are hilarious as working stiffs (no pun intended). Rated: 3/4 Feb 15, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Part spoof comedy, part kitschy horror, The Return of the Living Dead was tailor-made to achieve cult status. Rated: 3/4 Apr 9, 2022 Full Review Chris Plante Polygon The Return of the Living Dead is the most 1980s zombie movie ever made and I say that as a compliment. Mostly. Nov 2, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Melissa M In this film The Zeds in this film have the best one-liners & are the comic relief. This movie is a cult classic. There are many scenes that prove the reason why. Like when Ernie & Co are waiting for help. And every time an ambulance etc would show up the Zeds would go on a feeding frenzy & the blathering biters ask for more paramedics & cops. And the one where Frank who became zombified cremates himself. The part where The torso female zombie talks. To name a few. And this movie has a killer soundtrack. It's Zomtasic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/25/25 Full Review Kevin P A very funny and wildly creative reinvention of the zombie genre that made so many influences that are now staples to the formula. The creature effects range from hilarious to downright creepy and gruesome. Great physical comedy and action set pieces and a consistent witty satirical edge that makes a very entertaining addition to the zombie movie lineup. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review El R A classic cult dark comedy that captures the spirit of the eighties and entertains a lot! Iconic zombie as tar man has never been topped! Brains!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Laurian D "Send more cops!" Enough said 🤣 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/25 Full Review Omar G Return of the Living Dead (1985). Some good shots, The three sexy chicks Beverly Randolph, Jewel Shepard and Linnea Quigley my favorite. A good cast Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Miguel A. Nunez Jr. Generational meeting of the fiftys and twentys year olds. 1969 in Pittsburgh, hospital for veterans. A chemical Trioxin-245 was spilled, it leaked into the morgue and made the corpses move as if they were alive. Dan O'Bannon director and screenwriter, Will Stout drew some scenes. I liked the shot of the old 50s car with the residue of the punks Suicide and Scuz. The name of Resurrection Cemetery. Good The soundtrack and the songs my favorite Surfin' Dead - The Cramps, with the sexy redhead guitarist Ivy Rorschach. The ending where the government destroys the city with all its tax-paying civilians, who later plagiarized O'Bannon in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). The walking decapitated corpse was before Re-Animator (1985). The zombies are very dangerous, gliding, running and almost invincible. The classic scene of interrogating a corpse in half by O'Bannon as in Dark Star (1974), Alien (1979), Lifeforce (1985). Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/09/24 Full Review Payton M Girl please put some clothes on. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/06/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Return of the Living Dead

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Movie Info

Synopsis When foreman Frank (James Karen) shows new employee Freddy (Thom Mathews) a secret military experiment in a supply warehouse, the two klutzes accidentally release a gas that reanimates corpses into flesh-eating zombies. As the epidemic spreads throughout Louisville, Ky., and the creatures satisfy their hunger in gory and outlandish ways, Frank and Freddy fight to survive with the help of their boss (Clu Gulager) and a mysterious mortician (Don Calfa).
Director
Dan O'Bannon
Producer
Tom Fox
Screenwriter
Dan O'Bannon
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Cinema 84, Hemdale, Greenberg Brothers Partnership, Fox Films Ltd.
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 16, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 31m
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