The Return of the Living Dead

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The Return of the Living Dead

R

Released Aug 16, 1985

1h 31m

Horror

Comedy

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

91%

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44 Reviews

80%

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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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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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Chris Hewitt (UK)

Empire Magazine

Essential, enormous fun.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 6, 2012

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Simon Abrams

House Next Door

The Return of the Living Dead is in fact the real deal.

Feb 25, 2011

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Laurian D

"Send more cops!" Enough said 🤣

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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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

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Payton M

Girl please put some clothes on.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

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Dan O'Bannon

Director

Clu Gulager

Burt Wilson

James Karen

Frank

Don Calfa

Ernie Kaltenbrunner

Thom Mathews

Freddy

Beverly Randolph

Tina

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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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