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

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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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Macaulay G

An absolute all-timer!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

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MikesReviewsArt n

*Rough Thoughts* 89% Heard all the buzz finally get to see it. Does something new with the zombie genre smart zombies out wit the dumb humans and they talk. Changes the zombie mythos they don’t die, shooting or stabbing the head like traditional. You have to disintegrate them.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

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Nick O

This is what’s called a perfect movie. Don’t need a lot of BRAINS to see that!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Madam D

This zombie comedy has tons of really funny scenes and one-liners. It is much better than I thought it would be.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/27/25

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T M

This is the zombie movie that gave the genre. The laughable reputation it carried for so many years. This movie is so hard to watch and extremely cringe-worthy. A recommendation only for those who are looking to laugh at the stupidity of an '80s horror flick.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

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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

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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
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 16, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 31m

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