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

69%

Tomatometer

112 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 into its flesh-consuming mayhem.

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Archer Winsten

New York Post

All movies about the "living dead" strain for the same effect: pit-of-the-stomach disgust. In that respect The Return of the Living Dead rates near the top.

Aug 13, 2025

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Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

"Return of the Living Dead" goes from stupid fun to stupid tedium.

Rated: 1/4

Aug 13, 2025

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

The acting is so bad that it’s hard in most scenes to tell the walking dead from the supposedly living, and as an attempt to mimic horror with humor, O’Bannon’s film is as hilarious as an autopsy.

Rated: 1/4

Aug 13, 2025

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Julian Petley

Monthly Film Bulletin

O'Bannon keeps the action moving along smartly, aided by Jules Brenner's face-paced camerawork.

Aug 13, 2025

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Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

If O'Bannon doesn't warrant passing marks for originality, he is still far from a failure. His effort so well captures the spirit of its predecessors that it deserves a place alongside them in the Horror Film Hall of Fame (if there is such a thing).

Aug 13, 2025

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Michael Lasky

Bay Area Reporter

Return of the Living Dead is neither funny nor particularly scary.

Aug 13, 2025

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Lucio S

This movie is perfect. One of, if not THE BEST zombie movies out there. Acting is great across the ensemble cast, the direction is great, at no point does the movie seem lost or make little sense. The zombies in this film are by far the most interesting zombies in all of cinema, having intelligence and what not. While the ending is a bit whack, the movie is perfect. WATCH THIS MOVIE.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/04/25

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Jaxon P.

The 2nd best zombie movie imo a lot of fun

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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Brian S

One of the best zombie movies of all time. Great practical effects, awesome soundtrack, funny and scary moments mixed to perfection.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Grant B.

This is my favorite zombie movie of all time it is a timeless classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

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Stephen C

Funny horror in 1 hour and 31 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Macaulay G

An absolute all-timer!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

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

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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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