The Return of the Living Dead

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The Return of the Living Dead

R

1985

1h 31m

Horror

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

117 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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Critics Consensus

The Return of the Living Dead is a gleefully grotesque horror-comedy, though its broad performances and cheap thrills sometimes detract from its sharper moments.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

Oct 8

It's one of the funniest films of its kind ever made.

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Joe Kane

New York Daily News

Sep 12

"Return" has its fair share of memorable junk movie moments.

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Archer Winsten

New York Post

Aug 13

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.

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Tom Atkinson

Flickering Myth

Oct 24

4/5

Brash, bloody, and knowingly ridiculous, but also smart enough to reinvent an entire sub-genre with a smile. For all its decaying flesh and flying limbs, it’s a film that’s very much alive.

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Gavin Spoors

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

Sep 30

5/5

Arrow Video provides the best way to watch one of the best horror films in cinema. The Return of the Living Dead plays just as well as it did when it originally came out forty years ago.

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Robert Sellers

Radio Times

Aug 31

3/5

A must for horror fans.

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Jason K

@Warlockofwifi Dec 3

This movie proves two things. One, punk rock makes everything better. And two, Linnea Quigley dancing naked in a graveyard is the greatest argument for the undead rising from their graves just to see what in the world is going on. Still one of the most chaotic, quotable, and downright fun zombie movies ever made. The humor hits, the gore rules, the soundtrack goes hard, and the zombies talk. What more do you need?

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 28

I swear this movie got like 91%. I guess they changed it? Seems a bit harsh to 70% though. I thought it was cool. The best part was going into it blind and then realizing that this was actually raunchier and more inappropriate than I thought it was gonna be.

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Nick B.

@nickpbrennan Oct 27

Campy, fun, made me want to see the second one

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Eloise Y.

@Ellie666 Oct 23

I absolutely love The Return of the Living Dead! It’s the perfect zombie movie it’s funny, and full of energy from start to finish. Easily one of the best zombie movies ever made!

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Craig W.

@CJWolfe27 Oct 7

Great zombie cult classic

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Crosley M.

@Crosley Sep 22

Many would agree when I say that the 1980s was the best era of horror, and this movie is the crème de la creme of horror comedies. The perfect combination of camp and horror, this movie with all of its technical flaws is a blend of great casting, super memorable dialogue, an awesome soundtrack, and of course…. Zombies! Best zombie movie ever

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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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