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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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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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

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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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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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