Dawn of the Dead
Seen it?1978 | 127 min | Horror, Science Fiction
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (7.5 out of 10) and it made about 103 times its budget. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for horror fans and sci-fi fans. If you loved Night of the Living Dead or Grindhouse, start here.
- The mood
- Scary and gory.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 2 hr 7 min.
- What might put you off
- Some graphic violence despite the NR rating.
- Made in 1978: an older pace and style.
During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$66 million worldwide on a $640K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 345K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Night of the Living Dead
Friday Night FlickFrom the same Living Dead series, and critically acclaimed.
The Crazies
Weeknight WatchAlso from director George A. Romero: a sci-fi film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Dawn of the Dead
Sunday Safe BetAnother zombie horror film, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Resident Evil: Extinction Weeknight WatchAnother zombie horror film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Grindhouse Saturday SpecialAnother zombie horror film, and a Saturday Special.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by George A. Romero
- David EmgeStephen "Flyboy" Andrews
- Ken ForeePeter Washington
- Scott H. ReinigerRoger "Trooper" DeMarco
- Gaylen RossFrancine "Fran" Parker
- David CrawfordDr. James Foster
- David EarlySidney Berman
- Richard FranceDr. Milliard Rausch
- Howard SmithTV Commentator
- Daniel DietrichDan Givens
- Fred BakerPolice Commander