Netflix Just Added the Movie That Launched the Entire Zombie Subgenre (And It’s Still Perfect After Almost 60 Years)

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Netflix‘s horror movie selection in October isn’t always great. While you can find some classics like *The Texas Chain Saw Massacre* and newer films like *The Strangers*, the lineup also includes poorly-rated movies like *Slender Man* (2018) and *Ouija* (2014), which both have very low scores on Rotten Tomatoes. It takes some digging, but there are still a few good horror movies hidden among the not-so-good ones.

A classic horror film, George A. Romero’s *Night of the Living Dead*, is now available on Netflix! Released in 1968, this movie still holds up remarkably well. Netflix is streaming a particularly high-quality version – a remaster created by the Criterion Collection and The Museum of Modern Art. It boasts the best picture quality of any release, which is great considering the film is now in the public domain and has seen many versions over the years. It’s a fantastic find for horror fans!

Night of the Living Dead Is Still the Gold Standard Zombie Movie

George A. Romero’s film is considered a classic because it essentially created the modern zombie genre. Before his work, movies typically portrayed zombies as simple figures from Haitian voodoo traditions, like in films such as *White Zombie* (1932) and *I Walked with a Zombie* (1943). Romero’s *Night of the Living Dead* drew inspiration from Richard Matheson’s novel *I Am Legend*, which featured a world overrun by vampires. Romero adapted the core idea of a world taken over by monsters, but instead of vampires, he created flesh-eating ghouls.

However, some things from Romero’s original film have been lost over time in zombie movies. For example, his zombies often used simple tools like rocks or shovels to attack people, but that’s rarely seen now, even in later Romero films. Also, it’s important to remember that Romero’s creatures—he didn’t even call them “zombies”—ate flesh, not brains. The idea of zombies craving brains actually came from a different movie.

Romero’s film remains powerful and effective decades later, not just for its impact on horror movies, but because it’s brilliantly made. The story unfolds flawlessly, introducing characters and details that consistently keep you hooked and wondering what will happen next. And the answer is always a terrifying escalation, making it a truly unsettling experience with a devastatingly impactful ending.

Zombie Movies on Netflix

Good news for zombie movie lovers! Netflix doesn’t just have *Night of the Living Dead*. You can also stream *28 Days Later* and its 2025 sequel, *28 Years Later*, along with the popular South Korean film *Train to Busan*. Its sequel, *Peninsula*, is available too, though it’s not quite as strong.

Look, if you’re a zombie fanatic like me, Netflix is really delivering right now. Beyond the usual suspects, I stumbled upon some genuinely great stuff. , another fantastic entry from South Korea, really impressed me, and Cargo, with Martin Freeman, is a surprisingly moving Australian take on the genre. Honestly, as a horror fan, I think you’ll find more quality zombie films on Netflix than in pretty much any other scary category.

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2025-10-09 23:41