← Back to results
Night of the Living Dead
1968 96 min United States of America 18+
★8.0
Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
Director: George A. Romero
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
Description
A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.
Budget:
$114,000
US Gross:
$236,452
Worldwide:
$30.24M
Starring
Duane Jones
Actor
Judith O'Dea
Actor
Karl Hardman
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2018
— Best Special Blu-ray/DVD Edition
Key opinion
George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead is widely regarded as a foundational classic that invented the modern zombie genre and established its enduring rules. While many critics and fans revere its historical significance and atmospheric tension, some viewers find its pacing and performances dated compared to contemporary horror standards.
| Originality | The film functions as the definitive benchmark for the zombie genre, establishing lasting tropes like headshot kills, contagion via bites, and the slow-moving undead. | |
| Acting | Duane Jones anchors the film with a standout, rational performance that broke barriers as a Black lead in a 1968 genre film. | |
| Cinematography | The low-budget, stark black-and-white cinematography and oppressive sound design effectively create a lingering, claustrophobic atmosphere. | |
| Pacing | The film's impact is polarized by the evolution of the medium; while some find the tension timeless, others view the pacing as clunky and the scares as comical by modern standards. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the supporting cast are divided, with some praising the theatrical intensity while others criticize the performances of Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman as ineffectual or irritating. | |
| Screenplay | The film's narrative logic—specifically regarding zombie behavior and the lack of explanation for the outbreak—is seen by some as a charming exercise in minimalism and by others as inconsistent or thin. |