28 Years Later is here and it has so far defied people's expectations.
Arguably, films get less popular as a franchise goes on, but this is far from the case with the third instalment of Danny Boyle's zombie movies.
Starting with 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, the two films have a collective score of 159 percent (out of 200) on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Following the popularity of the first two movies it was inevitable that Boyle would bring out a third — and it's finally here.
At the time of writing, 28 Years Later has garnered an impressive 92 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Not too shabby!
The reviews match the score, with one person hailing it as 'thrilling, terrifying, heartbreaking, and, above all, human'.
After many of us flock to the theater this weekend to see the critically acclaimed movie for ourselves, you might find that you have a zombie movie-sized hole in your life. But fear not folks, we've got you covered.
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We took to Netflix Bangers to ask movie-lovers what they think is the best zombie movie to be released over the last 25 years for this week's UNILAD Ranked, and the results are in...
5) World War Z
Coming in fifth is Brad Pitt's World War Z. Released in 2013, people liked it so much that they've long been calling for a follow-up film (and they're unfortunately still waiting).
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The movie is inspired by the novel by Max Brooks with the same title, and sees former UN worker and his family trapped in a city when a zombie apocalypse breaks out. Pitt's character Gerry is then tasked with finding a cure to the quickly-spreading virus that's causing people to go feral.
World War Z got five percent of the vote on our poll, which over 300 people responded to.
It's currently steaming on several platforms, including Prime Video and Hoopla in the US. It's set to leave Fubo and Paramount+ in the coming days.
4) 28 Days Later
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It was inevitable that 28 Days Later was going to make the top five in light of 28 Year Later's release.
This was the first of Boyle's horror franchise and he went all out for the cast. It features Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin), Naomie Harris (Skyfall), and Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who).
A brief synopsis of the movie, per IMDb, reads: "Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the United Kingdom, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary."
Like World War Z, 28 Days Later got five percent of the vote.
3) Zombieland
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Released in 2009, Zombieland remains a favorite for both comedy and horror fans.
The movie has an admirable 89 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, with one reviewer on the site hailing it as 'a ruthlessly funny explosion of zombie-film cliches that somehow doubles as a charming road movie'.
To make a good movie funny, you of course need a top tier cast — and Zombieland has just that. From Woody Harrelson (True Detective) and Emma Stone (Poor Things), to Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), director Ruben Fleischer knew what he was doing when he hired these actors.
The movie is about an unlikely foursome who stumble across each other's paths while trying to get across zombie-filled America for different reasons. Sisters Little Rock and Wichita want to find a theme park, Colombus wants to find his family in Ohio, and Tallahassee is simply trying to find a Twinkie.
2) Train to Busan
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One of the newest movies in our top five is Train to Busan, which debuted in 2016.
The Korean-language film boasts a very impressive 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest scoring zombie thriller in our top five.
And there's a very recognizable face in the film; Squid Game's Gong Yoo (best known as The Recruiter).
Yoo plays a man who becomes trapped on a speeding train during a zombie outbreak in South Korea along with his estranged daughter and a series of other passengers.
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Netflix fans can rejoice, as the well-loved horror is currently streaming on the platform.
1) Shaun of the Dead
Coming in as the clear winner was Shaun of the Dead, which (at the time of writing) won 33 percent of the vote.
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The movie, the title of which is a comedic nod to 80s classic Dawn of the Dead, is often at the top of people's zombie film favorites. Released 21 years ago, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost did what they do best — be hilarious.
Pegg and Frost's characters in Shaun of the Dead, Shaun and Ed, are two friends that live together. Both men have little going on in their lives (a little going for them in general, to be honest), but when an unexpected zombie apocalypse takes over London, Shaun steps up in a bid to save his girlfriend Liz and his mom from humans' newest enemy.
The duo have worked on a series of well-loved films together including Hot Fuzz, Paul, and The World's End, while also carving out their own individual careers in Hollywood.
Shaun of the Dead is currently streaming on Peacock, but you'll have to rush to watch it as it's leaving the streaming platform very soon.
Topics: Horror, UNILAD RANKED, Entertainment, Film and TV
Niamh Shackleton