Night of the Living Dead (1968)
90%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins
George A. Romero’s debut set the template for the zombie film, and features tight editing, realistic gore, and a sly political undercurrent.
Night of the Living Dead is a classic horror movie that will make you scream and laugh at the same time. The black and white cinematography adds to the creepy mood, and the low-budget special effects will have you wondering how they did it. The performances are surprisingly good, especially from Jones, who steals the show. But be warned, there will be blood, fire, cannibalism, and a lot of death. So grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and get ready for a night of terror and fun. Just don’t forget to double-check your locks before you go to bed.
Production Company(ies)
Kudos Film and Television, BBC Films, Serendipity Point Films,
Distributor
Master Movies, Sinister Cinema, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Elite Entertainment Inc., Something Weird Video, Vestron Video, Reel Media International [us], Image Entertainment Inc., Continental Distributing Inc., BijouFlix Releasing, Republic Pictures, United Video, Navarre Entertainment, UAV Entertainment.
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Evans City Cemetery, Evans City, Pennsylvania, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1968
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
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Runtime:1h 36m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 1, 1968 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2001
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
Horror, George A Romero, Karl Hardman, Russell Streiner, Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, John A Russo, realistic gore, political undercurrent, box office, budget, reviewed by Kevin Thomas, Elliott Stein, Ann Guarino, Steve Rose, April Wolfe, Amos Barshad, Brian Eggert, Stephanie Archer, Matt Brunson, directed by George A Romero, produced by Karl Hardman and Russell Streiner, written by George A Romero and John A Russo, MPAA rating, zombies, survival, abandoned house, corpses, pragmatic, panic, order, prey, disparate group, fresh human bodies, taut, uncompromising, bitter irony, Los Angeles Times, Sight & Sound, New York Daily News, Guardian, Village Voice, New York Magazine/Vulture, Deep Focus Review, Film Inquiry, horror classic, American Werewolf in London, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Day of the Dead, Evil Dead 2, The Fly, streaming, theaters, black and white, Academy, mono, Master Movies, Sinister Cinema, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Elite Entertainment Inc., Something Weird Video, Vestron Video, Reel Media International [us], Image Entertainment Inc., Continental Distributing Inc., BijouFlix Releasing, Republic Pictures, United Video, Navarre Entertainment, UAV Entertainment
Worldwide gross: $236,452
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,277,570
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,378
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 248,372
US/Canada gross: $236,452
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,277,570
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,004
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,452
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $52,515
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,195
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $114,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,098,079
Production budget ranking: 2,085
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $591,316
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $588,175
ROI to date (est.): 35%
ROI ranking: 1,222
Judith O’Dea – Barbra
Karl Hardman – Harry
Keith Wayne – Tom
Judith Ridley – Judy
Marilyn Eastman – Helen
Director(s)
George A. Romero
Writer(s)
George A. Romero, John A. Russo
Producer(s)
Karl Hardman, Russell Streiner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (76) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (3)
Night of the Living Dead is taut and uncompromising, ending on a note of bitter irony. Performances are adequate and often better, especially in the case of Jones, who clearly has what it takes to go on to bigger things.
September 8, 2021
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Romero was offered a budget for colour; he preferred shooting in black and white; the result is a flat murky ambience which is perfect for the ramshackle American Gothic landscape where the events occur.
September 8, 2021
Elliott Stein
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The title immediately cues a tale of horror; but does not prepare one for the shocking treatment of the dead… The theme could not be in poorer taste.
September 8, 2021 | Rating: 1/4
Ann Guarino
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Romero conjures moments of eeriness and dread throughout, keeping the lighting low and the special effects to a minimum, though there will be blood, fire, cannibalism and a great deal of death.
October 24, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Steve Rose
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The immediate, quasi-documentary feel, a result of budgetary constraints, actually served the film’s horror, jolting audiences because it all seemed just a little too real.
October 13, 2017
April Wolfe
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
If [Romero’s] original vision of the undead looks dulled by today’s standards, his embedded political commentary on racism feels just as sharp.
October 7, 2013
Amos Barshad
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Beyond discussions of social commentary and cultural reflectivity, the timelessness of its allegories, and the stark suggestions made by the visual presentation, Night of the Living Dead is great entertainment.
March 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
It is not only the legacy that Night of the Living Dead leaves that makes it a classic but also its examination of the instant removal of humanity.
October 9, 2021
Stephanie Archer
Film Inquiry
A landmark of American cinema. Intentional or not, the film’s sociopolitical content remains as potent as ever.
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Episode 13: Raison D’être
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 60/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
I love how the black and white cinematography adds to the mood
October 11, 2020
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
This was an American horror movie, so it needed no English accents or familiar character actors. It was grim and unflinching…
September 17, 2020
A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler…
Plot
Barbra and Johnny visit their father’s grave in a remote cemetery when they are suddenly set upon by zombies. Barbra manages to get away and takes refuge in what seems to be an abandoned farm house. She is soon joined by Ben who stopped at the house in need of gas. Beset by the walking dead all around them Ben does his best to secure the doors and windows. The news reports are grim however with creatures returning to life everywhere. Barbra and Ben are surprised when they realize there are 5 people hiding out in the basement: Harry, Helen and Karen Cooper; and a young couple, Tom and Judy. Dissensions sets in almost immediately with Harry Cooper wanting to be in charge. As their situation deteriorates, their chances of surviving the night lessen minute by minute.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Night of the Living Dead features Duane Jones as the pragmatic Ben, who tries to control the situation as corpses begin to leave the graveyard in search of fresh human bodies to devour.
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