Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Kernel Score: 85% · 2,251 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction
Released: 1978-09-02
Runtime: 127 minutes
Is Dawn of the Dead worth watching?
Worth watching. Dawn of the Dead is Romero's zombie classic, set in a shopping mall and mixing gore with sharp satire about consumer culture. It looks dated, but the black humour and ideas still work.
Watch it if you
- love zombie films and horror history
- enjoy horror with satire
- like practical-effects gore
Skip it if you
- dislike graphic gore
- expect modern polish and pacing
Best for: Horror night with friends
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Dawn of the Dead
- Rent: Prime Video
- Buy: Prime Video
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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.
Dawn of the Dead parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Dawn of the Dead is a classic zombie horror film with graphic gore, violence, and dark satire of consumerism set in a shopping mall.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Features graphic zombie gore, biting, and violent survival action typical of the genre and its NR/R-level content.
- Products & purchases: Strong — The film is built around satirizing consumer culture, with survivors holed up in a shopping mall surrounded by material excess.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Dawn of the Dead
If you liked Dawn of the Dead, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Night of the Living Dead (1968) — 88%: Romero's original zombie classic
- Day of the Dead (1985) — 79%: Romero's follow-up in the same zombie world
- 28 Days Later (2002) — 82%: Modern zombie-style horror about society collapsing
- Dawn of the Dead (2004) — 80%: Faster, more action-heavy mall-set remake
- The Thing (1982) — 93%: Paranoid, gory, practical-effects horror classic
- The Evil Dead (1981) — 82%: Low-budget horror with wild energy and dark humour
Director
Cast
- David Emge as Stephen "Flyboy" Andrews
- Ken Foree as Peter Washington
- Scott H. Reiniger as Roger "Trooper" DeMarco
- Gaylen Ross as Francine "Fran" Parker
- David Crawford as Dr. James Foster
- David Early as Sidney Berman
- Richard France as Dr. Milliard Rausch
- Howard Smith as TV Commentator
- Daniel Dietrich as Dan Givens
- Fred Baker as Police Commander
Dawn of the Dead FAQ
Is Dawn of the Dead worth watching?
Worth watching. Dawn of the Dead is Romero's zombie classic, set in a shopping mall and mixing gore with sharp satire about consumer culture. It looks dated, but the black humour and ideas still work.
Where can I watch Dawn of the Dead?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video.
Is Dawn of the Dead OK for kids?
Dawn of the Dead is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Dawn of the Dead is a classic zombie horror film with graphic gore, violence, and dark satire of consumerism set in a shopping mall.
What movies are like Dawn of the Dead?
If you liked Dawn of the Dead, try Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead.