Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Kernel Score: 88% · 2,677 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Horror, Thriller
Released: 1968-10-04
Runtime: 96 minutes
Is Night of the Living Dead worth watching?
Must-watch. A group of strangers barricade themselves in a farmhouse while the dead walk outside. Low-budget, grim and quietly radical, it launched the modern zombie genre and is still tense nearly sixty years on.
Watch it if you
- want to see where zombie movies began
- like bleak, claustrophobic horror
- enjoy classic low-budget filmmaking
Skip it if you
- dislike black-and-white films
- can't take a nihilistic ending
Best for: Classic horror night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Night of the Living Dead
- Stream: Fubo, Peacock, Philo, Brew, MGM+, Night Flight Plus
- Free with ads: JustWatch TV Free, Brew, Kanopy, Hoopla, FlixHouse
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Brew, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Brew, Google Play
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast.
Night of the Living Dead parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Night of the Living Dead is a classic horror film with intense zombie violence and scares.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Features flesh-eating zombies (ghouls), characters trapped and bitten, and intense horror violence throughout, foundational to the zombie genre.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Night of the Living Dead
If you liked Night of the Living Dead, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) — 85%: Romero's own follow-up, bigger in scale and satire.
- Day of the Dead (1985) — 79%: Romero's third dead film, bleaker and more claustrophobic.
- The Evil Dead (1981) — 82%: Cabin siege horror with raw, scrappy energy.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) — 80%: Raw, grimy 70s horror that changed the genre.
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) — 88%: Slow-burn 60s horror that gets under your skin.
- Dawn of the Dead (2004) — 80%: Faster, modern take on the same zombie siege story.
Director
Cast
- Judith O'Dea as Barbra
- Duane Jones as Ben
- Marilyn Eastman as Helen Cooper
- Karl Hardman as Harry Cooper
- Judith Ridley as Judy
- Keith Wayne as Tom
- Kyra Schon as Karen Cooper / Corpse in House
- Charles Craig as TV Newscaster / Zombie
- S. William Hinzman as Zombie
- Bill Cardille as Field Reporter
Night of the Living Dead FAQ
Is Night of the Living Dead worth watching?
Must-watch. A group of strangers barricade themselves in a farmhouse while the dead walk outside. Low-budget, grim and quietly radical, it launched the modern zombie genre and is still tense nearly sixty years on.
Where can I watch Night of the Living Dead?
In the US you can stream Night of the Living Dead on Fubo, Peacock, Philo, Brew, MGM+ and Night Flight Plus, watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV Free, Brew, Kanopy, Hoopla and FlixHouse and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Brew and Google Play.
Is Night of the Living Dead OK for kids?
Night of the Living Dead is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Night of the Living Dead is a classic horror film with intense zombie violence and scares.
What movies are like Night of the Living Dead?
If you liked Night of the Living Dead, try Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, The Evil Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.