The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Kernel Score: 80% · 2,250 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Comedy, Horror
Released: 1985-04-25
Runtime: 91 minutes
Is The Return of the Living Dead worth watching?
Worth watching. The Return of the Living Dead is a loud, funny 1980s punk zombie comedy where the undead crave brains and the humans are idiots. It's messy and gross in a good way, and it's far sillier than Romero's zombie films.
Watch it if you
- like horror comedies with gross-out effects
- enjoy 1980s punk-rock attitude
- want zombies played for laughs
Skip it if you
- want serious scares
- dislike gore and crude humour
Best for: Horror-comedy night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Return of the Living Dead
- Stream: Fubo, Philo, MGM+
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.
The Return of the Living Dead parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Return of the Living Dead is an R-rated horror-comedy zombie film with graphic gore, body horror, and a female stripping scene.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Graphic zombie horror and body horror are central to this cult classic.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Includes a female stripping scene as noted in the film's keywords.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — Includes references consistent with 1980s punk/horror comedy setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Return of the Living Dead
If you liked The Return of the Living Dead, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Shaun of the Dead (2004) — 85%: Zombies and jokes mixed with real affection for the genre
- Evil Dead II (1987) — 84%: Horror turned into slapstick with wild energy
- Braindead (1992) — 85%: Over-the-top splatter comedy with a gleeful mean streak
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) — 85%: The classic zombie film that inspired this wave
- An American Werewolf in London (1981) — 83%: Dark horror comedy with a great monster and wit
- Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) — 84%: Horror comedy built on misunderstandings and big laughs
Director
Cast
- Clu Gulager as Burt
- James Karen as Frank
- Don Calfa as Ernie
- Thom Mathews as Freddy
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr. as Spider
- Brian Peck as Scuz
- John Philbin as Chuck
- Linnea Quigley as Trash
- Beverly Randolph as Tina
- Jewel Shepard as Casey
The Return of the Living Dead FAQ
Is The Return of the Living Dead worth watching?
Worth watching. The Return of the Living Dead is a loud, funny 1980s punk zombie comedy where the undead crave brains and the humans are idiots. It's messy and gross in a good way, and it's far sillier than Romero's zombie films.
Where can I watch The Return of the Living Dead?
In the US you can stream The Return of the Living Dead on Fubo, Philo and MGM+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is The Return of the Living Dead OK for kids?
The Return of the Living Dead is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Return of the Living Dead is an R-rated horror-comedy zombie film with graphic gore, body horror, and a female stripping scene.
What movies are like The Return of the Living Dead?
If you liked The Return of the Living Dead, try Shaun of the Dead, Evil Dead II, Braindead and Dawn of the Dead.