Cardio Creeps: The 10 Best Fast-Zombie Movies

Nightmare City (1980)

Part of the appeal of the traditional zombie was their patient, shambling pursuit and how—despite them never breaking a sweat—they always managed to eat their man. From Bela Lugosi’s White Zombie all the way through George A. Romero’s trilogy, that signature limb-dragging, glassy-eyed stalking style was the unwritten undead modus operandi. So leave it to the Italians to say “hold my beer” and unleash Nightmare City, featuring atomic-powered, gun-toting, knife-wielding zombies who need to replenish their red blood cells with a fresh supply from unwilling victims. Faces covered in mud-pie radiation burns, this horde of horny mutants tears through airports, hospitals, TV studios and amusement parks leaving a distinctly Italian shade of red in their wake. No rules, no logic, no explanation, just a crazy new take on the undead apocalypse.

Where to stream Nightmare City

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

After some legal wrangling that allowed Night of the Living Dead co-producer John Russo to retain the “Living Dead” moniker for future projects, The Return of the Living Dead managed to be almost as influential in shaping modern zombie lore as Romero’s film. Built on the bones of the original but leaning hard into comedy and the burgeoning L.A. punk rock scene (with a soundtrack featuring The Cramps, The Damned, and 45 Grave!), director Dan O’Bannon has a blast unleashing his army of misfit ghouls upon a lovable band of juvenile delinquents. Besides a dramatically increased top speed, these zombies have a distinct preference for human brains and aren’t afraid to order take out (“Send more paramedics”)! Despite all the death, dismemberment and split-dogs (or maybe because of them), Return is a feel-good horror-comedy that spray-paints over Romero’s legacy but somehow doesn’t deface it.

Where to stream The Return of the Living Dead

Dead Alive (1992)

Another common trait amongst new-age zombies is their origin story, shifting the blame from something supernatural to a chemical, nuclear, or viral infection that turns loved ones into flesh-eating junkies. Such is the case with Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive (aka Braindead), a gross-out comedy that gets as much inspiration from Buster Keaton as it does Bela Lugosi. After being bitten by a Sumatran rat monkey, Lionel’s mum wreaks havoc throughout their quaint New Zealand community, leaking pus, eating dogs, and ruining Lionel’s chance at true love. This is old-school blood n’ guts Jackson at his creative peak, utilizing stopmotion, puppets and buckets of gore with hyperkinetic glee. Think that kung-fu finale in 28 Years Later came out of nowhere? Wait until you see Father McGruder kick ass for the lord!

Where to stream Dead Alive

Resident Evil (2002)

To those who demonize videogames as soul-sucking relationship destroyers responsible for the current state of masculine regression: You may have a point. But they were also responsible for the zombie renaissance thanks to the Resident Evil franchise which made the living dead cool again. Paul W.S. Anderson’s first film adaptation isn’t exactly faithful to the game but still manages to be a kickass action movie on its own merits (even slipping into James Cameron’s top ten of the 2000s). But, dude, the zombies are slow! True, but their genetically modified brethren—including Doberman pinschers, lickers, and assorted Umbrella monstrosities—in future installments move like a 12-year-old hopped up on Red Bull and gummy worms.

Where to stream Resident Evil

28 Days Later (2002)

The seminal piece of cinema that introduced “fast zombies” to the masses, 28 Days Later is a bit of a controversial choice, as the rage virus victims don’t exactly qualify as undead, per se. But everything else about director Danny Boyle’s masterpiece shoots well above par, staging the British apocalypse (on prosumer cameras, no less) with the sort of handheld authenticity that demanded its zombies evolve right along with it. The idea of instant infection—now almost a given in the genre—turns the script into a sprint rather than a marathon, with Cillian Murphy and company dodging rabid Coldplay fans only to fall into the hands of oversexed weekend warriors. Resident Evil might have lit the fuse, but 28 Days Later went off like an atomic bomb in the horror community, burning the old playbook and ushering in a new era of fast-paced survival horror.

Where to stream 28 Days Later

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Don’t call it a comeback. George Romero’s original Dawn of the Dead (1978) remains the high-water mark for most fans of zombie cinema. So the idea of a remake seemed about as necessary as pants on Kanye’s wife. But the first 10 minutes of this Zack Snyder/James Gunn joint won most people over (at least enough to justify its existence). After that opening scene, it’s off to the races with Milwaukee (and, presumably, the rest of the world) overwhelmed by a zombie horde of Peloton trainers who corner our mismatched group of survivors in the local mall. What’s it missing? Oh, pretty much everything that made Romero’s film such a brilliant critique of consumerist culture. But there’s still plenty of guts to go around and a cast you’d never expect in the same place. Watching Phil Dunphy get headshot by Marsellus Wallace is a pop culture moment worthy of a gift card at bar trivia night.

Where to stream Dawn of the Dead

[REC] (2007)

The only natural progression from here was incorporating zombies into the trendy found footage genre. The Spanish import [REC] might not have gotten there first, but they don’t get much better. Placed under quarantine (which just so happens to be the title of the American remake) inside their apartment building, the residents become easy prey for a strain of rabies that jumps from host to host. A journalist filming the rescue crew is torn between saving lives and capturing the story of the decade. The first-person narrative is pure Playstation-fueled adrenaline with jump scares guaranteed to embarrass you in front of your friends. And the sequel released two years later adds another level of pseudo-religious histrionics to my favorite franchise on this list.

Where to stream [REC]

World War Z (2013)

The surest sign that zombies have gone mainstream? They put the Sexiest Man Alive on the menu! World War Z stars Brad Pitt as a government fixer out to find a cure in this adaptation of Max Brooks’ more mosaic-like novel. Dismissed upon release by the horror establishment as a sell-out (PG-13 zombies!? A pox on you, Mr. Pitt!), the movie has aged well with several intense action sequences and a unique hive-mind take on the undead. Speaking of which, this variety sets a new land speed record for zombie locomotion, going from zero to sixty faster than Usain Bolt on amphetamines.

Where to stream World War Z

Train to Busan (2016)

A streaming success that doubled-down on Korean cinema’s dominance of Hollywood, Train to Busan may not add anything new to the modern zombie mythology, but it’s a character-driven crowd-pleaser that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. Trapped on a train headed towards a decontamination zone, the passengers squirm through cabins as their numbers shrink with every door that slams shut. Director Yeon Sang-ho serves up more than just a gory buffet; Train to Busan knows that its speedy undead are just a delivery system. As the passengers debate selfishness and sacrifice, most of the carnage can be blamed on the human element at play, proving ‘ol George got it right back in ’69 and reminding us that the genre’s greatest tradition is blaming the living.

Where to stream Train to Busan

28 Years Later (2025)

Screenwriter Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle had nothing to gain by circling back to their zombie classic, besides maybe retconning a sequel they had nothing to do with (but, to be fair, wasn’t all that bad). But whatever their inspiration, 28 Years Later is definitely inspired! Introducing several new undead mutations—including the memorably well-hung Alpha—the film splinters into several stories designed to fit a new trilogy. But even as a stand-alone, Boyle’s film works overtime to hold your attention, shot with an eye for beautiful landscapes that conceal a brutal new world order. Thoughtful, mature and elegiac, the film ends with a 180-degree tonal shift that’s one of the most unexpected finales in film history! If that’s not reason enough to get excited for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, I don’t know what is.

Where to stream 28 Years Later