My previous list was a bit heavy on the depressing aspects of the apocalypse so I wanted to come back with some entries from the lighter side.
Zombieland (2009) – Available on Hulu or for rent on Amazon, iTunes, and Vudu
Ruben Fleischer makes fun movies and, with plenty of zombie-oriented entertainment to choose from, Zombieland thrives by never taking itself too seriously. The premise is simple, an unconventional group of survivors bands together to travel across what used to be the United States in search of Twinkies and family. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick’s script works great in the hands of the stellar cast featuring Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin. Even the sequel, Double Tap, is a good bit of fun.
Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) – Available on Hulu and Sling, or for purchase on Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, and Google Play
Christmas movies have never been my thing but there aren’t too many out there like this. As the trailer so prominently displays, this is very much Shaun of the Dead meets La La Land. The zombie apocalypse strikes during the holiday season in the small town of Little Haven and a group of high school friends must fight across town to find their loved ones. Sure. It’s ridiculous but that’s the fun part and it features at one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard on a soundtrack. Want to bring a little holiday cheer to the end of days? Look no further!
Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Available on Hulu or for rent on Amazon, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube
No list of apocalyptic comedies would be complete without Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Shaun of the Dead. While it didn’t invent the ZomCom it certainly reinvigorated the genre while taking special care to pay homage to its predecessors from the 1980s. There’s something about the juxtaposition of wry British humor and visceral gore that just go wonderfully together. If you could only pick one movie on this list, you won’t go wrong here.
Warm Bodies (2013) – Available on for rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu
More often than not, zombies are the antagonists of the story but every now and then they get to play the hero. Romantic comedy seems like an odd fit but it has worked on more than one occasion. Jonathan Levine’s film, based on the Isaac Marion novel, focuses on an unlikely bond between a zombie and a young woman he saves from getting eaten. The two must work together in order to defeat a common threat and reshape the perception of the undead. Creative with a surprising amount of heart and the incomparable John Malkovich, this is an often-overlooked part of the zombie catalog.
My Boyfriend’s Back (1993) – Available for rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu
Some movies are just a good time, even if you know deep down that they’re not very good. I grew up with this film and it’s just so uniquely 90s I guess it has stuck with me ever since. A dorky high school boy dies trying impress his crush and comes back as a zombie, which makes him the coolest kid in school. Regardless of the girl, he’s still a flesh eating zombie. This kind of movie would never get made today but it’s still a good piece of nostalgia.
Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015) – Available on Hulu or for rent on Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and, Vudu
Rated-R adolescent comedies have historically had a solid core audience. Throw in some zombies and you’ve got a formula for a fun time. This movie reminds me of The Lost Boys but more lighthearted, colorful. Friends, and scouts aging out of the program, go for one last camp out but return to a town full of the living dead. It’s predictable and childish but that’s the point. There isn’t a lot new here either but it hits all the marks it’s supposed to for this kind of flick.
Dead Snow (2009) – Available for rent on Amazon
There are only a couple of things you can kill in abundance on camera and two of those are zombies and Nazis; that’s where the Norwegian Dead Snow makes its money. A group of friends on a ski trip accidentally awaken a regimen of frozen Nazi soldiers…who are also zombies. Naturally, some very gory violence ensues but it’s balanced with humor. I’d compare it to The Evil Dead because, although it’s funny, the horror element is still prominent. The sequel, Red vs. Dead, picks up right where the first one leaves off and ups the ante. You can’t go wrong with either.
Fido (2006) – Available on Tubi and for rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu
Imagine a 1950s family TV show like Leave it to Beaver twisted into a zombie movie. In an alternate reality, radiation from space has brought back the dead. An opportunistic company called Zomcon invents the domestic collar and starts repurposing the zombie population for servitude. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it doesn’t work out so well. It never strays too far from its roots and exists more as a satire than a horror film. While it’s exactly as dumb as it seems on the surface, the cast boasting Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Conolly, and Tim Blake Nelson speaks to the film’s strengths.
Idle Hands (1999) – Available on Crackle and for rent on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu
This one isn’t a zombie movie like the others on this list but I think it still qualifies. When Anton’s hand becomes possessed by a demonic entity, he unwittingly becomes involved in a number of murders, including his two closest friends who stick around as a pair of smart-ass zombies. This has the familiar humor of other 90s-era teen comedies but with a very flawed hero and a strong commitment to its horror elements. It also has a who’s who of young talent at the time including Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Jessica Alba, and Elden Henson along with Vivica A. Fox, Fred Willard, and Connie May. Maybe “iconic” isn’t the right word but Idle Hands defines the era in which it was made.
Dead Alive aka Braindead (1992) – Unfortunately I can’t find anywhere to stream this so you may have to do some digging to find it
This is Peter Jackson’s third film but the creative genius was evident very early on in his career. The story finds a young man, Lionel, living at home with his mother until she’s bitten by an infected monkey and dies. That is until she comes back and starts eating every living creature in sight. As Lionel tried to provide for his decomposing mother things grow beyond his control and the resentment in the relationship dynamic skyrockets. Ultimately, the story is about him growing up and doing what needs to be done. The makeup and gore effects are great even though it’s not hyper-realistic so it’s a lot of fun to watch. This is my favorite movie on the list so it’s sad to see that it’s not readily available.
Have fun and decompress with some brainless zombie humor!