Dawn of the Dead poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell ... see more see more... , Michael Kelly , Kevin Zegers , Michael Barry , Lindy Booth , Boyd Banks , Jayne Eastwood , Inna Korobkina , R.D. Reid , Kim Poirier , Matt Frewer , Hannah Lochner , Jacob Adams

The feature-film debut of director Zack Snyder, Dawn of the Dead is a modern retelling of George Romero's 1978 horror classic, which was actually the second film in a trilogy that began with Night of ... read more read more...the Living Dead and concluded with Day of the Dead. Sarah Polley and Ving Rhames star as two of the last remaining people on an earth that has been ravaged by flesh-eating zombies. After escaping to a shopping mall with a handful of other survivors, they decide that they only way to truly elude the approaching throng of undead is to somehow make their way to an island that is supposedly zombie-free. Jake Weber and Mekhi Phifer also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

370,578 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

176 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Zack Snyder

Release Date: March 19, 2004

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 28, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 22,539 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Your gonna kill my family? Zombie ty Fort Pastro is gone Dawn of the Dead Dawn of the dead - director's cut Sarah Polley Dawn of the Dead Fuck Ya'll AWSOME DAWN OF THE DEAD POSTER Kim Poirier Dawn of the Dead Dawn of the Dead Zombies Mekhi Phifer i wanna show you something Sarah Polley Dawn of the Dead mall carpark
Upload a Photo | View All Dawn of the Dead Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (22,539)

  • samoriley
    February 29, 2012
    samoriley
    Sometimes its difficult to make a good remake, espescially if its a remake to George A.Romero's 'Dawn Of The Dead'. This may not be as memorable or as funny as the original, but its faster, scarier and more intense.

    With the zombies being faster, the suspense is higher, the bl... read moreood is more constant and the violence goes beyonds the original. However,like the original, it slightly fails to give decent scares, maybe disturbing imagery or a jump moment, but nothing to scar you for life, like 'The Excorist' or 'The Thing'.

    Overall,its nothing like the original, but introduces a new, deadlier form of a zombie apocolypse. For Horror/Zombie fans, this is a must watch/buy.
  • moonrivers
    January 31, 2012
    moonrivers
    The end of western society...
    Again.
    Or:"I love the smell of zombies in the morning...!"
    Entertaining? It's my fav zombie movie.
  • fb100000040220993
    August 11, 2011
    fb100000040220993
    As far as creating gore, this is a pretty slick movie. Overall, it's a pretty mediocre horror flick. The zombies are way faster and stronger than most you'll see, but they come across far less creepy than their meandering predecessors. The real flaw in this movie is it's abili... read morety to create suspense. The real charm of a zombie story is the tension amongst the living, a poor job was done establishing anything here. Of course, the characters were all pretty weak anyway. This was all style, and no substance. Still, you could do worse.
  • CreedsDelight
    August 11, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    CJ: How about a nice tall glass of shut the fuck up?

    As I watched 'Dawn of the Dead', I was thinking that this is a horror remake that is actually "Good." And it was. In Dawn of the Dead, survivors of an outbreak of zombie attacks flee to their local mall for a place to hide. Wh... read moreat is great about this movie is that some of the survivors have been bitten, but the unbitten survivors have no idea that bites turn into zombies. So this film is filmed with Drama, Horror, Romance, and of course a hell of a Thriller, making this a quality remake, that proves to be more adequate than the original. Highly recommended.

    Read more reviews at www.creedsdelight.com
  • DreamExtractor
    August 4, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A horrible movie, its cheesy, boring, stupid, and not scary! A group of survivors from a zombie apocolypse try and survive in a mall, but they can't stay there forever. The plot begins with a final destination formula, and then it turns into a video game where they have a bunch... read more of colorful characters all locked up in one mall, it was very stupid. These people may be the dumbest bastards alive, and thats coming from the guy who saw Just Go With It. It may be gory, but even for a zombie movie there isn't much killing, which was a huge disappointment.. Im a big fan of zombie films, but this was just to terrible for my taste.
  • garyX
    July 8, 2011
    garyX
    A group of survivors of a zombie holocaust hide out in a shopping mall which is under siege from a horde of the undead. Zack Snyder's update of George Romero's seminal classic impressed me a lot when I first saw it, but upon a rewatch its quality is obviously a result of its riff... read moreing off of the superior idea of another rather than because of its own merits. The most glaring problem for me is the whole "fast zombie" idea. Somehow, it's far more unsettling to be besieged by shuffling, decaying, mindless zombies than the hyperactive speedfreaks we have here, which means the oppressive air of crushing inevitability of Romero's film is sorely missing. As is any semblance of the social commentary and sly wit that coloured the original. The characters are really just a bunch of action movie stereotypes so it's very difficult to give a crap about any of them and it all chugs along at a pace that leaves little room for the building of tension or suspense. It does have some nice ideas; the disturbing zombie crack baby for one, and the inclusion of near cameos by Matt Frewer and the neighbouring gun shop owner Andy make for the most interesting characters in it (which does also kind of highlight the inadequacies of our heroes in comparison). Snyder does fall into the MTV trap of getting too bogged down with slo-mo ammo porn but the action sequences are very well done and the effects are great which makes the film feel far more like a good, solid sci-fi action thriller than a true zombie flick. More Land Of The Dead than Dawn Of The Dead, but if you enjoyed that you'll no doubt enjoy this. And it's the best remake of a Romero zombie film by a country mile.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    April 1, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    better than the original, but then... so is every other movie?
  • DrZeek
    March 24, 2011
    DrZeek
    Michael: So what's the plan?
    CJ: The plan is you drink a nice tall glass of Shut The Fuck Up.

    Less of a remake, and more of a reimagining of the original, director Zach Snyder and writer James Gunn have made a film that takes the original's premise ramps it up into the new mille... read morennium.

    While taking out the social commentary of the original, this version really turns into an action movie...with zombies, and that is not at all a bad thing. And these zombies follow the recent sprinting zombie style, oppose to the barely alive mode.

    Michael: Truck's not gonna make it to Fort Pastor.
    Steve: No, forget the truck. That place is fucked, man. Bloodbath city.
    Kenneth: How do you know?
    Norma: We just came from there.
    Kenneth: Is everyone there dead?
    Steve: Well, dead-ish.
    Kenneth: Is everyone there dead?
    Steve: Yeah, in the sense that they all sort of, uh... fell down... and then got up... and started eating each other.

    An interesting cast composites the survivors including indie movie queen Sarah Polley, Mekhi Phifer, Ving Rhames as a guy who you know wont have problems dealing with anything, and Jake Weber as level headed Michael who knows how to get a handle on things.

    Michael: There is no other place to go!
    CJ: Well, that's YOUR problem, not mine.
    Kenneth: How about I put my foot up your ass, will that be your problem?

    Sticking with the same premise, we follow a small group of survivors to a deserted mall after an outbreak of undead begin to inexplicably roam the earth. From there the survivors must deal with the stress that comes with the end of the world, as well as make as many head shots as possible.

    What helps is how much dark humor and fun moments there are in this movie, it is definitely one of the more fun horror movies of recent years, complete with some sweet gore shots, some pump you up action moments, one-liners, and a neat visual style to go along with it. Very entertaining.

    The County Sheriff: Danny, put another round in that woman over there! Look! She's a twitcher!
  • lewiskendell
    March 15, 2011
    lewiskendell
    I'll always associate the Dawn of the Dead remake with my freshman year in college. Myself and a few of my friends had a great time in the theater watching it, and checking it out again a few years later, it's still a fun time. I credit it and 28 Days Later for really bringing th... read moree zombie movie back in an awesome way.

    Dawn of the Dead does almost everything right. There are some really horrifying events, plenty of scares, a good cast of characters played by capable actors, lots of action, a few moments of levity, and tons of zombie mayhem. It avoids the overwhelming deluge of heavy-handed social commentary that so many zombie movies drown in (Land of the Dead, anyone?), but it's also not just a completely shallow experience.

    You can't really go wrong with Dawn of the Dead if you're even slightly a fan of the genre. It starts with a bang from the very beginning, and rarely lets up the intensity. See it.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    March 14, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Dawn Of The Dead has got to be the best horror remake ever. Zack Snyder has done a fine job of refurbishing George A. Romero's classic film. The result is a film that is well executed with plenty of scares, gore and good acting. Now like every seasoned horror fan, I absolutely lo... read moreve George A. Romero, I see the original Dawn Of The Dead as one of my personal favorites of his, and course view it as a horror classic. Zack Snyder delivers a new intriguing twist on Romero's classic film, and he crafts the strongest remake since Cronenberg's The Fly. A work of incredible horrifying filmmaking makes this remake a film to be seen by hardened horror fans. A very well done film thats action packed, thrilling and scary, Seeps the basic elements of Romero's classic, but gives it a bloodier upgrade. The result is truly impressive. Dawn Of The Dead is gross, gory and scar, exactly what a remake of this stature needs. The film possesses traits that many of today's remakes don't possess. I love zombie films, and this is the best zombie film since Shaun Of The Dead and 28 Days Later. Zack Snyder has crafted a fine horror remake that will be viewed in horror circles in the years to come as a classic. Not only that, but as a correct way as to how to successfully make a remake that doesn't suck. It's very rare that a remake is almost as good as the original, but in the case of Zack Snyder re invisioned film, he delivers a film thats almost just as good as the original, and he manages to create with this remake something different in the process. Dawn Of The Dead is one of the few horror remakes that does justice to the original, and in time it will be seen as a horror classic. Good gory fun and worth watching. A near flawless remake.

View All Dawn of the Dead Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 27, 2011
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The new version has its share of disturbing moments, but writer James Gunn and director Zack Snyder have stripped away the social satire of the original and put little in its place. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
March 23, 2004
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

Only gore-thirsting teens will be satisfied. Full Review

Richard Roeper
March 22, 2004
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

... bloody good fun. Full Review

James Berardinelli
March 21, 2004
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

For those who enjoy tight, tense, graphic horror, this movie offers an ample helping. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
March 19, 2004
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

It more than surpasses the original. Full Review

Desson Thomson
March 19, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Has many of the elements that made the first Dawn so darkly entertaining. Full Review

Scott Foundas
March 19, 2004
Scott Foundas, Variety

Whereas the resonance of Romero's film (and of 28 Days Later) derived from its ability to involve auds emotionally with a few spartan protagonists, here viewers don't spend enough time with any of the... Full Review

Peter Howell
March 19, 2004
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

[Sarah Polly] pretty much owns the picture, beginning with a slam-dunk prologue that establishes right off that this isn't your dad's Dawn, despite a plot that hews fairly closely to the original movie. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
March 19, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's silly, witty and good-natured, not scary so much as icky, and not horrifying or horrible but consistently amusing. Full Review

Roger Moore
March 19, 2004
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Save your quarters for the video game. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Dawn of the Dead
    Dawn of the Dead (90%)
  • 28 Days Later
    28 Days Later (83%)
  • Land of the Dead
    Land of the Dead (88%)
  • Chopping Mall (Killbots)
    Chopping Mall (Killbots) (50%)

More Movies like Dawn of the Dead

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • CJ: Fuckin' figures!
    • Steve: Wait, wait, wait, I'm sorry... why does he stay here while I go on the suicide mission to rescue Terry's already-dead girlfriend?
    • Kenneth: Is everyone there dead?
    • Steve: Well, dead-ish.
    • Kenneth: Is everyone there dead?!
    • Steve: Yeah, in the sense that they all sort of, uh... fell down, and then got up, and started eating each other.
    • CJ: America always sorts it's shit out.
  • When Luda and Andre are in the loo tending to Luda's bite mark, you can see that Luda's jean line reveals a very flat tummy, although her shirt still retains a pregnancy bulge.
  • When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the Earth.
Submit a Fact | View All

Dawn of the Dead : Watch Free on TV

Dawn of the Dead Trivia

  • What film is this tagline from: When theres no more room in hell the dead will walk the Earth.  Answer »
  • Tom Savini had a cameo role in George Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD as a zombie. Which of Romero's "Dead" flicks did this character originally appear in?   Answer »
  • Which of the following had most of its action take place at a mall?  Answer »
  • Which Movie Was A British Knock-Off Of "Dawn Of The Dead?"  Answer »
More Dawn of the Dead Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Dawn of the Dead Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Dawn of the Dead to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Dawn of the Dead News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?