Night of the Living Dead (film series)
A zombie horror franchise centered on survival and social commentary.
George A. Romero, together with John A. Russo, launched the *Night of the Living Dead* franchise with the 1968 film of the same name. The series follows various groups of people trying to stay alive as a zombie apocalypse begins and evolves. The most recent film, *Survival of the Dead*, came out in 2009, and a follow-up, *Twilight of the Dead*, is in the works—the first entry not directed by Romero, who died on July 16, 2017, though he wrote the story.
After the first film’s success, Romero and Russo disagreed on the series’ direction. Because the original was in the public domain, both creators pursued separate projects. Romero directed five more *Dead* films; Russo moved into writing, producing *Return of the Living Dead* (later loosely adapted into a film that launched its own franchise) and *Escape of the Living Dead*.
Until *Land of the Dead*, the series was called the "Trilogy of the Dead." Each film carries social commentary on subjects from racism to consumerism. None are direct sequels; they are standalone stories with no continuous global timeline, linked only by the zombie epidemic. Each entry depicts a world worse than the last, with more zombies and greater danger for the living. Because each film is independent, it is set in the era it was made—*Land of the Dead* features 2005 technology like game consoles and cell phones. The fifth film does not continue the timeline but instead shows the early stages of an outbreak, similar to the first. The movies explore how different people—civilians, police, military officials—react to the same phenomenon.
Romero does not consider any of his *Dead* films sequels, since no major characters or stories carry over. Two exceptions exist: Tom Savini’s character Blades, a zombie in *Dawn of the Dead*, reappears years later in *Land of the Dead*; and the military officer played by Alan van Sprang, who robs the main characters in *Diary of the Dead*, becomes a protagonist in *Survival of the Dead*.
Made for about $114,000, *Night of the Living Dead* became one of the most profitable independent films ever. Despite its small budget, it earned over $30 million worldwide (over $250 million adjusted for 2024), a return of more than 263 times its production cost.
The film is also praised for its subtext. Released in 1968 amid social upheaval, it cast a Black actor (Duane Jones) in the lead and showed government in
- creator
- George A. Romero
- first_film
- Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- latest_film
- Survival of the Dead (2009)
- genre
- Zombie horror
- notable_for
- Redefining the zombie as a flesh-eating ghoul and blending horror with social commentary
- number_of_films
- 6 (as of 2009)
Lore & Background
After Night of the Living Dead's initial success, the two creators split over disagreements regarding where the series should head, and since the film was in the public domain, each was able to do what they wished with subsequent projects. Romero went on to direct five additional Dead films, while Russo branched into literary territory, writing Return of the Living Dead, later loosely adapted into a film of the same name that started its own franchise, and Escape of the Living Dead. Labeled 'Trilogy of the Dead' until Land of the Dead, each film is laden with social commentary on topics ranging from racism to consumerism. The films are not produced as direct follow-ups of one another; each is a standalone film without direct continuity in global events. Their only common thread is the epidemic of the living dead.
Reader's Guide
The Night of the Living Dead franchise is significant for its profound impact on the horror genre and its use of social commentary. Produced on a meager budget of approximately $114,000, Night of the Living Dead became one of the most profitable independent films in cinema history, grossing over $30 million worldwide. Released in 1968 during a period of intense social unrest, the film's casting of a Black actor (Duane Jones) in the lead role, combined with its bleak depiction of government incompetence and institutional failure, led critics to view it as a reflection of the Vietnam War era and racial tensions in America. By redefining the 'zombie' from a creature of Haitian voodoo into a flesh-eating ghoul, the film laid the foundational blueprint for the entire modern zombie horror genre, heavily influencing subsequent pop culture, video games, and cinema. Each entry shows the world in a worsened state compared with the previous film, with an ever-increasing number of zombies, and the living perpetually endangered.
Did You Know?
- The film Night of the Living Dead was produced on a budget of approximately $114,000 and grossed over $30 million worldwide.
- George A. Romero did not consider any of his Dead films sequels since none of the major characters or story continue from one film to the next.
- The franchise's first film cast a Black actor, Duane Jones, in the lead role, which critics viewed as a reflection of racial tensions in America.
- The latest installment, Survival of the Dead, was released in 2009, with a sequel, Twilight of the Dead, in development.
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