SimilarScreen
The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead

They're Back From The Grave and Ready To Party!

19857.21h 31m

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.

Directed by Dan O'Bannon
Written by Dan O'Bannon, John A. Russo, Rudy Ricci
Produced by Tom Fox
Box OfficeBudget: $4.0MRevenue: $14.2M

Top Cast

Clu Gulager

Clu Gulager

Burt

James Karen

James Karen

Frank

Don Calfa

Don Calfa

Ernie

Thom Mathews

Thom Mathews

Freddy

Miguel A. Núñez Jr.

Miguel A. Núñez Jr.

Spider

Brian Peck

Brian Peck

Scuz

John Philbin

John Philbin

Chuck

Linnea Quigley

Linnea Quigley

Trash

Beverly Randolph

Beverly Randolph

Tina

Jewel Shepard

Jewel Shepard

Casey

Themes & Keywords

cemeterydark comedycrematoriumpunk rockundeadzombieparamedicatticwarehousenight of the living deadwalking deadfemale strippinglouisvillelouisville, kysupernatural horrorbody horrorteen horrorb-horror

About The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead is a comedy, horror film released in 1985 exploring themes of cemetery, dark comedy, crematorium, punk rock, undead, zombie. Directed by Dan O'Bannon, it stars Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa. 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.

Movies Similar to The Return of the Living Dead

Discover titles like The Return of the Living Dead — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The Return of the Living Dead

If you enjoyed The Return of the Living Dead, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The Return of the Living Dead.

The Loved One
23% Match

Newly arrived in Hollywood from England, Dennis Barlow finds he has to arrange his uncle's interment at the highly-organised and very profitable Whispering Glades funeral parlour. His fancy is caught by one of their cosmeticians, Aimee Thanatogenos. But he has three problems - the strict rules of owner Blessed Reverand Glenworthy, the rivalry of embalmer Mr Joyboy, and the shame of now working himself at The Happy Hunting Ground pets' memorial home.

Zombieland
20% Match

Zombieland(2009)

Movie7.3/10

Columbus has made a habit of running from what scares him. Tallahassee doesn't have fears. If he did, he'd kick their ever-living ass. In a world overrun by zombies, these two are perfectly evolved survivors. But now, they're about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other.

The Menu
20% Match

The Menu(2022)

Movie7.2/10

A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

Saturday the 14th
20% Match

After his family moves to a new house, a young boy discovers a mysterious book that details a curse hanging over the date of Saturday the 14th. Opening the book releases a band of monsters into the house and the family must join together to save themselves and their neighborhood.

Boo! A Madea Halloween
19% Match

Madea winds up in the middle of mayhem when she spends a hilarious, haunted Halloween fending off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies while keeping a watchful eye on a group of misbehaving teens.

I Survived a Zombie Holocaust
19% Match

From the land of early Peter Jackson comes another Braindead movie in bad taste. It’s the third day of shooting the low budget horror ‘Tonight They Come’ on location in the wilds of New Zealand. Director SMP is already beside himself having to work with a self-obsessed leading man and a bimbo actress when into his line of fire comes a new runner, wannabe screenwriter Wesley Pennington. Clearly an accident-prone nerd, Wesley nevertheless tries his best to fit in with the crazed cast and demented crew while falling head over heels for Susan, the set caterer. But something nasty has entered the local water supply and suddenly the zombie extras start acting like genuine members of the living dead, gore stunts looks even more authentic and actual severed limbs fly. Reel life turns real as Wesley attempts to save the day while ensuring his latest script will get made.

Duplex
19% Match

Duplex(2003)

Movie6.1/10

When a young couple buys their dream home, they have no idea what the sweet little old lady upstairs is going to put them through!

Brazil
19% Match

Brazil(1985)

Movie7.7/10

Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel. Investigating a case that led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man instead of wanted terrorist Harry Tuttle, he meets the woman from his daydream, and in trying to help her gets caught in a web of mistaken identities, mindless bureaucracy and lies.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
19% Match

Three scouts and lifelong friends join forces with one badass cocktail waitress to become the world’s most unlikely team of heroes. When their peaceful town is ravaged by a zombie invasion, they’ll fight for the badge of a lifetime and put their scouting skills to the test to save mankind from the undead.

Withnail & I
19% Match

Two out-of-work actors -- the anxious, luckless Marwood and his acerbic, alcoholic friend, Withnail -- spend their days drifting between their squalid flat, the unemployment office and the pub. When they take a holiday "by mistake" at the country house of Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle, Monty, they encounter the unpleasant side of the English countryside: tedium, terrifying locals and torrential rain.

I Hired a Contract Killer
17% Match

After losing his job and realizing that he is alone in the world, a businessman opts to voluntarily end his life. Lacking courage, he hires a contract killer to do the job. Then, while awaiting his demise, he meets a woman and promptly falls in love.

Mars Attacks!
17% Match

A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.