If you’ve just finished another binge of The Walking Dead and you’re still thinking about the walkers, the cliffhangers, and all those “no way!” moments, you’re not alone. That post-apocalypse withdrawal is real. It's hard to get your brain to stop replaying every shocking death, every tense standoff, and every moment that left you at the edge of your seat.
I mean, that's 11 seasons of zombie chaos, heartbreak, and suspense packed into one show. It’s no wonder it sticks with you. You can’t just turn off those feelings or pretend the apocalypse isn’t lingering in your thoughts. You need something else to scratch that Walking Dead itch.
That's where Train to Busan comes in. No, it's not a zombie series with endless episodes you can binge over the course of weeks. Instead, it’s a single, adrenaline-fueled cinematic experience that traps you in a non-stop nightmare from the moment the train doors close. Honestly, it's the one zombie movie we think that every Walking Dead fan should have included in their watchlist. However, keep in mind that it's a 2016 Korean film. If you're not familiar with the Korean language, you'll need the subtitles on.
Train to Busan is the one zombie movie Walking Dead fans need to watch
So what’s the story? Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, Train to Busan follows Seok-woo, a workaholic fund manager who’s reluctantly taking his young daughter, Su-an, on a trip to Busan to visit her mother for her birthday. But what starts as a normal train ride quickly turns into a full-blown nightmare when a mysterious virus breaks out, turning people into ravenous, terrifying zombies.
With the infection spreading rapidly throughout the train, Seok-woo, Su-an, and a group of desperate survivors must navigate a claustrophobic, high-speed nightmare, making life-or-death decisions at every turn. The tension never lets up, the characters are trapped in a speeding coffin, zombies are climbing over each car, and human emotions boil over in the worst and best ways imaginable.
Throughout the film, you'll see characters reveal their true selves in the most intense ways. Some rise to heroic heights, some crumble under pressure, and some make gut-wrenching choices that will leave you questioning what you would do in their shoes. You have Squid Game star Gong Yoo leading the way as Seok-woo, delivering a performance that perfectly captures the desperation of a parent trying to protect a child in an impossible situation.
On the other hand, Kim Su-an plays as his daughter Su-an, bringing innocence to the chaos. And then there’s the colorful mix of passengers, each with their quirks, flaws, and moments of bravery. The rest of the cast includes Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Choi Woo-shik, Ahn So-hee, Kim Eui-sung, and many others.
Check out the thrilling trailer for Train to Busan below for a sneak peek!
Overall, Train to Busan delivers unrelenting intensity from start to finish. There’s no filler and no side plots to slow things down. By the end, you’ll feel like you’ve been on that train yourself with the way your heart will be racing.
If you find that you really enjoyed watching this movie, you should then check out the films Seoul Station and Peninsula. Both are also directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Seoul Station is an animated prequel that dives into the origins of the outbreak with a darker, grittier edge, showing how ordinary people first confronted the chaos.
It can be streamed on Tubi. Peninsula, on the other hand, is a live-action high-octane sequel set four years after the initial outbreak. It is available to stream on Netflix. Together, these films expand the world of Train to Busan, giving fans a full view of the outbreak’s scope.
Train to Busan is streaming on Netflix right now, so you can watch and enjoy!