10 best zombie comedy movies to watch this Halloween season

As October quickly draws near, many people have already compiled their list of horror movies for the Halloween season. If you are like me, you enjoy a good horror comedy, and if you throw in some zombies, well, sign me up.

George A. Romero pioneered the zombie genre with his Night of the Living Dead released in 1968. This film would feature the flesh-eating undead commonly referred to as zombies. The film was one of the most profitable film productions during that time, earning more than 250 times its budget, grossing $12 million domestically and $18 million internationally.

The zombie genre includes several sub-genres, including action, sci-fi, thriller, romance, and one that has become very popular zombie comedy.

10 best zombie movies – comedy

More affectionately known as the zom-com, these movies are gory, goofy, and hilarious.

Zombieland

As the tagline reads: Nut up, or shut up. Zombieland is a humorous look at life in an apocalypse.  Four unlikely people meet and travel the country, not always together, searching for a safe haven away from the zombies. Throughout the film, we are enlightened by Columbus’ (Jesse Eisenberg) list of rules as they pop up on the screen.

Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin star in this zom-com and its sequel Zombieland: Double Tap. 

Zombieland can be viewed on Netflix, but only until October 1, 2023. This movie can be purchased via VOD.

Zombieland: Double Tap can be viewed via VOD.

Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies stars Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Lio Tipto, Cory Hardrict and John Malkovich. This film is a zom-rom-com about a zombie who falls in love with a human. It is inspired by Isaac Marion’s novel of the same name, inspired by Romeo and Juliet.

This story is told from the unique perspective of R, a member of the undead who experiences his victim’s memories as he consumes their brains. He meets Julie and is attracted to her, and his heart beats for the first time. The film shows their friendship and how R slowly returns to human form.

Warm Bodies can be viewed on Netflix, but only until October 1. After that, the movie can be purchased via VOD.

Shaun of the Dead

The comedic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost should be enough for you to want to watch Shaun of the Dead. The two play friends who are surprised at the outbreak of zombies and decide to take shelter in their local pub, The Winchester.

Shaun of the Dead is a hilarious look at a group of friends just trying to survive the zombie outbreak in London. We follow them over one night of fighting the undead, trying to patch up relationships and all the other antics they encounter. It is scary and funny, with a perfect balance of both.

Also starring Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, and Martin Freeman.

This film is part of the Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy of films directed by Edgar Wright and written by Pegg and Wright, starring Pegg and Frost. The other two films are Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. 

Shaun of the Dead can be rented via VOD.

The Dead Don’t Die

The Dead Don’t Die is full of dry humor and silliness and, of course, the undead.

Set in the small town of Centerville, something is off. The animals act strange, the moon is low, and the news reports some bizarre stories. The townspeople seem slow to realize exactly what is going on, and by the time they do, the dead have risen to feast on the living.

This one is for everyone as the humor can be very dry. But it is a good movie nonetheless.

Starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, Sara Driver, RZA, Carol Kane, Selena Gomez and Tom Waits.

The Dead Don’t Die can be rented via VOD

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is directed by Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day), a guy who knows horror.

When three boys decide to join the Boy Scouts, they never imagined they would have to use their skills to save their town from the undead. Aided by a beautiful but tough cocktail waitress, the boys put their skills to the test.

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is available via Parmount+, Pluto TV, and VOD.

Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies 

This is another B movie to add to your list. Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies is as fantastic as it sounds. The film has been criticized for its historical inaccuracies; a history lesson isn’t what one would be watching this film for, which struck me as humorous.

At the tender age of 10, Abraham Lincoln became a zombie slayer; he eventually became president and fought the undead to save his country. Bill Oberst Jr. has been praised for his portrayal of Lincoln in this film.

Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies can be viewed via Peacock and VOD.

Eat, Brains, Love

Based on a novel of the same name by Jeff Hart, Eat, Brains, Love sounds like the perfect zom-rom-com.

This film has a 100% on Rotton Tomatoes for its “sly satirical edge.” The story follows two high schoolers, Jake and Amanda, who become infected and become zombie-like cannibals. They travel the country searching for a cure and meet Cass, who works for a government agency that hunts and kills the infected. She becomes infatuated with Jake and joins the duo on their quest.

Starring Jake Cannavale, Angelique Rivera, Sarah Yarkin, Jim Titus and Patrick Fabian.

Eat, Brains, Love can be viewed via Tubi, Roku Channel, Freevee or VOD.

The Return of the Living Dead

The 1985 film The Return of the Living Dead was once described as a “mordant punk comedy” by the NY Times.  

The film follows an unlikely group of a warehouse owner, a mortician, some teenage punks, and others battle the undead as they attack their town during July 4 holiday weekend. This film pioneered running and talking zombies and zombies eating brains rather than flesh. This film is known as a cult classic that inspired four sequels.

The Return of the Living Dead can be viewed via Prime Video, Tubi, and Pluto TV.

Cooties

The 2014 horror comedy Cooties is a film about elementary school employees who fight to survive an outbreak of their students.

The chicken nuggets are responsible for the contamination of the children at Fort Chicken Elementary. One by one, the children spread the disease, and the little guys hunt down the staff members.

Starring Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson, Alison Pill, Jack McBrayer, Leigh Whannell, Nasim Pedrad, Ian Brennan, Jorge Garcia and Kate Flannery.

Cooties can be viewed via Max and VOD.

Anna and the Apocalypse 

This is a British zombie musical. Anna and the Apocalypse mainly received positive reviews for performances and musical numbers.

At Christmas, the town of Little Haven is overrun by zombies. Anna, her friends must fight the undead while singing their way to survival. The film has been praised for its genre mashup of zombies and musicals.

Anna and the Apocalypse can be viewed via VOD.

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