Other shows like Walking Dead & 5 great movies in the apocalyptic genre

The Walking Dead series ended its 12 year run in 2022.  Fans of the series are excited about the release of the new spinoff series. The Walking Dead: Dead City premiered in June 2023 and has received positive reviews. Next, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon will release in the fall of 2023 and Rick & Michonne spinoff will be coming in 2024. In the meantime there are many other apocalyptic series to keep fans of the genre entertained.

Elements to a great apocalypse series are believable characters who don’t make bone headed choices, great special effects and most times viewers like to see events from the onset of the outbreak.

Check out some great zombie series that are similar to The Walking Dead. 

The Walking Dead – other shows similar to the series

There are many series available in the apocalyptic genre. Below are some recommendations to keep you entertained as you long for the days of new episodes ofThe Walking Dead.

• Z Nation (Netflix)

The series begins three years into a  zombie apocalypse where a group of survivors takes on the task of transporting a man on a dangerous mission across the country. This man survived a zombie virus, and the hope is that he is the key to a vaccine.

• Black Summer (Netflix)

A spinoff of Z Nation, this series takes place six weeks into a zombie apocalypse and follows a group of survivors. A woman is separated from her daughter and heads off with a group of survivors to find her.

• Daybreak (Netflix)

17-year-old Josh Wheeler lives in California amidst a post-apocalyptic world. He is searching for his missing girlfriend with a band of misfits who encounter Mad Max-style gangs of evil jocks, Amazonian warrior cheerleaders, and Ghoulies. This one is a comedy that is a meld of soapy teen drama and apocalyptic horror.

• Day of the Dead (Amazon & SYFY)

Based on George A. Romero’s same titled film, this series follows six strangers who are trying to survive the first 24 hours of an undead outbreak. This series is high on gore.

• All of Us Are Dead (Netflix)

After a failed science experiment a zombie outbreak occurs at a high school in South Korea. As the school becomes overrun, the surviving students become trapped and must protect themselves in any way they can.

• Station Eleven (MAX)

Although not in the horror genre, this series gives you character-driven stories similar to those on The Walking Dead. This series spans multiple timelines following survivors of a highly contagious virus that results in the collapse of society and the elimination of the majority of the human race. Based on the novel by Emily St. John Mandel.

• The 100 (Netflix)

A century after a nuclear apocalypse, 100 residents of a space station are sent to Earth to determine if it is habitable. This series stars Fear TWD actress Alycia Debnam-Carey.

• Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix)

Another horror comedy, Santa Clarita Diet follows a family when the wife/mother becomes undead. She begins to crave human flesh and the family has to work quickly to provide what she craves while dealing with the neighbors and everyday life.

• iZombie (Netflix)

This zombie series is a  supernatural procedural crime drama in which a medical resident turns into a member of the undead. She discovers she can curb the stereotypical zombie characteristics by regularly consuming brains. Instead of killing innocents, she gets a job at the morgue and consumes the brains of the people she performs autopsies on. After eating the brains she experiences flashbacks of the deceased person life and in the case of murder victims can discover clues about the killer.

Great apocalyptic movies

• Warm Bodies (Netflix)

This is a zombie love story. It is a great movie that is told from the viewpoint of a zombie who develops an unlikely bond with a human. It is a clever film that puts a unique spin on the apocalypse.

• Train to Busan (Prime Video)

Regarded as one of the best zombie movies and one of the best horror films in recent history Train to Busan is a must see. A father and daughter traveling on a high speed train from Seoul to Busan discover the world outside is quickly becoming overrun by the undead.

• Zombieland (Netflix)

This movie is a great adventure comedy that is a hilarious apocalyptic road trip. A college student is trying to make his way home to find out if his family survived and along the way meets some very interesting travel companions and Bill Murray. It is such a great movie and there is even a second one for your viewing pleasure.

• 28 Days Later

28 Days Later sees a man wake from a coma (sound familiar) a month after the outbreak. The twist here is that these zombies are very fast and filled with rage. The survivors must band together to survive until they discover the living are just as bad as the undead.

• World War Z  (Prime Video/AMC+)

This film is an action horror based on a novel by Max Brooks. This is another film that features fast moving zombies. Former USAF DFAC Services employee leads a worldwide search to find the source of the infection.

*Please note that the information about streaming sources in this article may have changed since its publication.

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