IFC and Shudder have something quite unique in store for fans of the zombie genre. Queens of the Dead is the directorial debut of Tina Romero, daughter of horror legend George A. Romero, that follows a group of drag queens in an apocalyptic horror comedy.
The movie is set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse which breaks out in Brooklyn. That very night, a giant warehouse party brings together an eclectic group of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies who have to put their differences aside and tap into their unique skills to fight off the brain-thirsty, scrolling undead.
Talk about genre-bending! Queens of the Dead is definitely an exciting new take on a zombie outbreak.
According to EW, one fun reference in the film pays homage to Romero's father when a character states, "This is not a George A. Romero movie" as zombies take over New York City. Romero was able to pitch her idea for Queens of the Dead to her father before his death in 2017, and he told her, "I love it! Run with it. Go for it." And go for it, she did!
Romero penned the script with comedian Erin Judge, and the movie premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the coveted Audience Award for Best Narrative Film. Before its October 24, 2025, North American premiere, the film will be featured at the 20th Rome Film Festival in the non-competitive Freestyle section of the event.
The movie boasts an impressive cast consisting of Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), Jaquel Spivey (Mean Girls), Tomas Matos (Fire Island), Nina West (Rupaul’s Drag Race), Quincy Dunn-Baker (No Hard Feelings), Jack Haven (I Saw the TV Glow), Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story), Dominique Jackson (Pose), stand-up comic Margaret Cho, Riki Lindhome (Knives Out), Eve Lindley (Dispatches From Elsewhere), Becca Blackwell (Survival of the Thickest), Shaunette Renée Wilson (Black Panther), and NYC Drag Artist Julie J. Following.
The movie will also reunite Walking Dead director, EP, and SFX master Greg Nicotero with actor, SFX wizard, stuntman, and director Tom Savini. Nicotero and Savini first worked together on George A. Romero's Day of the Dead (1985). Queens of the Dead will feature Nicotero's talents as prosthetic makeup fabricator, while Savini appears as the Mayor.
Additional screenings of Queen of the Dead will be featured at the following film festivals:
BEYOND FEST
Sunday October 5th @ 6:15 pm
Aero Theatre, Los Angeles
BROOKLYN HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
Thursday, October 16th @ 8:35 pm / 8:50 pm / 9:05 pm
Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg, Brooklyn
NEWFEST
Saturday, October 18th @ 9:00 pm
SVA Theatre, New York