There’s something about zombie movies that we just can’t quit. No matter how many we’ve already seen, no matter how many times the world ends, we’re always ready to watch it happen one more time. It seriously never really gets old.
But if you’ve ever opened Netflix looking for a good zombie flick, you already know the struggle. You scroll and scroll and somehow keep seeing the same handful of titles you’ve either already watched or just aren’t in the mood for again. You know there has to be something better hiding in there, but Netflix isn’t exactly great at pointing it out.
That’s where the underrated ones come in. Buried beneath the algorithm and overshadowed by louder releases are zombie movies that never got the attention they deserved. In this article, we’re shining a light on three underrated zombie films currently streaming on Netflix that are absolutely worth your time.
Ziam (2025)
- Directed by: Kulp Kaljareuk
- Written by: Kulp Kaljareuk, Nut Nualpang, Weerasu Worrapot, Vatanyu Ingkavivat, Chonnatee Pimnam
- Cast: Johnny Anfone, Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich, Mark Prin Suparat
Imagine a zombie outbreak, but instead of hiding behind guns and barricades, your hero steps into the chaos with nothing but his fists, elbows, and years of Muay Thai training. That’s Ziam in a nutshell. It throws traditional zombie survival out the window and revs the genre into a whole new gear by mixing Muay Thai action with full‑on zombie horror.
The film follows Singh, a former Muay Thai fighter who only wanted a quiet life with his girlfriend, Rin, a dedicated doctor with a calm heart and a chaotic job. But everything flips upside down when a deadly outbreak breaks out at the hospital where Rin works, turning it into ground zero for the undead.
Suddenly, Singh’s biggest fight isn’t for a title. It’s for survival. With nothing but grit and martial‑arts mastery, he battles through hordes of zombies to protect the woman he loves and a young boy they meet along the way.
Cargo (2017)
- Directed by: Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke
- Written by: Yolanda Ramke
- Cast: Martin Freeman, Simone Landers, Anthony Hayes, David Gulpilil, Susie Porter, Natasha Wanganeen, Caren Pistorius
- Based on: Cargo by Howling and Ramke
Here’s the thing with Cargo. It’s not your typical zombie movie. Yes, there are infected people and tension, but what really sets it apart is the heart at the center of the chaos. Freeman plays Andy, a dad thrown into a nightmare where the world is crumbling, rabid humans are everywhere, and his baby daughter is completely dependent on him. Suddenly, every step he takes is about keeping the one thing that matters most to him alive.
The movie begins with Andy, his wife Kay, and their infant daughter, Rosie, trying to stay safe on a houseboat as they navigate a post-apocalyptic Australia overrun by the infected. When Kay is bitten, everything changes. Andy realizes he himself has been infected and that time is running out. He has only 48 hours before he turns into one of the very creatures he’s been fighting against.
What follows is a tense, desperate journey across the Australian outback. Andy must find someone willing to take care of Rosie before it’s too late, all while avoiding hordes of infected humans and facing the brutal realities of a world where survival has become a daily struggle.
#Alive (2020)
- Directed by: Cho Il-hyung
- Written by: Cho Il-hyung and Matt Naylor
- Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Park Shin-hye, Jeon Bae-soo, Lee Hyun-wook
- Based on: Alone by Matt Naylor
Last but certainly not least is #Alive. This Korean zombie flick drops you straight into Seoul during a sudden, deadly virus outbreak. People are turning into violent, unpredictable infected in seconds, and right in the middle of it all is Joon-woo, a gamer who’s suddenly trapped in his apartment with barely any food, no connection to the outside world, and the horrifying realization that every second could be his last.
As the days go by, Joon-woo struggles to survive on his own. But just when it seems like all hope is lost, he notices Yoo-bin, a neighbor also trying to survive in her own apartment. With no way to call for help, the two of them get creative in figuring out how to help each other survive.
You can stream all three of these underrated zombie movies on Netflix right now!