It goes without saying that zombies will forever be a staple of the horror genre. We've seen the undead rise from beneath the ground to hunt humans more times than we can count, and yet this premise never gets old. Writers and directors are constantly reimagining and redefining what zombie films are capable of, keeping audiences on their toes and making them want to return for more. These kinds of projects just refuse to stay dead, and we love it.
2026 will be particularly big for the zombie horror genre. Audiences worldwide will watch a new season of The Walking Dead: Dead City on July 26, 2026. Additionally, the journey of one of the most iconic survivors in the post-apocalyptic world is coming to an end with the release of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 this year. But beyond the small screen, there are plenty of exciting zombie movies on the horizon, and these are the three you should be on the lookout for.
1. Resident Evil
Few zombie sagas are as iconic as Resident Evil. The franchise recently saw a big return in the video game world thanks to the release of Resident Evil Requiem, a gripping, action-packed adventure that's just as terrifying as it is explosive. The latest title developed by Capcom was universally loved by fans worldwide, and yet the same cannot be said about any of the live-action adaptations.
The Resident Evil films are not exactly known for their high levels of critical acclaim. However, that can soon change thanks to the release of Resident Evil (2026), an upcoming movie directed by Zach Cregger. If you're into the horror genre, that name is sure to ring a bell, as Cregger was also the mastermind behind Weapons (2025) and Barbarian (2022). From the get-go, that alone is enough to make us excited for what's to come, and it doesn't end there.
Resident Evil (2026) will purposefully avoid using known characters from the video game series, such as Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, or Chris Redfield. Instead, audiences will follow newcomer Bryan as he attempts to survive in a world filled with horrors. During an interview with Empire, Cregger gave us a better taste of what to expect from his highly anticipated project:
"[Bryan] is not your typical game character, with no combat skills whatsoever and completely inept at survival. Bryan is very much an everyman who happens to be burdened with this kind of sacred mission that's going to take him into the heart of everything. It's kind of like Frodo going into Mordor."
Furthermore, Cregger talked about how he wanted the film to feel like one big sequence in which the main character goes from set piece to set piece, just like in the games. Perhaps this new take on the franchise is exactly what's needed to make an outstanding Resident Evil movie, and we can't wait to see how it all comes together.
Resident Evil (2026) will be released on September 18, 2026.
2. Colony
It's always intriguing to discover how zombies will be portrayed in a specific piece of media. Perhaps we'll see the classic slow, brain-eating creatures with rotting flesh and exposed bones. Maybe the undead will be capable of running and climbing on top of each other to reach very high places. Or, in the case of Colony, we could see infected capable of learning from humans and adapting accordingly. That's right, using your wits to survive a life-or-death situation could also be your undoing.
Colony follows an unlikely group of survivors trapped inside a conference center building with relentless infected that are able to communicate with each other like... well, a colony of ants. Level by level, the survivors must climb if they want any chance of reaching safety. Along the way, they will be forced to adapt to the ever-changing behavior of the infected trying to hunt them.
Colony has the perfect recipe for a horror movie: an enclosed and asphyxiating setting that leaves no room for error, a clever yet terrifying twist on the "zombie" formula, and an acclaimed director at the helm. Audiences worldwide know Yeon Sang-ho due to his work in the breakout hit Train to Busan. Granted, critics have not been over the moon about Colony, but they agree there's a lot of fun to be had with it. As such, we can't wait to see it for ourselves.
Colony will be released in the US on August 28, 2026.
3. Evil Dead Burn
The Evil Dead franchise needs no introduction. Its first installment was helmed by iconic director Sam Raimi all the way back in 1981. Since then, audiences have enjoyed two more films in the mainline saga, a soft reboot, a sequel to said soft reboot, and now we're about to witness the trilogy-capper in all of its gory glory.
Evil Dead Burn is already making big waves due to its early screenings. Audiences are calling it one of the most violent, unhinged, brutal, and horror-focused entries in the franchise as a whole. The film's trailers only double down on this idea, giving audiences but a mere glimpse of the unforgivable horrors that await in store.
Director Sébastien Vaniček set out to create an unrelenting entry in the Evil Dead franchise that not only invigorates the saga but perhaps sets it up for big things in the future, as it is being claimed that Evil Dead Burn will feature a post-credits scene that cannot be missed. But the very best part? It isn't long before we can finally witness this bloodbath for ourselves.
Evil Dead Burn will be released on Jul. 10, 2026.
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