21 Years Later, the “Best Horror Remake of the Century” Tears Its Way Onto New Streaming Home

While there have been a lot of great horror remakes released this century so far, very few can claim to be the “best.” Of course, taste is subjective, but it’s hard to argue against this movie that was released in 2004, and quickly became a modern horror classic. It took what made the original so great, and reimagined things without betraying the source material. Now, horror fans that may have missed this gem over the last two decades are in luck, because it’s coming to Netflix next month.

Hitting theaters on March 19, 2004, Dawn of the Dead introduced fans to Zack Snyder, who made his features debut by reimagining George A. Romero’s 1978 zombie classic. What an introduction it was, too, as Dawn of the Dead quickly became a critical and commercial success. Produced for $26 million, the horror remake would ultimately earn $102 million during its theatrical run, solidifying Snyder as a director to look out for.

Written by James Gunn, Dawn of the Dead featured an ensemble cast that included the likes of Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, and Mekhi Phifer. Rather than copying Romero’s seminal classic beat for beat, Snyder took elements from what made his movie so great, and sprinkled in some modern ideas to generate something that felt entirely new. If anything, it definitely has one of the best openings in horror history, which set the stage for everything that follows. The official synopsis reads:

“When her husband is attacked by a zombified neighbor, Ana (Polley) manages to escape, only to realize her entire Milwaukee neighborhood has been overrun by the walking dead. After being questioned by cautious policeman Kenneth (Rhames), Ana joins him and a small group that gravitates to the local shopping mall as a bastion of safety. Once they convince suspicious security guards that they are not contaminated, the group bands together to fight the undead hordes.”

‘Dawn of the Dead’ Is the Only Zack Snyder Movie That United Fans & Critics

To say that Snyder has been a polarizing director over the years would be an understatement. His movies have divided fans and critics, who can never seem to agree on his talent. That being said, Dawn of the Dead is the only picture in his filmography that the two groups were unanimously united on.

Boasting a Certified Fresh score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, Dawn of the Dead‘s audience score also sits at 77%. It’s the only film of Snyder’s that he directed to share equal ratings, proving that when it comes to the remake, pretty much everyone was united in their assessment. Called everything from “one of the best zombie movies ever made” to a movie that “succeeds on its own terms” by critics, fans deemed it “horrifying,” “intense,” and “badass.” As one person put it in their review:

“Dawn of the Dead remake is a remake of a classic well-worth watching. It takes the idea of the original and makes something new and interesting in its own right.”

Look for Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake to hit Netflix on January 1, 2026. If you want to check out the Romero classic, it’s currently available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

Release Date

March 19, 2004

Runtime

101 minutes

Director

Zack Synder