Symbolizing the “other” and keeping viewers up late at night, the zombie is a recognizable horror monster that has shambled its way into many popular movies and TV shows. Some of the very best zombie shows are currently available on Netflix, allowing viewers to enjoy watching these mindless brain-eaters from the safety of their homes.
Of course, depictions of zombies vary, with some shows featuring fast zombies while others feature slow ones. Plus, some zombies are based in Haitian folklore while others have gotten the Hollywood treatment. For this reason, several of the zombie shows on this list are more-so “zombie-esque,” but they all deliver the frights and thrills that zombie-lovers crave.
Here are 12 must-watch zombie shows to devour right now on Netflix.
12
‘Reality Z’ (2020)
Reality TV can leave people feeling like zombies, and in Reality Z, they literally turn into them. The Brazilian show takes place on the set of Olympus, a popular reality TV program, during the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. Now imprisoned by the horde, the stakes are much higher than losing a game, and the cast and production crew must work together if they hope to survive.
Mindless Fun
Reality Z is based on the British series Dead Set, which itself is based on Big Brother. Some viewers might prefer Dead Set over Reality Z, especially the ending, but both shows are a fun, action-packed watch. Just don’t take Reality Z more seriously than you would reality TV.
11
‘Daybreak’ (2019)
Based on a comic of the same name, Daybreak follows Josh (Colin Ford) as he searches for his girlfriend, Sam (Sophie Simnett), during the middle of a zombie apocalypse. To find her, Josh bands together with his former bully, a 10-year-old pyromaniac, and eventually, his former biology teacher. Unfortunately, the group soon realizes that zombies might not be their biggest threat as they battle bloodthirsty jocks, brutal “Cheermazons,” and other Mad Max-style gangs.
Breaking the Zombie Mold
This is one of the entries on the list where “zombie” is a bit of a loose term. The actual word the characters use is Ghoulies, but the similarities are certainly there. Sadly, the ending to Daybreak is underwhelming, largely because the series was canceled after a single season. Still, Daybreak is a funny, at times surprising series that is definitely worth a watch.
10
‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ (2023)
Life can get overwhelming, leaving people to daydream about a world in which jobs and responsibilities were a thing of the past. That’s exactly how Akira Tendo feels about his work at a marketing agency. So when the world suddenly ends and he finds himself surrounded by zombies, he sees the opportunity for what it is: a chance to mark off his bucket list and finally feel like he’s living.
Check the Show Off Your Own Bucket List
Part slice of life, part horror, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is tense, tragic, and often profound. At the same time, it doesn’t shy away from silly scenes and fully embraces its unique, somewhat genre-bending premise. Fans of the anime will likely enjoy the live-action movie as well, which is also streaming on Netflix.
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9
‘Santa Clarita Diet’ (2017 – 2019)
Santa Clarita Diet follows the escapades of married realtors, Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant), after Sheila develops a taste for human flesh. Uncertain what caused her transformation, the duo split their time between trying to solve what’s happened to her and tracking down bad guys for Sheila to eat. But the longer they go without answers, the worse Sheila’s cravings become.
Diet Canceled
Santa Clarita Diet is another series on this list where “zombie-esque” is probably a better descriptor. While Barrymore’s character has many zombie traits, she’s also able to think, feel, and more generally retain her humanity. Sadly, this is another series that was canceled far too soon, leaving many lingering questions and a frustrating cliffhanger.
8
‘Resident Evil’ (2022)
- Release Date
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2022 – 2021
- Writers
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Mary Leah Sutton, Shane Frank, Garett Pereda, Kerry Williamson, Lindsey Villarreal, Jeff Howard
Based on the video game series, Resident Evil follows twins Billie and Jade as they try to unravel the mysteries of New Raccoon City. 14 years later, an apocalyptic event called “The Fall” has reduced humanity to a few hundred million survivors. Now, Jade is on the run from the Umbrella Corporation, and Billie is leading the charge to find her.
Conflicting Reviews
Fans of the Resident Evil games might be unimpressed with the show, but it was a big hit with critics. Even so, the show was ultimately canceled after just one season. Viewers looking for another Resident Evil series on Netflix should also check out the animation, Infinite Darkness.
7
‘All of Us Are Dead’ (2022 – Present)
Zombies meet Korean high school students in this dark and thrilling TV show. After a teacher’s son is bullied, he creates the Jonas Virus to try and help him fight back. Unfortunately, it instead leaves those infected with paranoia, aggression, and a desire to eat those around them. Now, Lee Chung-san (Yoon Chan-young) must band together with his classmates to learn a new lesson: how to survive.
Season 2
Based on a webcomic, All of Us Are Dead was a huge hit when it first aired. Unfortunately, Season 2 of the series has been postponed for several years, and fans are growing impatient. We’re still optimistic that the show will return, but it’s going to be hard for the actors to pull off being in high school when their characters would have already graduated by now.
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6
‘Kingdom’ (2019 – 2021)
What if zombies were around during the 17th century? And what if a prince had to stop them while simultaneously preventing his throne from being seized? That’s exactly what Kingdom sets out to explore. The first-ever Korean Netflix original series, Kingdom follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) as he learns of an illness plaguing his kingdom. As he uncovers more about the illness, he begins to doubt who he can trust and whether his kingdom can survive.
Game of Zombies
A zombie-filled Game of Thrones, Kingdom is as thrilling as it is dramatic. Its zombie are unique, consisting of parasites and exhibiting a rabies-like fear of water. Our only complaint about Kingdom is that, while never officially canceled, Season 3 appears unlikely. Fortunately, fans of the show can still enjoy the prequel, Ashin of the North.
5
‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ (2023 – Present)
Fans of The Walking Dead are well acquainted with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who entered the original show swinging. In the spin-off series, Dead City, he joins Maggie (Lauren Cohan) in a quest to find her kidnapped son, Herschel—or so he thinks. However, things quickly become more complicated as the two search for him in the Big City, where even bigger threats are around every corner, and zombies are only the start of their problems.
A Worthy Successor
Fans of The Walking Dead will find a lot to love in Dead City. It takes some of the best parts of the original, including Maggie and Negan’s intense relationship, while improving much of what the original got wrong. Since the series is still ongoing, it’s hard to definitively rank it on this list, but what we’ve seen so far suggests that Dead City will continue kicking on a while longer.
4
‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’ (2023 – Present)
Fan-favorite Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) stars in this spin-off Walking Dead series. Taking place in France, the series introduces new, deadlier walkers, as well as hope for potential immunity from the virus. Later, another fan-favorite, Carol, was added to the series, leading to a heartwarming reunion that sadly ended on a bittersweet note.
Making Zombies Scary Again
Daryl and Carol’s relationship is one of the biggest highlights of the series. So too are the walker variants, which serve as a welcome reminder of the dangers the zombies pose. Overall, Daryl Dixon is an engaging addition to The Walking Dead franchise, expanding upon the original while also showing viewers what the apocalypse looked like outside the US—and what it could look like in the US if the variants continue to spread.
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3
‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ (2024)
Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) was the star of The Walking Dead until he was seemingly killed off in Season 9. In truth, he was taken by the Civic Republic Military (CRM), and his numerous attempts to escape all ended in vain. Fortunately, his lover Michonne (Danai Gurira) never lost hope that he was alive, and the series centers on them reuniting and fighting to get back home to their family.
A Happy Ending
The Ones Who Live is unique in The Walking Dead franchise as it seemingly ends on a happy, complete note for its characters. While some fans might want a second season, it seems unlikely, and ultimately, isn’t really necessary. Of all the recent Walking Dead spin-offs, The Ones Who Live has consistently ranked on top.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
