Photo: Columbia Pictures
Just when horror seemed about to lay down and expire at the box office (RIP Halloween 2 and Jennifer's Body), along comes Zombieland to revive a rotting carcass. Audiences forked over $25 million this weekend to watch Woody Harrelson and his pals (including that big star in a surprise cameo) kick zombie ass. Ringing the No. 1 bell, Zombieland trounced Ricky Gervais's Invention of Lying ($7.4 million) and left Whip It — the much-hyped directing debut of Drew Barrymore — winded and sucking for air ($4.5 million) And whoops — how did this happen? — the critics were just as stoked as the public by Zombieland, which scored a huge 89 percent of favorable reviews, according to the website rottentomatoes.com.
Damn good when you consider A Serious Man, from the Oscar-winning Coen brothers, ate zombie dust with 87 percent favorable reviews. What's going on out there? IMHO, audiences decided they liked the blend of horror and humor on display as Harrelson cut his way through a ravaged world in search of a Hostess Twinkie. Which brings us to today's question: Is Zombieland the best undead comedy ever? Or does 2004's Shaun of the Dead hold the crown? And what about Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series? Or Peter Jackson's Dead Alive? Or Dan O'Bannon's Return of the Living Dead? Or Andrew Currie's Fido? Or Zack Snyder's spoof of zombie king George A. Romero in his 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead? Or . . . you name it. What is the best zombie comedy of all time?
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Lu Galasso | October 15, 2009 3:25 PM
Zombieland was awesome, I saw it twice already! That's currently my favourite horror-comedy at the moment. I have nothing negative to say about that film.
Dave Weedner | October 14, 2009 12:57 PM
28 DAYS LATER...the most realistic, and all around great movie, with laughs, tears, and shear horror!
Joe | October 9, 2009 10:42 AM
It would have to be "Shaun of the Dead", but thanks for the mention of "Fido", and I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "Zombie Strippers" with Jenna Jameson as the most supple zombie ever (I don't know if "Zombie Strippers" is a comedy, but it should be).
spudmurphy | October 9, 2009 3:18 AM
shaun of the dead. zombieland was great, but shaun gets the top spot from me.
Will | October 7, 2009 7:14 PM
Shawn of the Dead
lordbean | October 7, 2009 4:48 PM
Army of Darkness is the funniest of the Evil Dead trilogy, and my favorite horror/comedy. Haven't seen Zombieland yet though, so who knows.
I kick arse for the Lord | October 6, 2009 7:24 PM
Braindead(dead alive)
come get some | October 6, 2009 7:21 PM
Evil Dead 1
Evil Dead 2
Army of Darkness
hdbngr63 | October 6, 2009 6:35 PM
I don't wanna give away the surprise cameo, but to those who saw it, and whose seen "Kingpin," did anyone find it ironic?
Crimson Kiss | October 6, 2009 3:40 PM
Shaun of the Dead FTW
deadite_equalizer | October 6, 2009 1:25 PM
all this shit sprouts from the
evil dead.
raimi was the first one to
really adept horror and humor
together equally well.
(though john landis's american
werewolf in london helped that)
you can't compare a film really
to it's source material.
although they say the best way
to criticize a film is to make
another one.
JP | October 6, 2009 11:57 AM
the '04 Dawn of the Dead remake was a spoof/comedy? please explain. it had some funny bits, I guess (the Burt Reynolds thing, couple others) but I didn't get an overall spoof/comedy vibe from it at all.
Nicegreg | October 6, 2009 1:08 AM
1.) Dawn of the Dead
2.) Evil Dead
The Mastermind Geppetto | October 6, 2009 12:13 AM
Army of Darkness
Dead Alive
Zombieland
Sheer awesomeness.
Drip | October 5, 2009 10:17 PM
Hey John, World War Z would be incredible (although, it would be better as a series on say, HBO?)but, the question is asking about zombie comedies...WWZ just aint that...
Tg | October 5, 2009 10:06 PM
Zombieland by a hair over Shaun of the Dead
Anonymous | October 5, 2009 9:44 PM
Shaun of the Dead has my vote, without a doubt
John | October 5, 2009 9:40 PM
World War Z is going to be the best ever I just hope that Zombieland holds me over until it comes out.
Weatherbox | October 5, 2009 8:40 PM
Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn would be my pick as far as the funniest, but the original is still the best hands down. God I wish they still made them like that...
Geriatric at 20 | October 5, 2009 7:55 PM
1: Death Bed: The Bed That Eats People
2: Boondock Saints (seriously this movie sucks so bad)
3: Shaun of the Dead
Brian | October 5, 2009 12:32 PM
I'd have to put it like this, in order of best zomedy:
1) Shaun of the Dead
2) Zombieland
3) Fido
And believe me, 2 and 3 are damn close. I'm tempted to list them as a tie.
As for best zombie movie, that's an easy one. Night of the Living Dead (the original), hands down.
Anonymous | October 5, 2009 12:18 PM
Funny meter: Shaun of the Dead #1, Return of the Living Dead #2
Scott Heaton | October 5, 2009 12:08 PM
If the original Dawn of the Dead is the best zombie movie of all time, Shaun of the Dead is the second best. Comedy or not.