Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The world of cinema always offers a variety of genres to delight moviegoers, where the dystopian and zombie genres are often favorites due to their ability to present powerful, suspenseful narratives and profound reflections on social and human conditions.
Films in this category are not only entertaining but also often invite audiences to reflect on important issues, such as survival, morality, and the meaning of hope amidst despair.
They construct a world in ruins or under threat, then place characters struggling to survive, search for meaning, or even rediscover their humanity.
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We've rounded up some of the best films in the dystopian and zombie genres that have received critical acclaim and high ratings from audiences worldwide.
I Am Legend (2007)
Set in a desolate New York City, I Am Legend follows Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, who appears to be the last human survivor after a genetically engineered virus wipes out most of humanity and transforms the rest into aggressive, light-sensitive mutants.
The empty streets of Manhattan, overgrown and silent, create a haunting atmosphere that feels disturbingly plausible.
Neville’s daily routine—broadcasting radio messages, hunting deer with his dog, conducting lab experiments—shows a man clinging to purpose in a world that has lost meaning.
The movie becomes one of the most favourite with a rating of 7.2/10 on IMDb.
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Shaun of the Dead (2004)
"Shaun of the Dead" is a 2004 British zombie comedy film directed by Edgar Wright and written by Wright and Simon Pegg.
Pegg stars as Shaun, a depressed London salesman trapped with his loved ones in a zombie apocalypse.
Shaun and his best friend, Ed (Nick Frost), are initially unaware of the threat, mistaking the zombies for drunken streetwalkers.
Once the truth is revealed, they devise a plan to rescue Shaun's mother, Barbara, deal with his stepfather, Philip, and then reunite at The Winchester to wait out the chaos.
"Shaun of the Dead" has become a much-loved cult film, with a rating of 7.9/10 on IMDb.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
"Night of the Living Dead" is a 1968 American independent horror film directed, written, filmed, and edited by George A. Romero.
It is widely recognized as a seminal work that set the template for the modern zombie film genre.
The story centers on seven people trapped in a rural farmhouse in Western Pennsylvania, which is attacked by a horde of the undead who devour human flesh.
George A. Romero's debut features tight editing, realistic gore, and clever political undertones.
With an IMDb score of 7.8/10, "Night of the Living Dead" is a horror classic that continues to influence filmmakers today.
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28 Days Later (2002)
"28 Days Later" is a 2002 British post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland.
The film stars Cillian Murphy as Jim, a bike courier who awakens from a coma to discover that the release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the collapse of society.
The "rage" virus has wiped out civilization as it knew it.
With an IMDb score of 7.5/10, "28 Days Later" introduced the fast-paced concept of the "infected," putting a new spin on the horror genre.
Zombieland (2009)
"Zombieland" is a 2009 American post-apocalyptic zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer, in his directorial debut, and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Murray.
In the film, four survivors of a zombie apocalypse—Tallahassee (Harrelson), Columbus (Eisenberg), Wichita (Stone), and Little Rock (Breslin)—embark on a long cross-country journey to find a safe haven free from a virus that turns people into zombies.
"Zombieland" is perfect for anyone who enjoys dark humor, witty dialogue, and over-the-top zombie action.
With an IMDb score of 7.6/10, the film was praised for its dark humor, witty dialogue, and over-the-top zombie action, proving that the zombie subgenre is far from dead.
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