Horror movies have delighted and frightened viewers for years, and zombie films have become one of its most popular subgenres. Most films characterize these undead creatures as flesh-hungry and terrifying, but there are many zombie flicks that have attempted to make them more human than monster.
Zombies are horrifying beings that vary from film to film, making the true definition of a zombie hard to come by. Because so many movies have interpreted what the apocalyptic undead world would be like in different ways, it's easy to decipher which outbreak would be easy or difficult to survive.
Easy: Warm Bodies (2013)
By far one of the easiest zombie apocalypses to survive is set in the Warm Bodies universe. The undead in this world aren't quite like the flesh-eating creatures that horror movie lovers are used to. Some of the beings in this universe are close to what they were when they were living, but others are deemed "boneys" and are closer to what fans expect from a classic zombie.
Warm Bodies would also be endurable because the undead learn to speak, and the relationship between R and Julie makes the movie far from terrifying. The virus is also unique among typical zombie fare, as the creatures seem to somewhat recover from their condition and end up living like they did before they were infected.
Hard: Dawn Of The Dead (2004)
It's no secret that the zombies from the Dawn of the Dead are terrifying and fierce. The creatures in this film are full-on predators and the reanimation process happens fairly quickly, making it extremely difficult for survivors to protect themselves. This apocalypse is also terrifying because of the massive undead population.
This world would be difficult to survive because of the zombies' relentless nature and the fact that the living have to learn very quickly or die. This universe also has hardly any hope left in it due to the fact that the island the survivors travel to for safety is also infested.
Easy: Zombieland (2009)
Zombieland definitely houses some terrifying zombies, but this universe still ranks as one of the easier to survive. Despite the beings in this apocalypse being incredibly fast and relentless, there is a humorous side to this universe. The main group in the series is hilarious, realistic, and would make living at the end of the world slightly more bearable.
This wasteland would also be easier to stay alive in than others because there is a hilarious set of rules created by the characters in order to survive the outbreak. The rules are set in place for safety purposes, but also have a way of bringing the characters closer together.
Hard: I Am Legend (2007)
Even though the creatures in this film are more vampire-like, I Am Legend would definitely be one of the more difficult survival situations. The beings in this film are vicious, blood-thirsty, and worst of all, extremely intelligent. The outbreak in I Am Legend is also intimidating because the infection rate for the creatures is staggeringly high.
The one benefit of the disease in the I Am Legend universe is that the creatures are completely unable to step into the sunlight. This is a massive plus for the living and allows them to scavenge for supplies during the day and maintain some safety. However, even with that advantage, making it here is tough.
Easy: Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse (2015)
Another easy situation to survive would be the outbreak in Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. The beings featured in this film are fairly standard, so battling them would be simple for anyone. The zombies in this film are also slightly cheesy, making them seem less intimidating and easy to overcome.
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse also combines a teenage coming of age story with the undead epidemic, making it easier for viewers to forget about the impending doom and focus more on the hilarious antics of the teenage boys. In the end, this outbreak ends as quickly as it begins, making it very easy to endure.
Hard: 28 Days Later (2003)
28 Days Later horrified viewers with the sheer volume of destruction that takes place. This film obviously creates a dangerous threat in its (at the time unique) super-fast dead things, but what makes it harder to endure is the humans that seem equally deadly.
The outbreak would also be difficult to survive because the virus associated with the infection makes its victims animalistic, frightening, and full of aggression. Anyone wanting to live in 28 Days Later-London would have to be pretty quick on their feet.
Easy: Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
Despite being a genre-founding film (and arguably still the greatest zombie movie of all time), the creatures in Night Of The Living Dead are far from terrifying. The original undead are slow, easy to trick, and easy to overcome. Honestly, the living group seems to be more vicious than the dead hunting them.
The supernatural threat featured in Night Of The Living Dead began horror fans' fascination with the living dead, but the zombies of modern cinema are completely opposite from those featured here. Instead of slow-moving and mindless, their modern version are fast, vicious, and over-the-top, making Night Of The Living Dead one of the easiest incidents to live through.
Hard: Army Of The Dead (2021)
One of the most difficult zombie apocalypses to survive would have to be the one at the center of Army Of The Dead. The film takes the stalking creatures fans are familiar with and transforms them into something even more deadly. These beings are intelligent and have developed a way of communicating that makes them more difficult to overtake.
Army Of The Dead definitely has some intimidating zombies that are pretty scary, making them much harder to escape unscathed. Thankfully, the virus is contained in Las Vegas until the end of the film, which helps to make staying far from ground zero much easier.
Easy: Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
The easiest undead world to survive has to be the one taking place in Shaun Of The Dead, a film that largely makes light of the apocalypse. The characters in the film are fully aware of what a zombie is, completely shattering the unwritten rules of the genre.
The outbreak in Shaun Of The Dead would be the simplest to survive because their zombies are slow-moving and not very dangerous. Not to mention, all of the hilarious and likable characters would make life still worth living.
Hard: World War Z (2013)
By far one of the most difficult survival situations is featured in World War Z. The zombies in this film are absolutely terrifying and difficult to defeat. The infection rate is also highly concerning and after a bite it only takes seconds for the infection to take over its new victim.
The zombies become extremely persistent over the course of the story and work endlessly in order to infect any survivors. The creatures also easily contaminate the majority of the world, making their sheer power completely overwhelming.