My movie queue is dangerously low, so I need to fill it up with more films.
I haven’t seen a lot of zombie flicks, so I figure now is a good time to start.
I also don’t want to watch all the zombie films out there, so just stick with the best ones.
IMO George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” is a classic. You can probably find a free download of it b/c it became public domain when someone forgot to renew the copyright (if I heard correctly).
The followups (Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead) were not as good.
I’d go with George Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” and the British zombie romantic comedy “Shaun of the Dead.”
The 2004 “reimagining” of Dawn of the Dead is an excellent action-horror movie, and 28 Days Later is fantastic as well. (Haven’t seen its sequel, 28 Weeks Later, though.)
I’d definitely second “Shaun of the Dead” - its absolutely brilliant.
Its arguable whether its a “zombie movie” specifically, but since it does feature zombies/undead in it and its one of my favourite movies, I’d say:
Evil Dead 2
Don’t bother with 1. While groundbreaking, the second one is a much better film and a remake of the first.
Return on the living dead is a comedy zombie movie in the more conventional sense too…
*Shaun of the Dead *and 28 Days Later are my two favorite zombie movies. Be warned that 28 Days Later features “fast zombies,” which to some zombie fans are anathema. (Me, I like 'em. Just another take on my favorite movie genre.) And it’s probably good to see a few of the movies listed below before watching Shaun - there’s some jokes in the movie that benefit from establishing a zombie movie baseline.
Absolutely you must see the original Night of the Living Dead, by Romero. The remake they made in what, the early 90s? is also pretty good - Barbara in the remake is less of a whiner, which is a good thing. Skip the other two early Romeros (*Dawn *and Day, they’re not so good), but do pick up the Dawn of the Dead remake that came out not so long ago. I also like Romero’s recent Land of the Dead.
For more funny “zombie” movies (that is, they’re sorta zombie movies and sorta not, but definitely funny), watch the Evil Deads (I and II) and Army of Darkness. Bruce Campbell is a god. The recent *Fido *is also great, but is more of a satire than Bruce’s physical comedy.
That should set you up well. Let me know when you’ve made it through that bunch, and we can start talking second tier. I watch as many zombie movies as I can get my hands on, good or bad (and lord, there’s a ton of really bad ones out there. Rave to the Grave, anyone?). I loves me some zombie movies.
I absolutely love 28 Days Later (Dr. Who fans should note that the guy who played the 9th Doctor is in there as well). Room mate tried to get me to watch 28 Weeks Later, but I couldn’t keep interest in it, even after the action picked up (basically, it plays on one of my least favorite plot devices in fiction, namely “The Americans/The Military screws everything up”, but if you like that, then you might like this).
It does has some verily awesome special effects in it in places though, at least as far in the movie as I made it.
Actually, the film fell into public domain when someone forgot to put the copyright notice in the film itself (someplace in the credits). The copyright laws required it at the time, but they were amended in 1989 so that the notice was no longer required.
I learned roman numerals by watching for the copyright notice in movies 
Olive
I know it will suck, but I’m tempted to watch “Night of the Living Dead: Rave From the Grave” just for the camp value. 
Peter Jacksons BRAINDEAD.
if you can think of a way to kill a zombie, its in here. The most batshit zombie movie there is. I would also suggest Shaun of the Dead, except it doesnt feature zombies; that would be ridiculous.
Yeah, yeah, Romero films, Dead Alive, 2004 DotD, Evil Dead, second second. Let’s get on to more esoteric stuff.
Zombie - directed by Lucio Fulci, released in America as Zombie, might also go by the overseas title Zombi 2 (there never was a Zombi 1, Fulci was just trying to cash in on Romero’s films by tricking people into thinking his movie was a sequel). Surprisingly good “rotting folk” makeup, and a scene with a zombie fighting a freakin’ shark.
Pet Sematary - yeah, it’s a zombie movie. The dead walk. Therefore, them’s zombies.
Re-Animator - cheese, but fun cheese. I also like the sequel, Bride of Re-Animator, where the main character figures out how to re-animate parts of bodies rather than just whole bodies. He makes a little…thing…out of an eyeball and four fingers that walks around like a spider. Really neat.
Return of the Living Dead - again, kinda goofy, but one thing really makes this stand out, apart from a naked Linnea Quigley: the Tar Man. Possibly the awesomest zombie ever to hit celluloid.
All the previously mentioned films are worthy of a viewing. If I may add my $0.02:
After the original Night of the Living Dead , you might want to check out Tom Savini’s remake (made with the blessing of Mr. Romero). I was impressed with many things in this film, especially the strength of the lead female character. And her last line was a pleasant surprise.
For $1 at many stores, you can pick up a copy of The Last Man on Earth . It’s the first film version of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend and, for a low budget Italian film, it’s really quite effective. And it has Vincent Price! I’ve always believed that it was one of the things that inspired NOTLD. And, while the creatures aren’t technically zombies in the strictest sense, the film contains all the requisite elements for a “zombie film”, IMHO.
Back in “the day”, before cinematic zombies became flesh-eaters, there were several films made about the classic “voodoo zombies”. For a good “old school” example, check out Zombies of Mora Tau or the camp classic King of the Zombies . Yeah, I know, most people swear by I Walked With a Zombie , but I personally find it kinda dull.
Many people were disappointed with Romero’s 4th Dead film, Land of the Dead ; I thought it was brilliant, and well worth waiting 20 years for.
And a second for Return of the Living Dead . Absolutely terrific!
Thirded!
I can’t believe everyone is saying bad things about the original Dawn of the Dead!
It is a FANTASTIC movie and creates a social commentary on society that is still viable today. The remake was an abomination. Sheesh people!
Day of the Dead is less good, but still a good flick.
Max Torque and want2know’s recommendations are all good as well.
But Dawn of the Dead is a contender for the best zombie flick ever.
Seconded on Braindead (aka Dead Alive). Lawnmower zombie-fu! Priests kicking arse for the Lord!
Evil Dead 2 is most certainly NOT a remake of Evil Dead 1.
Just for the sake of completion, you might as well throw in the Resident Evil series. I enjoyed the first one, but the second and third ones are … less than stellar.
The original Dawn of the Dead relied way too much on the social commentary that really wasn’t all that relevant then or now. Ooooohhhhhh, people shop too much and they become zombies looking at the pretty things. Lame.
But the zombie gore and the rest of the story was pretty good, so it’s required viewing. However, I side with plenty of others who says the remake is better.
Besides the obvious ones that have been mentioned multiple times, I’m also really found of Slither, a horror-comedy from 2006 that features alien slugs turning people into zombies. It stars Nathan Fillion and it’s funny, it’s gross and it’s fantastic. Completely unfairly overlooked.
I’m sure many will disagree, but Resident Evil: Extinction was a decent enough hot chick and zombies movie. Bonus: Tens of thousands of Zombie Crows!