# Zombieland or Shaun of the Dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555 "2012-11-01T12:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/61 "2012-11-02T23:39:20Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > The dirty old pub had such promise for the finale, and they wasted it. I particularly disliked the bit where that Queen song plays on the jukebox - very unfunny. Agreed, although I did vote for Shaun. It was only after it was over that I realised I’d been tricked into watching and enjoying a rom-com. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/62 "2012-11-03T19:23:40Z")
I voted Zombieland, but probably shouldn’t have voted at all. I know that Shaun has been on when I’ve been around, but it’s never grabbed my attention enough for me to actually pay attention to it. I’m gathering from this thread that it’s probably full of pop cultural references that I just don’t get, so that’s probably why. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/63 "2012-11-04T18:43:09Z")
I finally voted for “Zombieland” - I just enjoyed that film so very much. “Shaun of the Dead” was great, no doubt about it; the Rules put “Zombieland” over the top for me, I think. Taking a regular guy and having him talking about how he is managing to survive without being some kind of macho hero was very identifiable for me. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/64 "2012-11-04T19:24:35Z")
They’re both excellent - and just different enough that I think it’s pointless to put one above the other. Two sides of the same strange subgenre and both work very, very well. I would put _Zombieland_ just a touch ahead of _Shaun_ because, as mentioned in a number of posts, too much in the latter relies on outside humor from Spaced and other sources. Then again, \*Shaun \*does have the fantastic outside line, “Ash isn’t here today, so…” ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/65 "2012-11-04T20:01:09Z")
“Shooooooooouuun!” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/66 "2012-11-06T23:13:01Z")
Just rewatched both, and definitely Z-land. Can’t really justify that, I’d even say that Shaun is overall the better crafted movie, and the Bill Murray scenes are kinda wedged in, but I still like Z-land better, maybe it’s a Yank thing. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/67 "2012-11-06T23:14:32Z")
Also, allow me to recommend **Fido** for those interested in zomedy. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/68 "2012-11-06T23:53:04Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Concur. My only regret about _Shaun of the Dead_ is that I saw _Hot Fuzz_ first. What’s wrong? Never seen a shortcut before? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/69 "2012-11-07T19:46:51Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Agreed, although I did vote for Shaun. It was only after it was over that I realised I’d been tricked into watching and enjoying a rom-com. Exactly. The whole girlfriend thing distracted from a perfectly good and funny zombie movie. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/70 "2012-11-07T20:09:15Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Agreed, although I did vote for Shaun. It was only after it was over that I realised I’d been tricked into watching and enjoying a rom-com. Technically, it’s a zom-rom-com. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555/71 "2012-11-07T20:57:18Z")
_Zombieland_. When _Shaun_ is working, it’s much better, but it takes too long to get going and it loses its humor value when Shaun & co actually make it to the bar. The middle third of the movie is brilliant, but it’s bookended by mediocrity. Also, _Zombieland_ has one of the best cameos of all time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombieland-or-shaun-of-the-dead/639555.md?page=3)