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The Return of the Living Dead

1985Movie1 h 31 minR

71

GoodGoodWatch score

Rotten Tomatoes

A terrifying, thrilling comedy movie.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily · you want something quiet and calm

You

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily · you want something quiet and calm

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Not for warmth, uplift or romance.

Movies with

Story

They're back from the grave and ready to party!

Two employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a toxic gas from a misplaced top-secret U.S. Army shipment, causing the dead to rise from a nearby cemetery with an insatiable hunger for human brains.

Feels like

Zombie Horror-Comedy
Gore & Practical Effects
Satirical Dark Humor
80s Cult Classic
Fast-Paced & Chaotic
Grotesque Spectacle
Campy Horror
Self-Aware & Tongue-in-Cheek

Crew

Directed by: Dan O'Bannon
Written by: Dan O'Bannon, John A. Russo, Rudy Ricci
Produced by: Tom Fox
Music by: Matt Clifford

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 25, 1985 · 1 h 31 min · R

Released: April 25, 1985
Runtime: 1 h 31 min
Age rating: R
Content: Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres: Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction
Original language: English
Made in: United Kingdom, United States
Budget: $4 million
Box office: $14 million
Available in: 33 countries

Tropes

Gross-Up Close-Up, Unexplained Recovery, Berserk Board Barricade +9

Gross-Up Close-Up
Unexplained Recovery
Berserk Board Barricade
Screw This, I'm Outta Here!
George Lucas Altered Version
Batter Up!
Devoured by the Horde
Gratuitous German
Injured Limb Episode
Mythology Gag
Body Horror
Forgotten Fallen Friend

12 of 138 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Return of the Living Dead?"

Questions about The Return of the Living Dead

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Return of the Living Dead?

In the United States, The Return of the Living Dead streams on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo, and AMC+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 30 other countries.

Is The Return of the Living Dead worth watching?

71

GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 71%, and Metacritic 66).

Is there a sequel to The Return of the Living Dead?

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)
Return of the Living Dead III (1993)
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005)
Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005)
Return of the Living Dead

Yes: it's movie 1 of 6 in its series, followed by Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988).

Will The Return of the Living Dead scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 9 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 8 of 10).

Will The Return of the Living Dead make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly satire (9 of 10) and dark humor (9 of 10).

Was The Return of the Living Dead a box office hit?

Budget$4 million

Box office$14 million

Yes: it cost about $4 million to make and earned $14 million worldwide, 3.6 times its budget.

What tropes does The Return of the Living Dead use?

Gross-Up Close-UpUnexplained RecoveryBerserk Board BarricadeScrew This, I'm Outta Here!George Lucas Altered VersionBatter Up!Devoured by the HordeGratuitous GermanInjured Limb EpisodeMythology GagBody HorrorForgotten Fallen Friendand 126 more

TV Tropes lists 138 tropes for it, including Gross-Up Close-Up, Unexplained Recovery, and Berserk Board Barricade.