10 Low Budget Zombie Horror Movies That Are Better Than Blockbusters (& Where To Stream Them) – Screen Rant

These horror movies may have been low budget, but they're awesome zombie flicks that didn't require money to be good!

After the success of The Walking Dead, zombie media has become more prevalent than ever. However, the zombie craze didn't just start in 2011 with Rick Grimes and family. Zombies have been walking, moaning, and eating for decades. They have become so prevalent that much of it has become mainstream.

RELATED:10 Great Zombie Shows To Watch (That Aren't The Walking Dead)

From the original films of the '60s to the resurgence in popularity of the early 2000s, zombies have come to stay. You don't have to flock to the overproduced walking dead to enjoy quality films of dead creatures taking over the earth. More often than not, the more low budget, the better.

Edgar Wright may not be doing low budget films any more, but once upon a time, the CornettaTrilogy gave birth to Shaun of the Dead. An obvious parody toDawn of the Dead, Shaunused satire to point out how people werelike zombies already. Shaun wasso purposeless that even when confronted with the zombie apocalypse, he didn'tquite make the critical jump to realize what washappening until the last possible moment.

Shaun of the Dead was satirical at a time when it already seemed like zombie movies were played out. Little did they know these tropes would go on for another twenty years. Unfortunately, this film is not on Netflix anymore, but is available steam on Cinemax.

The first film in George Romeros prolific career, Night of the Living Deadcannot be discounted in the culture of zombie films. Romero was famous for using social commentary in his horror. Though not explicitly named, zombies weredemonstrated as a conduit for racism in America.

There is a reason why an entire genre was built off of one man's career. This was just the start of a franchise thatstill makes waves today. Night of the Living Dead is available to anyone with an Amazon Prime or HBOMax subscription.

The 1989 film based on Stephen Kings classic horror novel foundnew ways to play the zombie trope. Pet Semetarydid not focus on escaping a zombie apocalypse, but instead capitalized on the devastation of losing a child. Protagonist LouisCreed leanedinto raising the dead not once but twice (not including the cat.)

RELATED:Pet Sematary: The 10 Scariest Scenes, Ranked

The original isonly available for rent while the remake wasavailable on Prime. However, don't go for the glitzy redo of the original classic. The 1989 version hadStephen King's stamp of approval and all the charm of a low budget film with all its savagery.

No stranger to Edgar Wright's foray into zombie fair, Martin Freeman starredin anothernotable movie in the genre. Cargohad nothing to do with satire, but portrayed the lengths that a father wouldgo to in order to save his progeny.

An Australian independent film in the world of Netflix, Cargoconsidered a world where you have to make the hardest decision of someone's life. After being bitten, Martin Freeman's Andy searched for someone who would care for his daughter before he changed. A Netflix original, this film will be on that platform for the foreseeable future.

Another subtle film, Maggie also dealtwith a father's love for his daughter. Arnold Schwarzenegger gained fame as The Terminator, fighter of predators, and more action movies than anyone could count. His emotional work is just as important.

An inverse of Cargo, Maggie deals with a father accepting the fact that his daughter is sick and turning into a zombie. These emotional films are one of the more important portrayals in the world of zombies. Unfortunately the film is no longer on Hulu, but is available to be borrowed through the film-borrowing platform Hoopla.

Indie film Cootiesdealt with the most terrifying of monsters. Children. Horror aficionados will welcome the sight of Elijah Wood and Leigh Whannell.Leigh Whannell is best known for the Saw franchise and new addition Invisible Man. He also wrote the screenplay featuring this cannibalizingchildren who spread their disease during summer school.

In this comedy you see in real time about how quickly a virus can spread and how deadly middle school children can be. You can download the Peacock app easily and enjoy this feature.

Starring Aubrey Plaza and Dane DeHaan, Life After Beth capitalized on the humorous aspects of zombie interactions. The film did not considera world in where a zombie apocalypse arises but rather what happens when the person you care about it taken from you.

Life After Bethpositedthat if something wastoo good to be true, it usually was. Even if you wished your dearly departed returned after a premature death,it was probably best that they didn't. Life After Beth is available to borrow on Hoopla.

Essentially proving the rule that Danny Boyle does better with a lower budget, 28 Days Laterwas one of the most notorious and heralded zombie movies. Implementing the terrifying concept of fast moving rage zombies, 28 Days Laterwas one of the best serious films regarding viruses.

RELATED:5 Reasons That 28 Days Later Is The Greatest Zombie Movie Of All Time (& 5 Why Its Night Of The Living Dead)

The film wasless about how and why the apocalypse hadhappened but what it tookto survive. It confrontedthe terrifying reality about how women would be treated in this situation and how doubtful it would be that anyone could be a decent person. 28 Days Later is not readily available, but you can rent it on Amazon.

Evil DeadIIhas the reputation of being a franchise where the sequel is better than the original.There was no need to watch the first film as it wasretconned to make a far superior movie. Sam Raimi, for a few reasons, had to rewrite the story but it was the best thing for the franchise. In introduced humor and an iconic herostill remembered to this day.

The film featured deadites instead of zombies, but they werewalking dead nonetheless. It was the beginning of a cult phenomenon that none havequite seen since. Just in time for Halloween, Evil Dead II is available to watch on Hulu.

Impossible to discuss any iconic zombies without considering the Re-Animator, the film is admittedly not for everyone. An ambitious and potentiallymad student goes on a tear to reanimate dead flesh with dire consequences. This film is a classic and cannot be ignored in the zeitgeist of zombie films.

Its level of camp and gory acts make an instant B movie classic. Re-Animator is only available on the streaming service FuboTV for a subscription.

NEXT: 13 Best Zombie TV Shows On Netflix

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Carolyn Jenkins is a voracious consumer of film and television. She has an MFA in Screenwriting and Producing and enjoys almost anything in the horror genre.

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10 Low Budget Zombie Horror Movies That Are Better Than Blockbusters (& Where To Stream Them) - Screen Rant

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero