The Walking Dead: 5 Zombie Films To Watch While Waiting For Season 7

It’s been almost five months since The Walking Dead concluded its sixth season, and fans are still reeling from that unexpected cliffhanger. Instead of watching Negan decide which of the main characters he was going to kill, we were all made to wait until the Season 7 premiere in October to find out.

Many fans were upset with the conclusion of the episode, feeling like they had been cheated out of an ending. After all of the build-up and excitement surrounding the episode, audiences felt like they had to walk away empty-handed. Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, and countless of others have defended the move, and promised fans that it will be better having waited.

Either way, there’s just under two months left until The Walking Dead returns to TV, and it just can’t seem to come soon enough. Whether you’ve spent your summer trying to forget about it, binge-watching Fear The Walking Dead, or meticulously reviewing that final scene trying to decide who met Lucille, you’re probably sick of waiting by now.

The good news is, there are plenty of other properties out there to help tide over your undead cravings. If you’re needing your fix, and can’t wait until October, check out some of these films that may be able make the wait just a little more bearable.

Night of The Living Dead

While the idea of watching a zombie flick from 1968 may not sound appealing, Night of The Living Dead is actually the movie that started the entire zombie genre.

Directed by horror legend, George A. Romero, Night of The Living Dead was the first film in which audiences were introduced to the concept of a virus that reverses death. The movie follows a group of survivors that try hiding out in an old farmhouse. If that sounds familiar, you’re absolutely right. Season 2 of TWD was stylistically influenced by the zombie classic, and you’ll probably notice a ton of similarities to Hershel and his farm.

While this film doesn’t have the special effects, make-up, or characterization of The Walking Dead, it’s always nice to see what influenced your favorite show. If it wasn’t for the work of George A. Romero, there wouldn’t be such a thing as The Walking Dead.

Zombieland

In 2009, Zombieland emerged as the standard in the horror comedy genre. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film followed a group of four misfits across the country as they tried to find safe haven in the zombie apocalypse. The premise was simple enough, but the characters propelled this movie to much greater heights.

Starring Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin, Zombieland was the perfect blend of zombies and laughs. Not only that, but there was plenty of intense action throughout. From start to finish, this movie brought the laughs, thrills, and even a wonderful cameo by Bill Murray.

The Walking Dead isn’t always known for its sense of humor, but Season 7 will likely change that. Since his introduction in the comics, Negan has always found a way to insert his twisted sense of humor. Since he’s playing a vital role in the series moving forward, we should expect a few more laughs from now on.

Maggie

The Walking Dead had been recognized for being one of the only zombie properties to pack an emotional punch. It’s difficult to blend the undead with living feelings, but that’s exactly what you can expect from Maggie.

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin, this film tells the story of a father desperately searching for a cure as his daughter slowly dies from a zombie infection. Director Henry Hobson and writer John Scott did an exceptional job of making audiences feel as though they were a part of the struggling family. In what could possibly be his best dramatic role, Arnold portrays the desperate father perfectly. 

This exact story hasn’t played out in The Walking Dead, but the concept of exploring a parent-child relationship is one that the series has been committed to for years. The love between Rick and Carl parallels that of Maggie and her father, and their bonds only deepen as the series continues.

28 Days Later

The Walking Dead isn’t the only zombie franchise that began with its main protagonist waking up in a hospital after the onset of the apocalypse. In 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy finds himself joining up with strangers to try and escape a deadly disease.

Danny Boyle has set himself apart as a legend in British filmmaking, and 28 Days Later was yet another exclamation point on his incredible career. Instead of focusing on the undead, like in most films in the genre, Boyle kept the focus on the declining mental health of the survivors. This is something that’s continued to develop in The Walking Dead over the years.

While 28 Days Later treats the infection as something curable, it remains one of the most realistic looks zombies in cinematic history. The film is a slow burn, and it will definitely get your nerves in check as your prepare for Season 7.

World War Z

In The Walking Dead comics, Negan’s first appearance is followed by a story called ‘All-Out War’. All of the communities in the area erupt in an enormous battle, and the TV version of this conflict will be sure to have fans’ on the edge of their seats.

World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, raised the stakes when it came to the zombie film genre. Instead of a few people running from walkers, this film featured creatures that were much more violent. These zombies were more intelligent than most, and their need for flesh caused them tear apart cities in a matter of days.

World War Z had audiences struggling to breath over the course of its two hour adventure, and that kind of stress is necessary if you’re planning on watching Season 7 of The Walking Dead.

With less than two months to go until the season premiere, these movie should be enough to old you over. If not, the entire Walking Dead series is on Netflix. Maybe it’s just time to start from the top. Will you be able to make it ’til October?

The Walking Dead returns for its seventh season on October 23, 2016 on AMC.