Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
One of the best zombie movies, and also one of the goriest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
What's the Story?
In DAWN OF THE DEAD, society is on the brink of collapse as the dead are walking the streets and attacking the living until they too join the undead. Seeing that things aren't about to get any better, Stephen (David Emge), the "eye in the sky" helicopter traffic reporter for one of the local Philadelphia news stations, wants to escape in the news helicopter with his coworker girlfriend Francine (Gaylen Ross), accompanied by his friends, Philadelphia SWAT team members Peter (Ken Foree) and Roger (Scott H. Reiniger). Together, they escape the city in the helicopter, but now must find a place where they can land and be safe from the zombie hordes. Eventually, they settle on a shopping mall, where there are plenty of supplies and it's possible to barricade themselves. However, there are zombies inside the mall, with more finding ways to get inside. The four survivors must find a way to seal off the mall from both the living and the undead, destroy the zombies who are already inside, and stay sane within the confines of department stores and novelty shops inside the mall.
Is It Any Good?
In a world where stories about the undead have infiltrated all media, this genre-defining sequel is among the very best. Dawn of the Dead -- for action, for story, for social commentary -- can't be beat. There's still plenty of the low-budget charm that made the original 1968 Night of the Living Dead a classic, and there's also plenty of good old fashioned 1970s shock value and societal despair regarding post-Vietnam America.
Perhaps the best thing that can be said about this movie is that you don't have to be a fan of zombie horror movies or horror movies in general to enjoy it. Yes, the blood and gore are likely to be more than a bit much for some viewers. The b-movie charm (for lack of a better word) might not resonate with everyone. But for those interested in seeing a zombie movie that influenced all the zombie movies and TV shows that came after it, Dawn of the Dead is not to be denied, and not to be missed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about zombie movies like Dawn of the Dead. How is this similar to and different from other zombie movies you've seen?
By setting the bulk of the movie in a shopping mall, what commentary does the movie make about consumption and capitalism? What are your thoughts on this?
Is there an entertainment value in excessive, over-the-top violence like the kind seen in this movie? How much is too much?
This movie is considered a classic in the genre. Where do you see some of the standards of the genre that perhaps originated with this movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 1, 1978
- Cast : David Emge , Ken Foree , Gaylen Ross
- Director : George A. Romero
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Image Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 127 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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