Day of the Dead
Performance & Direction: Day of the Dead Review
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Day of the Dead (1985) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and Day of the Dead features a noteworthy lineup led by Lori Cardille . Supported by the likes of Terry Alexander and Joseph Pilato , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Day of the Dead
Quick Plot Summary: Day of the Dead is a Horror, Drama, Mystery film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. As the world is overrun by zombies, scientists and military personnel in an underground Florida bunker must decide on how they should deal with the undead. The film uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: Day of the Dead
Ending Breakdown: Day of the Dead resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Day of the Dead reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Day of the Dead?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: Day of the Dead
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $3.8M |
| Worldwide Gross | $34.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Day of the Dead Budget
The estimated production budget for Day of the Dead is $3.8M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Day of the Dead
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Where to Watch Day of the Dead Online?
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FlixFlingDay of the Dead Parents Guide & Age Rating
1985 AdvisoryWondering about Day of the Dead age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Day of the Dead is 101 minutes (1h 41m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.0/10, and global performance metrics, Day of the Dead is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1985 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Day of the Dead worth watching?
Day of the Dead is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 7/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Day of the Dead parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Day of the Dead identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Day of the Dead?
The total duration of Day of the Dead is 101 minutes, which is approximately 1h 41m long.
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We learn pretty quickly that the world has been zombified and that scientist "Sarah" (Lori Cardille) might be part of the last dozen or so people left in the world who still prefer their food cooked! They use an helicopter to get about the place then take refuge deep underground in a military bunker run by the slightly maniacal "Rhodes" (Joseph Pilato). It's fair to say that there's quite a degree of tension amongst these survivors. The military element is asserting itself over the folks who are trying to find a cause for and solution to the plague on the surface. Things come to an head with "Prof Logan" (Richard Liberty) takes his experiments trying to re-humanise these creatures just one step too far for the heavily armed soldiers, and a deadly split occurs that could spell doom for everyone! Now the acting here is pretty terrible, and the writing does little to help with that but George Romero does well to create an increasing sense of claustrophobic menace as tempers fray and the human beings factionalise into groups more dangerous to each other than their topside terrors. It's the last half hour than enlivens this, though, as the civilian conclude that they need to get airborne and head for a quiet Caribbean beach. The plot is a little more sophisticated, there is the semblance of science here, but essentially it's all about hordes of marauding corpses - I'm sure I saw a tutu-clad ballet dancer amongst them - bent of a bit of gobbling. Even when the odds are stacked against people, they can still find reasons not to trust each other!
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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