Is The Return of the Living Dead Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, The Return of the Living Dead is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies.
It features a runtime of 91 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to mature audiences.

Verdict:The Return of the Living Dead is a confirmed HIT based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 7.2/10, it has delivered a compelling experience for fans of the Comedy, Horror genre.
Answer: Yes, The Return of the Living Dead is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies.
It features a runtime of 91 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1985, The Return of the Living Dead emerges as a significant entry in the Comedy, Horror domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies. Unlike standard genre fare, The Return of the Living Dead attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a refreshing take on its central themes.
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Return of the Living Dead features a noteworthy lineup led by Clu Gulager . Supported by the likes of James Karen and Don Calfa , 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.
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Return of the Living Dead (1985) is overwhelmingly positive. With an audience rating of 7.2/10, it stands as a mandatory watch for any serious cinema lover.
Quick Plot Summary: The Return of the Living Dead is a Comedy, Horror film that brings laughter through clever writing and comedic timing, offering both entertainment and social commentary. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
The film operates on multiple levels, using its genre framework to explore deeper themes about human nature, society, and the choices that define us.
Ending Breakdown: The Return of the Living Dead resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
The final moments of The Return of the Living Dead reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Worth Watching If You:
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $4.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $14.2M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The estimated production budget for The Return of the Living Dead is $4.0M. 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.










MGM Plus Amazon ChannelAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 7.2/10, and global collection metrics, The Return of the Living Dead stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1985 cinematic year.
The Return of the Living Dead is considered a hit based on audience response and box office performance. With a rating of 7.2/10, it's highly recommended for fans of Comedy, Horror movies.
Yes, The Return of the Living Dead is definitely worth watching! It's a must-watch hit for fans of Comedy, Horror cinema.
The Return of the Living Dead is currently available for streaming on MGM Plus Amazon Channel. You can also check for it on platforms like MGM Plus Amazon Channel depending on your region.
So. Much. Damn. Fun. _The Return of the Living Dead_ always takes me back to being a teenager. In a good way. _Trash is taking off her clothes again._ _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._
“Burt” (Clu Gulager) is regaling new boy “Freddy” (Thom Matthews) with spooky tales in their medical supply warehouse and that takes them to the basement where the relics of the last zombie attack were stored in hermetically sealed metal jars. Rather stupidly, they open one and release not just it’s toxic gases but also one of it’s fairly peckish occupants! Fleeing for their very lives, they call in the boss “Frank” (James Karen) who in turn drags in the local funeral director “Ernie” (Don Calfa giving Christopher Lloyd a run for his money) to dispose of their recently acquired evidence. Snag? Well the cremation process creates loads of smoke which is conveniently carried by the rain into the soil of the adjacent graveyard and next thing, yep, the ground is alive with the long dead screaming for their ultimate painkiller - brains! These are shrewd and hungry critters who soon have paramedic and police officers on their menu, but what chance for our not so intrepid group? Especially as they are now accompanied by the hysterical young “Tina” (Beverly Randolph) who was out in the graveyard with her eclectic group of friends and who ran like hell when she was grabbed by something she didn’t want to grab back. It’s end to end stuff this, marrying some quickly paced dialogue with some remarkably decent special effects creating quite a fun horror film that is fairly light on fear but full of loads of comedy antics before the military resort to their ultimate sanction, thanks to “Col. Glover” (Jonathan Terry), and almost certainly make matters even worse for what I assume will be the next instalment.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.



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