Shaun of the Dead is not only one of the single best zombie movies ever made, but it's also as close to perfect as a film can get.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:171
Fresh:155
Rotten:16
Average Rating:7.7/10
Consensus: Shaun of the Dead cleverly balances scares and witty satire, making for a bloody good zombie movie with loads of wit.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for zombie violence/gore and language
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Sep 24, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $13,464,388
Synopsis: Edgar Wright's horror-comedy film, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, follows the title character (Simon Pegg) through his mundane life in London. Joined by his immature and ever-present roommate, Ed (Nick Frost),... Edgar Wright's horror-comedy film, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, follows the title character (Simon Pegg) through his mundane life in London. Joined by his immature and ever-present roommate, Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun excels at nothing except drinking pints of ale and watching television, which causes friction with his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield). Before Shaun can save his relationship, however, he's got to fend off a horde of zombies that are slowly taking over the city. Armed with a cricket bat and a vague sense of direction, Shaun must rescue his friends and loved ones, and bring them to the only safe place he can think of--the pub. Cowritten by Wright and Pegg, SHAUN OF THE DEAD succeeds remarkably well at combining droll British humor with good, old-fashioned zombie cinema. While the movie is often hilariously amusing, it takes its horror pedigree seriously, offering up moments of genuine suspense, and even a healthy dose of gore. Pegg is oddly charming as the put-upon lead slacker, and Frost is appropriately oafish, but the living dead themselves also take up a fair amount of screen time, shuffling and limping in their best Romero form. For lovers of zombie films and other chills-and-chuckles outings like EVIL DEAD II and DEAD ALIVE, SHAUN OF THE DEAD is an instant cult classic. [More]
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Nick Frost
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Nick Frost, Penelope Wilton, Dylan Moran, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy
Director: Edgar Wright
Director: Edgar Wright
Screenwriter: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Studio: Rogue Pictures
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Release:
Dec 21, 2004
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- NTSC
- Snap Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, Spanish, French
- Subtitles - English (SDH), French, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Extended Scenes
- Outtakes
Audio Commentary:
- 1. Simon Pegg - Star
- 2. Simon Pegg - Star; Nick Frost - Star; Dylan Moran - Star; Kate Ashfield - Star; Lucy Davis - Star
Featurette:
- 1. THE MAN WHO WOULD BE SHAUN
- 2. Edgar and Simon's Flip Chart
- 3. Simon Pegg's Video Diary
- 4. SFX Comparison
- 5. FUNKY PETE
- 6. Plot Holes
- 7. 2000 Ad Strip
- 8. Zomb-O-Meter
- 9. Casting Tapes
- 10. EPK Featurette
Interactive Features:
- Interactive Menus
Text/Photo Galleries:
- Photo Galleries
- Ad Campaign
- Storyboard Comparison
- Theatrical Poster Designs
Reviews for Shaun of the Dead
I think the movie is one of the most hilarious I've ever seen ... But the symbolism and depth of the movie make me appreciate it as a masterpiece.
In this most apocalyptic of genres, Shaun of the Dead is not unlike a ray of unexpected sunshine - even if it has a little red on it.
...not only a loving, teasing homage to the Romero Dead films. It's also a superb zombie film in its own right...
A romantic zombie comedy that tips its hat to George Romero and mines one very funny spoof that doesn't ignore the rules of the zombie horror genre--though it does tamper with them.
Shaun is able to balance the comedy and the gore in a way that will satisfy both zombie genre fans and less bloodthirsty viewers.
Pedestrian direction and script sap what anarchic fun this movie could've been
The cast make a cosy fit, the patter is still sitcom snappy, but Wright also has the visual snap to carry this saga of backyard apocalypse.
Even when in danger of self-destructing, it cadges laughs with smart lines, silly observations or blokish inside jokes about zombie movies, video games and pub nibbles.
Silly drop-dead sight gags that don't seem to work as well as intended but, nevertheless, offer some humor.
Writer-director Edgar Wright and co-writer and star Simon Pegg have terrific fun riffing on zombie lore.
What a sheer delight that we now have a romantic comedy that puts false hope where it belongs: in the face of the annihilation of the entire human race.
This is played for laughs, but director Edgar Wright also builds up suspense and dread better than a lot of straight horror flicks
For a comedy, the material is awfully bloody. But it's good, silly fun nonetheless.
A more complex film with a lot more plot and character depth than you would expect of a lowly horror genre film.
Latest News for Shaun of the Dead
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March 30, 2009:
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Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright are busy guys, but they don't have too much going on to start thinking about the next chapter in their "Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy," titled "The... More...
February 25, 2009:
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September 30, 2008:
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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