Top 20 Best Funny Zombie Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

I Was a Teenage Zombie (1987) involves six high schoolers who accidentally kill a drug pusher, and then the dealer comes back for revenge as a zombie. This movie definitely falls into “so bad it’s good” territory. As a reputable filmmaker yourself, the inconsistent continuity and terrible shot angles may make you rip your eyes out. But if you just want a good laugh at midnight, you could do a lot worse.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) lives up to its name by planting the undead directly into the Jane Austen classic. Ultimately, it’s unclear who the film is for. Jane Austen fans likely won’t be amused at such a brutal butchering of the classic work. Meanwhile, the film itself isn’t funny to attract die-hard comedy fans. Still, it’s amusing enough.

Comedy Zombie Movies

18. Zombeavers

Zombeavers (2015) is a film about zombie beavers attacking a bunch of college students staying in a cabin in the woods. It’s not the most sophisticated film out there, but it’s clear the filmmakers know exactly what they’re making. Plus, it stars Bill Burr and John Mayer as a couple of truck drivers who are the highlights of the film.

New Funny Zombie Movies

17. The Dead Don’t Die

The plot and actual zombie action come second to exploring characters in The Dead Don’t Die (2019). The film is slow, but that’s obviously the intention. The only problem is that it doesn’t always gel with the oncoming threat of zombies. Bill Murray and Adam Driver are great as always, but you can’t help but leave wishing you saw more zombies.

Funny Zombie Movies List

16. Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives

When it comes to horror franchises, Friday the 13th tends to be at the bottom of the barrel. It just got too formulaic as the series went on, but at least Jason Lives (1986) brought some much-needed levity to the franchise. Before Wes Craven’s New Nightmare or Scream, Jason Lives became one of the first horror films to go meta. Horror aficionados may be quick to write it off, but when it comes to pure entertainment, the Friday the 13th series doesn’t get much better.

Funny Zombie Movies to Check Out

15. Life After Beth

In Life After Beth (2014), Aubrey Plaza was born to play a zombie girlfriend. The only problem is that the film tries to juggle different tones at once to varying degrees of success. One scene it’ll be a straight-up comedy, and next the tone will turn into a serious relationship drama. It ends up being not quite scary or funny as it should be.

Zom Com

14. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

For kids who grew up in the 90s, their first exposure to zombies wasn’t with George Romero. It was with Scooby-Doo. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998) was a big departure from the original TV series solely for the fact that there are actual monsters this time. The movie’s just meta enough to work, and the animation is a significant improvement from the old cartoon.

Best Funny Zombie Movies Ever

13. Anna and the Apocalypse

Anna and the Apocalypse (2018) was destined for cult status right from the tagline. It’s a full-on zombie musical that has toe-tapping dance numbers and plenty of gore alike. It doesn’t always hit the right notes, but when it’s firing on all cylinders, it’s one hell of a good time.

Comedy Zombie Movies of the 2000s

12. Fido

Zombie movies have always been filled with social commentary. Fido takes that commentary in a fresh and unique direction. The film takes place in a world where zombies have been domesticated, but they still show their bloodthirsty nature when their inhibitor collars go on the fritz. It’s a smart satire that takes the genre in an interesting direction.

Best Funny Zombie Movies of All Time

11. American Zombie

American Zombie (2007) is another unique entry into the zombie film mythology. It’s a mockumentary detailing how Americans have acclimated to zombies in society, and just like Fido, there’s ample social commentary at play. Not only does it play superbly well off documentary tropes, but it’s genuinely creepy at times, making for an effective hybrid.

Top 10 Zombie Comedy Movies

10. Night of the Comet

As we enter the top 10 funny zombie movies, we begin with a B-movie classic. Night of the Comet (1984) sees two Valley girls and a truck driver fending off the zombie apocalypse. It’s a delightful throwback to 50s science-fiction/horror with all of the rad pop culture staples you expect out of the 80s. The dark humor is top-notch, and the fun dialogue helps it rise above its pretty standard plot.

Funny Zombie Movies That Will Make You Die Laughing

9. Warm Bodies

R is a zombie. Julie is a human. You wouldn’t think they could find love in this zombie-infested world, but slowly, R becomes more and more human as their love grows. Warm Bodies (2013) sets itself apart from other films in the genre by being genuinely sweet. It’s not the bloodiest nor the funniest entry on the list, but for rom-com fans wanting to dip their toes in the horror genre, it’s worth a watch.

Classic Comedy Zombie Movies

8. Dead Alive

Dead Alive (1993), or Braindead, depending on where you live, is a cult classic among genre enthusiasts. Peter Jackson directs the film where a rat-monkey hybrid bites a young man’s mother, turning her into a zombie and starting a full-on plague. The zombie baby scene strikes the perfect blend of the comedic and the grotesque, and that scene alone is enough to land this film in the top 10.

New Funny Zombie Movies in 2019

7. Little Monsters

Little Monsters (2019) a washed-up musician tries to get his life back on track while getting his nephew’s kindergarten teacher to like him. Oh, and zombies break out at a petting zoo trapping a group of youngsters. It’s a charming little movie about adults needing to grow up. Also, Lupita Nyong’o kicks about all of the ass you can in one of the most recent best funny zombie movies.

Best Comedy Zombie Movies

6. Re-Animator

H.P. Lovecraft wasn’t particularly known for injecting humor into his works, but director and co-writer Stuart Gordon did precisely that with his adaptation titled Re-Animator (1985). The film follows a scientist who creates a reagent to bring the dead back to life, and he must fight for control of the zombies from his colleague. It’s delightfully absurd, and it 100% commits to the insanity. The deadpan humor contrasts perfectly with the over-the-top gore to create a perfect film to watch on Halloween night.

Best Funny Zombie Movies to Watch Right Away

5. Army of Darkness

Army of Darkness (1993) doesn’t have zombies in the traditional sense, but since Ash fights an army of the undead, we’re including it. Evil Dead was a great cabin-in-the-woods horror film, but for the sequels, Sam Raimi really ratcheted up the hilarity. Army of Darkness lampoons horror and big-budget fantasy all in one fell swoop.

Comedy Zombie Movies for Kids

4. ParaNorman

Laika is no stranger to kids’ movies with some horror. Coraline is genuinely frightening at times, but in 2012, the company created their love letter to zombie movies with ParaNorman (2012). What sets this zom com apart from its contemporaries is that it actually views its zombies as once being people. They present a challenge that cannot be overcome by shooting them in the head. It’s sweet, funny, and perfect for adults and kids alike.

Best Funny Zombie Movies You Love

3. Zombieland

The zombie film genre was ripe for deconstruction when Zombieland (2009) came around. The movie truly soars in how it chooses to make fun of these movies. Audiences were invited to laugh “with” the cliches rather than laugh “at” them. The best funny zombie movies know that poking fun at itself has now become not only acceptable but expected. The film has nothing but respect for the genre, and you can have a total blast memorizing Columbus’ rules to survival just in case you ever find yourself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Zombie Sheep Movie

2. Black Sheep

No one asked for a zombie sheep movie, but we’re glad we got one. Black Sheep (2006) is an absurd film, and the filmmakers wisely chose to play it as straight as possible. There’s an inherent lunacy to the film, but still, when a character dies, you feel it. You care about these characters as zombie sheep rampage a New Zealand town. If you live on a farm, then you’ll need to watch your back the next time you go into the pen.

British Zombie Comedy

1. Shaun of the Dead

Imagine a Venn diagram of a romantic comedy and a zombie film. At the center lies Shaun of the Dead (2004). People looking for a fresh and funny romantic comedy will find it. People looking for a heartfelt homage to Romero will also strike gold. The intelligence on display from Wright and Pegg is staggering. They know the zombie movie inside and out, but that's easy to do. What's difficult is combining that knowledge with strong filmmaking craft. 

The jokes are amazing. The characters are solidly written. It’s not just a great zombie spoof. It’s a fantastic film in its own right and by far one of the best funny zombie movies ever.

Up Next

The Best Comedy Movies of All Time

Zombies are far from the only source of comedy in recent years. If you want to see how humor transcends decade, genre, or country, then check out our list of the best comedies ever made. 

Up Next: Funny Movies to Inspire Filmmakers →