Dawn of the Dead
Tap a dot to add your rating.
Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
James Gunn wrote it, Zack Snyder directed his first film, and the opening ten minutes — suburban morning to total collapse, then Johnny Cash over the credits — are better than everything that follows. The remake's real argument with Romero is speed: these dead sprint, which trades dread for adrenaline. Sarah Polley grounds it more than the material deserves.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 101 minutes |
| Jump scares | 4/5 — genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares |
| Gore | 4/5 — heavy gore |
| Dread | 2/5 — a mild unease that fades quickly |
| Themes | the undead; characters cut off from help |
Dawn of the Dead is rated R by the MPA. We score it 4/5 for jump scares, 4/5 for gore and 2/5 for lingering dread, over 101 minutes. Weigh the gore first: heavy gore. Older teens and adults, mostly on the strength of what it shows.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Dawn of the Dead?
- On our intensity scale, Dawn of the Dead rates 8/10 for jump scares and 4/10 for dread. It is genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares.
- How gory is Dawn of the Dead?
- Dawn of the Dead rates 8/10 for gore — expect heavy gore.
- How long is Dawn of the Dead?
- Dawn of the Dead runs 101 minutes (1h 41m).
- What is Dawn of the Dead rated?
- Dawn of the Dead is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 8/10 for jump scares, 8/10 for gore and 4/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch Dawn of the Dead (2004)?
- Dawn of the Dead is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
