Day of the Dead (1985) poster

Day of the Dead

ZombieGoreIsolationParanoia
6.9/10
jumps 6
gore 10
dread 6

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Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.

How it scared people

The vibe

Romero lost half his budget and rewrote the epic into a shouting match underground, which turned out to be the point — the living are unbearable, and Bub the zombie, learning to salute and handle a razor, is the only sympathetic character in it. Savini's third-act effects are still the most gruesome work of his career.

Day of the Dead (1985) Parents Guide

MPA ratingNo MPAA certificate (released outside the US system)
Runtime101 minutes
Jump scares3/5 — moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences
Gore5/5 — extreme gore — not for the squeamish
Dread3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening
Themesthe undead; characters cut off from help; paranoia and distrust

Day of the Dead carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 3/5 for jump scares, 5/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 101 minutes. Weigh the gore first: extreme gore — not for the squeamish. 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 Day of the Dead?
On our intensity scale, Day of the Dead rates 6/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences.
How gory is Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead rates 10/10 for gore — expect extreme gore — not for the squeamish.
How long is Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead runs 101 minutes (1h 41m).
What is Day of the Dead rated?
Day of the Dead has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 6/10 for jump scares, 10/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread.
Where to watch Day of the Dead (1985)?
Day 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).

If Day of the Dead got under your skin

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