Dawn of the Dead
George A. Romero
(1978)
During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Cast
Crew
Overview and Horror Legacy
Dawn of the Dead was both a critical and commercial success, earning approximately $55 million worldwide against its modest budget and receiving strong reviews that recognized Romero's ambition in expanding the scope and thematic reach of the zombie genre he had effectively created. Special makeup effects artist Tom Savini, who also appears in the film as a biker gang member, designed and executed the elaborate gore effects that became a landmark of practical horror makeup.
Collector Market and Memorabilia
Tom Savini's practical gore was state-of-the-art and remains a reference point for the craft. Dario Argento's involvement in the European cut and Goblin's score give the film a dual identity — American zombie horror and Italian genre cinema simultaneously — with multiple distinct versions for collectors to pursue.
Cult Status
Directed and written by George A. Romero, The film more than proved its commercial viability at the box office, earning approximately $55 million. Dawn of the Dead was both a critical and commercial success, earning approximately $55 million worldwide against its modest budget and receiving strong reviews that recognized Romero's ambition in expanding the scope and thematic reach of the zombie genre he had effectively created.
![Dawn of the Dead (1978, trailer) [Starring Ken Foree, David Emge, Gaylen Ross]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FggZWJZ6QqVM%2Fmqdefault.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
