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IMDbPro

The Return of the Living Dead

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
663
685
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Trailer for this classic gore film follow up
Play trailer2:44
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyHorrorSci-Fi
When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
663
685
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Dan O'Bannon
    • Writers
      • Rudy Ricci(story)
      • John A. Russo(story)
      • Russell Streiner(story)
    • Stars
      • Clu Gulager
      • James Karen
      • Don Calfa
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Dan O'Bannon
    • Writers
      • Rudy Ricci(story)
      • John A. Russo(story)
      • Russell Streiner(story)
    • Stars
      • Clu Gulager
      • James Karen
      • Don Calfa
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 378User reviews
    • 243Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:08
    Official Trailer
    The Return of the Living Dead
    Trailer 2:44
    The Return of the Living Dead

    Photos142

    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
    The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clu Gulager
    Clu Gulager
    • Burt
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Frank
    Don Calfa
    Don Calfa
    • Ernie
    Thom Mathews
    Thom Mathews
    • Freddy
    Beverly Randolph
    Beverly Randolph
    • Tina
    John Philbin
    John Philbin
    • Chuck
    Jewel Shepard
    Jewel Shepard
    • Casey
    Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
    Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
    • Spider
    • (as Miguel Nunez)
    Brian Peck
    Brian Peck
    • Scuz
    Linnea Quigley
    Linnea Quigley
    • Trash
    Mark Venturini
    Mark Venturini
    • Suicide
    Jonathan Terry
    Jonathan Terry
    • Colonel Glover
    Cathleen Cordell
    Cathleen Cordell
    • Colonel's Wife
    Drew Deighan
    Drew Deighan
    • Paramedic #1
    James Dalesandro
    James Dalesandro
    • Paramedic #2
    John Durbin
    John Durbin
    • Radio Corpse #1
    David Bond
    David Bond
    • Radio Corpse #2
    Bob Libman
    • Tac Squad Captain
    • Director
      • Dan O'Bannon
    • Writers
      • Rudy Ricci(story)
      • John A. Russo(story)
      • Russell Streiner(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Some of the zombie extras were paid bonus to eat real calf brains in the film. Dan O'Bannon didn't want the actors to do anything he wasn't willing to do and ate some raw calf brains first in front of them, to show that he wouldn't ask them to do anything he wasn't willing to do himself.
    • Goofs
      When Frank is explaining how the original Night of the Living Dead is based on a true story, he states that the true story occurred in 1969. However Night of the Living Dead (1968) was released in 1968, a year before the incident happened. In the original script Frank said the event happened in 1966, but Dan O'Bannon changed the line because he felt it would be better if the character was unreliable.
    • Quotes

      Suicide: You think this is a fuckin' costume? This is a way of life.

    • Crazy credits
      The following phony disclaimer precedes the movie: "The events portrayed in this film are all true. The names are real names of real people and real organizations."
    • Alternate versions
      The MGM 2002 DVD releases (UK and US) has had some changes in the audio compared to the original version:
      • The TSOL song has been replaced with another song
      • The Tar Man's voice has been re-recorded. However, the original Tar Man voice can be heard briefly during the closing credit sequence.
      • The line "send more cops" has also been re-recorded
      • The song "Take a walk" has been removed, now you only hear it for a few seconds with no vocals.
      • The song "Burn the flames" has also been shortened.
    • Connections
      Edited into Cent une tueries de zombies (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      The Trioxin Theme
      (Main Title)
      Performed by Francis Haines
      Composed by Francis Haines
      Produced by Simon Heyworth

    User reviews378

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Of Gory Partycrashers
    A real classic of the zombie business. Directed by Dan O'Bannon who got writer credits for such classics as Alien, Aliens, Dark Star, Lifeforce and Screamers (he is still in business). The Return of the Living Dead is one of the earliest movie (if not the first) I remember who glued zombie-horror and a decent level of gore together with a fine shot of comedy elements.

    A must-see if you like zombies + comedy. Alone the scenes with the goth-punks having a party on the graveyard till the dead rise is iconic stuff. But unlike some of the recently produced zombie-comedies this one got still a good level of horror and gore and its main focus is not on comedy only.
    helpful•14
    1
    • Tweetienator
    • Jun 6, 2018

    FAQ4

    • Is this film a sequel to "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)?
    • What movies are in the "Dead" series (and which aren't)?
    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Workprint?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Return of the Living Dead
    • Filming locations
      • Louisville, Kentucky, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cinema '84
      • Cinema 84
      • Fox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,237,880
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,403,169
      • Aug 18, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,237,880
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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