5. Night Of The Living Dead
Few horror movie franchises have had as much of an impact on pop culture as the Living Dead franchise. Beginning back in 1968 with Night of the Living Dead, George A. Romero’s movies (and those that followed) are still considered some of the most groundbreaking in the genre. Primarily concerning the rise of a zombie horde and humanity’s attempts to survive the legions of the dead, the franchise is one of the most respected in the horror genre.
The cultural impact of the franchise simply cannot be understated. The modern idea of “zombies” stems from Romero’s work, making the Living Dead franchise one that sparked the creation of an entire subgenre. And, with zombies as popular as ever, it’s clear that Romero’s franchise has an incredibly impactful and lasting legacy.
The franchise itself is comprised of films that are steeped in symbolism and explore interesting themes of survival and humanity. Their groundbreaking nature is something that continues to be celebrated even decades on thanks to the lasting appeal of zombie stories. Romero’s movies are brilliantly bleak, violent, and hopeful in turns, making up one of the greatest horror franchises ever.