Train to Busanwas truly one of thegreatest zombie movies ever made, leaving viewers eager for more of something similar. As a South Korean story of not just survival but also parenting, selflessness, and sacrifice, director Yeon Sang-ho managed to create a thoughtful story that was as profound as it was action-packed. While there are plenty more great South Korean zombie movies to check out, there are plenty morefast-moving zombie releasesfrom around the world that echo the appeal of this modern horror classic.
From subsequent releases within theTrain to Busanfranchise to entirely unconnectedHollywood zombie movies, there’s a whole world of cinema to explore for viewers looking to reexperience the appeal of this South Korean horror. Whether it was the more emotional side of its story or the intensity of hordes of undead threats that you connected with,Train to Busanwas just the tip of the iceberg in the zombie genre, and, although it was one of the best, many other releases scratch that same itch.
10The Girl With All The Gifts (2016)
Available On: Prime Video
The Girl with All the Giftswas an incredible zombie movie that maintained the gritty feel and emotional resonance ofTrain to Busan. As one of the best British horror movies in living memory,there were also aspects of28 Days LaterandThe Last of Uswithin this tense vaccine survival story. Set in the near future, where society has been ravaged by a parasitic fungus, the last hope for humanity is a small group of infected children who are the only ones not to transform into zombified “hungries.”
Like so many other movies in this genre, this is a zombie film that is not really about zombies and instead spreads a message of acceptance and understanding. With a scientist, teacher, and young girl embarking on a journey of survival,The Girl with All the Giftsasks tough questions about the infected girl’s right to live despite societal fears around her potentially deadly nature. With a great premise and some unpredictable twists and turns,The Girl with All the Giftspacks a real emotional punch.
9#Alive (2020)
Available On: Netflix
WhileTrain to Busantold of the death-defying journey taken by passengers traversing from Seoul to Busan, the South Korean movieAlivewas a much more confined affair. Telling the story of a video game streamer trapped in an apartment following a zombie outbreak,Alivetraded intense train sequences for a man’s quest to find unique ways to keep the infected out of his home. With an emotional and character-driven story, amid all the chaos of a society in freefall, was a sense of humanity as Oh Joon-woo found a connection with Kim Yoo-bin in their bid for survival.
As an exploration of loneliness, desperation, and the will to survive,Alivewas grounded in a modern, urban South Korean setting and leaned heavily into themes of isolation in the digital age. While Oh Joon-woo’s social life revolved around gaming online,Alivehighlighted how, in a zombie apocalypse, it was only his neighbor he could rely on. Released in early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic,Alivefelt particularly relevant when it was released on Netflix back in 2020.
8Maggie (2015)
Available On: MAX
While Arnold Schwarzenegger almost always plays an unstoppable action hero, he traded this iconic persona for a more grounded take on zombie stories withMaggie. This touching tale saw Schwarzenegger play Wade Vogel, a man struggling to come to terms with the infection of his daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin), a young girl who has been bitten and will soon turn into a cannibalistic zombie. As an emotional film dealing with the psychological hardships of being a father,Maggiemimicked many of the same themes and concerns seen inTrain to Busan.
Maggiedepicted a realistic and heartbreaking version of society overtaken by a zombie pandemic, and rather than seek revenge and go on a killing spree against hordes of zombies, Wade simply wanted to do everything he could to ensure his daughter did not suffer. With a surprisingly poignant turn from Schwarzenegger,Maggiewas more a story about the need for mercy and the power of a parent’s love than the over-the-top, rock-em-sock-em style its lead actor was known for.
While director George A. Romero practically invented the modern zombie movie with his undisputed classicNight of the Living Dead, his sequel,Dawn of the Dead,has arguably had an even bigger influence over the genre. Featuring survivors of the zombie apocalypse attempting to take refuge in a shopping mall, the arrival of hordes of undead zombies led to them barricading themselves inside as they were overtaken by mass hysteria and panic. While the original 1978 movie was a classic, Zack Snyder’s 2004 version expanded upon its premise and created its own zombie universe in the process.
With a shift toward fast-moving zombies over the slow-shambling ghouls seen in Romero’s world, this remake ofDawn of the Deadcaptured the same frantic and heart-racing terror asTrain to Busan. This version leans even more heavily into action and gore, and although the underlying themes around capitalism and consumerism still stand, Snyder’s version was less concerned with social commentary.
6World War Z (2013)
Available On: Paramount+
While the terrifying consequences of a zombie outbreak are explored in practically every movie dealing with rising hordes of undead, there are a select few that truly capture the heart-racing intensity of this experience with the same level of fright asTrain to Busan. Among this select few wasWorld War Z,a movie whose depiction of massive swaths of zombies highlighted just how overwhelming this kind of catastrophic pandemic would be.
World War ZstarredBrad Pitt as a former United Nations investigator traveling the world to try and find a solution for the zombie apocalypse. While most zombie movies tell their stories on a much smaller scale and focus on individuals trying to fend for themselves and their family under terrifying circumstances, part of the appeal ofWorld War Zwas it looked at things from a global perspective.
5It Comes At Night (2017)
Available On: Cinemax (Via Hulu)
It Comes at Nightwas an incredible horror movie from A24 that suffered from misleading marketing, resulting in a massive disparity between its critics and audience’s scores on Rotten Tomatoes. With an 88% critics score and a 44% audience response,It Comes at Nightwas made to look like a terrifying monster movie, although it was actually a thoughtful exploration of paranoia and fear built around slow-building tension and an unnerving atmosphere. While not as action-packed asTrain to Busan,It Comes at Nightmirrored the South Korean classic’s themes of fear and loss.
From writer and director Trey Edward Shults,It Comes at Nightwas not a typical zombie movie and toyed with audiences' perception of warnings signalling imminent danger. As a movie that keeps viewers guessing throughout, Joel Edgerton gave a compelling performance as a man living in a world ravaged by an infectious disease. WhileIt Comes at Nightmay have divided critics and viewers, those who connect with this a-typical zombie movie will find a lot to love about it.
428 Days Later (2002)
Available On: Hulu
28 Days Laterwas perhaps the most important zombie movie of the 21st century, as it helped reinvigorate the genre and remind audiences just how scary this undead plight could be. The impact of28 Days Laterserved to recontextualize zombies as genuine threats and helped undo decades of lighthearted, humorous depictions that blended horror with comedy. The appeal of this movie had ripple effects that have continued right up to this day and certainly influenced other fast-moving zombie releases likeTrain to Busan.
With Cillian Murphy as Jim, a bicycle courier who was previously in a coma,28 Days Laterbegan with uncertainty as the audience was also in the dark about what had ravaged society. As Jim walked through an abandoned London, it was impossible not to be overwhelmed by its eerie depictions of desolate streets and abandoned stores. When the infected humans finally appeared as agile, relentless, and aggressive threats, it was clear that28 Days Laterwould go down in history as one of the best zombie movies ever made.
3Peninsula (2020)
Available On: Shudder
TheTrain to Busanfranchise expanded with the release ofPeninsula, a standalone sequel that opened the door to many more stories being told within this world. As a blend of action, heist, and zombie movie tropes,Peninsulamaintained the fast-paced excitement of the original movie while telling a new story about a former soldier attempting to retrieve a truck full of money. However, following the zombie outbreak seen inTrain to Busan, this vehicle was inhabited by zombies, rogue militia, and a family struggling for survival.
Peninsulawas a fast-paced and stylish movie that admittedly lacked the emotional depth of its predecessor and sadly traded nuance for generic action movie tropes. While it’s true thatPeninsulafailed to live up to the lofty expectations of the first movie, it’s a testament to this franchise’s quality that it was still one of the best South Korean zombie movies out there. Those looking for something similar toTrain to Busanwill find a lot to love aboutPeninsula.
2The Wailing (2016)
Available On: Peacock
Director Na Hong-jin’s incredible horror thrillerThe Wailingwas informed by far more than just zombie movie influences, as it conjured the terror of some of the most horrific movies ever made. Telling the story of a series of supernatural occurrences plaguing a small fishing town,The Wailingwas equally informed by dark thrillers likeSe7enas it was by captivating zombie films that influencedTrain to Busan. As a genre-bending exploration of a mysterious illness and man’s quest to save his daughter,The Wailingwas one of the greatest South Korean horrors of recent years.
With local police officer Jong-goo (Do-wan Kwak) attempting to solve the mystery of a viral illness,The Wailingwas a cleverly constructed mystery that more than justified its 156-minute runtime. Through a mix of South Korean cultural influences and the classic tropes of zombie cinema,The Wailingamounted to something new and fascinating. With over 30 awards to its name,The Wailinggained accolades from the likes of the Blue Dragon Film Awards, the Fantasia International Film Festival, and the Asian Film Awards.
1Seoul Station (2016)
Seoul Stationwas the second installment in theTrain to Busanfranchise and was actually an animated prequel to the original movie. As an exploration of how the zombie epidemic began in the first place,Yeon Sang-ho delivered a layered and fascinating insight into the franchise’s lorethat did not shy away from societal issues like prostitution and homelessness. By pairing social critique with the tenets of zombie movies,Seoul Stationcarried on the spirit of George A. Romero’sNight of the Living Deadseries and applied it to issues affecting South Koreans.
With beautiful animation that was no less frightening than its live-action counterpart,Seoul Stationwas a fantastic addition to this franchise that’s a must-watch release for anyone looking for a film to complementTrain to Busan. With Yeon’s first two feature films,The King of PigsandThe Fake, both being animated releases, it’s clear this filmmaker was more than comfortable in the sphere of animation. As a powerful and underseen prequel,Seoul Stationdeserves a much larger audience from zombie movie fans.
Train to Busan
Cast
Train to Busan is a South Korean action-horror film released in 2016. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, it centers on passengers aboard an express train from Seoul to Busan during a sudden zombie outbreak. As the virus spreads, the survivors must navigate the chaotic and dangerous environment to reach safety.
