The 8 Best Zombie Shows on Netflix Right Now

Zombies have inspired the popular imagination for decades, rearing their undead heads in practically every form of media, from movies to shows to games and more. And while there have been times when it seemed like the public was done with these shambling monsters, the zombie genre has never been one to stay dead. In the 2010s, zombies found new life on the small screen with the release of a host of great TV shows that pushed the genre in exciting new ways. Since then, we’ve been graced with the release of some truly amazing zombie shows from around the world, many of which are available on Netflix.

However, even though there are many great zombie shows on the streaming service, finding the truly exciting ones can be quite a challenge. That’s why we’ve done the work for you! Read on to discover our handpicked selection of the very best zombie shows you can stream right now on Netflix.

For more recommendations, be sure to check out our lists of the best movies and shows on Netflix, the best horror shows on Netflix, and the best zombie movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010 – 2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 8.1/10

Based on the eponymous comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror drama that follows a group of survivors struggling to stay alive in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. But as they attempt to find safety and shelter, the survivors soon discover that the living are far more dangerous than the undead. The show boasts a massive ensemble cast that includes Andrew Lincoln, Melissa McBride, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Steven Yeun, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and many more.

The Walking Dead was a huge critical and commercial success at the time of its premiere, quickly becoming AMC’s flagship series and one of the biggest names in television. Over the course of 12 years and 11 seasons, the show built an international fanbase and brought about a global revival of the zombie genre. With great performances, writing, and set pieces, the series is easily one of the best horror shows of recent times. An intelligent horror drama that puts a fresh spin on the genre by focusing more on the people and less on the zombies, The Walking Dead has today evolved into a massive multi-media franchise that includes several spin-off shows, games, novels, and more.

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‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015 – 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson, Fear the Walking Dead is the first spin-off of The Walking Dead, based on the eponymous comic book series by Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Set primarily in Los Angeles, California, the show’s first three seasons follow a dysfunctional family as they deal with the onset of the zombie apocalypse, reinventing themselves to better survive their harsh new reality. Later seasons run concurrently with the parent show, with the focus shifting to Morgan Jones (Lennie James), a character from the main series who encounters the Fear characters in Texas. The series stars an ensemble cast that includes Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Colman Domingo, Danay García, and more.

Fear the Walking Dead premiered on AMC in August 2015, airing eight seasons in total until its conclusion in November 2023. The spin-off had a rather uneven critical reception over the course of its run, but it did develop a dedicated fan base. While the series can often feel like a repackaging of the parent show, Fear the Walking Dead is a fairly engrossing drama in its own right, with some excellent zombie action and endearing characters.

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‘All of Us Are Dead’ (2022 – Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 7.6/10

A South Korean coming-of-age horror series, All of Us Are Dead revolves around a high school that becomes ground zero for a zombie outbreak. With the zombies overwhelming the authorities, a group of students trapped in the school must work together to survive and reach safety. Based on Joo Dong-geun’s eponymous webtoon, the series was created by Chun Sung-il, Lee Jae-kyoo, and Kim Nam-su, with stars Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, and more in leading roles.

All of Us Are Dead premiered on Netflix in January 2022 to largely favorable reviews and high viewership numbers. The show was subsequently renewed for a second season, currently expected to be released in 2026. A thrilling apocalyptic series that doesn’t hold back on the gore, All of Us Are Dead stands out in the genre by using a zombie outbreak to examine and criticize the culture of bullying in schools. However, while it does have elements of social criticism, the show works best when the focus is on its striking action sequences.

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‘Black Summer’ (2019 – 2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Created by Karl Schaefer and John Hyams, Black Summer is a prequel to the Syfy series Z Nation, set in the same world but following the early days of the franchise’s zombie apocalypse. Jaime King stars as Rose, a mother who is separated from her daughter and sets off to find her, braving the dangers of the ongoing plague during its deadliest summer. The show also stars Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, Kelsey Flower, Sal Velez Jr, Erika Hau, Gwynyth Walsh, and more in key roles.

Black Summer’s first eight-episode season was released on Netflix in April 2019, receiving somewhat mixed but ultimately positive responses from critics and franchise fans. Most notably, the show was praised by horror icon Stephen King, which certainly helped it reach a wider audience. The series is a departure from its parent show, with very little common ground between the two, but it’s nevertheless a thrilling horror story best enjoyed as a standalone series. A second season was released in 2021 to much greater acclaim, but sadly, the series was canceled shortly after.

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‘Daybreak’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Created by Brad Peyton and Aron Eli Coleite, Daybreak is a post-apocalyptic comedy-drama series based on the comics by Brian Ralph. Set in a world where a zombie virus has turned all adults into zombies, the show follows 17-year-old high school outcast Josh Wheeler (Colin Ford) as he tries to find his girlfriend, Sam Dean (Sophie Simnett), facing off against evil jocks, cheerleaders-turned-amazons, and the undead — not to mention a mysterious cannibal known as Baron Triumph. The series stars Ford, Simnett, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Austin Crute, and more, with Matthew Broderick as Principal Michael Francis Xavier Burr.

Daybreak premiered on Netflix in October 2019, receiving generally favorable reviews from critics and audiences. Part soapy teen drama and part apocalyptic horror comedy, the series is an entertaining watch, especially for fans of high school dramedies. On the flip side, the show’s plot isn’t particularly original, and it doesn’t have a lot to say, but it makes up for those flaws with heaps of stylish action and great art direction.

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‘Kingdom’ (2019 – 2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.3/10

A South Korean period horror drama, Kingdom is based on the webtoon series The Kingdom of the Gods by Kim Eun-Hee, who also created and wrote the show. Set in the 17th century, the series stars Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Lee Chang, who discovers that a deadly zombie epidemic is ravaging the countryside. But even as he struggles to save the kingdom from this mysterious plague, the prince also finds himself targeted by political rivals as various factions attempt to capitalize on the situation and take the throne. The series also stars Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Sung-kyu, and Kim Hye-jun.

Netflix’s first original Korean-language series, Kingdom was quite well-received by critics and audiences when it premiered in 2019. A second season followed in 2020, and a feature-length special episode titled “Ashin of the North” was released in 2021, both of which earned near-universal acclaim and helped raise the series as a whole to new heights. A unique show that blends the intrigue of court dramas with the gore and action of zombie stories, Kingdom is a visceral horror series that’s great on paper and mindblowing on screen.

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‘Santa Clarita Diet’ (2017 – 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 7.8/10

Starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, Santa Clarita Diet is a horror sitcom created by Victor Fresco. The series follows suburban husband-and-wife real estate team Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose boring, everyday lives are upended when Sheila inexplicably begins to turn into a zombie and develops a taste for human flesh. The show follows the hilarious (and gory) consequences of Sheila’s condition as the Hammonds race to find a cure and satisfy her new urges. Besides Barrymore and Olyphant, the series also stars Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo, and more.

Santa Clarita Diet premiered in February 2017 to largely favorable reviews and was one of Netflix’s most popular shows in the 2010s. The series ran for three seasons in total, the last one released in 2019, with its critical reception steadily improving with each season. It’s a hilarious watch that builds on the electric chemistry between its two talented leads to deliver some stomach-churning, laugh-out-loud comedy. Sadly, the show was canceled after Season 3, just as it was beginning to really hit its stride.

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‘Happiness’ (2021)

IMDb: 7.7/10

Produced by Studio Dragon, Happiness is a South Korean apocalyptic thriller about a viral pandemic that turns people into violent zombies. Starring Han Joo, Park Sik, Jo Woo-jin, and more, the show primarily follows a woman with a rare immunity to the disease, the high school friend she’s in a contract marriage with, and a scientist researching a cure for the virus. The 12-episode series was written by Han Sang-woon and directed by Ahn Gil-ho.

Happiness premiered in South Korea in November 2021 on tvN, performing quite well with audiences and critics. The series makes effective use of its premise, presenting a zombie story that isn’t just about simple survival but also the ethics of it during a global pandemic. This isn’t the kind of show that hits the audience with wave after wave of mindless hordes. Instead, Happiness is an examination of the different ways in which people react to such circumstances, especially looking at the sacrifices and moral compromises they feel pushed to make.

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