Horror fans, rejoice. Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake from 2004 is hitting Netflix’s catalogue on January 1st, 2026. Perfect for those who love horror or want to compare Snyder’s high-energy film to Romero’s zombie classic from 1978, the film is being brought back to a mainstream streaming audience.
Keep reading to learn more about the Dawn of the Dead remake and its streaming premiere on Netflix below.
What is Dawn of the Dead Remake About?
Dawn of the Dead follows a tight-knit group of survivors who seek refuge in a shopping mall after a virus turns people into flesh-eating zombies. It stars Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Ty Burrell, and Kim Poirier, among others.
Netflix’s decision to highlight the film on its platform lends to the remake’s intense action sequences and new exposure to budding horror fans.
Reception of the Remake
Critical reception of the movie has been mostly positive, though that positivity doesn’t go across the board.
The Dawn of the Dead remake has a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics dubbing it, “A kinetic, violent, and surprisingly worthy remake of George Romero’s horror classic that pays homage to the original while working on its own terms.”
Metacritic provided a more rounded perception of the film, giving it a score of 59 based on 37 critic reviews, ranging from enthusiastic praise to tempered criticism.
Original Film Praise
The 2004 remake is often compared to George A. Romero’s 1978 original, a vital part of the genre’s film history.
As for the original’s reviews, Rotten Tomatoes has Dawn of the Dead at 92% and the consensus describes the movie as, “One of the most compelling and entertaining zombie films ever, ‘Dawn of the Dead’ perfectly blends pure horror and gore with social commentary on material society.”
Snyder took this hit and modernized the concept while also offering a cultural reboot of Romero’s themes.
Snyder’s Launching Point
Commercially, the Dawn of the Dead remake did well, grossing over $102 million worldwide. It is often credited as being the launching point of Snyder’s directing career, along with revitalizing mainstream interest in zombie cinema.
The 2004 edition was co-written by James Gunn, who is also at the forefront of the film industry with his work in the superhero space with Superman and the upcoming Supergirl.
While Snyder’s later works create division between critics and audiences on their success, the collaboration between Snyder and Gunn is often referred to as one of his more uniformly praised works.
Final Thoughts
For viewers planning out their New Year streaming schedule, Dawn of the Dead will join multiple titles arriving on Netflix on January 1st, 2026, including 12 Years a Slave, Dune, Despicable Me 1 & 2, and Erin Brockovich.
It’s the perfect blend of drama, comedy, horror, and genre fare to keep you entertained in the colder months.
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