Questions
Who directed and wrote Day of the Dead?
George A. Romero both wrote and directed the film. It was the third entry in his original Living Dead zombie trilogy.
When did Day of the Dead come out?
It premiered on June 30, 1985, and went into wide release on July 19, 1985.
What is the movie about?
Seven years into a zombie apocalypse, a group of survivors shelters in an underground Florida bunker where scientists try to domesticate the undead while soldiers guard them. Tensions boil over when a military officer declares martial law.
Who is Bub?
Bub, played by Sherman Howard, is a docile zombie trained to remember his past and behave humanely. He eventually gains enough intelligence to seek revenge on those who wronged his creator, adding real emotional complexity to the horror.
Was this Romero’s original vision for the film?
No. Romero reportedly wanted to make the Gone with the Wind of zombie films, but the distributor demanded a smaller budget. The screenplay was rewritten five times as the budget dropped from $7 million to $3.5 million, forcing him to scale back.
How much did the script get cut down?
The first draft ran over 200 pages. It was condensed through multiple versions (155 pages, then 104 pages) before the final 88 page shooting draft.
Who did the makeup and special effects?
Tom Savini returned to handle the makeup effects, assisted by Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger, who both later became famous for their work on The Walking Dead. Savini won his second Saturn Award for Best Make-up.
Where was it filmed?
Filming took place in fall 1984. Above ground scenes were shot in Fort Myers and Sanibel, Florida, while the underground bunker scenes were filmed near Wampum, Pennsylvania.
Who stars in the movie?
Lori Cardille plays scientist Dr. Sarah Bowman, Joseph Pilato plays the unstable Captain Rhodes, Terry Alexander plays helicopter pilot John, and Richard Liberty plays the lead scientist nicknamed Dr. Frankenstein.
Did Romero write any roles for specific actors?
Yes. Romero reportedly wrote the role of Dr. Logan specifically for Richard Liberty, whom he had worked with on his 1973 film The Crazies. Joseph Pilato reportedly got the role of Rhodes quickly without extensive auditioning.
How did the movie do at the box office?
It grossed about $34 million worldwide against a budget of roughly $3.5 to $4 million. Domestic theatrical earnings were weak at $5.8 million, but it made about $28.2 million internationally, plus strong VHS and DVD revenue.
Does George Romero appear in the film?
Yes, Romero makes an uncredited cameo as a zombie wearing a scarf. Members of the rock band NRBQ also cameo in zombie makeup.
What did Romero think of the film?
Despite mixed reviews at the time, Romero considered Day of the Dead his personal favorite of the original trilogy.
Has the movie influenced other media?
The band Gorillaz sampled the film’s opening synthesizers for their 2001 song M1 A1, and Sherman Howard’s Bub character appeared in The Walking Dead Season 4 as a homage.
Were there any sequels or remakes?
Yes, several followed, including Day of the Dead 2: Contagium (2005), a straight to DVD Day of the Dead remake (2008), Day of the Dead: Bloodline (2017), and a Syfy TV series (2021).
