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Return of the Living Dead Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Return of the Living Dead movies in order

Last updated: October 7 2026

Written by: ChronoAlice

The Return of the Living Dead series gave zombies a punk-rock, brain-craving makeover across five films. Here's the order to watch them.

A horror-comedy landmark, Return of the Living Dead is famous for its fast-talking, 'braaains'-moaning zombies and its irreverent tone. The franchise grew into five films over two decades, swinging from comedy to grim survival horror. It's also the film that popularized the idea of zombies specifically craving brains, a trope it practically invented.

๐Ÿ• Release Order

Release order is best, as the series' tone and quality shift notably from the comedic originals to the later sequels.

  1. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
  2. Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)
  3. Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)
  4. Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005)
  5. Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005)

The first three films are standalone stories sharing the same undead mythology, while the final two were shot back-to-back as a connected pair. The series' tone swings wildly, from the punk comedy of the original to the romance-tinged horror of Part 3 and the straight-to-video action of the finale.

๐Ÿ“– Story Chronology

Story order matches release order; each film presents a fresh outbreak, with Necropolis and Rave to the Grave forming a direct two-part story. Because each outbreak is its own story, you can treat the first three films as standalone picks and the last two as a connected pair.

  1. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
  2. Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)
  3. Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)
  4. Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (2005)
  5. Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch in release order. The 1985 original is an essential horror-comedy and the best place to start, followed by the sillier Part II and the more romantic, gorier Part 3. The two 2005 films are for completists who want to see the whole saga through. For a double feature, pair the 1985 original with Part 3, widely considered the strongest sequel for its darker, more heartfelt story.

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