Why are Zombies so popular?

[Zombiology]

Zombies represent chaos, a loss of order, and the collapse of society. Something many people, even if only subconsciously, feel is happening in our country right now for a myriad of reasons. Just like giant animal and insect movies, including Godzilla, were popular in the 1950s due to the scare of nuclear war and radiation, and how the vampire film business boomed during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. In a way, movies help people realize that as bad as their situation might be, it could be much worse.
-Andy

I agree with this one on a deeper level though I disagree on a lighter level of Zombies representing chaos.  If anything they represent order.  Think of the Omega Man.  Our society becomes something new where the sheep are replaced by Zombies and no one notices until it is too late.  Same thing.  Only those of us who hang to our own thoughts are left to fight off the screaming sheep/zombies.  The movie where a shopping mall is taken over by zombies would have been perfect except the zombies had no credit cards.  A zombie represents the loss of individuality more so than anything else I can think of.

[Monster Kid]

I haven't the faintest notion why, unless the films are so cheap to make.  Zombies have no real personality, when you've seen one you've seen them all.  I don't consider the modern zombie films about zombies at all since they don't even conform to the original zombie concept.  The modern movies are about reanimated corpses.  So they are more like ghouls.  Heck, the Frankenstein monster is the original reanimated corpse.  So does that make him a zombie?  Hardly. 

[Unknown Primate]

Good point, Monster Kid - I believe Romero originally wanted to call them ghouls.  It is more fitting.

[FACTO2]

Zombies have no real personality, when you've seen one you've seen them all. 

Not completely true.  Bub in Day of the Dead clearly had a personality and was developing intelligence (not exactly good for the humans).  Big Daddy in Land of the Dead not only had a personality but a sense of injustice and vengeance.  That's where Romero was going with it.  Once again.  They are us and we are them.

[Fester]

Anyone want to write a sociology paper on this one? 

There have been several. There is even a collection of philosophical articles (which I recommend)

[zombiehorror]

I don't know about the zombie's popularity during any given month but they are popular this month because it is National Zombie Appreciation month?!

[Hepcat]

Don't ask me. I can't understand the popularity of zombies either.

[BrotherD]

Zombie Movies; the Cynical Perspective: From the film-makers perspective, however, I think they're popular because many of them are cheap and formulaic and easy to make for the direct-to-video market.

As the producer of the Mail Order Zombie podcast where I've reviewed over 350 zombie movies, novels, comics, games and even a zombie opera . . . don't a know it.  I've seen TOO many $200-backyard-epics in my time producing my podcast . . .

[Hepcat]

I really think you're on to something when you talk about the annihilation of zombies being acceptable to parents. It's a lot more fantasy based than the human shooting games. We only let our little guy watch movies/tv shows where robots, cartoon villains or Lego characters get destroyed by the hero. It's really hard because you want them to stay being a kid for as long as they can, but there are so many video games and violent shows that they want to watch because they are marketed towards them. So you compromise and let them watch the zombies get wiped out.  We always discuss fantasy vs. reality with him....

You sound like another silly, overprotective modern parent. Have you ever asked yourself what your own parents would have done?

[Scatter]

Because they are cooler than lemmings, and people in general are lemmings.

Zombies are the ULTIMATE lemmings. Fer Pete's sake Bob, they'll watch 5,000 of their fellow undead get mowed down by bazookas and just keep shuffling straight ahead. Frankly, zombies are the lowest rung on the monster ladder.

[Scatter]

You sound like another silly, overprotective modern parent. Have you ever asked yourself what your own parents would have done?

You have any kids Hep?

[Hepcat]

No. That's why my outlook stays so rational.

[Scatter]

Rational, or utterly clueless?? 

[Sean]

Good point, Monster Kid - I believe Romero originally wanted to call them ghouls.  It is more fitting.

I watched NOTLD on Walpurgis Night... they were referred to as 'things' by the band or survivors at the farm house--------and as GHOULS by the radio broadcasters.  I like the term *ghouls*...

[horror1o1]

I'm not really sure? Maybe it's the idea that a global out break could really happen. Now I'm not saying people are gonna become zombies. I'm just saying people can relate to the idea of a out break and having to survive it. Me personally I like to draw creepy crap.lol!