Yeon Sang-ho's Train to Busan is the best non-American zombie movie, with its excellence being made apparent in its high Rotten Tomatoes score. Zombie movies are among the most enduring of the horror subgenres, as their tropes and the characterization of their zombie creatures are constantly being reshaped, as seen in dissimilar movies Night of the Living Dead and Shaun of the Dead. The genre is also packed full of some incredible movies from around the world, but the one movie that stands out from the rest is South Korea's Train to Busan.

One of Gong Yoo in one of his best roles, as Seok-woo, a father too preoccupied with work to focus on his relationship with his daughter. On a train ride to the titular city, Seok-woo and his daughter find themselves caught up in a zombie outbreak. Train to Busan is technically sound and is equal parts thrilling and emotional, earning its rightful title as the best non-American zombie movie.

Why Train To Busan Is The Best Non-American Zombie Movie Ever Made

It Balances The Genre's Expected Action With An Emotional Father-Daughter Story

Both a critical and commercial success, Train to Busan has been praised over the years for its ability to present a clever and emotionally charged narrative within a traditional horror framework that includes a heavy amount of action and gore. Train to Busan's fast-moving zombies are genuinely terrifying and pose a great threat to the engers on board the titular train. The film's numerous action sequences are riveting, and the confined space on the train amplifies the movie's unrelenting suspense.

Though Train to Busan keeps things moving at a quick pace and has plenty of bloody action sequences to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, the horror film also packs quite the emotional punch. Train to Busan's characters are fully realized, compelling individuals who are easy for audiences to become invested in. Such strong writing allows the movie's emotional moments to hit that much harder, especially regarding Seok-woo's arc.

the best performances in a Korean horror movie. Gong Yoo deftly balances the toughness of an action hero with the sensitivity of a father seeking redemption.

Is Train To Busan The Best Zombie Movie Of All Time?

Train To Busan Has The Potential To Be The Best Zombie Movie Ever

Branching out beyond non-American zombie movies, there's a strong argument to be made about Train to Busan being the best zombie movie ever. Train to Busan wastes no time diving into its terrifying premise as it continues the thrills and gory action associated with the zombie genre, while providing an innovative story that helps carve out its own path.

Additionally, accompanying Train to Busan's brawl against the undead is a commentary on class conflict and social behavior.

Additionally, accompanying Train to Busan's brawl against the undead is a commentary on class conflict and social behavior, specifically the way people either unite with others or prioritize themselves in the face of chaos.

What's labeled the "best" zombie movie varies from person to person, as some prefer classic zombie movies like Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, while others lean more towards zombie comedies such as Shaun of the Dead. Still, Train to Busan has all the makings to be considered the best zombie movie ever. The combination of Train to Busan's emotional core, its exploration of human nature, and its incomparable action surely makes it the best contemporary zombie film, and adds weight to the possibility of it being the best zombie film of all time.