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Shaun of the Dead Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 4.0
    76

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally favorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 63

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    For those who like their spoofs silly and their cartoonish gore vivid, Shaun offers some amusement.

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  • 70

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times

    It's a grisly but sweet ode to friendship, love and the George Romero zombie trilogy.

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  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety Derek Elley

    A classic example of a clever idea that could easily have run out of steam halfway. However, co-scripters Pegg and Wright structure it as a classic three-acter (set-up, journey, finale) with enough twists, character development and small set pieces to keep the comedy boiling.

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  • 70

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter

    It's worth sticking around for the coda too as it contains some hilarious and very politically incorrect suggestions as to how zombies might be put to work once they've been tamed.

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  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    I like the way the slacker characters maintain their slothful gormlessness in the face of urgent danger, and I like the way the British bourgeois values of Shaun's mum and dad assert themselves even in the face of catastrophe.

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  • 80

    out of 100

    The New York Times Stephen Holden

    By treating the genre as a joke, this satire, whose title plays off George A. Romero's 1979 golden oldie, "Dawn of the Dead," yields ironic dramatic dividends.

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  • 83

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    The daffy, innately British joke that propels the cheeky U.K. comedy hit Shaun of the Dead is that although real zombies have risen up -- slacker wankers Shaun (Simon Pegg) and his best pal and roommate, Ed (Nick Frost), are too slack, wankerish, and blitheringly British to notice.

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  • See all Shaun of the Dead reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 16+

Some funny moments, but for adults only.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie is not for kids. Although it's more of a comedy than a true horror movie, there is still enough blood, guts, and gore to turn your stomach and make you avert your eyes. It's also extremely violent -- zombies and humans try to kill each other in every way possible -- biting, shooting, stabbing, impaling, etc. There is almost nonstop profanity and some crude humor. There's also a lot of smoking and drinking, and there are a few drug references. There are also some intense scenes, such as when a son is forced to kill his zombie mother and some characters consider killing themselves.

  • Families can talk about the appeal of zombie movies. They can also talk about satire, and point out the many instances that occur in this film.

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: A man has to kill his zombie mother and characters contemplate suicide.

What to watch for
  • violence false5

    Violence: Graphic, bloody gore. Humans and zombies constantly try to kill each other in various ways -- by biting, shooting, impaling, stabbing, etc.

  • sex false3

    Sex: Some sexual references and crude humor.

  • language false5

    Language: Lots of extremely strong language.

  • consumerism false3

    Consumerism: Product placement for Coke and Jaguar.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false5

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Nonstop drinking and smoking -- many scenes set in a bar. Some drug references.

Fan Reviews provided by

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by phb2110

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5

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4

by flixfan425

3

by tracimcgowan

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