Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 American horror film directed by Zack Snyder, serving as a remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name. The story takes place in Milwaukee, where a mysterious outbreak turns people into aggressive, flesh-eating zombies. The film follows a group of survivors who seek refuge in a suburban shopping mall.
The plot begins with Ana (Sarah Polley), a nurse, whose husband Luis is bitten by a zombified neighbor. Ana escapes and eventually joins a group of survivors, including police sergeant Kenneth Hall (Ving Rhames), electronics salesman Michael (Jake Weber), petty criminal Andre (Mekhi Phifer), and his pregnant wife Luda (Inna Korobkina). They break into a nearby mall, where they meet three living security guards: C.J. (Michael Kelly), Bart (Michael Barry), and Terry (Kevin Zegers). The group secures the mall but faces internal conflicts and external threats as they try to survive.
As the story unfolds, the survivors discover that the zombies are not just slow-moving but can also sprint, adding an element of urgency to their situation. The group expands with the arrival of new survivors, including Norma (Jayne Eastwood), Steve (Ty Burrell), and Frank (Matt Frewer) with his daughter Nicole (Lindy Booth). However, some of the newcomers are bitten, leading to debates about whether they should be killed to prevent them from turning into zombies.
The mall becomes a temporary sanctuary, but the power eventually goes out, and the group must navigate the parking garage to activate the emergency generator. This leads to a series of intense encounters with zombies, including the loss of several group members. The survivors devise a plan to escape to a nearby marina, where they hope to find a boat to take them to safety. They reinforce two shuttle buses and fight their way out of the mall, facing numerous challenges along the way.
In the climactic final scenes, the group suffers more losses, including C.J., who sacrifices himself to ensure the others can escape. Michael, who has been bitten, also sacrifices himself to save Ana. The remaining survivors—Ana, Kenneth, Nicole, Terry, and a dog named Chips—manage to reach the marina and set sail on a yacht. However, the film ends on a bleak note, with footage from a camcorder showing the group running out of supplies and being attacked by zombies on an island.
Dawn of the Dead received positive reviews for its fast-paced action and the modern twist on the zombie genre, with the zombies being able to run. The film holds a 76% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising its tense atmosphere and engaging storyline. Despite being a remake, it has become a horror classic in its own right, contributing to the resurgence of zombie films in the early 2000s.