The First 5 Zombie Movies Ever Made

Zombie movies have been popular almost as long as cinematic film was invented. From the early days, the zombie was depicted as a mindless creature that is very different from the superhuman force that is seen in present day zombie movies. This look at the ten earliest zombie movies will give you a rundown of actors, directors, and the year each movie was made. If you're a zombie movie fanatic, these are must-see movies that very few people know about.

In 1932, Victor Halperin directed "White Zombie" with a cast of Bela Lugosi, Madge Bellamy, Joseph Cawthorn, Robert Frazer, John Harron, and Brandon Jurst. Lugosi plays voodoo master Murder Legendre who turns people into zombies. The first on-screen zombie in this film was actor John Peters. The zombie that the title "White Zombie" refers to is the character Madeline, played by Madge Bellamy.

In 1935, George Terwilliger directed, produced, and wrote the screenplay for "Ouanga," a zombie flick that would have been perfect on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Actors Fredi Washington, Philip Brandon and Marie Paxton set the scene in Haiti. The film was completed in Jamaica.

In 1936, Victor Halperin directs his second zombie movie "Revolt of the Zombies" with main actors Dorothy Stone and Dean Jagger. These zombies are actually not risen from the dead, but are turned into zombies while alive by mind power from Jagger's character Armand. This was supposed to be a follow-up to "White Zombie," but only is similar in themes.

In 1940, "The Ghost Breakers" featured Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard traveling to a haunted mansion that Goddard's character inherits. George Marshall directs this Paramount picture hit that was remade in 1953 as "Scared Stiff."

1941 saw the release of "King of the Zombies," directed by Jean Yarbrough. Actors Dick Purcell, Mantan Moreland, John Archer land on an island near Cuba. Dr. Sangre, played by Henry Victor, performs voodoo rituals on people, turning them into zombies.

These first five zombie movies laid the foundation for what you see on the big screen today. These introductory zombies were not exactly frightening, but almost comical, with a sense of bloodlust usually only for their master, or the one who turned them into the zombie. Today's zombie flicks creates the sense that no one is safe during a zombie attack and features zombies that are terrifying. Zombie movies have come a long way since 1932 and surely will evolve as much as the zombie itself has over the years.