The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›World War Z
Entertainment • Film

World War Z

World War Z is a 2013 American action horror film directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

World War Z is a 2013 American action horror film directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt. Loosely based on Max Brooks’s 2006 novel, it follows a former United Nations investigator trying to stop a global zombie pandemic. The film became the highest-grossing zombie film of all time, earning over $540 million worldwide.

Plot

The film follows Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator, as he travels internationally to investigate a sudden zombie apocalypse and search for a way to stop it.

Production

The film was directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay was written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, and Damon Lindelof from a story by Carnahan and J. Michael Straczynski. The supporting cast includes Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Peter Capaldi, Ruth Negga, and Matthew Fox.

Release and reception

Released in 2013, the film was commercially successful, earning more than $540 million worldwide and setting a box-office record for zombie films.

Source novel

The film is adapted from Max Brooks’s 2006 novel *World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War*. The novel is structured as an oral history of a fictional zombie war, but the film differs substantially from the source material.

Key facts

  • World War Z is a 2013 American action horror film directed by Marc Forster.
  • Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator.
  • The film is loosely based on Max Brooks's 2006 novel.
  • It grossed over $540 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing zombie film.
  • A sequel was announced, later cancelled, and then reportedly announced again in 2026.
🍁
Canadian context

The film was widely distributed in Canada as part of the global theatrical release of a major Hollywood production.

Frequently asked questions

Is World War Z a book or a film?
It is both: the original work is a 2006 novel by Max Brooks, and the 2013 film is a loose adaptation of that novel.
Who directed the film World War Z?
The film was directed by Marc Forster.
Who stars in World War Z?
Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane; the supporting cast includes Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Peter Capaldi, Ruth Negga, and Matthew Fox.
What is World War Z about?
It follows a former United Nations investigator who travels the world seeking a solution to a sudden zombie apocalypse.
Was there a sequel to World War Z?
A sequel was announced after release, cancelled in 2019, and reportedly announced again in 2026.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Z_(film)
    Supports: Film title, year, director, cast, plot premise, box office, sequel history.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Z
    Supports: Source novel title, author, publication year, and oral-history structure.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816711/
    Supports: Film release year and basic premise.