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Zombieland

Zombieland is a 2009 American post-apocalyptic zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer in his feature directorial debut and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

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

Zombieland is a 2009 American post-apocalyptic zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer in his feature directorial debut and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. It stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Murray, and follows four survivors traveling across zombie-ravaged America in search of safety.

Premise

The film follows four survivors of a zombie apocalypse as they travel across the United States looking for a safe sanctuary. The story blends horror elements with comedy and road-movie structure.

Production and release

Zombieland was directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. It premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2009 and was released theatrically in the United States in October 2009.

Cast

The main cast includes Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin, with Bill Murray in a supporting role.

Reception and legacy

The film was commercially successful, earning about $102 million worldwide. Its popularity led to the 2019 sequel Zombieland: Double Tap.

Key facts

  • Zombieland is a 2009 American zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer.
  • The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Murray.
  • It premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 25, 2009, and was released in the U.S. on October 2, 2009.
  • The film grossed about $102 million worldwide.
  • A sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, was released in 2019.
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Canadian context

Zombieland was distributed in North America by Sony Pictures Releasing, so it was available to Canadian audiences as part of its theatrical rollout.[1]

Frequently asked questions

What is Zombieland?
Zombieland is a 2009 American zombie comedy film set in a post-apocalyptic United States.
Who directed Zombieland?
Ruben Fleischer directed the film.
Who wrote Zombieland?
The screenplay was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
Who stars in Zombieland?
The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Murray.
When was Zombieland released?
It premiered on September 25, 2009, and was released in the United States on October 2, 2009.
Did Zombieland have a sequel?
Yes. Zombieland: Double Tap was released in 2019.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombieland
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, writers, cast, plot, release date, gross, and sequel information.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zombieland
    Supports: Director, producer, distributor, rating, release date, runtime, and synopsis.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zombieland
    Supports: General identification of Zombieland as a horror comedy and confirmation of its sequel context.