Director Quentin Tarantino has praised George A. Romero's 1968 horror film "Night of the Living Dead" as a transformative viewing experience from his youth. Speaking on Eli Roth's television show, Tarantino recalled sneaking into a house party at age 16 to watch the film on VHS, describing himself as particularly "blown away" by its climax. The film is credited with bringing zombie storytelling into mainstream cinema and remains a landmark work in horror. It is currently available on HBO Max but will be removed from the platform on 30 September 2026.

Romero directed the film on a shoestring budget, with the story centred on a group of people trapped in a farmhouse during a zombie outbreak. Tarantino attributed the film's impact to its "slightly homemade quality" and Romero's approach as a "regional filmmaker" working with local talent. The original film inadvertently entered the public domain after release, spawning numerous remakes and sequels directed by Romero himself, including "Dawn of the Dead", "Day of the Dead", "Land of the Dead", "Diary of the Dead", and "Survival of the Dead". The film currently holds a 95% "Certified Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its tight editing, realistic gore and political undertones.