Zombies are back in a big way. From the emotional gut-punch of The Last of Us to the gritty revival of the 28 Years Later franchise and the buzz around Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil adaptation, the undead are dominating screens. In the midst of this resurgence, one blockbuster from 2013 is proving it still has bite: Brad Pitt's World War Z is quietly climbing the streaming charts on Paramount+.
The film follows Pitt as a former UN investigator who must navigate a zombie-infested city to save his family, only to be thrust into a global mission to find the virus's origin and a cure. It blends the high-stakes family drama of The Last of Us with the survival-of-the-fittest tension of The Hunger Games, delivering massive action sequences, a mix of CGI and practical effects that still hold up, and genuinely terrifying fast-moving zombies. It also packs surprising emotional depth for a genre often short on heart.
That formula paid off handsomely. World War Z grossed $540 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing zombie film ever. Now, 13 years later, it's finding a new audience. According to FlixPatrol, the movie has been consistently ranking in the Top 10 on Paramount+ across 18 countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Colombia.
The timing couldn't be better. At CinemaCon last month, Paramount officially confirmed that a new World War Z film is in development. While no director, writer, cast, or release date has been announced, the news has reignited interest in the franchise. For fans of the genre, this is a welcome update after years of stalled progress—David Fincher was once attached to direct a sequel, but the project languished for over a decade.
Mireille Enos, who played Pitt's wife in the original, recently told ScreenRant that while past conversations about a sequel included her character, she hasn't been officially contacted about the new project. She expressed hope that her character will be part of whatever direction the sequel takes. Whether this announcement leads to actual momentum or another false start remains to be seen, but with zombie content hotter than ever, the timing feels right.
For those who haven't seen it—or want a refresher—World War Z is streaming now on Paramount+. If you're in the mood for more sci-fi thrills, check out our list of Forgotten Frights: 7 Near-Perfect Horror Thrillers That Deserve a Second Look. And for another streaming hit, see how Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried's Twisted Thriller 'The Housemaid' Is a Streaming Hit on Starz.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on the World War Z sequel and all the latest in entertainment.
