The Zombie Movie Pedro Pascal Says Everyone Needs To Watch

Pedro Pascal recently opened up about his love for zombie movies, and he had very clear thoughts about which film changed everything. Speaking during an interview with Variety, the actor reflected on how crowded the genre has become and why one movie still stands above the rest for him.

According to Pascal, the film that truly refreshed zombie storytelling was 28 Days Later. Released in 2002, the movie took a different approach by focusing on people infected with a rage virus instead of traditional undead creatures.

Pascal said this detail did not matter much to him because the impact was undeniable. He described the movie as a masterpiece and explained that it completely reshaped how people think about zombie stories.

He admitted he does not even remember how successful the film was when it first came out. What mattered more was how it made him feel. Pascal recalled watching it in a theater as an adult and feeling like the fear stayed with him long after the movie ended. He said the tension almost crawled under your skin and confessed that he had nightmares afterward, though he laughed and called them adventure nightmares.

The movie was written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle. It stars Cillian Murphy as a man who wakes up from a coma to find London empty and the world falling apart. Pascal praised how intense the film felt while still being smart and thoughtful. He joked that he could spend an entire podcast episode just talking about that one movie.

He also pointed out how much influence it had on everything that followed. Pascal believes that shows and films like The Walking Dead owe a lot to 28 Days Later. Over time, though, he said the genre became overwhelming. With so many zombie projects coming out, he felt burned out and almost forgot why he liked those stories in the first place.

That changed when he took on the role of Joel in HBO’s The Last of Us. Working on the series helped him reconnect with what makes these stories powerful when they are done right. The second season of the show finished airing in mid 2025 and continued to receive strong reactions from fans.

Pascal’s schedule is packed as he moves through the year. He is preparing for the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters on May 22. It marks the first time his Star Wars character will lead a movie on the big screen.

He also recently appeared in Gladiator II as the Roman general Marcus Acacius, a performance many critics highlighted as one of the film’s strongest elements. On top of that, Pascal is set to join the Marvel universe, making this year one of the biggest of his career.

Do you agree with Pedro Pascal that 28 Days Later changed the zombie genre for good? Share your thoughts in the comments.