Dawn of the Dead (also known as George A. Romero\'s Dawn of the Dead & Zombi internationally) is a 1978 American independent zombie horror film. It was written and directed by George A. Romero and starred David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, and Gaylen Ross. It is the second in Romero\'s \"Dead\" series, preceded by Night of the Living Dead, and is followed by three sequels. Unlike its predecessor, this film is more of a polemic, exploring the apocalyptic effects a \"zombie epidemic\" would have on society, than a straightforward horror film.