Shaun of the Dead

In the humdrum London neighborhood of Crouch End, electronics salesman Shaun (Simon Pegg) meanders through life without a clear sense of purpose or direction. His colleagues at work often disregard him, with Noel (Rafe Spall) being particularly dismissive, even interrupting Shaun's instructions for the day. His strained relationship with his stepfather Philip (Bill Nighy), whom he only sees every two months when visiting his mother, adds to his sense of disconnection. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) is increasingly unhappy with their stagnant routine, which involves spending every evening at the same pub, the Winchester.

As Shaun goes about his mundane day, the news of a US space probe returning to Earth and breaking apart over the UK in a populated area creates chaos. He witnesses people dropping dead in the streets, the military scrambling to respond, and apocalyptic reports of an epidemic spreading like wildfire. Amidst this turmoil, Shaun is oblivious, caught up in his own personal struggles.

Despite several reminders from Liz, Shaun forgets to book a table for their planned dinner date, forcing him to fall back on his backup plan: returning to the Winchester pub. Liz's frustration boils over as she confronts Shaun, and he ultimately loses her, feeling like he hasn't changed enough to deserve her love. Devastated, Shaun seeks solace in the company of his housemate and best friend Ed (Nick Frost), who tries to counsel him to look beyond his failed relationship.

Back at their shared home, Ed's constant presence is a source of annoyance for Pete (Peter Serafinowicz), another roommate who has grown tired of Ed's lack of responsibility. Despite being a freeloader, Ed has been living with Shaun and Pete for five years, refusing to contribute financially. Pete sees Shaun as enabling Ed's bad behavior, perhaps because it provides him with someone who is even more hapless than himself.

In this way, the trio's dysfunctional dynamics serve as a reflection of their own personal struggles, as they navigate love, loss, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.

As the sun rises over a London transformed into a desolate wasteland, Shaun and Ed meander through their daily routine, oblivious to the apocalyptic chaos unfolding around them. Shaun's morning ritual includes a trip to the local grocer to procure a Coke and Cornetto, his mind preoccupied with more pressing concerns than the hordes of undead shambling about. It isn't until they stumble upon two reanimated corpses in their own backyard that reality finally sets in – and even then, it takes a brutal blow to the head to dispatch these uninvited visitors.

The news finally breaks through the haze, revealing the gruesome truth: zombies can only be vanquished by decapitation or destruction of the brain. The knowledge comes too late for Pete, who had been bitten just the previous night and is now succumbing to the infection. As Shaun and Ed formulate a plan to rescue his mother, Barbara (Penelope Wilton), and Liz from the clutches of the undead, they must also contend with the spreading chaos.

As Shaun ventures out to answer nature's call, he finds Pete has already joined the ranks of the reanimated – a ghastly sight that underscores the gravity of their situation. Meanwhile, the recently deceased are rising from their graves, adding to the mayhem. The duo escapes in Pete's car, only to discover that it's met its demise at the hands of Ed's reckless driving. They commandeer Barbara's sleek Jaguar instead, cramming themselves – along with newly rescued Liz and her friends Dianne and David – into the cramped vehicle.

As they navigate the treacherous landscape, Philip (whose mutual disdain for Shaun is well-documented) finds a fleeting moment of peace before succumbing to his own transformation. With the world around them descending into chaos, this makeshift family must band together if they hope to survive the night and find solace in their beloved Winchester – or anywhere else, for that matter.

As the group fled their abandoned vehicle, they found themselves on foot, desperately evading the relentless hordes of undead. It was during this harrowing journey that they stumbled upon a similar group led by Yvonne (Jessica Stevenson), Shaun's neighbor, who expressed surprise at his decision to head to the pub. The two groups joined forces and sought refuge inside the Winchester, their path blocked by a sea of zombies. Shaun cleverly impersonated the undead to gain entry, with Ed momentarily derailing the plan by receiving an ill-timed phone call as they stood outside the pub's closed doors. Once inside, Shaun discovered that the iconic Winchester rifle hung above the bar was still functional, and he promptly restored the lights. However, Ed's decision to play a boisterous slot machine only served to attract unwanted attention from the zombies lurking outside.

As the group prepared for battle, a somber revelation shook them: Barbara had been bitten and was now succumbing to her undead transformation. With a heavy heart, she bestowed her blessing on Liz and Shaun before passing away. The weight of this loss fell heavily upon David, who felt compelled to take matters into his own hands by attempting to shoot Barbara. However, Shaun intervened, revealing that David's animosity towards him was rooted in a long-held crush for Liz, which Dianne later confirmed. The emotional toll proved too great, and Shaun was forced to put down the undead Barbara.

As chaos reigned outside, zombies breached the pub, claiming David as their own. In a fit of rage, an unhinged Dianne seized his disemboweled leg and charged headlong into the horde. Meanwhile, Pete, now one of the undead, arrived at the Winchester with the rest of the shambling horde, and in a gruesome turn of events, he bit Ed before Shaun dispatched him and set fire to the bar. The subsequent conflagration ignited the rifle ammunition, prompting Shaun, Liz, and Ed to flee into the cellar, where they contemplated their bleak fate.

Ed volunteered to remain behind with the still-functional rifle, allowing Shaun and Liz to escape through a hidden hatch that opened onto the street. As they emerged into the bright sunlight, they were greeted by the arrival of the Army, which promptly dispatched the remaining zombies. Six months later, as civilization slowly rebuilt itself, surviving zombies were repurposed as cheap labor and entertainment. The scars of their ordeal still lingered, but Shaun had found solace in his new life with Liz, while Ed, now a reanimated corpse, remained tethered to his shed, where they spent their days playing video games together.