You probably finished that final episode of All of Us Are Dead and felt that specific kind of emptiness. It’s the "where do I go from here?" feeling. One minute you’re watching high schoolers use desk shields to fight off a viral outbreak in Hyosan, and the next, you’re staring at a blank Netflix home screen. It’s rough.
Finding shows like All of Us Are Dead isn't just about finding more zombies. Honestly, zombies are the easy part. What made that show stick was the claustrophobia. It was the "trapped in a room with your crush while your best friend tries to eat your face" vibe. You need that high-stakes emotional wreckage mixed with high-octane survival.
Most lists will just point you toward The Walking Dead. Don't get me wrong, Rick Grimes is a legend, but that’s not really the same itch, is it? All of Us Are Dead is fast. It’s Korean. It’s stylish. It’s deeply cynical about adults but hopeful about kids. If you want that specific energy, you have to look closer at the K-drama wave and some specific western cult classics that understand how to make a hallway feel like a death trap.
The Hyosan Vibe: Why High School Horrors Hit Different
There’s a reason All of Us Are Dead worked so well compared to something like Fear the Walking Dead. High schools are already a social nightmare. Adding a virus just makes the subtext literal. You’ve got the bullies, the class presidents, the unrequited love—all trapped in a building designed to keep people in.
If that’s what you’re looking for, you have to watch Duty After School. It’s basically the spiritual cousin to the Hyosan outbreak. Instead of zombies, it’s purple orbs from space. Instead of just trying to escape, the government literally drafts the seniors into the military to fight them. It’s gut-wrenching. You watch these kids trade their uniforms for fatigues, and the psychological toll is way heavier than your average monster flick.
Duty After School: The Drafted Student
This show is divided into two parts. The first half is almost fun—kinda like a weird summer camp with guns. But then reality hits. If you liked the "group ensemble" feel of the Hyosan students, this is the closest you’ll get. The chemistry between the students feels lived-in. When someone dies, it doesn’t just feel like a plot point; it feels like losing a classmate.
When the Setting is the Enemy
Setting a show in one building is a masterclass in tension. All of Us Are Dead used the school’s geography—the library, the rooftop, the broadcasting room—to keep the stakes moving.
Sweet Home is the gold standard here.
Instead of a school, it’s a decaying apartment complex called Green Home. Instead of a virus, people turn into monsters based on their deepest, darkest desires. It sounds crazy because it is. If you’re greedy, you might become a monster with a giant stomach. If you’re a runner, you might become a hyper-fast nightmare.
Why it fits: * Lee Do-hyun: He plays the "brain" of the group, much like the colder, smarter characters in All of Us Are Dead.
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
- The Evolution: Just like the "half-bies" (hybrids) in Hyosan, Sweet Home deals with people who are resisting the change.
- The Gore: It’s messy. It’s practical effects mixed with some slightly-wonky-but-charming CGI.
Actually, if you liked the "half-bie" concept specifically—where the line between human and monster blurs—you might want to check out Happiness.
Happiness: The Most Ironically Named Show Ever
Don't let the title fool you. Happiness is a claustrophobic thriller set in a newly built apartment high-rise during a different kind of outbreak. This one is caused by a failed "next-generation" pill called Next. It makes people crave blood, but the kicker? They look totally normal until they snap.
It’s basically a social commentary on classism. The upper floors are rich owners; the lower floors are renters. When the building goes into lockdown, the zombies aren't even the scariest part. The neighbors are.
It’s a slower burn than All of Us Are Dead. You won't see a hundred kids sprinting down a hallway every five minutes. But the tension is suffocating. Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik have this incredible "fake marriage" dynamic that gives you that emotional anchor you probably loved with Cheong-san and On-jo.
The Historical Twist You Didn't Know You Needed
If you think you’re "over" zombies, you haven't seen Kingdom.
Imagine the Joseon Dynasty. Politics. Swords. Beautiful hats. And a plague that turns the hungry peasantry into sprinting monsters that only come out at night (at least at first).
This is arguably the best zombie media ever made. Period. It’s written by Kim Eun-hee, who is a powerhouse in the Korean industry. The stakes are massive. It’s not just about surviving a school; it’s about the survival of a kingdom. The production value makes most Hollywood movies look cheap.
The way the zombies move in Kingdom is very similar to the "bone-breaking" choreography in All of Us Are Dead. It’s visceral. It’s fast. There’s no "shuffling" here. If you see them, you run or you die.
Why Kingdom Ranks High
- The Mystery: Understanding where the plague came from is a huge part of the plot.
- The Action: Watching someone take out a zombie with a katana while wearing traditional robes is just... cool.
- The Stakes: It’s not just a survival story; it’s a political thriller.
What About the "Non-Zombie" Shows Like All of Us Are Dead?
Sometimes it’s not the undead we’re looking for. It’s the "death game" aspect. The feeling that anyone can die at any second.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
Alice in Borderland is the obvious heavy hitter here.
Set in a deserted Tokyo, characters have to play deadly games to extend their "visas." If the visa expires, a laser from the sky kills them. The games are categorized by suits: Spades for physical, Diamonds for intellectual, Clubs for teamwork, and Hearts for... well, Hearts are the worst. They’re "betrayal" games. They mess with your head.
The school setting in All of Us Are Dead felt like a game of survival. Alice in Borderland takes that and turns the volume up to eleven. It’s based on a manga, so it has that slightly over-the-top, high-concept feel.
The "Under the Radar" Pick: Night Has Come
If you want something that feels exactly like the school setting but with a supernatural twist, Night Has Come is your best bet.
A high school class goes on a field trip to a remote retreat center. Suddenly, a mysterious app installs itself on their phones. They are forced to play a real-life game of "Mafia" (or Werewolf).
- Every night, they have to vote for someone to die.
- If they don't vote, everyone dies.
- When someone is voted out, they actually die in gruesome, forced-suicide ways.
It’s brutal. It captures that "friends turning on friends" trauma that All of Us Are Dead excelled at. You start the show picking your favorite characters, and by episode four, you’re terrified for all of them.
The Global Perspective: Black Summer
While Korea is currently winning the zombie genre, we have to talk about Black Summer.
This is a Netflix series that exists in the Z Nation universe, but it couldn't be more different. Z Nation is goofy. Black Summer is a panic attack.
The camera work is long, unbroken takes. It follows characters as they try to get to a stadium for evacuation. There is almost no dialogue. It’s pure, raw survival. If your favorite part of All of Us Are Dead was the opening chaotic breakout in the cafeteria, Black Summer is basically that for two entire seasons. It’s relentless.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
Addressing the "Slow Zombie" Misconception
A lot of people think all shows like All of Us Are Dead have to feature sprinting, Olympic-athlete zombies. That’s the modern trend, sure. But tension can come from the slow ones too.
Take The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. I know, I know—it’s a spin-off. But hear me out. It’s set in France. It feels European and "indie." The cinematography is gorgeous. It focuses on a small group traveling across a ruined landscape. It has that "found family" vibe that was so central to the Hyosan survivors.
Comparing the Trauma: Which One Should You Watch First?
If you’re stuck, let’s break it down by what you actually liked about the school setting.
"I liked the high school drama and the kids." Go with Duty After School or Night Has Come. Both focus heavily on Gen Z dynamics under extreme pressure.
"I liked the mystery of the virus and the hybrids." Sweet Home is your answer. It leans into the biological horror and the "what am I becoming?" trope.
"I just want to see people get eaten in a cool setting." Kingdom. No questions asked. It’s the best one.
"I liked the social commentary on how adults fail kids." The Silent Sea (set on a moon base) or Squid Game. Both deal with systemic failure, though they aren't zombie shows.
The Evolution of the Genre in 2026
We've seen a shift lately. The "zombie" is becoming a metaphor for more than just a virus. In 2026, the best horror shows are looking at isolation.
All of Us Are Dead succeeded because it wasn't just about the monsters; it was about the fact that no one was coming to save them. The military abandoned them. Their parents couldn't reach them.
When you’re looking for your next binge, look for that sense of isolation. Whether it's a high school, an apartment building, or a historical palace, the best survival shows make the world feel very, very small.
Actionable Next Steps for the Horror Fan
- Check the "International" Tab: Don't limit yourself to English or Korean. The Japanese show Gannibal (on Hulu/Disney+) is a terrifying look at a cannibalistic village that captures a similar "no escape" feeling.
- Watch the Webtoons: Both All of Us Are Dead and Sweet Home started as webtoons. If you want more lore, go to the source material on the Naver Webtoon app.
- Track the Directors: Lee JQ (the director of All of Us Are Dead) has a specific style. Keep an eye on his future projects, as he tends to favor high-tension ensemble casts.
- Check for Season 2 Updates: It’s confirmed. While you wait, use the "ensemble survival" tag on your streaming service rather than just "zombie." You'll find better matches like The Society or Yellowjackets.
The survival genre is peaking right now. You don't have to settle for a cheap knockoff. Start with Sweet Home for the monsters or Happiness for the tension, and you'll find that the "Hyosan hole" in your heart gets filled pretty quickly.