World War Z Finds Global Streaming Success 13 Years Later

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The popular zombie film, originally released 13 years ago, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity thanks to streaming. It’s now a worldwide hit, widely available for viewers across the globe.

Currently, World War Z is a popular choice for viewers streaming on Pluto TV, consistently ranking as one of the top 10 free movies. It’s also been a top 10 hit on Paramount+ in countries like Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, making it a streaming success worldwide in recent days, according to FlixPatrol.

World War Z Still Holds a Box Office Record

As a huge fan of zombie films, I still think about World War Z – it remains the highest-grossing movie in the genre, which is pretty incredible. When it came out in 2013, it made a ton of money worldwide, even though it was famously expensive to make – reports said the budget was around $269 million! Critics were a bit divided at the time, giving it a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it feels like the film has gained more appreciation over the years. I’ve seen it pop up on a lot of ‘best zombie movies’ lists from different websites and magazines, which tells me it’s really left a lasting impression.

The movie is based on Max Brooks’ novel of the same name, but it makes significant changes to the story. Brooks’ book is a series of accounts from people around the globe detailing their experiences during a zombie outbreak and the fight for survival. The film, however, centers on Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator who’s trying to find a solution when the zombie apocalypse begins.

Marc Forster directed the film World War Z, with a screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, and Damon Lindelof. Brad Pitt led the cast, which also included Mireille Enos (known for The Killing), Daniella Kertesz (AfterDeath), James Badge Dale (Iron Man 3), David Morse (St. Elsewhere), David Andrews (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), and Ruth Negga (Preacher).

What Happened to World War Z 2?

After the first World War Z did so well, everyone was talking about a sequel for ages, but it just never happened. It got stuck in development – you know, that place where movies go to die. At one point, Steven Knight, the guy behind Peaky Blinders, was writing the script, and they were hoping to get either J.A. Bayona, who did Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, or even David Fincher – the director of Se7en – to direct. Brad Pitt was even supposed to come back as the main character, but sadly, it just didn’t work out.

By 2019, a sequel was in development, but ultimately cancelled. Budget problems contributed to the decision, but the main reason Paramount stopped the project was a ban on zombie movies in China, which would have significantly hurt the film’s potential earnings worldwide. Despite the cancelled sequel, the franchise continued to grow with the release of video games.

World War Z is streaming for free on Pluto TV and is also available on Paramount+.

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2026-03-22 20:44