Zack Snyder’s Zombie Action Sleeper Is a Secret Remake of James Cameron’s Sci-Fi Masterpiece

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Zack Snyder burst onto the scene in 2004 with a thrilling remake of Dawn of the Dead, quickly establishing himself as a visually striking and ambitious director, though often a divisive one. His 2021 horror film sharply split audiences, but many didn’t realize it was secretly a reimagining of a classic: James Cameron’s Aliens.

Throughout Hollywood’s history, directors have often borrowed ideas from existing works to create their own films. This is common, from movies like Assault on Precinct 13 to numerous monster movies influenced by Jaws. Zack Snyder’s often-overlooked film is a prime example, clearly inspired by a classic 1980s movie. Released four years ago, this zombie film remains one of the best in the genre, largely due to its source material. With more zombie content on the way, it’s a fantastic action-horror movie for anyone who enjoys a good undead story.

Zack Snyder Helped Revive Zombie Movies

Horror films became popular again in the early 2000s, largely due to the success of movies like Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later and the Resident Evil series. While slasher films were common in the 1990s, the new decade saw a rise in popularity of stories featuring vampires, cannibals, and the undead. Zack Snyder and James Gunn’s Dawn of the Dead, a remake of the 1978 classic, demonstrated audiences’ continued love for the genre. The film follows a group of people sheltering in a shopping mall during a zombie apocalypse, effectively combining scares, compelling characters, and insightful social themes.

Dawn of the Dead is still considered a landmark zombie film, largely because of its strong focus on the people trying to survive. It paved the way for hits like The Walking Dead by demonstrating that the most frightening aspect of an apocalypse isn’t the zombies themselves, but how it turns people against each other. The film leaves its characters facing a grim choice: risk a dangerous escape attempt or accept their fate and wait for the end inside the mall. This theme – how an apocalypse reveals both the best and worst of humanity – became a staple in later zombie stories. What makes the film even more remarkable is that it was director Zack Snyder’s first feature film.

Even now, fans love this film just as much as they loved 300, and it really showcases the director’s skill at building suspense. After seventeen years of struggling to get it made, the director finally released the sequel, and it was a fantastic experience for zombie movie enthusiasts.

Army of the Dead is an Overhated Sequel

Zack Snyder revisited his zombie universe in 2021 with the film Army of the Dead. Set after a zombie outbreak has overrun Las Vegas, the US government has quarantined the city and plans to destroy it with a nuclear bomb. A wealthy man hires a group of mercenaries with a daring mission: to break into his casino vault and steal a fortune before the city is wiped out.

The team’s leader, Scott Ward, is a seasoned veteran at killing zombies. He tragically had to kill his own wife after she turned, and now he’s also responsible for his grown daughter, who accompanies him on this dangerous mission. Once inside, they meet a smuggler known as the Coyote, who warns them about a new breed of zombies – faster and more intelligent than the typical infected, and called “alphas.” These alphas are led by the very first infected person, and anyone bitten by that original zombie also becomes an alpha.

Mixing science fiction, zombie horror, and action, Army of the Dead seemed like it had all the ingredients to be a hit. Although it has gained a following, it initially received negative reviews from both audiences and critics. Some compared it unfavorably to the 2004 Dawn of the Dead, praising that film’s suspenseful pace and strong writing. However, viewers who enjoy fast-paced zombie action, similar to the Left 4 Dead video game, found Zack Snyder’s 2021 film more appealing.

Snyder’s film delivers a visually striking and energetic movie that fully leans into the exciting aspects of the genre. The action starts quickly, and like the film Aliens, it excels at building compelling characters. Once you recognize the influence of James Cameron’s storytelling, the plot becomes quite predictable.

Army of the Dead Swipes the Plot of James Cameron’s Aliens

If you’re a fan of science fiction and 1980s horror, Army of the Dead will feel very similar to other movies in the genre, especially in its plot and some of the lines. It’s clearly inspired by James Cameron’s Aliens, and at times, it feels almost copied from that film. Both movies follow a group of soldiers venturing into a dangerous area to battle monsters, only to be double-crossed by someone from a corporation. The ending of Army of the Dead, with its rooftop rescue, strongly recalls the iconic scene in Aliens where Ripley shouts, “Bishop, you bastard!” while being pursued.

Snyder’s script contains a direct nod to the film Aliens. When the character Lilly ‘the Coyote’ discusses the zombie leadership, she says, “you don’t see them screwing each other over,” echoing Ripley’s nearly identical line to Burke in Aliens: “you don’t see them f#%&ing each other over for a percentage.” Beyond this quote, Snyder’s sequel shows clear influence from Cameron’s film, with similar team dynamics, character types, and even sacrificial moments. To further emphasize this connection, Snyder begins his movie by hinting that aliens played a role in the story’s events.

Though Zack Snyder’s film centers around a robbery, its structure is surprisingly similar to Aliens. The original zombie functions like the Alien Queen, the zombies themselves mirroring the xenomorphs, and Martin’s attempt to retrieve the head echoes Burke’s desire to escape. While the beginnings of the two films differ, once the action starts, the similarities become hard to ignore.

Because the new story closely mirrors the original—with nearly identical dialogue and scenes—many fans believe it’s more than just an inspired tribute. Even so, it was a fun watch, and it’s clear the film benefited from the established structure of Cameron’s work.

Snyder’s Army of the Dead is Set For a Continuation

Fans of Zack Snyder’s zombie film are in for more, as he’s planning both a TV series and a movie continuation. While the projects are still in early stages and their future isn’t certain, it’s clear Snyder remains passionate about this world. There’s a lot of room to expand the story and explore how the zombie outbreak affects the world at large. Snyder’s film stood out because it appealed to action movie fans, unlike classics like 28 Days Later and the original Dawn of the Dead, which focused more on traditional horror. The Netflix film successfully blended action and horror, creating a zombie experience that felt similar to playing a fast-paced video game.

As a big movie fan, I’ve always been fascinated by how films build on each other. With Snyder’s work, it’s hard to say if it’s a straight-up remake, a copy, or a loving nod to James Cameron’s Aliens, but honestly, it’s a really fun action movie. Let’s face it, not all of Zack Snyder’s films are massive successes, but Army of the Dead? That one really delivered. I think he nailed it, and a lot of that comes from taking inspiration from Aliens – it definitely helped make it one of the best zombie movies we’ve seen this century.

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2025-11-16 20:16