Night of the Living Dead is a
1968 American
independent zombie horror film, directed by
George A. Romero, starring
Duane Jones and
Judith O'Dea. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a $114,000
budget. The film became a financial success, grossing $12 million
domestically and $18 million internationally. It has been a cult classic ever since.
Night of the Living Dead was heavily criticized at its release for its explicit gore. It eventually garnered critical acclaim and has been selected by the
Library of Congress for preservation in the
National Film Registry, as a film deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".