Corona Zombies is a 2020 American comedy horror film directed by Charles Band, and produced and distributed by Full Moon Features. Inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, the film stars Cody Renee Cameron as Barbie, a woman who finds herself facing an outbreak of zombies infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[2] Alongside Cameron, the film stars Russell Coker and Robin Sydney.
Corona Zombies | |
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![]() Promotional release poster | |
Directed by | Charles Band |
Written by |
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Produced by | Charles Band |
Starring |
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Production company | Full Moon Features |
Distributed by | Full Moon Features |
Release date |
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Running time | 61 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Corona Zombies was released digitally through Full Moon Features' website and app on April 10, 2020. Later that year, it was followed by two sequels also directed by Band, Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King and Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51, with Cameron and Sydney reprising their roles.[3][4]
Corona Zombies was filmed over a period of 28 days.[1][2] The film consists primarily of redubbed and repurposed footage from Hell of the Living Dead and Zombies vs. Strippers, as well as clips of real-world news footage.[2][5]
The film premiered digitally through Full Moon Features' website and app on April 10, 2020.[1][2][6]
Stuart Heritage of The Guardian called the film "the sort of thing you'd watch drunk in your house at midnight. But then again, that's how you're going to watch all films for the foreseeable future, so it has to be worth a go."[1] The National's Katy Gillett, in her review of the film, wrote: "If zombie movies are your thing, and you can acknowledge them as pure escapism that isn't to be taken seriously, then you're probably fine. If not, I'd skip it."[7] Alan Ng of Film Threat called Corona Zombies "a hilarious satire of this whole pandemic", comparing it favorably to the 1966 film What's Up, Tiger Lily? and the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000.[8]
Year | Awards | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
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2021 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Director | Charles Band (also for Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King and Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51) | Nominated | [9] |
Worst Screenplay | Kent Roudebush, Silvia St. Croix and Billy Butler (also for Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King and Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51) | Nominated | [9] |
Corona Zombies was followed by two sequels, Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King and Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51.[3][4] Both sequels were directed by Band, star Cody Renee Cameron as Barbie and Robin Sydney as Kendra, and were released in 2020.[3][4]