Ahead of its long-awaited sequel, Brad Pitt’s blockbuster action thriller has officially come back to life on streaming. Action seems to be the name of the game for Brad Pitt at the moment. He just released Heart of the Beast (directed by Fury and The Beekeeper‘s David Ayer), and is in production on a new movie about the intense and deadly Isle of Man motorbike race. But there’s one action movie that’s far more anticipated than any other in his pipeline. 11 years after the original sci-fi action thriller was released, the sequel is finally in development. And, what’s more, the original film has been resurrected on streaming once again.
Directed by Marc Forster and based on the best-selling book by Max Brooks, Brad Pitt’s World War Z is, once again, one of the biggest movies on streaming. World War Z has been a mainstay on Paramount+’s streaming library, and it repeatedly bounces in and out of the top 10. As anticipation for the sequel ramps up (along with it being the Halloween season), World War Z is sprinting back to life on Paramount+. At the time of writing, it is the 10th most popular movie globally on the platform. The new horror movie Passenger currently holds the top spot, with Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender in second, and Diablo in third.
‘World War Z’ Was a Divisive But Entertaining Adaptation
Max Brooks’ novel is one of the most unique zombie stories ever written. It’s a series of journalistic reports about a virus spreading in Asia before it slowly engulfs the world. Brad Pitt’s movie took that idea, threw a Hollywood budget at it, and transformed it from a nuanced survival thriller into an all-out action blockbuster. Pitt stars as Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator, who has to leave his family to locate the source of the infection and, hopefully, find a cure. As far as horror movies go, it’s fairly generic. But one key decision transformed it from another run-of-the-mill zombie movie into an experience you’ll never forget.
It’s safe to say that World War Z‘s zombies are the most terrifying iteration of the monsters ever put to screen. After being bitten, the host transforms within 10 seconds. And long gone are the days of slow-walking zombies. 28 Days Later helped to pioneer the sprinting zombie, but World War Z perfected them. With that kind of zombie, it’s easy to see how entire cities fell within hours.
What’s Going On With ‘World War Z 2’?
World War Z was a massive financial hit, grossing well over $540 million at the box office. Yet, it has taken 13 years for a sequel to be announced. Finally, in September 2026, the news arrived. Brad Pitt is returning for World War Z 2. Riders‘ Edward Berger is set to direct the movie. No plot details have been revealed, nor has a potential release date. But this is the closest World War Z 2 has gotten to becoming a reality.
- Release Date
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June 21, 2013
- Runtime
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116 minutes
- Director
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Marc Forster
