Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Feature Film – Director, Co-Writer, Editor, Cinematographer, Actor
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 independent horror film written, directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, co-written by John Russo, and starring Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea. Shot in and around western Pennsylvania on a modest budget, the film follows seven strangers who take shelter in a rural farmhouse as it comes under siege by a growing horde of cannibalistic, undead corpses. The film transformed modern horror and defined the zombie genre as it is known today. Its stark black-and-white photography, documentary-like realism, and bleak social undercurrents gave the story an impact far beyond its low-budget origins. More than a landmark of independent filmmaking, Night of the Living Dead remains one of Romero’s most influential works and one of the most important horror films ever made.
The GARF Network hosted a Night of the Living Dead Watchalong, featuring Russ Streiner, Gary Streiner, and Jim Cironella, that can be seen here.
There’s Always Vanilla (1971)
Feature Film – Director, Editor, Cinematographer
There’s Always Vanilla (also known as The Affair) is a 1971 romantic comedy film directed by George A. Romero and starring Raymond Laine, Judith Ridley, Roger McGovern, and Johanna Lawrence. It was George’s second motion picture and his only romantic comedy. The film follows Chris Bradley, a restless young drifter who returns to Pittsburgh after years away and begins a relationship with Lynn Harris, a model and aspiring actress. Their romance unfolds against the backdrop of early 1970s uncertainty.
Season of the Witch (1972)
Feature Film – Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematographer
Season of the Witch (originally titled Jack’s Wife, but released as Hungry Wives) is a 1973 American drama film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Jan White, Raymond Laine, and Joedda McClain. The film follows a bored housewife in suburban Pittsburgh who becomes involved in witchcraft. Season serves as a precursor to Martin, as the film’s supernatural aspects are presented as a cover for the protagonist’s innate desires.
The GARF Network interviewed star Joedda McClain in 2025 – the episode can be seen here.
The Crazies (1973)
Feature Film – Director, Co-Writer, Editor
The Crazies (also released as Code Name: Trixie) is a 1973 American science fiction horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. It stars Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, and Harold Wayne Jones as residents of a small American town that accidentally becomes afflicted by a military biological weapon. Filmed in Evans City, Western Pennsylvania, The Crazies was a box-office failure upon release but has since become a cult film. A remake of the film was released in 2010.
The Winners (1973-74)
Syndicated Television Series – Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
The Winners is a series of sports documentaries produced by George A. Romero and Richard Rubinstein under their Laurel Entertainment banner. Most episodes focus on Pittsburgh athletes, including icons like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Willie Stargell, and Bruno Sammartino. These 50-minute episodes were syndicated to local TV stations, with many of them airing after Monday Night Football. The only episode to receive a commercial release is Juice on the Loose, which captured O.J. Simpson’s historic season where he surpassed 2,000 rushing yards. In 2016, the series was highlighted by the NFL Network as part of its Timeline series in an episode titled “Night of the Living Steelers.”
George A. Romero directed the following episodes of The Winners: Willie Stargell: What If I Didn’t Play Baseball, Franco Harris: Good Luck on Sunday, Bruno Sammartino: Strong Man, Johnny Rutherford: Eleven Year Odyssey, Tom Weiskopf: On Tour, NFL Films: The 27th Team, Reggie Jackson: One Man Wild Bunch, O.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose
Spasmo (1973)
Feature Film – Director (Additional Scenes)
Spasmo is a 1974 Italian giallo directed by genre legend Umberto Lenzi. George A. Romero was brought in to shoot additional footage for the American release, which was handled by Laurel Films. Romero’s 7-to-10-minute additions went uncredited. As of 2026, the version with Romero’s additional footage remains unreleased on home video.
The Amusement Park (1975)
Feature Length P.S.A. – Director, Editor, Actor
Commissioned by the Lutheran Society, the film stars Lincoln Maazel as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies, and
humiliations of aging in America are illustrated by his journey among roller coasters and
chaotic crowds. “Although not a horror film in the traditional sense, this recruitment film is disturbing in its depiction of societal indifference to aging,” said Suzanne Romero, The GARF’s president and founder. “Even though it’s early in his career, it’s a fascinating look at the footprint of Romero’s cinematic style.” The GARF was instrumental in securing a source print for a high-definition restoration of The Amusement Park, with Shudder including it on its streaming platform in 2021 and Yellow Veil releasing it on Blu-ray in 2022.
Martin (1977)
Feature Film – Director, Writer, Editor, Actor
Martin, released in Italy as Wampyr, is a 1977 American psychological horror film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring John Amplas. Shot in 1976, it is Romero’s fifth feature and one of his personal favorites among his filmography. The story follows a troubled young man who believes he is a vampire, though Romero strips away the traditional Gothic imagery of capes and castles. Lincoln Maazel turns in a masterful performance as his cousin, Tata Cuda, who seems to be the only person who fully believes that Martin is the actual embodiment of Nosferatu.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Feature Film – Director, Writer, Editor, Actor
Ten years after George A. Romero changed the landscape of horror with Night of the Living Dead, he spawned Dawn of the Dead, a larger, bloodier, and more satirical follow-up set inside a suburban shopping mall. Released internationally under titles including Zombi and Zombies, the film paired Romero’s sharp critique of consumer culture with the unforgettable special effects work of Tom Savini, whose graphic makeup and stunt-driven gore helped define the film’s reputation. Produced independently and shaped in part through Romero’s friendship with Italian filmmaker Dario Argento, Dawn became an international smash hit, building devoted audiences in the United States, England, Italy, Germany, Japan, and beyond.
Knightriders (1981)
Feature Film – Director, Writer, Editor
Knightriders is a 1981 drama film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, Amy Ingersoll, Patricia Tallman, and Christine Forrest. It was filmed in the summer of 1980 entirely on location in the Pittsburgh area, including Fawn Township, Tarentum, and Natrona. It is a story of a traveling troupe of bikers who struggle to retain their Arthurian lifestyle amidst the temptations of capitalism. It is a deeply personal film for George, emphasized by a powerful performance by Ed Harris as King Billy. Tom Savini turns in what is likely his best acting performance as Sir Morgan.
For the film’s 40th anniversary, the GARF Network hosted a series of tribute shows featuring interviews with cast and crew:
Creepshow (1982)
Feature Film – Director, Editor
Creepshow is an anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King, marking King’s screenwriting debut. The film’s ensemble cast includes Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, Leslie Nielsen, Ted Danson, and E. G. Marshall, as well as King himself in an unforgettable turn as Jordy Verrill. The film was primarily shot on location in Pittsburgh and its suburbs, including Monroeville, where George leased a disused boys’ school (Penn Hall Academy) to build extensive sets for the film. Creepshow is widely considered the greatest anthology horror film of all time.
Tales from the Darkside (1983-1988)
Television Series – Writer, Executive Producer
Tales from the Darkside is an American horror anthology television series created by George A. Romero, developed in the wake of the success of Creepshow. After the pilot episode aired on October 29, 1983, the series was picked up for syndication and officially launched in September 1984, running for four seasons through July 1988. Produced by Laurel Entertainment, the show brought Romero’s taste for dark humor, moral comeuppance, and grim twists to late-night television. Each episode told a self-contained story, often blending horror with science fiction, fantasy, black comedy, or supernatural irony. The low-budget format became part of its identity, and its eerie theme song and narration became etched in the minds of many a horror fan. George wrote the following episodes: Trick or Treat, The Devil’s Advocate, The Circus, and Baker’s Dozen.
Day of the Dead (1985)
Feature Film – Director, Writer
Day of the Dead is a 1985 American zombie horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. It was produced by Richard P. Rubinstein. The film is the third film in Romero’s Living Dead series, marking the end of the first trilogy. George has described the film as “a tragedy about how a lack of human communication causes chaos and collapse, even in this little pie slice of society.” This would be George’s final directorial effort with Richard Rubinstein as producer.
The GARF Network aired a Day of the Dead Watchalong featuring Lori Cardille, Mark Tierno, and Michael Tomaso that can be seen here.
Creepshow 2 (1987)
Feature Film – Writer
Creepshow 2 is a 1987 American comedy horror anthology film directed by Michael Gornick. Gornick was the cinematographer of the original Creepshow, and the screenplay was written by George A. Romero. It was once again based on stories by Stephen King and features three horror segments: “Old Chief Wood’nhead,” “The Raft,” and “The Hitchhiker.”
Monkey Shines (1988)
Feature Film – Director, Co-Writer
Monkey Shines (also known as Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear) is a 1988 American psychological horror film written and directed by George A. Romero and starring Jason Beghe, Kate McNeil, John Pankow, and Joyce Van Patten. Its plot follows a young athlete who becomes a paralyzed quadriplegic and develops a bond with an intelligent service monkey named “Ella” who becomes homicidal after she is injected with an experimental serum of human brain tissue. It is based on the 1983 British novel of the same title by Michael Stewart.
Two Evil Eyes (1990)
Feature Film – Director, Writer
Two Evil Eyes (Italian: Due Occhi Diabolici) is a 1990 Italian-American anthology horror film written and directed by George A. Romero and Dario Argento, and based on stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. George’s half of the film is based on The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, while Dario’s half is based on Poe’s The Black Cat. The two filmmakers had previously collaborated on the immensely popular Dawn of the Dead in 1978.
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Feature Film – Executive Producer, Writer
Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American horror film directed by Tom Savini and starring Tony Todd, Patricia Tallman, and Tom Towles. It is a remake of George A. Romero’s 1968 horror film of the same title. George rewrote the original 1968 screenplay he had originally co-authored with John A. Russo.
Watch the GARF Network’s 30th Anniversary Special with Bill Moseley, John Russo, Russ Streiner, Tom Savini, Dyrk Ashton, William Butler, Patricia Tallman, and Everett Burrell here.
The Dark Half (1993)
Feature Film – Director, Co-Writer, Executive Producer
The Dark Half is a 1993 American horror film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1989 novel of the same name. The film was directed by George A. Romero and stars Timothy Hutton, Amy Madigan, Michael Rooker, and Royal Dano in his final film. Romero completed the movie in 1991, but the collapse of Orion Pictures kept it from reaching theaters until 1993.
Resident Evil 2 (BioHazard 2) (1997)
Television Commercial – Director
George directed this Japan-only television commercial for the Capcom video game Biohazard 2, known as Resident Evil 2 in English-speaking territories. The popular video game series owed a lot to Romero’s first trilogy of zombie films, making him a natural fit for this endeavor. The advertisement stars Brad Renfro as Leon Kennedy and was edited by longtime Romero collaborator Pasquale Buba. George would later pen a script for the first Resident Evil film, but the producers ultimately used one written by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Iron City Asskickers (1997)
TV Series (proof-of-concept) – Director, Actor, Producer, Editor
Shot in 1998 and never officially released, this short film was produced as a proof-of-concept for a reality-style TV show. The program centers on a group of professional wrestlers and their behind-the-scenes shenanigans, the antics of wrestling fans watching from the comfort of the local watering hole, and hapless ringside announcers who end up becoming part of the action. In addition to directing, George plays a rowdy and opinionated bar patron. In March 2021, ICA was finally released on DVD by Cryptic Pictures, and the event was celebrated on the GARF Network with a reunion special/release party. You can view the episode here.
Bruiser (2000)
Feature Film – Director, Writer
Bruiser is a psychological horror film written and directed by George A. Romero. The story follows Henry Creedlow (Jason Flemyng), a beaten-down magazine executive who is ignored, humiliated, and exploited by nearly everyone in his life. After waking to find his face replaced by a blank, featureless mask, Henry violently confronts those who have wronged him. The film features memorable performances from Peter Stormare and Tom Atkins, as well as cameos by Tina Romero, Andrew Romero, and Christine Romero. Bruiser marks Romero’s first film lensed in Canada.
The Misfits: Scream! (2000)
Music Video – Director
Following their performance in the finale of Bruiser, The Misfits recruited George to direct a music video for their song Scream! off the album Famous Monsters. The video was shot shortly after the completion of Bruiser, but was released prior to the film’s Canadian debut in February 2000.
“Scream was 1999. I edited Scream because George went back to edit Bruiser. I changed his cut a lot, to this day I’m not sure whose cut is better” – Jason “J.B.” Bareford
Land of the Dead (2005)
Feature Film – Director, Writer
Land of the Dead (also known as George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead) is a 2005 post-apocalyptic horror film written and directed by George A. Romero, the fourth of his six “Living Dead” movies. Shot in Toronto and set in a post-apocalyptic Pittsburgh, the film involves the haves and the have-nots in a battle for supremacy while ignoring the overarching problem, the living dead.
Diary of the Dead (2007)
Feature Film – Director, Writer, Actor
Diary of the Dead is the fifth film in George Romero’s Dead saga. Shot in and around Toronto in 2007, it is an independently produced found-footage horror film. It premiered on September 8, 2007, at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically by Dimension Films on February 15, 2008. The film follows a group of film students whose class project is interrupted by the onset of the living dead phenomenon.
Survival of the Dead (2009)
Feature Film – Director, Writer
Survival of the Dead (a.k.a. George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead) is the sixth and final entry in Romero’s “Living Dead” series of films. The story follows an AWOL National Guardsman who becomes embroiled in a war between two rival families on a zombie-infested Plum Island, located off the coast of Delaware.
Deadtime Stories Volume 1 (2009)
Feature Film (DVD) – Producer, Actor
An anthology of horror tales depicts a woman searching for her husband in the jungles of South America, a man finding a jade box on a beach that holds something sinister, and a doctor on a house call finding a boy with a mysterious illness. Romero collaborators Tom Savini and Jeff Monahan each direct a story, and George hosts the wraparound segments.
Deadtime Stories Volume 2 (2011)
Feature Film (DVD) – Producer, Actor
Three horror tales depict three friends on a hike who become trapped in a cave, a strict professor is haunted after a student commits suicide, and a security guard steals a possible cure for cancer for his dying wife with disastrous results. George returns as the host of the wraparound segments, as does Jeff Monahan, who directs “On Sabbath Hill.”