George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead premieres in Los Angeles in 1978. The second in Romero’s Living Dead zombie series is a mocking of American consumerism and made with Italian horror director Dario Argento’s assistance in financing, distribution and plot. Tom Savini makes his debut as a make-up effects artist. It remains the most profitable of the series and is remade in 2004.
This Day in Halloween: "Dawn of the Dead" premieres in Los Angeles. / Illustration by Rachel Vargas