Zombies 3 Review: Back Together And Better Than Ever
It is a difficult task to make every film in a trilogy satisfying to watch. Most film franchises struggle to make even two of those films pleasing to the core audience. Zombies 3 has raised the bar.
It knows its audience, and that it’s a silly kid-friendly movie with lots of heart. It doesn’t try to be anything more than that but manages to remain unique, bold, fun, and exciting.
Zombies 3 is probably the last film in the series. If it is, then it’s a nearly perfect ending. If it isn’t, then we would gladly welcome more movies because Zombies 3 proves that the team behind these movies knows what they’re doing.
It is probably one of the Disney Channel’s most progressive films.
It naturally introduces non-binary characters and queer romance. This may seem like something that shouldn’t be a big deal in 2022, but unfortunately, the world is still slowly evolving and learning acceptance.
This is a big move by the Disney Channel. It makes me admire and respect the film even more.
Zombies 3‘s overall plot about aliens entering Seabrook isn’t much different from what’s happened in the first two films. However, somehow the aliens coming to town make the stakes even greater.
With greater risks, comes greater rewards.
This film must have the biggest budget of the three movies because the costumes, makeup, and even special effects are all better. The wig department alone must have gotten a huge budget increase.
I don’t recall that many special effects in the first two films, but this one uses them a lot more and they work. Who doesn’t love to see aliens floating during a cheer competition?
The writing in Zombies 3 is also a lot funnier and sharp. I genuinely laugh several times, including the aliens calling Earth a 1-star planet. The accuracy of that statement is brilliant.
The aliens are quite shady, and I love it. With RuPaul as a mothership, of course, those aliens know how to read a basic human.
Over three films, Zombies has made Addison and Zed, played by Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim, the heart of the films.
Donnelly and Manheim’s on-screen chemistry is undeniable. They have a natural groove that comes with working with someone in multiple films and projects. I truly believe that a girl and a zombie could make forever a reality.
It is a bit obvious that the aliens’ Utopia would be Earth, but the film still manages to make us worry that Zed and Addison may be separated. This is a Disney movie, so happy endings are a requirement, but the film excels at making it feel like Addison is going on a different adventure without her friends and family.
This could have still been a happy ending, just not the one we expect.
Zombies 3’s songs pay homage to the ones from the previous films. They mimic the tones, beats, and style of some other songs in the trilogy.
They’re fun songs but lack the catchiness of the songs from previous films.
“Exceptional Zed,” “Alien Invasion,” and “Ain’t No Doubt About It,” are the best of the new crop of songs because the visuals that accompany them elevate the songs, making them fun to watch and listen to.
“Someday” once again gets a vocal and tone makeover. In the first film, it’s a flirty song that kicks off Zed and Addison’s romance. In the second, it almost works as a reunion song.
Zombies 3 allows the whole cast to sing it, turning it into a hopeful goodbye. They may be separated but could find a way back to each other “Someday.”
The evolution of “Someday” is one of the best constants of this movie series.
Some of Zombies’ themes include tolerance, acceptance, being true to oneself, and love without prejudice. Zombies 3 has one of the trilogy’s most unique but important messages: A true Utopia isn’t a place of peaceful harmony but one where people are willing to fight until change happens that makes others’ lives better.
The movie concludes by showing that other creatures have made their way to Seabrook, including vampires and merpeople.
This feels like the final film, but this may not be the end of the story.Zombies could take a similar route as Descendants and have a spin-off film series that involves some of the new Seabrook residents.
Many would be happy to return to Seabrook in any way possible.
Other Thoughts
- Zed: The haters call me extra too — Zed’s newfound cockiness is delightful.
- The alien dance introduction may have been the coolest moment in the entire trilogy.
- I love a callback, and Addison punching Zed is a perfect one.
- All the Zombies romances are adorable.
- I definitely wonder now if Bucky has some alien abilities that he hid.
- Only Addison could rock blonde, white, and blue hair.
- I wouldn’t be opposed to a Zombies 4 that follows Addison and Zed at Mountain College, or at least a book series. They’re just so fun together.
What did you think of Zombies 3? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Stream Zombies 3 on Disney+.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Jerrica Tisdale
Jerrica Tisdale is your favorite neighborhood pop culture junkie. She will annoy you with random TV and film facts, while complaining about whatever is the hottest new book. She has been a TV fan all her life but writing about it for over a decade. You may find her work all over the internet especially reality TV rants. She is a senior writer at Tell-Tale TV.