Night of the Living Dead created a successful franchise that includes five sequels released between 19, all directed by Romero.

In 1999, the film was deemed 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant' by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Frequently identified as a touchstone in the development of the horror genre, retrospective scholarly analysis has focused on its reflection of the social and cultural changes in the United States during the 1960s, with particular attention towards the casting of Jones, an African-American, in the leading role. It eventually garnered a cult following and critical acclaim and has appeared on lists of the greatest and most influential films by such outlets as Empire, The New York Times and Total Film. Released shortly prior to the adoption of the Motion Picture Association of America rating system, the film's explicit violence and gore was considered groundbreaking, leading to controversy and negative reviews. It grossed US$12 million domestically and US$18 million internationally, earning more than 250 times its budget and making it one of the most profitable film productions ever made at the time. Night of the Living Dead premiered in Pittsburgh on October 1, 1968.

Romero used guerrilla filmmaking techniques he had honed in his commercial and industrial work to complete the film on a budget of approximately US$100,000. Principal photography took place between July 1967 and January 1968, mainly on location in Evans City the cast and crew consisted of the production team's friends and relatives, local stage and amateur actors, and residents from the area. The script primarily drew influence from Richard Matheson's 1954 novel I Am Legend. They elected to make a horror film that would capitalize on commercial interest in the genre.

Having gained experience through directing television commercials and industrial films for their production company the Latent Image, Romero and his friends Russo and Streiner decided to make a feature film. It is frequently identified as the first modern zombie film.

The story follows seven people who become trapped in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania, which is under assault by a group of undead ghouls. Romero, written by Romero and John Russo, and produced by Russell Streiner and Karl Hardman. Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A.

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