US Existentialism is closely linked with apocalypticism, particularly in the zombie apocalypse genre popularized by George Romero’s Living Dead series. Romero’s zombies, characterized by their violent and apocalyptic nature, symbolize humanity’s mass destruction, with each victim becoming a new threat. Film critics often interpret zombies as metaphors for real-world inequalities. While acknowledging these interpretations, this chapter argues that they tend to be overly pessimistic. Focusing on the human characters rather than the zombies shows that despite societal collapse, the portrayal of humanity is surprisingly optimistic. These films contrast zombies’ destructive power with the individual’s capacity to comprehend and explore existence. Survivors overcome alienation and despair by committing to survival and rebuilding, thereby reconstructing their self-image. Through these endeavors, they forge new identities and futures for humanity. This optimistic outlook indicates a broader trend toward hopeful apocalypses in twentieth-century US film, which is inherently Existentialist.