Zombies 3
{{Short description|2022 musical television film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{for|the 1988 horror film|Zombi 3}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Zombies 3.png
| caption = Official Disney+ release poster
| genre =
| based_on =
| writer = David Light and Joseph Raso
| director = Paul Hoen
| starring = {{plainlist |
- Meg Donnelly
- Milo Manheim
- Trevor Tordjman
- Kylee Russell
- Carla Jeffrey
- Chandler Kinney
- Pearce Joza
- Ariel Martin
- Terry Hu
- Matt Cornett
- Kyra Tantao
- Kingston Foster
- James Godfrey
- RuPaul
}}
| composer = George S. Clinton and Amit May Cohen
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = {{plainlist |
- David Light
- Joseph Raso
- Paul Hoen
- Suzanne Farwell
}}
| producer = Mary Pantelidis
| location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| cinematography = Christian Herrera
| editor = Lisa Binkley
| camera =
| runtime = 90 minutes
| company = {{plainlist|
- Bloor Street Productions
- Resonate Entertainment
}}
| network = Disney+
| related = Zombies (2018)
Zombies 2 (2020)
}}
Zombies 3{{Efn|The film's title is sometimes stylized with hyphens as Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3. Occasionally, some media outlets abbreviate the film to "Z3"}} is a 2022 American science fiction musical comedy-drama film that premiered on Disney+ on July 15, 2022, and Disney Channel on August 12, 2022. A sequel to the 2018 film Zombies and the 2020 film Zombies 2, it stars Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim reprising their lead roles as Addison and Zed, respectively. Much of the main supporting cast from the first two Zombies films also return. The film follows the town of Seabrook, which now hosts zombies, humans, and werewolves all coexisting in harmony, as they attempt to repel an alien invasion.
Plot
In the town of Seabrook, werewolves, humans and zombies live in peace. It is their senior and last year at Seabrook High and Addison has been accepted into Mountain College. Zed is pursuing an athletic scholarship at Mountain College and is hoping to join Addison there. During the night before a highly anticipated football game, where, should they win, Seabrook will have their first zombie/monster recruited into college, bringing down a barrier for all other monsters, a UFO arrives and causes mass panic. The alien leaders, called "A-Lan, A-Li and A-Spen", teleport down from their ship. The aliens are in search of an interstellar map to Utopia, a new home for their species, which can only be found in "the most precious thing in Seabrook". To cover up their real purpose, they claim to be here to compete in the National Cheer Off, which Addison previously had organized. While being interrogated by Z-Patrol, A-Spen finds a loophole so Zed can get into college by having an exceptional scholarship from improving his grades.
Willa, Wyatt and Wynter are extremely distrustful of the aliens, as they think they are there to take what is theirs. The aliens settle into Seabrook temporarily. The aliens interrogate the werewolves and scan their minds with their Luma Lenses. Eliza, who is currently interning at Z-Corp, the maker of the Z-bands, helps Zed with his scholarship. However, the aliens beat Zed's records, both athletic and academic, lowering his chances of entering college. Zed, in return for the aliens altering his report card, helps the aliens identify the moonstone, which they scan for coordinates and discover is lethal to them. A-Spen meets Addison, whom they reveal to that they are in love with Zed. At cheer practice, the cheer team is threatened after witnessing the aliens practice. The aliens are almost caught by the werewolves and head to their Mothership where Zed helps them with his knowledge of Seabrook, whereas Addison is mistakenly beamed up to the Mothership. A-Spen, A-Li and A-Lan reveal their true reasons for arriving in Seabrook. After fixing and watching the Scout's logs, they discover that the scout is none other than Addison's maternal grandmother, Angie. (Bucky, Addison's cousin, is not related to Angie, as he is related to Addison on her father's side.)
Zed is nervous for his home college interview, which is the last thing he needs to overcome before finding out if he has been accepted in Mountain College. Addison's alien powers cause him to "zombie out" during his interview, causing his interviewer, Ms. Crabtree, to leave. Addison questions her identity as an alien, asking her mom about her grandma. The trio of aliens suspect that the Seabrook Cup, which is the trophy Angie created and now awarded to the winning team of the Cheer Off, which is crafted with materials from their home world, is their map home. Addison discovers this same thing soon after and realizes either the aliens win it or she does. The werewolves discover the aliens' mission and alert the Z-Patrol. Zed, after learning he was accepted into college, discovers the Z-Patrol's orders and tries to stop the aliens from competing in the Cheer-Off. The extraterrestrial team is disqualified, leaving Addison as their only chance of finding Utopia. The Seabrook Mighty Shrimp are victorious at the competition and win.
The werewolves crash into the cheer pavilion and reveal the aliens' plans. The aliens, Addison and Zed escape before Addison reveals to the town her alien heritage. Zed reveals his college news and the aliens realize that the coordinates to Utopia lie in Addison's DNA. Unfortunately, their map is dynamic, meaning they must take Addison to their new home. A conflicted Addison agrees to go. Zed offers to go with her, but it's impossible as he would be killed by their stardust energy within minutes. The day the aliens and Addison are set to leave for Utopia, the aliens' ship is critically damaged, so the werewolves offer their moonstone and Eliza states that they could charge the ship by filtering the moonstone's energy through their Z-Bands. Zed risks his life by interfering with the power of the aliens and the moonstone, though he survives. As the others race to exit the ship before it releases into space, Addison and Zed share one last kiss before he is beamed back to Earth and the spaceship disappears into hyperspace.
A few days later, in a world without Addison, the group celebrates their graduation as the aliens decrypt Addison's DNA as the map coordinates. Addison realizes that her grandma Angie wanted her species to live on Earth, just as the map is decoded into revealing that Earth was Utopia the entire time, confirming Addison's beliefs. The aliens then return to Seabrook, as a joyful Zed, Bree, Willa, Wynter, Wyatt, Bonzo, Bucky and the Aceys celebrate their return. Afterwards, the aliens fully move in to Seabrook, along with several other monsters and creatures including vampires and merfolk.
During the credits, Bucky is shown boarding Mothership and activating it for launch, aiming to "bring cheer to the farthest reaches of the galaxy".
Cast
- Meg Donnelly as Addison
- Milo Manheim as Zed
- Trevor Tordjman as Bucky
- Kylee Russell as Eliza
- Carla Jeffery as Bree
- Chandler Kinney as Willa
- Pearce Joza as Wyatt
- Baby Ariel as Wynter
- Terry Hu as A-Spen
- Matt Cornett as A-Lan
- Kyra Tantao as A-Li
- Kingston Foster as Zoey
- James Godfrey as Bonzo
- RuPaul as the voice of the Mothership
- Emilia McCarthy as Lacey
- Noah Zulfikar as Jacey
- Jasmine Renée Thomas as Stacey
- Naomi Snieckus as Principal Lee
- Paul Hopkins as Dale
- Marie Ward as Missy
- Sheila McCarthy as Angie
- Jonathan Langdon as Coach
- Tony Nappo as Zevon{{cite web|last=Chatterjee|first=Debmitra|title=4 Disney+ new releases in July 2022|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/4-disney-new-releases-july-2022|website=Sportskeeda|access-date=July 15, 2022|date=July 1, 2022|archive-date=July 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715201319/https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/4-disney-new-releases-july-2022|url-status=live}}
- Daniel Ryan-Astley as Alien
Production
= Casting =
On March 22, 2021, a third film, titled Zombies 3, was announced, with filming set to take place in the spring in Toronto, Canada. Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly reprised their respective roles of Zed and Addison. Paul Hoen served as the director, while Bloor Street Productions served as the production company. David Light, Joseph Raso, Suzanne Farwell, and Resonate Entertainment served as executive producers.{{cite web |author=Erik Pedersen |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Zombies 3: Disney Channel Digs Up Second Sequel; Meg Donnelly & Milo Manheim Return as Franchise Goes Intergalactic |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/zombies-3-disney-channel-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1234719141/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |work=Deadline Hollywood}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/03/22/zombies-3-will-begin-production-with-popular-cast-reprising-their-roles-in-hit-disney-channel-original-movie-franchise-440112/20210322disney01/|title=Zombies 3 Will Begin Production with Popular Cast Reprising Their Roles in Hit Disney Channel Original Movie Franchise|publisher=Disney Channel|via=The Futon Critic|date=March 22, 2021|access-date=May 19, 2021}} On May 19, 2021, it was announced that Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao, Terry Hu were cast in the film in the respective roles of A-Lan, A-Li, and A-Spen. Chandler Kinney, Pearce Joza, Baby Ariel, Trevor Tordjman, Carla Jeffery, Kylee Russell, James Godfrey, and Kingston Foster also returned in their respective roles. Production on the film began on May 31, 2021, and wrapped in July 2021. The music video for the song "What Is This Feeling" was filmed in Los Angeles in September 2021.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/zombies-3-matt-cornett-kyra-tantao-terry-hu-cast-disney-channel-movie-1234759233/|title=Zombies 3: Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao, Terry Hu Join Disney Channel Movie|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Denise Petski|date=May 19, 2021|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519170851/https://deadline.com/2021/05/zombies-3-matt-cornett-kyra-tantao-terry-hu-cast-disney-channel-movie-1234759233/|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/05/19/matt-cornett-kyra-tantao-and-terry-hu-land-out-of-this-world-roles-in-zombies-3-the-third-installment-of-disney-channels-highly-popular-franchise-344415/20210519disney01/|title=Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao and Terry Hu Land Out-of-This-World Roles in Zombies 3, the Third Installment of Disney Channel's Highly Popular Franchise|publisher=Disney Channel|via=The Futon Critic|date=May 19, 2021|access-date=May 19, 2021}}{{YouTube|title=The Making of What Is This Feeling {{!}} ZOMBIES 3 {{!}} Disney Original Movie {{!}} @Disney Channel|id=iAIwAmC2W5A}} On May 20, 2022, RuPaul was announced to have joined the cast as the voice of "The Mothership", described in the official synopsis as "a comedically passive-aggressive UFO".{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/movies/rupaul-disney-zombies-3-movie-release-date/|title=RuPaul joins Disney's Zombies 3 movie as the mother of all alien spaceships|first=Joey|last=Nolfi|work=EW|date=May 20, 2022|accessdate=July 15, 2022|archive-date=June 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623055659/https://ew.com/movies/rupaul-disney-zombies-3-movie-release-date/|url-status=live}}
Due to her pregnancy, Kylee Russell was unable to film with the rest of the cast; her scenes were accomplished through only showing her torso-up in shots and interacts with the rest of the cast through a robot body.{{Cite web |last=Reif |first=Alex |date=2022-07-10 |title="ZOMBIES 3" Cast Share Behind-the-Scenes Stories, Favorite Songs, and More! |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2022/07/09/zombies-3-cast-share-behind-the-scenes-stories-favorite-songs-and-more/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=LaughingPlace.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717022418/https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2022/07/09/zombies-3-cast-share-behind-the-scenes-stories-favorite-songs-and-more/ |url-status=live }}
Soundtrack
{{Main|Zombies 3 (soundtrack)}}
The soundtrack was released on July 15, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Major |first=Michael |date=July 15, 2022 |title=Disney Releases ZOMBIES 3 Original Digital Soundtrack |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Disney-Releases-ZOMBIES-3-Original-Digital-Soundtrack-20220715 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=BroadwayWorld |language=en}} It consists of 11 original songs.{{Cite web |last=Casale |first=Maddy |date=July 15, 2022 |title='Zombies 3' Soundtrack: All the Songs from the Disney+ Movie |url=https://decider.com/2022/07/15/zombies-3-soundtrack-all-songs/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Decider |language=en-US}}
Release
Zombies 3 was released on July 15, 2022, on Disney+.{{cite web |last=Sandwell |first=Ian |title=Zombies 3 release date, cast and more |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a30960770/zombies-3-release-date-disney |website=Digital Spy |access-date=June 1, 2022 |date=May 23, 2022 |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524120413/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a30960770/zombies-3-release-date-disney/ |url-status=live }} The film also aired on Disney Channel on August 12, billed as a "Lost Song edition". The scene where A-spen reveals to Addison that they are in love with Zed, Bree, Addison, Willa, Wynter and A-spen sing about the feeling of being in love, the song being titled as "What Is This Feeling?"
Reception
= Viewership =
Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for the more than 21 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, reported that Zombies 3 was the fourth most-streamed film in the U.S. during the week of July 15, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Prange |first=Stephanie |date=2022-07-19 |title='Persuasion,' 'Stranger Things' Top Weekly Whip Media Streaming Charts |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/persuasion-stranger-things-top-weekly-whip-media-streaming-charts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029000140/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/persuasion-stranger-things-top-weekly-whip-media-streaming-charts/ |archive-date=2022-10-29 |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Media Play News |language=en-US}} Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on certain U.S. television screens, calculated that Zombies 3 was the seventh most-streamed film with 332 million minutes viewed from July 11—17, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=2022-08-11 |title=Nielsen Streaming Top 10: 'Stranger Things' Holds Strong at No. 1 While 'The Sea Beast' Reaches No. 2 |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/nielsen-streaming-top-10-stranger-things-ratings-1235339327/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029000010/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/nielsen-streaming-top-10-stranger-things-ratings-1235339327/ |archive-date=2022-10-29 |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gruenwedel |first=Erik |date=2022-08-12 |title=Nielsen: Netflix's 'Stranger Things' Again Dominated Weekly Household Streaming Through July 17 |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-netflixs-stranger-things-dominated-weekly-household-streaming-through-july-17/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007190420/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/nielsen-netflixs-stranger-things-dominated-weekly-household-streaming-through-july-17/ |archive-date=2022-10-07 |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Media Play News |language=en-US}}
= Critical response =
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of 8 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.30/10.{{Cite web |title=Zombies 3 (2022) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zombies_3 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718222602/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zombies_3 |url-status=live }}
Sourav Chakraborty of Sportskeeda found Zombies 3 to be a solid finale in the Zombies franchise, praised the film for its depiction of love, acceptance, and equality, applauded the soundtrack of the film across its songs and the chemistry between the characters, and complimented the premise involving extraterrestrial characters.{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Sourav |date=July 15, 2022 |title=Zombies 3 review: A delightful platter of alien surprises |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/zombies-3-review-a-delightful-platter-alien-surprises |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727213434/https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/zombies-3-review-a-delightful-platter-alien-surprises |archive-date=2022-07-27 |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=Sportskeeda |language=en-us}} John Serba of Decider praised the music and the choreography, stating the songs manage to be appealing, and complimented the film's message dealing with acceptance and inclusion, while finding the film colorful, garish, and sometimes nonsensical.{{Cite web |last=Serba |first=John |date=July 15, 2022 |title='Zombies 3' Disney+ Review: Stream It or Skip It? |url=https://decider.com/2022/07/15/zombies-3-disney-plus-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718015619/https://decider.com/2022/07/15/zombies-3-disney-plus-review/ |archive-date=2022-07-18 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Decider |language=en-US}} Jennifer Green of Common Sense Media rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, praised the presence of positive messages and role models, citing diversity, equality, and inclusion, and complimented the diverse representations.{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Jennifer |title=Zombies 3 Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/zombies-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718222602/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/zombies-3 |archive-date=2022-07-18 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Common Sense Media |language=en}}
Lena Wilson of The New York Times wrote that the film is much more than "90 minutes of silliness" and praised its tone, but criticized how Zombies 3 portrayed socio-cultural differences, specifically Terry Hu's queer character.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Lena |date=2022-07-14 |title='Zombies 3' Review: Take Me to Your Cheerleader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/movies/zombies-3-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716005018/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/movies/zombies-3-review.html |archive-date=2022-07-16 |access-date=2022-07-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Brian Lowry of CNN found the film energic and progressive, but wrote that the film was "dead on arrival" and "hard to get fired up for," voicing concern at the use of aliens (which he found clichéd) after the first two films had depicted zombies and werewolves, and found the songs to be of mediocre quality, except "I'm Finally Me" and the reprise of "Someday."{{Cite web |author=Lowry |first=Brian |date=July 15, 2022 |title='Zombies 3' feels dead on arrival |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/15/entertainment/zombies-3-review/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716015301/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/15/entertainment/zombies-3-review/index.html |archive-date=2022-07-16 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=CNN}}
= Accolades =
Sequel
On February 10, 2024, Disney Branded Television greenlit a fourth film, titled Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. Production began in March 2024 in New Zealand.{{cite instagram |postid=C5877vzJhM8 |user=disneyzombies |title=Sink your teeth into #ZOMBIES4: Dawn of the Vampires 🧛♂️ |author=Zombies 4 |date=April 19, 2024 |access-date=April 19, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Zombies 4: Disney Channel Franchise Expands With Another Sequel Film & New Animated Series |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/zombies-4-disney-channel-animated-series-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1235821128/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|14301252}}
{{Zombies franchise}}
{{Disney Channel Original Movies}}
{{Paul Hoen}}
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:2020s musical comedy films
Category:2020s teen comedy films
Category:2022 television films
Category:American teen musical films
Category:American werewolf films
Category:American zombie films
Category:Disney+ original films
Category:Disney Channel Original Movie films
Category:Films about alien invasions
Category:Films about extraterrestrial life
Category:Films directed by Paul Hoen
Category:Films scored by George S. Clinton
Category:Fiction about human–zombie romance
Category:American musical television films
Category:English-language science fiction horror films