Dawn of the Dead; George A. Romero (1978 Original, and although I love all versions, I need to give special recommendation to the Extended Cut).
This movie has everything, and I mean fukking everything, that I could want in genre movie, hell any movie.
Powerful, smart, resourceful, black male lead (Non-c00n).
Social commentary
Gore
Zombies (Some hate the make up, but I find that it has a really campy appeal, and unlike in a lot of movies of today they actually
look different from one another)
Tight script and dialogue. The best and most famous line : When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.
Appealing characters, flawed but relatable.
The ending is perfect...just a small flash of hope in a world gone mad.
Runner up : Suspiria