Dawn of the Dead (2004) ending

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

This Dawn of the Dead (2004) remake of George Romero's classic zombie hit Dawn of the Dead (1978) features an eerie movie ending to an already good zombie movie. We believe there is hope for the remaining group to survive this zombie apocalypse. However, this group faces another impossible challenge that determines their fate in this hopeless dead world.

If you haven't watched the Dawn of the Dead (2004) remake, avoid reading the movie spoiler featured below. This movie spoiler includes the ending of Dawn of the Dead (2004). 

***Movie Spoiler on Dawn of the Dead (2004) ending***

CJ stays behind in the mall bus to give his group a chance at survival. The dead are attacking CJ in droves, too many mindless dead zombies to handle. 

Meanwhile, Ana, Kenneth, Michael, Terry, Nicole and the dog Chip race out to Steve's yacht. They load all the supplies they possibly can into Steve's party boat. It is the quickest rush ever. No time to waste. Their lives depends on being fast. 

CJ faces the impossible. The zombies are surrounding him like flies. The walking dead begin to bite him. He refuses to transform into these dead freaks, so he lights two flares. The effects of the leaking fuel and the burning flares ignite an explosion that is seen from miles away. 

The group take cover to avoid this fiery fallout. They remove rope from the dock to free the yacht. These crew members are racing against time. The zombies are piling up behind the burning boat. 

Michael stays behind. He tells the group I can't go. Ana begs Michael to come. She panics because this is the man of her dreams found in a world run by zombies. Ana says what? At this point, the audience is questioning the reason Michael chooses to stay. Why must he stay?

Michael reveals to Ana that he was bitten downtown when the zombies paraded them. Ana responds with "Oh, no Michael" and the world is again crashing down on her. This time, Ana faces losing the companionship she so desires in this lonely place. 

Ana down at the bite marks. She stares at Michael in the eyes and says "no" while softly shaking her head. Michael responds, "I must stay here" and walks away. He is brave in this moment. No fear. 

Ana swiftly moves across the boat, "But you can't" to give Michael hope at survival. He apologizes to Ana, "Sorry Ana." Michael releases the last rope to free the yacht. "I can help you," Ana pleads. Michael tells Ana she cannot help him but you can help them. 

The group look on ominously. Their facial expressions are sincere. They come to respect Michael. This cohesive group just lost CJ. Now, again, Michael is leaving them. He has no choice but to remain there. The zombie bite marks are a death wish. 

Ana reassures Michael she can help him. She is clearly upset. Michael calms her, telling her that it's alright Ana. He accepts his fate. 

"It's going to be alight," Michael claims. Ana says, "No," shrugs her shoulders, "It won't." Michael brushes her blonde bangs to the side, romantically touches her face as a sincere gesture to keep hope alive. Michael calms Ana, "It will," get better. 

Michael releases the rope to free the boat. He grabs Ana's hand and kisses it gently. Ana is choked up in tears. This tear-jerking sendoff becomes one of the saddest moments. 

Kenneth asks Michael, "You sure you want to do this?" Michael agrees that he does and will watch the sunrise. 

A burning backdrop illuminates Michael. The yacht sails off slowly. 

Ana watches on hopelessly. Michael is holding a gun. He looks at it as to convey that this is what I must do. My time on this Earth is over. He holds the gun up to his lower chin.

A gunshot sound closes this end scene. 

In the film end credits, the real hopelessness begins. 

Steve is seen on a camera with beautiful women. In real time, the crew is hopeless. Terry films this dark, bleak moment unfold. 

The crew find a boat. There is a cooler there. They open up the cooler to find a zombie head stuffed inside it. It is alive. It growls at them. They shoot it dead. 

Larva smothers the spoiled food. Terry says "Christ!" The crew run out of food, water, fuel runs out and hope is about gone.

Terry must put out a fire out with a fire extinguisher. Kenneth tells Terry to get that camera out of his face.

The crew come across an island. Chip runs off barking. The group exit the boat slowly. Kenneth aims his rifle to anticipate potential zombies. They are armed and ready to fight, but frantic. 

Zombies are seen approaching them from the jungle. The group know this is it. The thrilling end is about to wrap up. Kenneth tells the group to stay behind him. Nicole screams. 

Way too many zombies ambush them. Firing shots at them can't hold back the floodgates of dead walkers smothering them. They attempt to escape. They're all dead. Too many zombies to face. 

We learn the world is doomed and surviving this zombie apocalypse is impossible. No hope. No fate. 

Disturbed "Down with the Sickness" song follows with zombies filling the frames in series of shots. 

The end.