Directed by Ruben Fleischer, Zombieland is a dark comedy that was originally released on October 2, 2009. With this movie recently being added back onto Netflix, it is gaining relevancy once again. Zombieland centers around cowardly Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) looking for other survivors during the zombie apocalypse. During this quest, he runs into a cast of characters like Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) two sisters who scam men, and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), a tough man on the hunt for a Twinkie.

Despite the incredible cast and timeless comedic energy, this movie is overlooked as your average silly zombie movie, and I believe that the message is much deeper. If you rewatch this movie and conscientiously look for a deeper meaning you will see that this is a story of chosen family, bravery, and appreciating the little things.

Witchita, Little Rock, Tallahassee, and Columbus call each other by places that have significance to them instead of their real names so they do not get attached to each other, however by the end of the movie, they are a family. Tallahassee, who had lost his son, begins to take Little Rock under his wing by showing her classic movies like GhostBusters. Columbus and Witchita begin to share stories and experiences and eventually fall in love. These people, who had almost no family, found a family in each other. This is relatable for many reasons. To be frank, sometimes the families we are born into suck, but in the end, we can choose who we call family.

At the start of the movie, it is revealed that Columbus has never had a girlfriend and spends most of his time inside. When the apocalypse started he even made a list of rules to follow to keep him alive. Rule #17- don’t be a hero. As he starts to trust and open up to his friends he realizes that being brave for those you love is worth it. Rule #17 is later changed.

Tallahassee’s hunt for a Twinkie throughout the movie reminds us that we often take small things, like our favorite snack, for granted. At the end of the movie Little Rock gets Tallahassee his Twinkie and Columbus adds a new rule. Rule #32- enjoy the little things.