TL;DR: All of Us Are Dead is a high-octane, ultra-violent South Korean zombie series set in a high school. Think Squid Game meets manga-style survival horror. It is not for younger kids or the faint of heart. If your teen is talking about "hambies" or Hyosan High, they’re likely deep in the K-drama wave. Season 2 is slated for late 2026, so the hype is only going to ramp up from here.
Quick Links for the Time-Crunched Parent:
- The Show: All of Us Are Dead (Netflix)
- The Vibe Check: Is All of Us Are Dead too violent for my 14-year-old?
- The Alternative: The Last of Us (Equally intense but more prestige-drama)
- The "Lite" Version: Stranger Things
If you haven't sat through an episode yet, here’s the gist: A science teacher at Hyosan High School experiments on a hamster, a student gets bitten, and within hours, the entire school is Ground Zero for a zombie apocalypse.
But these aren't your grandma’s slow-shuffling zombies from the 70s. These things are fast, they contort their bodies in bone-snapping ways, and they are relentless. The show follows a core group of students who have to use their wits—and whatever sports equipment or classroom furniture is lying around—to survive.
The "twist" in this series is the introduction of "hambies" (half-zombies). These are characters who have been bitten but don't fully "turn." They retain their human consciousness but gain zombie strength and a lingering hunger for human flesh. It adds a layer of "who can we trust?" that keeps teens glued to the screen.
It’s easy to dismiss this as just another gore-fest, but there’s a reason it hit the Top 10 in over 90 countries.
- The Relatability Factor: Most zombie media focuses on rugged adults or soldiers. This show is about kids in school uniforms navigating a world that has literally gone to hell. For a teen, the metaphor of high school being a "survival of the fittest" environment isn't exactly subtle, but it's effective.
- The K-Culture Wave: From TikTok trends to K-Pop, South Korean media is the undisputed "cool" right now. If their friends are watching it, they feel the need to be in the loop.
- The "Hambie" Lore: Teens love a good "superpowered but cursed" trope. The hambies represent that middle ground of being an outsider—too human for the monsters, too monster for the humans.
- High Stakes: Unlike American shows that often have "plot armor" for favorite characters, All of Us Are Dead is brutal. Anyone can die at any time, which creates a genuine sense of tension that many other shows lack.
Let’s be real: As a piece of filmmaking, it’s visceral and incredibly well-choreographed. The "one-take" hallway fight scenes are impressive.
However, it is relentless. There is very little "breathing room" in the first season. It’s 12 episodes of screaming, blood-spraying, and high-decibel panic. If you’re looking for a nuanced exploration of the human condition, you’re better off watching The Last of Us. All of Us Are Dead is a soap opera with chainsaws. It’s addictive, but it can be emotionally exhausting.
Also, parents should know that the show doesn't just feature zombie violence. It tackles extremely dark social issues, including severe school bullying, teen pregnancy, and the abandonment of youth by "corrupt" adults. It’s cynical. It’s not a "feel good" survival story.
Netflix rates this TV-MA, and for once, they aren't exaggerating.
- Ages 12 and under: Absolutely not. The level of gore is traumatizing for younger kids. We're talking about zombies eating people's faces in close-up detail.
- Ages 13-15: This is the "gray zone." Many middle schoolers are watching this because of YouTube clips and Roblox recreations. If your kid is sensitive to blood or has anxiety about school safety, skip it. If they’ve handled Stranger Things and want something "edgier," watch the first episode with them.
- Ages 16+: Most older teens can handle the genre tropes, but it’s still worth discussing the heavier themes of bullying and suicide that appear in the early episodes.
Check out our guide on how to talk to teens about violent media
Beyond the zombies, there are a few specific scenes in Season 1 that usually catch parents off guard:
- The Bullying: The first two episodes feature a scene where a female student is forced to strip while bullies record her. While the show frames this as an evil act, the scene is deeply uncomfortable and may be triggering for some viewers.
- The Suicide Themes: Several characters contemplate or attempt suicide as a result of the bullying or the hopelessness of the apocalypse.
- Language: It’s a TV-MA show. The subtitles and dubbing include plenty of F-bombs and aggressive language.
- Adult Incompetence: A major theme is that the teachers and the government fail the students. If you’re trying to build a "trust the system" vibe in your house, this show is going to actively work against you.
If your teen is already watching or begging to start, use it as a bridge to some real conversations:
- On Bullying: "The way the school handled the bullying before the zombies arrived was pretty terrible. Do you feel like your school actually listens when things like that happen?"
- On Sacrifice: "Which character do you think made the hardest choice? Would you have stayed with the group or tried to go it alone?"
- On Media Literacy: "How do you think the creators used the 'hambies' to show that people aren't just 'good' or 'bad'?"
Ask our chatbot for more specific conversation starters for All of Us Are Dead
If they’ve finished the first season and are pacing the floor waiting for Season 2 in 2026, here are some alternatives:
The "Gold Standard" of Korean zombie movies. It’s shorter, punchier, and has a lot more heart. It’s still violent, but the emotional payoff is incredible.
Another Netflix K-drama based on a popular webtoon. Instead of zombies, people turn into monsters based on their inner desires. It’s weird, gory, and very popular with the same demographic.
If you want something with a bit more "prestige" and slightly less "teen angst," this is the one. The violence is heavy, but the storytelling is top-tier.
A Japanese series where people are forced to play deadly games to survive. It hits that same "survival instinct" itch that All of Us Are Dead does.
All of Us Are Dead is a high-quality, high-intensity show that has captured the teen zeitgeist. It isn't "brain rot"—it’s actually quite well-made—but it is extreme.
If your teen is mature enough to handle the gore and the dark social themes, it can actually be a great jumping-off point for discussions about ethics, social pressure, and courage. But if they’re just in it for the "cool" factor and aren't ready for the psychological weight, maybe steer them back toward Minecraft for a bit.
Next Steps:
- Check your Netflix profile ratings to see if they can even access TV-MA content.
- Watch the first 20 minutes of Episode 1. If you're nauseous, they probably shouldn't be watching it alone.
- Read our full guide on Korean Media Trends for Parents