Disney Channel's ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires premiered on 10 July 2025, and is currently streaming in all territories on Disney+. The newest chapter in the popular musical franchise offers new adventures for legacy characters Zed and Addison along with a new set of young monsters.
In ZOMBIES 4, Zed and Addison (inspired by the summer camp stories they recalled), + chose to leave Seabrook for the summer, and become camp counselors. They find themselves as camp counselors pitching their effort towards two rival monster groups, the Daywalkers and Vampires, who have to find common ground and work toward compatibility.
This is a significant shift for the series. The focus is put onto new characters, Nova (played by Freya Skye) and Victor (played by Malachi Barton). They are set up to pass the torch of our story with faith they can be as valuable to the story as Zed and Addison were in previous films. The original casts succeeded in passing the torch because their durability will allow them to cross-fault with their established legs of the story.
Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, original stars of the ZOMBIES franchise, were on executive producer credits and called it their "final goodbye." The filming was done in Auckland, New Zealand, and is directed by Paul Hoen, who directed all previous ZOMBIES films.
The collage of the factory's established brand to the future visual and audio sounds, we can ultimately deconstruct the way forward to rest one film and redefine another.
Descendants rise of red TAKE NOTES! This is how you move on and still keep the same vibe of a beloved franchise. I get that they didn't have Dove there to actually pass the torch but they had Uma and didn't use her AT ALL they marketed China to OG fans with no pay off! #Zombies4 pic.twitter.com/nITHnOwhU1
— 1 (@Terrell8799) July 11, 2025
Soundtrack Release, Reviews, and the Future of the ZOMBIES Universe
On July 11, the ZOMBIES 4 soundtrack was released with the film, featuring 13 songs, some original and some favorites from the past. Songs from previous movies, "The Place To Be" and "Don't Mess With Us," had a new sound and songs like "Someday" and "Ain't No Doubt About It," returned for the original cast to give nostalgia for some long-time fans. Music has been a prominent element in the franchise, helping to center the emotional themes of friendship and togetherness.
The early reviews are mixed. While some have raved about the musical numbers and energy, others have stated that the story follows the same familiar patterns as previous ZOMBIES films. Regardless, it has been described as a fun and uplifting film that is best for younger audiences and fans who support the franchise.
While it might seem that the franchise is coming to a halt with the original cast, ZOMBIES is not done yet. The spin-off animated series, ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series is continuing with a second season, and the Worlds Collide concert tour, featuring the stars from both the ZOMBIES and Descendants franchises, begins this August, keeping the franchise alive through live concert performances to view and a continuation of new content.
