If you’re craving a chuckle after a hectic Christmas weekend whilst yearning for compelling storytelling, then tonight’s cult favourite on ITV might be precisely what you need.

Boasting a stellar ensemble cast featuring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill Nighy and Lucy Davis, Shaun of the Dead stands as a quintessentially British zombie-comedy that chronicles ordinary people navigating their mundane routines before confronting an apocalyptic nightmare whilst desperately avoiding joining the ranks of the undead themselves.

Complete with guest appearances from two members of a renowned rock group, this film debuted more than two decades ago and achieved legendary status, launching an entire trilogy of pictures.

Devoted admirers continue to cherish it today, hailing it as “hysterically funny” and “one of the best films ever”.

The narrative centres on recently heartbroken salesman Shaun (Pegg), who has just been abandoned by his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) and seeks solace with his idle flatmate and best mate Ed (Frost) at their beloved local, The Winchester, in Crouch End, north London, reports <a href=”https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/cult-classic-best-film-decade-36417759″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>the Mirror</a>.

Their housemate grumbles about being attacked by a mugger, though they fail to recognise this as the initial warning sign of the chaos unfolding beyond their door.

When a pair of zombies breach their garden, they’re compelled to confront the apocalyptic crisis that has engulfed London.

They rescue Shaun’s mother Barbara (Penelope Wilton), his stepfather Phillip (Nighy) who has suffered a bite, along with Liz and other companions, seeking sanctuary in the pub. The movie, which includes Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland in brief appearances, was penned by mates Pegg and Edgar Wright, with Wright also taking the director’s chair.

Drawing partial inspiration from a concept in their television comedy Spaced, the film became a massive success upon its 2004 debut.

The picture earned nearly £34 million globally from a modest £4.5 million budget and received critical acclaim.

Shaun of the Dead launched two additional films – Hot Fuzz and The World’s End – collectively dubbed the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy.

The film is now studied in cinema courses for its storytelling framework, genre-blending approach and underlying themes including consumer culture.

It continues to be cherished by audiences and maintains a devoted fanbase.

On Rotten Tomatoes, where it achieves a 92% rating, critics share their views.

One reviewer noted: “Shaun of the Dead hits all the right chords and has become a cult classic film that is listed among the best movies of the decade and the best horror films of all time. The script is great, and the cast meshes well together to make for a solid ensemble. Pegg is perfect as Shaun, and he and Ashfield have good chemistry.”

Another simply says: “Every single aspect of the film feels earned, including its classic status,” whilst a third adds: “You won’t need a box of Kleenex, but this British comedy/horror film is at times surprisingly sentimental. It’s also hysterically funny.”

Another admirer emphasised the film’s significance for the performers’ trajectories and cinema as a whole: “It’s clear to see why this opening Cornetto Trilogy film has come to be so beloved and influential amongst comedy filmmakers, the first cinematic collaboration between Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright being a superbly written and acted film that lays an outstanding platform from which the trio have reached to great heights,” they penned.

A fellow fan said: “One of my favorite movies of all time, must have seen this 20+ times. Only movie better than this may be Hot Fuzz, the follow up to Shaun of the Dead,” they remarked.