January 11, 1979
One of the earliest American public “sneak previews” of the film (if not the very first) takes place at Angell Hall Auditorium A at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, with George Romero being present for a post-show Q&A.
The Ann Arbor Film Cooperative
February 1, 1979
Laurel issue an official press release announcing that UFDC have acquired the U.S. distribution rights for Dawn of the Dead; with the company aiming for opening engagements in “certain key cities” by April, and an eventual nationwide “500 theatre release saturation release in early July.”
Due to the film being released without an official MPAA rating, a prominent disclaimer will be attached to all promotional materials stating, “There is no explicit sex in this picture. However, there are scenes of violence which may be considered shocking. No one under 17 will be admitted.”
March 1979
Dawn of the Dead screens out of competition at the eighth annual “Festival International du Film Fantastique et de Science-Fiction” in Paris, France. Due to major censorship problems at the time, it will take another four years for the film to be theatrically released in that country.
Festival International du Film Fantastique et de Science-Fiction
March 13, 1979
DOTD TIMELINE NEW WM Kopie 42
Dawn of the Dead opens in six theaters in Japan (three each in Tokyo and Osaka) as Zombie – Dawn of the Dead, distributed by Herald Enterprises in a bizarrely censored version that (apart from adding a cheesy extra “introductory” stock footage scene of a meteor exploding, alongside Japanese subtitles which explain radiation from said meteor as the cause of the zombie outbreak) has the film paused prior to all gore scenes and then jumping back into motion after the sequences of violence are over.
Regardless, it grosses $1.5 million there within 42 days.
In addition to the full-length soundtrack LP, a unique 7 inch vinyl single coupling two themes from Goblin’s Dawn score (L’Alba dei Morti Viventi b/w Zombi) is released on the “Seven Seas” label in Japan.
April 7, 1979
April 7, Dallas Film Festival Screening
The sole American pre-release festival screening of Dawn of the Dead takes place at the U.S.A. Film Festival in Dallas, Texas, for which the film has been specifically selected by influential Chicago Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert.
Almost a third of the audience is leaving the theater after the first 15 minutes. Following the show, George Romero is approached by a group of annoyed elderly ladies accusing Dawn of being “schlock disguised as art”, while Ebert also gets verbally attacked by patrons for picking the movie.
April 11, 1979
An invitation-only sneak preview of the film is held at United Artist Eastside Cinema in New York City, nine days ahead of its widespread local release.
April 12, 1979
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Gala premiere of Dawn of the Dead at the Gateway Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh.
April 13, 1979
UFDC Opening Date List
UFDC president Richard Hassanein issues an internal company memo outlining the nationwide release pattern for Dawn of the Dead, with a total of 449 prints scheduled for distribution through June 8.
Limited U.S. advance theatrical release of Dawn of the Dead on just three screens in the Pittsburgh area (including the “Cinemette East” located at the Monroeville Mall), with engagements eventually expanded to a total of 17 theaters around town five weeks later.
First local newspaper reviews of the film by critics Donald Miller of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Ed Blank of the Pittsburgh Press are of a decidedly mixed nature: While Miller’s article is less than favorable overall, Blank does praise the lead actors, Romero’s directing and editing, and Goblin’s music score in particular, but at the same time is taken aback by some of the audience reactions.
In any event, Dawn’s total gross over its debut Pittsburgh week already amounts to an estimated $55,000.
April 1979
Post-Gazette, April 14, 1979
Dawn of the Dead Newspaper ad
Dawn of the Dead
Mid-April 1979
In addition to the Dawn of the Dead movie novelization and soundtrack album, a fold-out “poster book” (featuring original art by Ron Mahoney and Andy Warhol’s nephew, James Warhola) as well as a commemorative t-shirt are released as official merchandise items to tie in with the film’s U.S. release.
Investor Billy Baxter and producer Richard Rubinstein are scanning a copy of the official ‘Dawn of the Dead’ poster book during a press party for the film in New York, as actor Ken Foree awaits his term.