History YMMV / TheReturnOfTheLivingDead

** Chemistry nuts will note the similarity of the name of the fictional "2,4,5-Trioxin" to the real [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic_acid 2,4,5-T]]. The similarity is only in the name, however, the real chemical is an herbicide/defoliant that was one of the two compounds used to make Agent Orange, and it does not reanimate the dead, it just makes things dead.

** Chemistry nuts will note the similarity of the name of the fictional "2,4,5-Trioxin" to the real [[2,4,5-T https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic_acid]]. The similarity is only in the name, however, the real chemical is an herbicide/defoliant that was one of the two compounds used to make Agent Orange, and it does not reanimate the dead, it just makes things dead.

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: When she's being attacked by the Tarman and screaming for help, Tina's friends do not hesitate to rush to her rescue when they hear her cries. Keep in mind that one of their names is ''Suicide''.

** Right before the Tarman proceeds to kill [[spoiler:Suicide]], you can briefly see another set of teeth inside his mouth.

** Tarman, who could be considered the mascot for the series as a whole. He is also the only character from the film that is sometimes listed among the most popular horror characters, and the only one to have merchandise based around him.

* WhatAnIdiot: Really, Frank? Showing off something you shouldn't even talk about to a hapless teenaged employee and banging on an old tank that doesn't look stable just to prove how much of a man you are? Even if he didn't expect it to burst open the army specifically warned him against even touching them. Burt wastes no time calling him out on it when he first arrives.
--> '''Burt''': You did what? You opened it!? You stupid moron, you idiot! What's the matter with you, Frank!? Haven't I told you a million times to never go near those goddamn tanks!?

* BestKnownForTheFanservice: The first thing that comes up if you Google ''The Return of the Living Dead'' are shots of Creator/LinneaQuigley dancing naked on a tomb.

** Tarman, who could be considered the mascot for the series as a whole. He is also the only character to have a toy made of him.

--> '''Burt''': You did what? You opened it!? You stupid moron, you idiot! What's the matter with you, Frank!? Didn't you hear the army when they said to never go near those goddamn tanks!?

** Trash is also fondly remembered for [[Creator/LinneaQuigley obvious]] [[MsFanservice reasons]].

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Tarman, who could be considered the mascot for the series as a whole. He is also the only character to have a toy made of him.

* SpecialEffectFailure: Right before the Tarman proceeds to kill [[spoiler:Suicide]], you can briefly see another set of teeth inside his mouth.

** "Braaaains!"

* AwesomeMusic:

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: In spite of that one brief scene, the Tarman is amazingly done and moves as if it was an actual corpse.

* FirstInstallmentWins: The first movie is by far more well known than the other four.

* BestKnownForTheFanservice: The first thing that comes up if you Google ''The Return of the Living Dead'' are shots of Linnea Quigley dancing naked on a tomb.

** "Whatch your tongue boy if you like this job!" "''Like this job?''"

* HeartwarmingMoments: When she's being attacked by the Tarman and screaming for help, Tina's friends do not hesitate to rush to her rescue when they hear her cries. Keep in mind that one of their names is ''Suicide''.

* NamesTheSame: O'Bannon swears it's a coincidence that the main heroes of the first film include a man named [[Series/SesameStreet Burt and his old friend Ernie]].
** Not to mention that Clu Gulager and Don Calfa sort of look like that other Burt and Ernie.

* HellIsThatNoise: Near the end of the movie, when the zombies mad dash to the barricade, there is a sound that they make that's so loud it's drowning out the phone call the Police Chief and Burt who was just trying to warn them about the approaching Zombies.

* HellIsThatNoise: Near the end of the movie, when the zombies mad dash to the barracade, there is a sound that they make that's so loud it's drowning out the phone call the Police Chief and Burt who was just trying to warn them about the approaching Zombies.

* MemeticMutation: "Send...more...paramedics."

* UncannyValley: When they finally call the military number on the Trioxin Barrels. The main guy took it surprisingly well even though the people were responsible doomed an entire town. [[spoiler: Subverted since the military was planning on dropping an A-bomb on them civilian and zombie alike.]]