Are there actual Zombie Rules?

While arguing with a friend about 28 Days Later and how those aren't actually zombies, my friend stated that all zombie media have to follow Romero Rules of zombies or else they aren't actually zombie movies/books/whathaveyou.

While reading Our Zombies are Different, it shows that Romero himself never actually used the word 'zombie' and he called his creatures 'ghouls'.

But the article actually classifies the different type of zombies and how they act.

Why is there a general consensus in literature and film that dictates what 'real' zombies are? Why aren't 28 Days/Weeks Later monsters considered zombies?

Are the creatures in the new versions of Romero's movies considered zombies since they can run and seem to have some problem solving skills?

When did this trope become so concrete?

Answer

It's up to the viewer, in the end, but I have always considered the 28 Days Later monsters to be zombies.

In short, if it craves human flesh, reproduces through bites and/or scratches (or anyone who dies reanimates), lacks higher intellect, and is hard to kill, it's a zombie.

Romero DID have rules his monsters had to follow, but he himself admitted to breaking them whenever convenient in order to make a better movie.

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