First things first: God Rests His Soul. I don't want to argue, but I don't think he's underrated - he was an independent film director (collaborating with Hollywood in a purely contractual basis) and did his works as any other independent filmmakers would do. Especially if you research what kind of movie he made, how he were financed, how he secured the rights and respect the others', you'll realize Romero lived and even earned that status, neither repressed nor underrated in particular. For example, he never even tried to secure the exclusive rights about the whole zombie thing (that's what usually Hollywood directors would do like Lucas or Spielberg) - all he did was this. He inspired an idea by reading Matheson's already famous novel, without legally consulting him, and put some new ideas into what he had read, made a movie, and distributed it anywhere possible, without considering about distribution rights. Also, when he was making Dawn of the Dead, he was just let-go about the Italians producers and directors copying his zombie concept (maybe because the biggest financier of the movie was Dario Argento which had acquired more comfortable position than him and Romero might be virtually powerless to those rip-offs) which Hollywood directors would never hesitate to sue their ass off, just like the American produceers threated the Italian crew of The Last Shark (Jaws knockoff) not to distribute it in American soil - and the film is still not available in US. That's why he had a very hard time to make his own movie, particularly in later days, because the whole zombie concept became in the air, not in his exclusive rights. When he completed Day of the Dead, he was quite bitter about the budget, for instance. That's the price to be paid when you decided to become an independent filmmaker especially in the 70's or 80's outside of Hollywood. That's why, to be respected, you have to be very active about securing your rights and intellectual property. Working hard to make a movie is not enough.

He was underated i meen look at his first 3 zombie movies he was able to make a brilliant trilogy despite been given no budget. Day is a great film technicaly and in its execution its up there with the greats. RIP George.💚