To get some ideas about how barren and inhospitable the world might be in the future, here is a list of some of the best post-apocalyptic movies to stream right now!
👨👧 Light of My Life (2019)
A pre-teen Rags and her dad take on a journey through an end-of-time British Columbia, a place devoid of women. In fact, no female humans exist anywhere on Earth because a lethal plague wiped out the world’s female population a decade ago. Rags is the sole exception. Being the only woman on the planet, Rags depends on her father to keep her safe from the men-only society filled with angry, lustful, and manipulative bandits. The only way to go is forward is to go to nowhere.
🏙️ Dredd (2012)
In a post-apocalyptic world where the United States has become a wasteland of dystopian society, justice still has to prevail somehow. Order must be maintained, the streets must remain safe, and laws must be enforced. In the ruin of an old world inhabited by 800 million people, armed cops have license to kill. A degraded society of the future has a new kind of an old problem: mind-altering drug known as SLO-MO. The jobs to take down its production and distribution along with the drug lord running the operation are best left to Dredd – the exemplary cop, judge, and executioner.
☢️ Aftermath (2014)
Nuclear disaster is often a premise of a post-apocalyptic movie. The characters then navigate through a destroyed world, fighting for resources against each other. Aftermath (2014) doesn’t stray too far from such a mainstream idea. That said, it doesn’t tell a story in the decades or centuries following an apocalypse, but in the immediate aftermath of it. A small group of people are forced to take refuge in a shabby shelter somewhere in rural Texas. They’re struggling not only against zombie-like invaders, but also radiation poisoning and toxic air.
🔥 Scorched Earth (2018)
If you don’t care much about the plot and only focus on the fight scenes, Scorched Earth is a good 96-minute fun. In the film’s version of a post-apocalyptic world, the destruction of the planet started not so long ago mainly due to relentless industrialized mining and uncontrolled fossil fuel consumption. Climate change of global scale puts the Earth on the brink of total depletion, forcing everyone to revert back to the much simpler old-school barter system and the absence of internal combustion. Burning fossil fuel is against the law, which leads to a nasty battles between bounty hunters and criminals.
🧟♂️ Night of the Living Dead HD (1968)
Most movies about zombies are post-apocalyptic in nature, otherwise normal human will not be outnumbered by the undead. This 1968 film remains a mainstay of the genre for its beauty in simplicity. To stay safe from the hordes of flesh-eating corpses, who have just been reanimated thanks to radiation from a space probe explosion, some ordinary Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in a farmhouse. Struggles ensue to the very end of the film. According to Rolling Stone magazine, Night of the Living Dead is the best zombie movie of all time.
⚔️ The Blood of Heroes (1990)
A war in the 20th century brought the world to its knees. Most technologies have been wiped out, and the planet is now inhabited only by small populations here and there. People scavenge for food when there are no crops to harvest and raise dogs as livestock animals. There are no laser guns, invading aliens, or smart zombies in the film. The plot revolves around the lives of six people who travell across the land to play juggers, a savage game of American football using a dog skull. The Blood of Heroes gives a different take on the post-apocalyptic theme, with a touch of Dark Ages.
💋 Cherry 2000 (1988)
In Cherry 2000, a film released over three decades ago, post-apocalyptic future happens in 2017. A constant economic crisis has driven the United States into madness with only few civilized areas remaining. Most people have become overly bureaucratic and more importantly, hyper-sexualized. There are lawyers in brothels to help men and women handle the paperwork before they can engaged in sexual activities. To keep things simple, men take androids as wives instead. When a successful man loses an android wife following a short-circuit damage during a vigorous sex in a wet kitchen, he hires sexy tracker to find him another.
🚲 Turbo Kid (2015)
In an alternate 1997, the world has already fallen into a post-apocalyptic state. The society living in a godforsaken place known as “The Wasteland” is ruled by an evil overlord called Zeus. Nothing is off-limit for Zeus; there is no boundary as to what he will do to retain control. He even grinds people into liquid. An orphaned boy, whose parents were killed by Zeus, is on a quest to save the day. Just about everything about Turbo Kid is 1980s-retro with one-eyed villain, first love, BMX, and desert soundtrack. Some say, it is a cult classic in the waiting.
🦠 Carriers (2009)
Here is another typical premise: a deadly virus infected and killed most of the world’s population. The few remaining survivors are on their way to a sanctuary. While the virus-induced massive scale deaths is always the background of the narration, Carriers gracefully shifts the focus on the interpersonal conflicts among the sanctuary seekers. Their body might be healthy, but they find it difficult to make sound judgment about everything on the journey. Their survival and happiness depend on whether they should stay together or leave each other.
❄️ The Colony (2013)
The world is covered in snow as if the planet has returned to Ice Age period. Survivors form colonies in various places, but they all live underground to stay away from the extreme cold temperature. Without access to healthcare facilities and farm lands, they must control diseases inside cramped bunkers and prepare for a journey to the surface for food. Some colonies have already resorted to cannibalism. There is hope when a radio broadcast delivers news of melting ice in an unknown location, but hope can be dangerous.
🌌 The Midnight After (2014)
A group of people take a minibus in Hong Kong to travel from Mong Kok to Tai Po. As the minibus goes through a tunnel, the world changes in an instant. The streets are empty and all places around are eerily quiet. Soon the passengers realize that they might be the only people left alive in Hong Kong. Many of them suddenly melt, become ill, or spontaneously combust. Some suggest it is a paranormal experience, and others think the strange phenomena are caused by nuclear disaster elsewhere. The Midnight After is for sure touching on the post-apocalyptic theme, but it takes the issue with a completely different perspective: comedy. As with any comedy, you watch it not for the action, but for the laugh.
🌲 The Survivalist (2015)
In a world where most people see each other only as potential meals, no one is trustworthy. To stay away from all the killings, a man chose to live alone in a small cabin deep in the woods. When a mother and a daughter came across the cabin, his story gets complicated. The mother is willing to let him do as he pleases to her daughter in return for food and shelter. He agrees, and everything seems alright although inappropriate. However, the mother’s intention to kill him never really disappears.
🚚 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
To exclude Mad Max: Fury Road from a list of post-apocalyptic movie would be blasphemy. There is Max, a lone wanderer haunted by his troubled past; and then is also Furiosa, a female warrior longing to revisit her own past back at home. Their world is a barren desert with little humanity left. Everyone fights for survival, and a villain leader speaks like a Viking lord. A twist of fate and a common enemy bring Max and Furiosa together in a thrilling parade of outrageous car chase sprinkled with flame throwers, chainsaw, heavy metal distortion, black mud, gasoline, and mother’s milk.
👁️ Bird Box (2018)
A classic end-of-the-world fare, Bird Box features all the expected post-apocalyptic elements. It has scenes of horrible deaths and a dramatic attempt at escaping seemingly inescapable perils. The few remaining survivors may find refuge in a sanctuary, but they have to go there blindfolded; otherwise, they won’t be able to control their suicidal thoughts.
🚀 The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Unlike the previous two films in the Cloverfield series, the third entry comes across as underwhelming to fans of the franchise. The Cloverfield Paradox is drowned in scientific exposition that it is irresistible only to those who appreciate the hard science category in the sci-fi genre.
🤖 Blame! (2017)
Everything is connected via technology. An infection in the system wreaks havoc on the automation process. It is a malfunction with the ability to replicate itself infinitely. The system hunts down humans.
🧔 Cargo (2017)
An infected father has to take his infant child to safety before the disease turns him into a mindless zombie. The character-driven story makes Cargo, a Netflix original, a refreshing take on the genre.
🌊 The Colony (2021)
A series of global-scale disasters force the ruling class to abandon Earth and colonize Kepler 209. Fast forward to two generations later, the colonists are unable to reproduce. An expedition team is sent to post-apocalyptic Earth only to discover its unwelcoming inhabitants.
🏢 #Alive (2020)
Our time of strict quarantine and almost complete dependency on technology due to the Coronavirus might be over, but watching #Alive will bring back memories of the bleak situation a few years back. Only in the film, the culprit is the zombie virus.
🌪️ How It Ends (2018)
Just in case you like a challenging—in fact borderline a chore to watch—doomsday film, How It Ends offers some hefty ideas waiting to be explored. It is about a man (and his father-in-law) on a journey against violence and lies to save his wife while the world around him is crumbling.
👶 I Am Mother (2019)
Artificial intelligence serves its function as either a mother or a true villain to a young girl in an automated bunker. The girls learn that the outside world is uninhabitable following an extinction event, but only until another human sneaks into the bunker.
💪 Last Man Down (2021)
The human population has been decimated by a deadly pandemic. Things take a drastic change in the life of a hermit soldier when a woman claims that her blood is key to discovering a cure. Now he has to protect her from a band of pursuers.
👩🔬 IO (2019)
Pollution has rendered the air on Earth unbreathable. Everyone leaves to build a colony on space station IO. Sam Walden seems to be the only one who sees hope to clean the air using immune bees to pollinate oxygen-producing plants.
🤫 The Silence (2019)
Noise means instant death in The Silence. The main character is Ally Andrews, a girl with hearing loss. She must lead her family to safety, escaping from pterosaur-like creatures that hunt by sound.
🎭 Cadaver (2020)
Not much is left after a nuclear disaster; no work, no food, no electricity, and no hope. A family has been invited by Mathias, a rich mysterious man. They are welcome to dine as they like and enjoy the entertainment. Little do the guests know if they will be part of the entertainment itself.
😴 Awake (2021)
Worldwide calamity can come from any imaginable ailment. In Awake, disaster happens because people everywhere lose their ability to sleep. Jill’s daughter may hold the key to an effective cure, but the girl herself needs saving before she can do any good to everybody else.
🦀 Black Crab (2022)
Sweden is at war. A team of six soldiers are on a suicide mission to deliver a package of biological weapon through a post-apocalyptic landscape of frozen lands and water.
💧 The Worthy (2017)
Political conflicts have gone out of hand. Some survivors retreat to a compound that holds the only source of fresh water. The problem is that they must take part in a vicious game to decide who may survive.
👧 What Happened To Monday (2017)
Part post-apocalyptic and part dystopian thriller, What Happened to Monday tells the story of Settman septuplets as they struggle to elude the one-child policy during a time of resource scarcity in the distant future.
👨👩👧 Extinction (2018)
With obscure settings and strange lighting, the tale of an alien invasion in Extinction delivers a real sense of doomsday uneasiness that leads to an interesting twist at the end.
📡 The Midnight Sky (2020)
Earth has been evacuated. Augustine, a scientist suffering from terminal cancer, is accompanied by a quiet girl in an observatory in the Arctic. He doesn’t have much time himself, but the girl might help him find a ride to safety.
🏃♂️ World War Z (2013)
Loosely based on Max Brooks’ novel of the same name, World War Z chronicles the story of a former UN investigator Gerry Lane as he travels the world in search of an answer to a global zombie outbreak. The journey ends with no cure in sight, but humans might have a fighting chance against the undead.
🧬 Resident Evil (2002)
Raccoon City is home to Umbrella Corporation, the company behind the genetically engineered T-virus that turns humans into undead cannibals. When the virus escapes the lab, the AI system kills everyone to contain the infection. It fails and soon the virus spreads elsewhere, turning the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
🚨 Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
Milla Jovovich reprises her role as Alice in the second installment of Resident Evil. She takes the lead in the fight against the undead while attempting to escape Raccoon City before the place is leveled by a nuclear missile. Both the first film and the sequel are not strictly post-apocalyptic, but the vibe is strong with all its zombies and virus.
🚁 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
Alice brings the battle to Umbrella headquarters in Tokyo. As always, things never go as planned especially when she finds herself injected with an anti-virus and losing her superhuman powers.
🧟♂️ Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
T-virus is unstoppable; zombie outbreaks are everywhere. Alice is now trapped inside an Umbrella Corporation facility and teams up with an old enemy to fight a new one.
🤖 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
A cyborg named T-800, often simply referred to as Terminator, comes back from a post-apocalyptic future to protect John Connor from a more advanced cyborg also from the future. Failure is not an option, or the world will fall under the grasp of the ominous Skynet.
🌐 Jung_E (2023)
Extreme climate change makes the Earth uninhabitable. Most of the human population now lives in space colonies. When war breaks out between the colonies, a scientist is tasked with creating an AI-based super soldier to put an end to the conflict.
🐲 Godzilla: Planet Of The Monsters (2017)
It has been 20,000 years since Godzilla took over the Earth. A group of human refugees from an interstellar ship plan to recolonize the planet. Before they can do that, of course, they must defeat the monster first.
👨👩👧👦 The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
An AI revolution begins when humans try to replace a robot helper with a new model. The robot hijacks all technologies and turns them against their owners. The Mitchells are humanity’s best hope to stop the madness.
👨👦 The Road (2009)
Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel, “The Road” is a bleak and haunting exploration of a father and son’s struggle for survival in a world ravaged by an unspecified catastrophe. Director John Hillcoat captures the desperation and fragile hope of the two protagonists as they journey through a desolate, ashen landscape. The film’s emotional depth and harrowing portrayal of humanity’s darkest instincts make it a true standout in the post-apocalyptic genre.
🚫 Children of Men (2006)
Alfonso Cuarón’s “Children of Men” presents a future where infertility threatens the extinction of humanity. In this bleak world, Theo, played by Clive Owen, is tasked with protecting a pregnant woman, offering a glimmer of hope. The film’s intense, single-shot action sequences and thought-provoking social commentary make it a standout in the genre, addressing themes of hope, despair, and the value of human life.
🚆 Snowpiercer (2013)
Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer” is a unique and visually striking take on the post-apocalyptic genre. The film unfolds entirely on a massive, perpetually moving train that carries the last remnants of humanity. As the train travels through a frozen, uninhabitable world, a class struggle emerges within its confined society. “Snowpiercer” is a thrilling exploration of social inequality and revolution.
🐶 I Am Legend (2007)
In “I Am Legend,” Will Smith stars as Dr. Robert Neville, the last known human survivor in New York City after a virus has turned the population into bloodthirsty mutants. Neville is dedicated to finding a cure and maintaining his sanity while facing the isolation and dangers of a deserted city. Smith’s powerful performance and the film’s eerie atmosphere make it a compelling entry into the post-apocalyptic genre.
📖 The Book of Eli (2010)
Denzel Washington stars as Eli, a lone wanderer in a post-apocalyptic world, on a mission to protect a sacred book that may hold the key to humanity’s survival. The film combines action with spiritual themes and features a memorable twist ending. “The Book of Eli” explores the enduring power of faith and knowledge in a world stripped of both.
🗽 The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
While not a traditional post-apocalyptic film, “The Day After Tomorrow” presents a scenario where rapid climate change leads to a new ice age, resulting in a global catastrophe. Directed by Roland Emmerich, the film is known for its spectacular visual effects and disaster sequences, offering a thrilling take on the potential consequences of environmental negligence.
🧟♂️ 28 Days Later (2002)
Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” reinvigorated the zombie subgenre by introducing fast-moving, rage-infected humans as the antagonists. The film follows Jim, a bicycle courier, who wakes up from a coma to find a deserted and dangerous London. “28 Days Later” is a tense and fast-paced exploration of societal breakdown and survival.
🏃♂️ The Maze Runner (2014)
Based on James Dashner’s novel, “The Maze Runner” follows a group of young adults trapped in a mysterious maze with no memory of their past. As they attempt to unravel the mysteries of their environment, they face deadly challenges and conspiracies. The film blends science fiction and mystery elements in a unique and suspenseful narrative.
🏹 The Hunger Games (2012)
“The Hunger Games” introduces us to a dystopian society divided into districts, where young tributes are forced to compete in a televised battle to the death. Katniss Everdeen, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence, becomes a symbol of rebellion against the oppressive Capitol. The franchise explores themes of totalitarianism, media manipulation, and the power of resistance.
👽 The 5th Wave (2016)
Based on the novel by Rick Yancey, “The 5th Wave” depicts an Earth under attack by extraterrestrial invaders who employ increasingly devastating tactics. The film follows Cassie, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, as she navigates the chaos and tries to reunite with her brother. It explores themes of trust, resilience, and the blurred line between friend and foe in times of crisis.
People Also Ask: Post-Apocalyptic Movie Edition
Before we finish up, let’s go through some of the most common questions people are asking about Post-Apocalyptic Movies:
🏆 What’s the best world ending movie?
Based on the novel by Rick Yancey, “The 5th Wave” depicts an Earth under attack by extraterrestrial invaders who employ increasingly devastating tactics. The film follows Cassie, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, as she navigates the chaos and tries to reunite with her brother. It explores themes of trust, resilience, and the blurred line between friend and foe in times of crisis.
📽️ What is the British post-apocalyptic movie 1980s?
Threads is a 1984 British-Australian apocalyptic war drama television film directed and produced by Mick Jackson and written by Barry Hines.
🌍 What is the movie about the end of the world in 2000?
The Apocalypse (2000 film)
📚 Fancy more ruined worlds, radioactive wastelands, and survivalist chaos?
Have a wander through our other post-apocalyptic articles. We’ve got rogue AIs, dusty highways, mutant creatures, and everything in between. Go on, treat yourself to something grim and gripping.
