Summary

• Post-apocalyptic movies serve as social commentaries, highlighting the consequences of human actions on our planet and society.
• These films celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and the will to survive, showcasing both the best and worst aspects of humanity under extreme circumstances.
• Great post-apocalyptic films go beyond violence and horror, providing insight into the experiences and emotions of the characters, while also offering a sense of hope or possibility for the future.

This article contains descriptions of violence.

Many movies imagine a post-apocalyptic future, but only a few are significant enough to justify their place among the best of the genre. The films are often used as metaphors or straightforward depictions of the social, political, and environmental issues facing the present-day world. They use the apocalypse as a frame for a social commentary on what could happen if humans are not good caretakers of the planet or if they let their hubris lead to their ruin.

Most post-apocalyptic movies show dark depictions of the end of the world. However, that isn't to say that filmmakers haven't found ways to infuse levity in the most dire of circumstances. Something films of the genre have in common across the board is the celebration of the human spirit and the will to survive, no matter the cost. Great post-apocalyptic films uncover what people are capable of when pushed to their limits, both good and evil. Additionally, they focus on not just the violence and horror of the end of the world but on insight into the characters' experiences.

10 Zombieland (2009)

Directed by Ruben Fleisher

Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson make an odd couple who have come to rely on each other in a zombie-infested future, but their world is soon opened up when they're ed by Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin. They form a charismatic group that's easy to become emotionally invested in. Though the film is mostly comedic in tone, it deals with larger themes of loss and depicts each of the characters as being hardened by the new world order. It's a sweet and enjoyable film that doesn't punch above its weight but has become a classic in its own right.

9 Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Directed by Edgar Wright

Part horror movie, part buddy comedy, part post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland, Shaun of the Dead is a unique blend of genres that sticks the landing and manages to get horror-comedy right. Simon Pegg as Shaun is hilarious, and his timing is only heightened by his chemistry with costar Nick Frost, who plays Ed. Shaun of the Dead references many classic horror movies, making it a cinephile's delight while being wildly original on its own. It's a refreshing subversion that shows how a worst-case scenario can bring out the best in people.

8 28 Days Later (2002)

Directed by Danny Boyle

Hailed as one of the most iconic post-apocalyptic plague movies in recent memory, 28 Days Later uses an innovative tactic to introduce the audience to the world of the film. Jim (Cillian Murphy) is in a coma during the beginning of the apocalypse and wakes up to find the world completely changed, so the audience learns about the world with him. The film is an interesting take on the traditional zombie movie and effectively shows how quickly the remaining humans turn on each other. Additionally, the cast gives compelling performances that add depth and make the twist even more gruesome.

7 I Am Legend (2007)

Directed by Francis Lawrence

I Am Legend hinges on Will Smith's performance as Robert Neville, one of the last remaining humans left after a virus that turns humans into modern versions of vampires is set loose. It's a clever update on the monster myths and scary stories that have made people afraid of the dark since the beginning of time. Using the monsters as a base and delving into a character study of Neville, I Am Legend is more than what's on the surface. However, it could work harder at exploring the emotional moments it only touches upon, like the depth of Neville's loss.

It's a clever update on the monster myths and scary stories that have made people afraid of the dark since the beginning of time.

6 Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner

The timelines of all the Planet of the Apes movies in the franchise are complex and interweaving, but like most cinematic universes, it's always a safe bet to start with the original. At its release, the film was a triumph of science fiction, only revealing at the end that it was a post-apocalyptic movie the entire time. George (Charlton Heston) believed that he had reached an alien civilization when he found a world full of intelligent apes and humans treated like animals. In reality, he had traveled in time and was on Earth thousands of years in the future.

Where the original Planet of the Apes succeeds is in the tight storytelling and complete narrative that it provides. Though there have been many sequels, there was never really any need for them besides the promise of profit. Planet of the Apes isn't just considered a classic because it's older, but because it remains relevant regardless of when it's watched. The major drawback of the film is that some of the jokes are dated, and the depictions of women are sexist and of their time.

5 Snowpiercer (2013)

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Chris Evans proves his range as Curtis in Bong Joon-ho's dystopian nightmare, Snowpiercer. In the film, all of humanity is trapped on an endlessly running train that shields them from an Earth that has frozen over. People have reverted to extreme class divisions that keep those at the lowest rung in a constant state of starvation and desperation. Of course, what the film is truly communicating is that it isn't a reversion and that people are being oppressed in this way in the present day.

However, Snowpiercer's moral lesson is often overshadowed by the bone-crunching violence depicted on screen. This adds to the message, as its gratuitous nature parallels the opulence of the ruling class. In his later work, like Parasite, Bong will expand upon the themes he begins to delve into in Snowpiercer, but the story has shown itself to be long-lasting. The recent TV series of the same name isn't as iconic but did bring the original film back into prominence.

4 Interstellar (2014)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Interstellar isn't ranked higher on the list only because it's less about the apocalypse and deals more with sci-fi and space travel. Like any Christopher Nolan movie, Interstellar bends time and the order of events within the narrative, waiting until the film’s final moments to reveal how everything is connected. The film sometimes relies too much on the unknown principles of physics somehow, working in favor of humanity when it matters most. However, the story doesn't bury itself in science and packs a devastating emotional punch. Interstellar made balancing a moving narrative with ambitious visual effects look easy.

3 The Road (2009)

Directed by John Hillcoat

In The Road, a Man (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-Mhee) journey across the United States in a desolate reality. The film is a rare case when a grayscale appearance enhances the movie and communicates a future with no light or happiness. The Road is careful not to waste time with exposition about what happened to civilization and jumps into the reality that it doesn't matter because there's no changing the past. It's not easy to watch and might be too brutal for some, but it was ahead of its time in depictions of the apocalypse.

2 Children Of Men (2006)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

The ending of Children of Men stands out among its peers because it makes the daring choice to hint at the possibility of hope for the future. Though not without its darkness and sacrifice, the protagonists Theo (Clive Owen) and Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) find new reasons to keep moving forward through each other. Director Alfonso Cuarón is known for his commitment to character development and uses this to do the bulk of the work in the story's world-building.

When seen through the eyes of Theo and Kee, the large and confusing world becomes simple, as their motivations cue the audience for how to feel about the world. The performances of both actors were greatly praised, as well as the innovative camera direction and cinematography. Although there are elements of sci-fi in the film, it balances them perfectly with the moving narrative and realistic portrayal of the decline of civilization.

1 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Directed by George Miller

Mad Max: Fury Road is not only a nuanced take on the hierarchies that would emerge in the aftermath of the apocalypse but also an action-packed adventure with plenty of characters to root for. Max (Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) are reluctant allies who fight against the corrupt dictator Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) to free themselves and others from his grasp. When boiled down, the movie is about the fight for resources when scarcity is created, and it's impossible not to feel the pangs of thirst and desperation along with the characters.

The cohesive stylization and setting enhance the film's viewing, as do the brilliantly choreographed action and chase scenes across the barren desert. Fortunately, the extreme effects, explosions, and characters all work well within the plot of the film and heighten the experience. It ranks as one of the best films of the twenty-first century and easily outmatches its competitors within the post-apocalyptic genre because of how well it captures a grounded yet fantastical dystopian future.