There are two basic opinions about post-apocalyptic movies and TV series. Either you find them a bit bleak, or you enjoy imagining a post-apocalyptic future that’s distinct from the worlds we might eventually inhabit, possibly with a hint of sci-fi as well. If you’re into the idea of post-apocalypse TV shows and movies, then this list might be for you.
From comedies about the end of the world to dramas about the suffering that it would cause, this list represents a perfect cross-section of TV and movies that detail what the end of the world might look like. As this list suggests, there’s no single way to tell a story about the end of the world, but these are some of the best movies and TV shows that imagine that kind of dire future.
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This Is the End (2013)
107m
Genre
Action, Comedy
Stars
James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen
Directed by
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Watch on Amazon
The end of the world doesn’t always have to be so gloomy, right? This may seem like a contradictory statement, but this black comedy romp in which several fictionalized versions of real-life Hollywood actors are stuck in the same room while the rest of the planet falls apart is a hilarious take on the apocalypse. James Franco, Jonah Hill, and Seth Rogen have palpable energy that oozes through the screen.
The Walking Dead (2010)
11 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan
Created by
Frank Darabont
Watch on Netflix
The popularity of AMC’s signature zombie show during its height will be hard to match. The Walking Dead combined a talented ensemble cast with dark themes and realistic special effects to bring to life one of the most engaging zombie fiction pieces ever put on screen. Whether you were rooting for Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) to embrace his sensitive side or for Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) to defeat the Governor (David Morrissey), this drama had a little bit of everything for fans of apocalypse stories. The show finally came to an end in 2022 after more than a decade, but there are several spin-offs in production with several of the most popular characters from the show.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
105m
Genre
Thriller, Action, Drama, Science Fiction
Stars
James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto
Directed by
Rupert Wyatt
Watch on Amazon
The revival of The Planet of the Apes franchise was a risky gambit, but one that paid off in spades with an entire trilogy of great movies. In this film, we see exactly how apes became the intelligent species we know from the original films, and how humanity’s fall begins. This film also forces audiences to think about the ways humans try to interfere with nature and the consequences of those actions.
The Strain (2014)
4 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
Stars
Corey Stoll, Kevin Durand, Miguel Gómez
Created by
Guillermo del Toro, Carlton Cuse
Watch on Hulu
Another show based on a viral outbreak, Guillermo del Toro’s The Strain is an ideal mix of science fiction, fantasy, and apocalyptic scenarios. The show uses vampirism horror to create some of de Toro’s signature creepy storylines. Corey Stoll does an excellent job as Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, the man who’s trying to figure out the inception of the viral pandemic at the heart of the show.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
99m
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Stars
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield
Directed by
Edgar Wright
Watch on apple tv
Horror and post-apocalyptic movies aren’t supposed to be inherently funny, but that’s what’s so brilliant about comedic films like Shaun of the Dead. Simon Pegg plays an everyman whose world is turned upside down when zombies start to animate all over London. The movie is able to satirize many of the traditional elements of the best post-apocalypse movies while simultaneously making heartfelt statements about love, relationships, and family.
The Leftovers (2014)
3 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston
Created by
Tom Perrotta, Damon Lindelof
Watch on max
HBO has a tremendous catalog of great shows, but The Leftovers often gets lost in the shuffle. This is a shame because the show takes a religious angle on the apocalypse that hasn’t been done very often before or since. The series brilliantly analyzes the effects of an apocalyptic event on how people worship, discussing themes such as cults and the conflicting information given by such organizations to gain followers.
World War Z (2013)
116m
Genre
Action, Drama, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz
Directed by
Marc Forster
Watch on Apple TV+
Sometimes the apocalypse needs to be action-packed, gory, and frivolous. World War Z, starring Brad Pitt in the role of Gerry Lane, is one of the best popcorn films of the last decade. This former United Nations employee is a little too heroic in his quest to save the world, something that brings the realism of the film down several notches, but the two-hour movie is still entertaining and fast-paced enough for many different age groups and fan types.
Falling Skies (2011)
5 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton
Created by
Robert Rodat
Watch on max
Alien shows and movies are some of the most abundant in the apocalypse genre due to their vague nature and the potential they give filmmakers to create revelatory plot lines that differ from the competition. Falling Skies was an ambitious TNT alien drama staring Noah Wyle. A lot of the intrigue in Falling Skies is in the way viewers are encouraged to figure out why the apocalyptic event started and how it can be resolved. This show’s use of special effects was also excellent for its time period in the early 2010s.
Snowpiercer (2013)
127m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, John Hurt
Directed by
Bong Joon-ho
Watch on Amazon
Colony (2016)
3 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies, Tory Kittles
Created by
Carlton Cuse, Ryan Condal, Wes Tooke
Watch on Amazon
Starring TV veterans Sarah Wayne Callies and Josh Holloway, Colony originally aired on USA Network before picking up fans on Netflix. This post-apocalyptic drama took a different spin on the genre, forcing viewers to look at the ways society would devolve under new government leadership from aliens. The show was canceled after only three seasons, leaving the ending planned by creator Ryan J. Condal up for imagination.
The Road (2009)
111m
Genre
Adventure, Drama
Stars
Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron
Directed by
John Hillcoat
Watch on Amazon
Starring Viggo Mortensen as a man traversing the end of the world with his young son, the film is a harrowing, dark, and realistic depiction of the lengths parental figures will go to when their children are in danger. It’s one of the bleakest films on this list, and the spareness of its post-apocalyptic world can make it a kind of harrowing watch. Even so, there are few films that will make you more emotional even while they don’t give you a ton of plot.
The Last of Us (2023)
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Stars
Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey
Created by
Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
Watch on max
Set in a world that has been ravaged by a fungus that transforms people into zombies, The Last of Us is adapted from a series of video games of the same name. The series follows Joel, an isolated smuggler, as he’s tasked with transporting a young girl who appears to be immune to the virus across the country. On their journey, they run into plenty of danger, but also grow close to one another and form an emotional bond. Anchored by terrific performances from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us is riveting, and it may get even better in its second season.
