I\’ve Devoured Every Apocalypse Tale – Here Are the 13 Best

It returns to a deeply ominous future with season two of
meditative zombie drama
The Last of Us
Returns for an eagerly awaited second season. As one of the most highly acclaimed television successes over recent years, the show’s popularity underscores that post-apocalyptic themes continue to attract audiences significantly.

Whether it’s a world ruled by talking orangutans or one where the walking dead move faster than Usain Bolt dashing for the bus, the downfall of humanity exerts an enduring fascination over our imaginations. Here are 13 of the best post-apocalyptic shows and movies.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

A planet overtaken by ravaging gorillas bellowing and shouting with all their might. No, not the Trump administration – it’s the original.
Planet of the Apes
. Lacking
modern-day CGI
This grim science fiction journey must convince us of an apocalyptic Earth ruled by super intelligent apes through little more than latex prosthetics and compelling acting from Roddy McDowall as the benevolent chimpanzee scholar Dr. Cornelius and Maurice Evans as the sagacious orangutan doctor Dr. Zaius.

By modern standards, the pace is plodding, as Charlton Heston’s astronaut George Taylor lands on a planet that looks suspiciously similar to the big blue rock he left behind – only with mute humans under the thumb of their all-powerful primate cousins. But it’s worth sticking with; the film concludes with one of the most stunning twists in sci-fi history. Prepare to gasp as Taylor stumbles upon a half-buried Statue of Liberty and realises – dun, dun, dun! – that this ravaged world is the Earth thousands of years in the future.

Available on Disney+

The Road (2009)

For a blend of dystopian bleakness paired with an all-American vibe through heavy use of steel pedals, there’s no better choice than the maestro of concise moral dramas.
Cormac McCarthy
John Hillcoat’s 2009 film adaptation of his bleak science-fiction novel,
The Road
is not as widely recognized as the Coen brothers\’ adaptation of McCarthy’s work
No Country for Old Men
, yet its raw potency cannot be ignored. Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee portray a father and son navigating a desolate post-apocalyptic landscape following an unspecified catastrophe that has left mankind struggling for survival (I’m guessing Ed Sheeran’s latest hit played some role in causing this chaos). As they traverse a wild area filled with marauding cannibals, their aim is to reach the coastline in search of a better future. Grim as can be — but simultaneously a subtly inspiring tribute to the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

Available on ITVX

28 Days Later (2002)

The zombies in
The Last Of Us
These are bizarre chimeras combining elements of humans and fungi. In Danny Boyle’s 2002 zombie film masterpiece, these beings have been driven insane by a virus that transforms them into rage-filled fiends (almost like Boyle foresaw the rise of social media). However, even though the swift-moving zombies evoke fear, what truly gives one goosebumps is the eerie silence where daily life once thrived.
28 Days Later.
Who could overlook that immediately memorable moment where Cillian Murphy’s character, Jim, who works as a bicycle courier, awakens from a coma and roams through an abandoned London? This scene was astonishingly eerie—especially since it mirrored real-life events during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Rental available on YouTube

Reign of Fire (2002)

Dystopian stories don\’t always have to feel boring. In this delightfully zany fantasy, dragons awaken from a prolonged slumber and wreak havoc on urban centers. The film features a wildly exuberant performance by Matthew McConaughey as the head of an American military team facing off against a usually stern-faced opponent.
Christian Bale
Taking on the role of the head of a rural town, it becomes campy B-film entertainment. Well before
e
Game of Thrones
It also showcases some of the most spectacular dragon appearances on screen. Emerging from the underworld, these creatures have transformed central London into a smokey den—a remarkable transformation given the cost of raw materials and the current condition of the real estate market.

Available to rent on YouTube

Children of Men (2006)

Amidst a global infertility crisis, Britain has closed its borders to refugees and adopted a totalitarian regime. Initially released in 2006, Alfonso Cuarón’s film version of PD James’ 1992 novel appeared somewhat exaggerated in depicting the grim outlook for the UK in 2027. Yet, two decades later, this portrayal of a society immobilized by hatred and dread seems startlingly prophetic. Besides offering foresight, the movie also serves as an engaging action-thriller where Clive Owen portrays an ordinary man attempting to escort the planet\’s final pregnant woman out of Britain.

Available on NOW

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The original
Mad Max
it was an enthralling low-budget depiction of a dystopian future Australia descending into ecological ruin. However, when George Miller revisited the character of the renegade police officer Max Rockatansky,
Fury Road,
He intensified everything until it reached a boiling point. Taking over from
Mel Gibson
as Max,
Tom Hardy
is captivatingly terse – although the movie truly belongs to Charlize Theron’s character Furiosa, an ambitious wheelman who aims to free the \”Wives\” held captive by warlord Immortan Joe.

The filming session in the Namib Desert was famously eclipsed by
conflicts between Theron and Hardy
— Yet despite their animosity, they and Miller created a frenetic, visually stunning road movie full of haunting beauty and elegance.

Available on NOW

Silo (2023-)

In this Apple TV+ suspense series, Rebecca Ferguson portrays the occupant of an Orwellian subterranean structure designed ostensibly to protect residents from a catastrophic event occurring topside. The overseers of the Silo appear oddly reticent when it comes to elucidating details regarding the origin of the facility or broader human survival. As Ferguson’s character, Juliette, probes these issues with difficult inquiries, she faces the oppressive might of a malevolent administration reminiscent of George Orwell’s creations.

Available on Apple TV

The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

The initial post-apocalyptic zombie adventure,
The Walking Dead
experienced a significant decline in quality during its subsequent seasons. However, in its initial years, the story of a motley group of survivors guided by Andrew Lincoln\’s Sheriff Rick was both terrifying and full of excitement. While the idea that the most dangerous beings in a post-apocalyptic setting are actually people isn’t groundbreaking, the series effectively portrays these relentless undead creatures vividly.

Found on Disney+ and NOW

Fallout (2024)

Even die-hard enthusiasts of
The Last of Us
or
The Walking Dead
I will acknowledge that these shows are incredibly self-serious. No one would level such an accusation at Prime Video’s adaptation of the popular video game.
Fallout
. Dark comedy blends with exaggerated brutality as we delve into
Ella Purnell
\’S \”Vault Dweller,\” Lucy — who has stepped out squinting from an isolated subterranean shelter in search of her father,
Kyle MacLachlan
She journeys across a desolate United States overrun by radioactive beasts and Warhammer 40K-esque mechanical nightmarish creatures—being chased by a sympathetic mutant \”ghoul\” gunslinger portrayed vividly by Walton Goggins.

Available on Prime Video

Sweet Tooth (2021-2024)

The end of the world doesn’t have to be entirely tragic. That is the message of the warm-hearted and optimistic
cult Netflix hit
Sweet Tooth
In this show, Christian Convery portrays Gus, also known as Sweet Tooth—a 10-year-old boy featuring deer antlers—who was born following a catastrophic event referred to as \”The Crumble.\” This phenomenon causes children born afterwards to be human-animal hybrids, often sporting features like tails and horns; thus, our young protagonist proudly displays his infantile antlers.

Gus embarks on a journey to find his mother alongside a retired American football legend named Jepperd. Their path is relatively smooth, and although they face numerous antagonists, they also meet several kind and supportive individuals—proof that despite everything, people generally tend to treat each other with fundamental decency. This uplifting message serves as a source of strength during challenging moments.

Available on Netflix

The Hunger Games (2012)

Featuring Jennifer Lawrence as a teenage archer in a resource-scarce future America,
The Hunger Games
It serves as a stark cautionary tale regarding the commercial exploitation of human misery as entertainment. In Lawrence’s depiction, Katniss Everdeen is among several youths compelled to engage in lethal combat on behalf of their respective \”districts,\” with each bout broadcasted live as part of a struggle over resources.

Read Next:
The top television shows available on Prime, Netflix, and Disney+ for April.

Available on Netflix

Time of the Wolf (2003)

In the near future of France, an unidentified ecological disaster has led to severe water scarcity and widespread destruction of livestock. Against this backdrop of turmoil, Anne (played by Isabelle Huppert) and Georges (portrayed by Daniel Duval), along with their offspring, search for refuge in rural areas—only to find that society has collapsed faster than anticipated, transforming what was once familiar into a savage wasteland reminiscent of the final hours at a music festival. Renowned as a director who avoids sentimentality, Austria’s Michael Haneke brings us a fusion of apocalyptic themes and arthouse aesthetics.

Available on Prime Video

Stalker (1979)

A reflective science fiction horror film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky from Russia.
Stalker
takes place in an enigmatic \”Zone\” occupied by extraterrestrial beings. The passage of time behaves uniquely inside this area—and the movie mirrors this phenomenon through its deliberate, occasionally sluggish tempo. However, it pays off to persevere, as we follow one of the unidentified \”Stalkers,\” who frequently venture into the Zone searching for its deepest mysteries. Widely regarded as a classic,
Stalker
conjures up a future where the essence of everyday life has been torn apart – leading to a subtly disturbing outcome.

Rental available on Google Play