Best apocalyptic movies to watch
Sure, these changing times with inexplicable events happening, it’s hard not to think of unimaginable possibilities that can occur – end-of-the-world. Humans ‘ genes turn into zombie genes, whether it be a great catastrophe wherein water will eat up earth’s landmass or a new virus arises. And uh, a global pandemic persists, so the end of the world possibilities still linger? No wonder you’ll find yourself searching for the best apocalyptic movies to get survival ideas.
While for some, feel-good movies and light films are the way to ease daily stress, some still search for the end of the world movies. It’s quite understandable how they relate these kinds of movies to everyday happenings around the globe. Admit it. The thrill of preparing your weapon as you face the world going through a catastrophic event is titillating. The best apocalyptic movie will have you gone all alert or maybe threatened?
What’s an apocalyptic movie?
Does the world need to end to classify a movie as apocalyptic? For some films, the real story starts after the big catastrophe. Let’s not forget the ongoing action every protagonist could go through the post-apocalyptic.
So what makes a movie apocalyptic? Assuming the plot is before the end of the world until it ends and humanity was wiped out, this is one hell of an ending for some of the best apocalyptic movies ever made.
It could also be the world is actively ending with a probable threat, and survivors continue their journey past apocalyptic. Even with the emergence of dystopia fiction turned films set after an apocalypse event, it won’t be considered apocalyptic as it doesn’t focus on the end-of-the-world per se. Having cleared that, let’s get down to the popular end-of-the-world movie themes.
- Nuclear holocaust
- Climate change
- Medical pandemic
- Endless war
- Climate change
- Major city destructions ( New York, Los Angeles, or London)
- A dictatorial government focusing on mind control
- The existence of sentient robots
What are the top 10 apocalyptic movies?
If you’re up for some thrilling and action-filled end-of-the-world- movies, we’ve got you covered. These apocalyptic movies may give you a hint of what’s to come, post-apocalyptic survival, and some pointers on how to navigate thru the upcoming holocaust. Here are the best apocalyptic movies ever made.
10. 12 Monkeys
Photo Credit: imdb.com
The gloomy future shown in this movie would make you want to move years backward. Director Terry Gilliam’s vision of the future is appealing despite the apparent bleakness. Set in 2035, this movie revolves around a prisoner ( Bruce Willis) selected to be trained to go back to 1996 to prevent a deadly virus from ending the human race.
He met an environmentalist who also has a mental health condition (Brad Pitt). Prepare for the worst in this viral pandemic-themed apocalyptic movie. Don’t miss watching one of the best apocalyptic movies.
9. War for the Planet of the Apes
Concluding that this is the best of the new trilogy, the storytelling and the visuals will rest the case. This Oscar-worthy movie is darker than the middle chapter, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The different take on this film was shown on the emotional complications arising from the thirst to achieve the power for humanity to succeed.
Caesar ( Andy Serkis) has always portrayed excellent leadership even if his fellow apes showed a different interest in dominating the earth with other humans. The war sprung when a cruel anti-ape leader made a move and took back what he believes is just for humans. Set yourself to see every character on the brink and fight for what they think is rightfully theirs.
8. Dawn of the Dead
Photo Credit: imdb.com
How thrilling can it get if zombies attack a mall? The father of all zombie movies, George A. Romero, makes a comeback hit thirty years after The Night of the Living Dead. Set up in a mall, this apocalypse movie tells the story of how a group of survivors from Philadelphia will make it through the zombie attack on the four walls of the shopping center.
Dawn of Dead boasts of the artistic makeup effects and the funny but gore moments of bloodshed. Backed up with the drama of each character, the end of the world happening firsthand in America was portrayed efficiently. Portraying how humanity can tear themselves apart even with zombies lingering around is a real apocalyptic fantasy.
7. Mad Max: Fury Road
A movie that’ll get your adrenaline pumped up with its breath-hanging stunt work and visual effects, Mad max will leave you asking for a sequel. The bad sound effects and duels are a factor why you should watch this male-studded post-apocalyptic genre. If you fancy watching 18 wheeler cars out in the desert, this is for you. One of the best apocalyptic movies you’ll ever encounter.
One of the best apocalyptic films you’ll ever watch. Directed by George Miller, the film is set in the trying times sometime in the future where a brutal lord controls the world, and the human race practically destroys themselves to doom. Tom Hardy is the main man here as he worked sideways with a one-armed warrior woman played by Charlize Theron. You’re up for one hell of a ride with this heart-rate rising film.
6. This is the End
Photo Credit: imdb.com
A hilarious take on apocalyptic movies. This one is for the books. Hate or love it when you find it too obnoxious, but this horror-comedy is a fresh take on end-of-the-world movies. Imagine how Hollywood’s biggest names will face the apocalypse. They’re not going to react just as how normal people like us would.
Although it’s safe to say that normal people would do better, they will face it very poorly. Enjoy these hilarious films as they play themselves, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny Mcbride. They would be stocked up in Franco’s mansion in L.A. while demons rose from the earth and doom day arrived. This film will get you laughing till the end.
5. A Quiet Place
One of the best apocalyptic movies focuses on a family struggling to survive after an alien invasion on Earth. Currently one of the scariest films, this is a completely different plot of a post-apocalyptic movie. With the existence of the end-of-the-world monster, this movie won’t disturb you with its sound effects but with its deafening silence.
The monsters are creepy creatures that can’t see you but can hear even a pin drop. For the Abbott family to survive, silence is key. A quiet place will give you that eerie thrill caused by too much silence, but all the scenes are greatly executed.
Played by Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Milicent Simmonds, the roles are played effectively. You’ll feel the parents’ stress as they struggle to keep the kids safe.
4. Shaun of the Dead
Photo Credit: imdb.com
If there’s a father of zombie movies, there’s also a father of Zombie comedies, Edgar Wright. His masterpiece Shaun of the Dead will take off any zombie scare you have. This one-of-a-kind zombie apocalypse movie will surprise you with a refreshing take on zombie portrayals.
The joke-laden and witty exchange of lines from the two main characters Shaun and Ed, brought the script to be comically played. Shaun and Ed are best friends who tried to survive the apocalyptic scenario with their out-of-this-world ideas on surviving such catastrophes.
3. 28 Days Later
This movie might haunt you in your sleep as this is one of the terrifying zombie films. This post-apocalyptic movie depicts war, chaos, and turmoil in society post 9/11.
It started with a virus called Rage that turns infected individuals into zombie-like monsters. Unlike any other zombies, they run fast. Jim, played by Cillian Murphy, got up from a coma in London only to find out the whole city is deserted.
He searched for fellow survivors, and they got together with the same goal of finding a safe place. They found a large mansion controlled by the military, but Jim didn’t like the leader’s plan on the women survivors. He then seeks help from the zombie enemies to fight the military.
2. Wall – E
Photo Credit: imdb.com
One of the few feel-good best apocalyptic movies, Wall-E’s spotlight is that of friendship and acceptance in a world destroyed by commercialism. One of Pixar’s masterpieces takes an optimistic turn with this movie that’s set in the future where humans left earth and decided to live in a big cruise ship in outer space.
Earth was left with waste, garbage, and trash everywhere with zero life forms. Wall-E, an old robot, will develop friendship and love with a new and modern robot. They’ll work together towards waking up humans on the reality that they have long forgotten, their life on earth.
1. The Day After Tomorrow
A film is depicting every aspect of the end-of-the-world emblem. Though this film is simple and predictable, it swept a $125 million box office record. The story revolves around the bad effects of climate change, as you might be experiencing now in this era. It’s a good watch to help us plan, just in case.
Here, an American paleoclimatologist, his son, and colleagues have warned the government of impending doom caused by a disturbance in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The government never listened, resulting in a catastrophic weather occurrence in the heart of New York City. With great visual effects, the burning of library books to survive is notable. This is one of the best apocalyptic movies focusing on climate change.
Related Articles
What genre are apocalypse movies?
As you may know, the main genres not only on films but on books alike are dystopia, horror, science fiction, and science fantasy. For starters, apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of the main genres.
The catastrophic event that usually brings about the apocalypse is climate change, astronomical collisions, nuclear bombs holocaust, pandemic, zombie apocalypse or alien invasion.
Key Takeaway
Most of the time, we like immersing ourselves in films that best reflect the era and world we’re living right now or heading towards. In every story, the characters seem to come out stronger as they face more struggles. The best apocalyptic movies will teach you a thing or two, resilience and perseverance.
