Top Apocalyptic Movies

From Andrew Stanton, starring Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard
Rated G

WALL·E is an animated science fiction film directed by Andrew Stanton and released in 2008. The story follows the journey of WALL·E, a waste-collecting robot that has been left behind on a deserted Earth. WALL·E embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads him to EVE, a robot sent to Earth to look for signs of life. The two develop a unique bond and embark on a voyage of exploration that leads them to a realization about humankind’s future. Along the way, they confront a giant corporation that controls the Earth from space, and WALL·E’s journey ultimately leads to a better future for humanity.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, is a neo-noir science fiction film set in a dystopian Los Angeles in 2019. It follows the story of Rick Deckard, a blade runner tasked with “retiring” (i.e. killing) a group of replicants, which are bioengineered androids that look and feel nearly identical to humans. As Deckard pursues the replicants, he discovers they are searching for their creator in order to extend their limited life spans. Along the way, Deckard struggles with his own identity and discovers the replicants may not be as evil as he initially thought. Ultimately, Blade Runner is a thought-provoking exploration of the boundaries between humans and androids, as well as the consequences of giving too much power to technology.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Joseph Melito
Rated R

12 Monkeys is a 1995 science fiction psychological thriller film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt. It is based on Chris Marker's 1962 short film La Jetée, and is set in a post-apocalyptic future. The film follows James Cole (Willis), a prisoner of the state in the year 2035 who is sent back in time to the year 1996 to find and stop the source of a virus that has killed most of the human population. In his travels through time, Cole meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly (Stowe) and Jeffrey Goines (Pitt), the son of a renowned virologist. As Cole's mission unfolds, he discovers a mysterious group known as the 12 Monkeys, and realizes that a devastating future can only be prevented by uncovering the secrets of the past.

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans
Rated G

Planet of the Apes is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston. The film depicts a world in which apes have evolved to a level of intelligence that rivals that of humans. Astronaut George Taylor crash-lands on a strange planet ruled by evolved apes and is captured and enslaved by the apes. With the help of a sympathetic chimpanzee named Zira, Taylor escapes and leads a revolt against the oppressive ape society. The film explores themes of racism, nuclear war and the dangers of human hubris. It was a critical and box office success, and spawned a franchise consisting of four sequels, two television series, and a remake.

From Alfonso Cuarón, starring Julianne Moore, Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Caine
Rated R

Children of Men is a dystopian sci-fi film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Set in the year 2027, the world has become a bleak, soulless place, as humanity faces extinction due to a pandemic of infertility. The United Kingdom is the last functioning government in the otherwise chaotic world, where immigration and civil unrest have become rampant. In this environment, a former activist-turned-bureaucrat, Theo Faron (Clive Owen), is tasked with protecting a miracle pregnant woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), who holds the key to humanity’s future. Theo embarks on an epic mission to transport Kee to a safe-haven where she can give birth and help repopulate the world. Along the way, Theo must confront his painful past and battle an oppressive government, as he attempts to save the future of mankind.

From Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis
Rated R

Shaun of the Dead is a horror comedy film directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The film follows Shaun and his best friend, Ed, as they fight to survive a zombie apocalypse in London. Shaun is a directionless twentysomething with no ambition or motivation, but through the zombie crisis, he is forced to rise to the occasion and become a hero. Along the way, Shaun must still try to maintain his relationships with his girlfriend, Liz, and his stepfather, Phillip, while sorting out his complicated relationship with his mother. Ultimately, Shaun and Ed must use their wits and creativity to make it out alive.

From James Cameron, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates
Rated PG-13

Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as Jack and Rose, two members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic during its maiden voyage in 1912. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, the film, which was a box office success, follows the star-crossed lovers as they try to survive the disaster. It culminates with the sinking of the ship and its aftermath. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, as well as two Golden Globe Awards. It has since become one of the highest-grossing films of all time, with an estimated box office gross of over $2 billion worldwide.

From Alfonso Cuarón, starring Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen
Rated PG-13

Gravity is a 2013 science fiction drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. After the crew of the space shuttle is destroyed by a debris field, two survivors, Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney), are left adrift in space. Stone must rely on her wits and Kowalski's experience to find a way back to Earth. Along the way, they face a series of obstacles that test their courage and resourcefulness. In the end, they must confront the deep psychological and physiological toll of being in space. Gravity is an intense and thrilling exploration of human survival in an unforgiving environment.

From Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise
Rated PG

Apollo 13 is a 1995 historical drama film directed by Ron Howard, based on the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission. The film follows the ill-fated mission, as Commander Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) attempt to make their way back to Earth after their craft is crippled by a malfunction. With the help of the NASA team, led by Gene Kranz (Ed Harris), the astronauts manage to survive the ordeal and return safely to Earth. Along the way, they must overcome numerous obstacles and demonstrate a remarkable level of ingenuity and courage in order to make it home.

From George Miller, starring Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps
Rated R

The Road Warrior is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film directed by George Miller. The film stars Mel Gibson as a loner who must battle a savage gang of motorcycle-riding thieves in order to protect a small community of survivors in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The film is set in a future world where gasoline is scarce and gangs of marauders roam what remains of the Australian Outback. The loner, known only as "Mad Max", is a former police officer who has become a drifter in search of fuel and other resources. When he meets the survivors of a destroyed refinery, he agrees to help them fight off the marauders in exchange for a large cache of fuel and a custom-built vehicle. The movie follows Max's quest for survival and redemption as he and the survivors attempt to escape the marauders and find a new home. Along the way, Max is forced to confront his own inner demons in order to become a true hero of the wasteland.

From Paul Greengrass, starring David Alan Basche, Olivia Thirlby, Liza Colón-Zayas, J.J. Johnson
Rated R

United 93 is a 2006 drama film directed by Paul Greengrass that is based on the events of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001 as part of the September 11 attacks. The film chronicles the events leading up to the hijacking of the flight, as well as the heroic actions of the passengers that prevented the plane from reaching its intended target. The story is told from the perspective of the people on the plane, as well as those on the ground affected by the tragedy. The film follows the passengers and crew's realization of the hijacking, their efforts to regain control of the plane, and their ultimate decision to crash the plane into an empty field instead of a populated target. The film has been critically acclaimed for its realism and for its depiction of the heroism of the passengers of Flight 93.

From Ruben Fleischer, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin
Rated R

Zombieland is a 2009 American zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as survivors of a zombie apocalypse. The film follows the four protagonists as they travel across the United States, fighting off zombies and searching for a safe place to live. Along the way, they must also contend with the difficulties of finding food and other items in a post-apocalyptic world. They also face off against a group of zombie-killing, gun-toting cowboy-types, called the "Hazmat Cowboys". Throughout the film, the protagonists develop a strong bond, and ultimately make it to the Pacific Playland amusement park, where they find refuge and safety. However, their newfound safety is short-lived, as the zombies eventually overrun the park and the protagonists find themselves forced to fight for their lives. In the end, the protagonists are able to survive the zombie onslaught and make it to a more secure location. The film ends with the four protagonists living together in harmony, as they continue to search for a better, more permanent home.

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Alex Palmer
Rated R

28 Days Later... tells the story of a group of survivors struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by vicious, virus-infected humans. After a powerful virus is released by a group of animal rights activists, most of the human population is wiped out. Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up in a hospital 28 days later to find himself alone in a deserted London. As he searches for other survivors, he meets a small group of people, including Selena (Naomie Harris), Mark (Noah Huntley), and Frank (Brendan Gleeson). Together, they must fight for survival against both the infected and the military forces trying to contain the virus. Along the way, they must also face their own inner demons as they fight for a chance at a new beginning.

From J.A. Bayona, starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast
Rated PG-13

The Impossible is a 2012 drama film directed by J.A. Bayona. It tells the true story of a family caught in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. On December 26, 2004, a family of five is taking a Christmas holiday in a luxury hotel in Thailand. As the day progresses, the family finds themselves separated by the overwhelming force of the tsunami. Maria (Naomi Watts), her husband Henry (Ewan McGregor), and their three sons (Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, and Oaklee Pendergast) struggle to survive and search for one another in the midst of chaos and destruction. In the midst of the devastation, Maria and her eldest son Lucas (Holland) find the strength, faith, and courage to persevere and make it back to their family, even when hope seems lost. The Impossible is an inspiring story of courage and the power of the human spirit.

From James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester
Rated PG-13

The Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film directed by James Cameron and starring Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. The plot follows a team of underwater oil drillers who are sent on a mission to find a lost nuclear submarine. However, the mission takes a turn when the team discovers an alien presence living beneath the depths of the ocean. Together, they must overcome their differences and work together to save the world from a potential nuclear disaster. Along the way, they discover the importance of human connection and the power of love. The film was met with critical acclaim and won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

From Zack Snyder, starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer, Jake Weber
Rated R

From Jeff Nichols, starring Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Shea Whigham, Tova Stewart
Rated R

From John Hillcoat, starring Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall
Rated R

From Francis Lawrence, starring Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Rated PG-13

From Frank Darabont, starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher
Rated R

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence
Rated R

From Lars von Trier, starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgård
Rated R

From Ronald Neame, starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons
Rated PG

From Michael Radford, starring John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack
Rated R

From Bong Joon Ho, starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris
Rated R