Top Post Apocalypse Movies

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

WALL·E (2008) is a Pixar animated science fiction film directed by Andrew Stanton. Set in a future where the planet Earth has been abandoned by humans, the film follows WALL·E, a waste-collecting robot who has been left on the planet alone. WALL·E discovers a seedling, which he nurtures and watches grow into a small plant. After a spaceship arrives carrying a sleek search robot named EVE, WALL·E falls in love with her and follows her into outer space on an adventure to save the planet. Along the way, they meet a variety of robots, discover the truth behind what happened to the humans who left Earth, and ultimately come to realize the importance of taking care of their home planet.

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

Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. The film follows Deckard (Harrison Ford), a police officer tasked with hunting down a group of four rogue androids, known as "Replicants," who have escaped from an off-world colony and illegally arrived on earth. With the help of a beautiful and mysterious woman named Rachael (Sean Young), Deckard embarks on a quest to find the elusive Replicants and bring them to justice. Along the way, he discovers a shocking truth about himself and his own identity, as well as the secrets of the Replicants. With its film noir visuals, groundbreaking special effects, and thought-provoking themes, Blade Runner is widely considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made.

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

12 Monkeys is a 1995 science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Plummer. The story follows James Cole (Willis), a convict in the future sent back in time to find the source of a deadly virus that has wiped out most of humanity. Cole must work with a mental patient (Pitt) and a scientist (Stowe) in order to track down the virus and find a cure. Along the way, Cole discovers the truth about the virus, the future, and his own identity. The film is a bleak and thoughtful exploration of time travel, human nature, and the consequences of our actions.

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

Planet of the Apes (1968) is a classic science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. It stars Charlton Heston as Taylor, an astronaut who is stranded on a strange planet ruled by intelligent apes. As Taylor attempts to find a way home, he discovers a horrifying truth—humanity has been enslaved by apes and is treated as nothing more than animals. As Taylor discovers the secrets of the planet, he must fight for the freedom of mankind. With thrilling action and a powerful story, Planet of the Apes is one of the most influential science fiction films of all time.

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

Children of Men is a 2006 British-American science fiction thriller film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, set in 2027 in a dystopic world where humans have become infertile and unable to reproduce. The film follows Theo Faron (Clive Owen), an ex-activist turned bureaucrat who is asked by his estranged wife Julian (Julianne Moore) to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary so that she can give birth, thus restoring hope and life to a dying world. Along the way, Theo and his companions face numerous dangers, from a chaotic world filled with political unrest and violence, to a powerful and mysterious organization determined to capture the woman. The film's themes of hope, mortality, and the fragility of life are explored throughout the course of the film, highlighting the importance of keeping hope alive in the face of a bleak future.

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

Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 comedy horror film directed by Edgar Wright. It follows Shaun, an electronics store employee living a typical average life in London. All of that changes when the dead begin to rise from the grave and Shaun must use his slacker know-how to save himself, his friends, and his mother from the zombie hordes. With the help of his best friend Ed, they battle their way through the streets of London, fighting off the undead and trying to keep themselves alive. Along the way, they encounter other survivors, shop owners, and a variety of quirky characters as they struggle to survive in a world gone mad.

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

Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance-disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic during its fatal voyage in 1912. The film also features supporting performances from Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, and Bernard Hill. The film follows the star-crossed love story of Jack Dawson, a penniless artist, and Rose DeWitt Bukater, a wealthy society girl. As their forbidden romance blossoms, the two find themselves on the doomed Titanic, which hits an iceberg and begins to sink. Struggling to survive, Jack and Rose must put aside their differences and work together to survive the disaster and keep each other alive. Titanic was a box office success, grossing $2.187 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of all time until Avatar (2009). It was nominated for fourteen Academy Awards, winning eleven, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography.

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

Gravity is a 2013 science fiction film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The story follows two astronauts, Ryan Stone (Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (Clooney), as they attempt to return to Earth after their spacecraft is destroyed by debris from a destroyed satellite. As they battle the lack of oxygen, dwindling fuel, and the extreme force of gravity, they must make daring decisions to survive and return to their families.

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

Apollo 13 is a 1995 American historical docudrama film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Ed Harris. The film is based on the true story of the ill-fated 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, which was intended to be the third lunar landing mission. The film follows the struggles of the three astronauts aboard the Apollo spacecraft as they battle a series of mechanical failures, dwindling oxygen, and ultimately, the successful return of the crew to Earth. Despite the many challenges, the astronauts and their support staff never give up, using their wits and resourcefulness to succeed in their mission. The film won two Academy Awards, for Best Sound and Best Editing.

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

The Road Warrior is an Australian post-apocalyptic action-adventure film released in 1981. Directed by George Miller, it is the second installment in the Mad Max franchise and stars Mel Gibson as “Mad” Max Rockatansky. The film is set in a post-nuclear war Australia, where the world has become a barren wasteland. Max is a survivor who wanders the land in search of fuel and other resources he can use to survive. He soon becomes involved in a conflict between a group of settlers and a group of marauders. The marauders are attempting to steal the settlers' fuel, but Max teams up with the settlers to help them defend their resource. In the process, Max finds himself in an epic battle for survival. The Road Warrior gained critical and commercial success and has become a cult classic. It became the highest-grossing Australian film of all time when released and is widely considered to be one of the best action films of the 1980s.

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

United 93 is a 2006 drama/thriller directed by Paul Greengrass that tells the story of United Airlines Flight 93 on 11 September 2001, as seen through the eyes of passengers and crew on board the plane as well as air traffic controllers on the ground. As terrorists hijack the plane, passengers on board attempt to retake control of the aircraft, culminating in a dramatic crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Through the lens of Greengrass’s tense, real-time direction, we follow the course of events leading up to the tragedy and witness the heroism of those on board who sacrificed their lives to prevent a greater disaster.

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

Zombieland is a 2009 post-apocalyptic zombie comedy directed by Ruben Fleischer. The film follows four survivors of a zombie apocalypse — Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) — as they navigate their way across the United States in search of a safe haven. Along the way they encounter a variety of characters and scenarios, including an amusement park populated by zombie clowns and an offbeat family of survivors. The group ultimately teams up in an effort to survive the zombie hordes and find a safe place to live. Zombieland is an entertaining, action-packed adventure film with a comedic twist.

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

28 Days Later... is a 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. The film follows the experiences of a group of survivors in a world ravaged by a virus that has decimated the population and transformed much of the remaining populace into mindless, voracious zombie-like creatures. Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma in an abandoned hospital, only to find out that the world he once knew has changed drastically. He quickly learns of the virus, the Rage virus, which has spread across the UK and caused the death of most of the population, as well as the infection of many of the survivors. After encountering a group of survivors, he joins them in their journey to find safety and a cure. Along the way, they encounter many of the infected, as well as military personnel who are using the survivors as test subjects. Eventually, they make it to London, in the hopes of finding sanctuary from the virus. Unfortunately, their journey is not without danger, as they are forced to battle the infected and the military forces in the city. In the end, the survivors are able to find a safe haven and hope for a better future.

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

The Impossible is a 2012 Spanish-American disaster drama film directed by J.A. Bayona and starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland. The film tells the true story of the Belón family, who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that affected Thailand, India, Indonesia and other countries around the world. Maria (Watts) and Henry (McGregor) are a married couple on holiday with their three sons when the tsunami hits. The family is separated and Maria and the eldest son Lucas (Holland) find themselves struggling to survive in the face of incredible odds. As they search for each other, they must confront the challenges posed by the natural disaster and the human suffering it has caused. The film follows their struggle for survival and the hope that comes from never giving up.

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

The Abyss is a science fiction adventure film directed by James Cameron, released in 1989. The film follows a team of deep sea oil-drillers on a mission to locate a sunken nuclear submarine. When they encounter an alien species living in a deep-water abyss, they must put aside their differences and work together to save the world from destruction. The team is led by Bud Brigman (Ed Harris), and includes Lindsey Brigman (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), Cat (Michael Biehn), and Levine (John Lithgow). As they explore the depths of the abyss, they come across numerous breathtaking and dangerous conditions, as well as unexpected surprises. The team must brave the depths of the abyss and their own fears in order to succeed in their mission.

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