Top 9 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You Shouldn't Miss

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is set ten years after the deadly Simian Flu pandemic has ravaged the world. With the human population dramatically reduced, only 1 in 500 people remain genetically immune. Society has collapsed, and in its place, the apes, led by the intelligent Caesar, establish a colony in Muir Woods near San Francisco, their intelligence enhanced by the virus.

Malcolm, a human, leads a group into the apes' territory in search of a hydroelectric dam to restore power to the city. Tensions rise when Caesar's son, Blue Eyes, and his friend Ash encounter humans, resulting in a confrontation that leaves one human, Carver, wounded. Despite escalating danger, Malcolm tries to de-escalate the situation.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a blend of action and emotion, where the end of one species signals the beginning of another.

IMDb Score: 7.6

Tomatometer Score: 90%

Audience Rating: 88%

The film is set aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that travels across a frozen Earth, symbolizing a relentless cycle of life. Time aboard the train is measured by location, with years passing as the train crosses a bridge. The endless, monotonous existence has led to vastly different worldviews among the passengers.

The story begins with the Earth’s climate disaster, where global warming has led to a catastrophic cooling, freezing the planet. However, Wilford, a transport mogul, anticipated this and built a self-sustaining train, which saved the last remnants of humanity. Seventeen years later, class divisions aboard the train create tensions and, as expected, class struggles emerge. The film uses the post-apocalyptic setting to explore class inequality, making a subtle statement about the societal divide in the modern world.

IMDb rating: 7.1

Tomatometer: 94%

Audience score: 72%

One of the most iconic zombie movies of all time, Zombieland stands out for its unique approach, avoiding the typical survival struggles seen in many similar films. The story follows a group of strangers who, despite their differences and personal goals, are forced to travel together for the sake of survival.

Since its release, the careers of the cast and crew skyrocketed. Emma Stone became an A-list star after winning an Oscar for La La Land, while Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson kept busy with major projects. The film grossed over $102 million, making Zombieland (2009) the highest-grossing zombie film in the U.S. up until that point.

IMDb rating: 7.6

Tomatometer: 89%

Audience score: 86%

WALL-E (2008) is a heartwarming American animated sci-fi comedy directed by Andrew Stanton. Set in a dystopian future where Earth is overrun by waste and uninhabitable, humanity has retreated into space, leaving robots behind to clean up the mess. WALL-E, a lonely trash compactor robot, has developed a fondness for the musical Hello, Dolly! After years of working, WALL-E unknowingly continues his job despite the cessation of the cleanup program.

One day, a spaceship lands, leaving behind a sleek robot named EVE. WALL-E is immediately captivated by her beauty and speed. Before they can form an epic musical romance, an unexpected discovery leads them back to humanity’s current home: a massive spaceship called the Axiom.

On the Axiom, humans live in isolation, relying on technology for interaction, and are so sedentary they have become obese. WALL-E’s arrival brings hope, as he holds the key to humanity’s return to Earth.

IMDb rating: 8.4

Tomatometer: 95%

Audience score: 90%

I Am Legend is often regarded as one of the most successful adaptations of Richard Matheson’s 1954 sci-fi novel. Will Smith stars as Robert Neville, a U.S. Army virologist in a post-apocalyptic New York City, where a virus originally designed to cure cancer has wiped out humanity. The only survivor is Neville, immune to the virus, who must fend off night-dwelling mutants while searching for a cure.

With the film almost entirely focused on a single character, Will Smith is put under immense pressure to carry the story, but he delivers a powerful performance, with his co-star Abbey, the dog playing Sam, offering subtle support. For the first half of the film, Smith’s portrayal captivates the audience, drawing them into Neville’s emotional world. Critics have praised Smith’s eyes as one of the film’s most compelling features, conveying a vast array of emotions without words.

IMDb rating: 7.2

Tomatometer: 68%

Audience score: 68%

Children of Men is the sixth feature by Alfonso Cuaron, based on the 1992 novel of the same name. Set in 2027, the film imagines a world where infertility has wiped out humanity’s ability to reproduce, plunging society into chaos and constant warfare. Millions of refugees flee to the UK, one of the last remaining stable nations, though its government resembles a harsh, authoritarian regime.

The story follows Theo, a former activist now withdrawn from society, who is drawn back into action by his ex-wife Julian. Their mission is to protect Kee, a pregnant refugee and the last hope for humanity’s future, as she carries the world’s only unborn child.

IMDb rating: 7.9

Tomatometer: 92%

Audience score: 85%

A Quiet Place Part II continues with the same heart-pounding tension that made the first film a hit, with the danger of the alien creatures portrayed in even greater detail. From the very first scene, audiences are thrust into an intense encounter as these monsters wreak havoc in a wide-open space, effortlessly destroying a moving car and killing dozens in the blink of an eye. The characters must remain silent wherever they go, whether it's an abandoned factory, an old house, or a desolate train car, as they fight to survive.

Directed by John Krasinski, A Quiet Place Part II grossed $34.2 million over the first two days of its North American release, with a total of $57.4 million by the end of its opening weekend. This impressive achievement comes during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, showcasing the film's strong appeal.

IMDb rating: 7.3

Tomatometer: 91%

Audience score: 92%

The film #Alive opens with a tense scene in a dark apartment, illuminated only by the colorful lights from a gaming setup. Joon-woo, a loner, seems more comfortable immersed in video games and social media than venturing out for groceries or socializing.

Unlike other zombie films with expansive settings, #Alive takes a fresh approach by confining its story to a high-rise apartment complex. The two main characters, Joon Woo (played by Yoo Ah In), a gamer, and Yoo Bin (Park Shin Hye), a woman from the building across, must fight for survival as the zombies overrun their building. The film delivers constant suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat with a unique take on the genre.

IMDb rating: 6.2

Tomatometer: 88%

Audience score: 61%

Bird Box, adapted from Josh Malerman's novel, follows a group of survivors as they attempt to escape an invisible force that drives people to madness and suicide. Among the survivors is a pregnant mother, Malorie (Sandra Bullock), who must protect her two young children while navigating a world devoid of light.

However, this is not your typical survival story, as merely looking at the unseen entities triggers a terrifying loss of sanity, leading to inevitable death. With the added challenge of being pregnant and responsible for her children's safety, how can Malorie possibly survive when deprived of sight?

Unlike typical horror films, Bird Box doesn't rely on visible monsters or ghosts. Instead, it crafts fear from an unseen force, tapping into the inner fears of the human psyche.

IMDb rating: 6.6

Tomatometer: 63%

Audience score: 57%