Human civilization lives with the haunting understanding that life will one day end and the sci-fi genre has dutifully explored the survivability of this concept with a number of fan-favorite movies set after the looming end of society for whatever reason, be it natural disasters, man-made wars or Hollywood’s fascination with zombie apocalypses. While fans have seen a number of legendarypost-apocalyptic moviesover the years, the last couple of decades have showcased some of the best “wasteland” movies in the genre as viewers continue to imagine their inevitable end and new beginnings that highlight the strength and adaptability of the human race.
The idea of an apocalypse is horrifying, but viewers are still interested in seeing the various ways in which the human race can meet its eventual demise and how survivors struggle to make ends meet while trying to seek shelter or refuge of any sort. Numerouspost-apocalyptic movieshave been made in the 21st century that are absolutely brilliant in their own right, and viewers who want to see well-directed movies with excellent acting will be more than pleased by what’s on offer in these titles.
Movies likeThis is the End,World War Z,A Quiet Place: Day One,Dawn of the Dead,Train to Busan, andShaun of the Deadmay only show the onset of the apocalypse as opposed to the aftermath of the event, but they will still be included on this list because of the harrowing depictions of these apocalyptic events.
Updated on June 10, 2025, by Ashely Claudino:The post-apocalyptic genre allows viewers to imagine a world of pure chaos where society has completely fallen. Sometimes this happens because of massive virus outbreaks, political discontent, or supernatural forces. Whether the reason, it’s a type of movie that is now bigger than ever, and we’ve compiled a list that mentiones some of the most iconic post-apocalyptic movies of this centure.
Length
99 Minutes
The thirdA Quiet Placemovie is set during the first weeks of the apocalypse, and it describe the experience of a terminal cancer patient and her cat. While hard-shelled at first, the woman begins to open up after she meets a man that shows her great kindness. The two traverse through the large city of New York with the cat, trying to reach a boat that’s leaving the city, all while being as quiet as possible to not alarm the menacing alien creatures that, although blind, can hear extremely well.
InA Quiet Place: Day One, viewers get to see the characters learn about these creatures, as they’ve just reached planet Earth, and how to avoid detection. While there is significant violence and gruesome scenes in the movies, it’s a beautiful drama that will have many viewers bawling their eyes out.
124 Minutes
Bird Boxis a unique movie with a brilliant premise that borders oncosmic and Lovecraftian horror. It tells the tale of a mother who tries to bring herself and her two children into a shelter after an unknown force destroys Earth. The fact that no one knows what this force is makes it even more horrifying.
Bird Boxplays off this premise brilliantly, even though it might falter later down the line. The unknown nature of the horror that turns humans insane is creepy and adds to the tense atmosphere. This movie carries itself on its unique premise and lets fans witness a nightmarish twist on the concept of an apocalypse.
107 Minutes
This is the Endis one of the most hilarious post-apocalypse movies ever made. The star-studded cast plays fictional versions of themselves who get trapped in the events of a biblical apocalypse. It’s a hilarious movie that doesn’t fear crossing any lines with some of its grosser scenes.This is the Endnever fails to entertain the audience.
The idea of a comedic apocalyptic movie is bound to intrigue fans and for obvious reasons. With Seth Rogen and his buddies at the helm of this project, it’s easy to see why so many fans love it. The biblical apocalypse festering in the background adds a unique flair to this laugh-out-loud movie.
98 Minutes
There aren’t many movies that try to tell a sweet romantic story using the setting of a zombie apocalypse, but this is precisely what makesWarm Bodiessuch a unique experience. A romance between a human and a zombie shouldn’t work, so it’s a testament toWarm Bodies' heart that this ends up being the driving force of the movie.
It helps that the movie has its fair share of hilarious moments to add some levity to the situation. Without them,Warm Bodieswould’ve been far too dreary and likely would have failed as an entertaining movie, which makes the amalgamation of genres so important for this fun film.
118 Minutes
Denzel Washington starred in 2010’sThe Book of Eliby directors Albert and Allen Hughes which followed Washington’s Eli as he traveled across a dry and arid wasteland years after a nuclear apocalypse devastated the world.
Eli is a well-trained fighter and survivalist on an important mission which makes him a target of a local warlord (Gary Oldman) who is searching for a book that is in Eli’s possession.The Book of Eliis action-packedand features a gut-wrenching twist that makes it one of the best post-apocalyptic movies of the last decade.
145 Minutes
InKingdom of the Planet of the Apes, humans are no longer the rulers of planet Earth, as it has been overtaken by intelligent apes. Humans, on the other hand, seem to have completely lost their ability to taken in knowledge and have gone somewhat feral. However, as the movie progresses, it becomes apparent that is not the case for every human specimen, and there are still some intelligent human beings, such as Mae and Trevathan.
Eventually, the main plot shifts its focus to a mysterious vault with tons of weapons and a key that makes it possible to reactive satellites all over the world. With some betrayal and lack of trust through all of this, both humans and apes continue to doubt if they can trust one another.
Some fans will argue that the sequel to28 Days Laterdoes not live up to the quality of the first film, but that doesn’t mean this movie isn’t worth checking out. With its unique spin on zombified humans, represented through a Rage Virus to send humans into a state of anger,28 Weeks Laterfocuses on the fallout of this pandemic.
This thrilling film features many great scenes and enthralling storylines, with the standout being the absurdly intense opening sequence. Even if the first movie connected more with viewers, the sequel still has plenty to enjoy.28 Weeks Lateris a worthy sequel that any fan of the first movie should check out.
116 Minutes
Brad Pitt has proven time and time again why he’s one of the biggest draws at the box office. His mere presence elevated the quality ofWorld War Z, which wouldn’t have been all that notable without the work of this legendary actor.
The movie takes a look at the onset of a zombie apocalypse, which was a really popular genre at the time. The idea of seeing a zombie movie now may seem tiring, butWorld War Zdoes just enough to be an exciting movie in its own right. Humanity’s efforts to quell the plague by any means necessary help this movie stand out as a worthwhile watch.
95 Minutes
A new adaptation of2000 A.D.’s incredibly popularJudge Dreddcomic series was released in 2012.Dredd,by director Pete Travis (and Alex Garland, unofficially), stars Karl Urban in a comics-accurate portrayal of the titular character.
Dreddtakes place in the future of MegaCity-One, a massive overpopulated nationwide city surrounded. It is surrounded by a nuclear wasteland, and protected by an army of Judges who also serve as jury and executioner when dealing with the many different types of futuristic criminals. Fans who want to check out a unique superhero movie will love whatDreddbrings to the table.
126 Minutes
Bong-Joon Ho directed 2013’sSnowpiercer, an adaptation of the French graphic novelLe Transperceneigethat takes place on the titular train as it carries the last surviving vestiges of humanity across a never-ending global track that spans a frozen world.
Chris Evans stars as the leader of a rebellion that begins to make its way up the train cars through the segregated class system of the cars as he discovers the dark secrets of theSnowpiercertrain and the frozen world they created while trying to fix the damage humans had already done.
