There are two basic opinions about post-apocalyptic movies and TV series. Either you find them a bit bleak, or you enjoy imagining a post-apocalyptic future that’s distinct from the worlds we might eventually inhabit, possibly with a hint of sci-fi as well. If you’re into the idea of post-apocalypse TV shows and movies, then this list might be for you.
From comedies about the end of the world to dramas about the suffering that it would cause, this list represents a perfect cross-section of TV and movies that detail what the end of the world might look like. As this list suggests, there’s no single way to tell a story about the end of the world, but these are some of the best movies and TV shows that imagine that kind of dire future.
This Is the End (2013)
The Walking Dead (2010)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
The Strain (2014)
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The Leftovers (2014)
World War Z (2013)
Sometimes the apocalypse needs to be action-packed, gory, and frivolous. World War Z, starring Brad Pitt in the role of Gerry Lane, is one of the best popcorn films of the last decade. This former United Nations employee is a little too heroic in his quest to save the world, something that brings the realism of the film down several notches, but the two-hour movie is still entertaining and fast-paced enough for many different age groups and fan types.