Of all thescience fiction moviesubgenres, post-apocalyptic films are the most likely to fly under the radar with brilliant stories that explore life after the collapse of civilization as we know it. Thegreatest post-apocalyptic filmsall explore the erosion of modern human values when met with some greater force that society ultimately isn’t able to weather, be it a deadly virus, nuclear bombs, or some other grave esoteric threat. Post-apocalyptic films can vary greatly in tone, from campy action-packed romps full of strange scrapmetal contraptions to tender, meditative reflections on the human condition.
Sadly, not every great post-apocalyptic movie can reach the same heights of fame astheMad Maxmovies, with many being low-budget, independent films ripe for falling into the annals of cinematic obscurity despite their quality. Others are simply too offbeat or strange to be paraded by a wide audience, only finding their fans far after their time on theater marquees has come and gone. Whatever the case, some post-apocalyptic movies with little name recognition deserve to be unearthed and appreciated to the fullest extent possible.
Perhaps the poster boy of underappreciated post-apocalyptic films is none other thanA Boy and his Dog.Sure enough, the film follows the adventures of a young boy and his telepathic canine companion as they travel a bombed-out nuclear wasteland full of terrifying raiders and mutant creeps, searching for victims for their own sick desires. Neither protagonist has good intentions, but the two form an oddly-touching bond and end up doing some right things for terribly wrong reasons over the course of their travels.
Ridley Scott’s Post-Apocalyptic Movie Loses Lead Star & Now Jacob Elordi Is In Talks To Replace Him
Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic movie has lost its lead star due to scheduling issues, and now Jacob Elordi is in talks to replace him.
The bizarre nature ofA Boy and his Dog’s apocalypse and the film’s macabre sense of dark humor inspiredthe universe of theFalloutgame series, which in turn went on to inspire the hit TV show of the same name. It’s safe to say that the post-apocalyptic genre owes a lot to the film, with the inspiration being plain to see upon actually watching it. Though it certainly isn’t an easy film to stomach, with depictions of violence, cannibalism, and sexual assault, it deserves to be a far bigger talking point in the conversation of the subgenre.
Not every post-apocalyptic movie necessarily needs to be either as dour as something likeThe Roador rely on dark humor likeA Boy and his Dog.This was proven byLove and Monsters,a 2020 film that, like most releases during the time period, went badly overlooked shortly after its release.The movie stars Dylan O’Brien as a young survivor eking out an existence in an underground bunker community after an apocalyptic event transforms animal life all over the world into massive ferocious mutant creatures.
Love and Monstersworks both as a poignant coming-of-age story as well as a simple action romp through a unique apocalypse, deserving of more praise than it has sadly been able to receive.
O’Brien’s Joel sets out on a perilous journey aboveground to reconnect with his high school sweetheart, only to uncover some shocking truths about the community she lives in.Joel makes some friends along the way during his travels, which get good use out of some creative monster designs.Love and Monstersworks both as a poignant coming-of-age story as well as a simple action romp through a unique apocalypse, deserving of more praise than it has sadly been able to receive.
Interestingly enough, much likethe classic spaghetti Westerns, Italian filmmakers went through a phase of churning out low-budgetMad Maxrip-offs in the 80s, creating an obscure sub-subgenre known as “nukesploitation”.These films are often so hilariously bad that they wrap around the horseshoe of quality to become jaw-dropping masterpieces again, deserving acclaim as cult films. No single entry better represents the ill-informed strangeness of nukesploitation quite like 1987’sInterzone.
The film follows a supernaturally-gifted wasteland survivor from an order of monks who name themselves after brands like “Panasonic” and “General Electric”.Panasonic is tasked with protecting the last fertile region on Earth, the titular Interzone, from a roving gang of raiders lead by the impressively-built bodybuilder dominatrix Mantis.The final reveal of the vault of knowledge Panasonic is protecting is an endearingly strange final note in an adorably rote rip-off that deserves accolades as a so-bad-its-good masterpiece.
Quietly releasing in 2015,Turbo Kidis the definition of a sleeper hit that never got the accolades it genuinely deserved.Similarly to how theFalloutseries combines 50s retrofuture aesthetics with a grimy post-apocalyptic world,Turbo Kidmines for 90s nostalgia by taking place in an apocalypse caused by a water crisis that came to a boiling point in 1997. The plot centers on a young survivor and superhero fan who meets a quirky new love interest.
The two soon clash with the brutal warlord Zeus, who gets his water by literally grinding his victims to a pulp with a depraved machine.
The logic ofTurbo Kid’s world is undoubtedly cartoonish and nonsensical, not making it a suitable candidate for those looking for a grimy, realistic take on a society that had moved on.Still, the movie holds a shockingly unique charm, something like 1995’sTank Girlbut minus the dark visuals and obvious lack of finished footage.Turbo Kidreceived mixed reviews upon it’s release, but is worth a second check for fans of more upbeat post-apocalyptic stories.
If secondhand nostalgia for an age gone by via a 2010s movie relying hard on 90s aesthetics isn’t enough,Night of the Cometoffers a potent time capsule of 80s culture straight from the source. Released in 1984, the aggressively of-the-times film follows two clueless Valley Girls who somehow managed to survive the passing of a deadly comet, whose gasses eradicated most of the population and turned many of the rest into raving, flesh-eating zombies.It’s up to the two young women to navigate their violent new world while dodging scientists who wish to study them.
The happy-go-lucky nature ofNight of the Cometpresents the apocalypse as a sort of fun playground, giving its two leads plenty of time to go shopping and tease their huge 80s hair up to the heavens in between gunning down hordes of zombies. In this way, the film almost reads as a prototype oftheZombielandduology, and provides just as much fun and entertainment.With genuinely funny jokes, a blaring 80s soundtrack and some surprisingly prescient commentary of Reagan-era culture and politics,Night of the Cometshould be a household name.
As great as high-flying jokey romps through playground post-apocalyptic landscapes are, the genre is often at its best when being more grounded and realistic. Despite reviewing quite poorly upon its release,The Midnight Skyworks amazingly as a more meditative, character-focused science fiction movie that just so happens to take place during humanity’s most desperate hour.Due to some unexplained event, the majority of humanity has evacuated the planet in spaceships in search of new worlds to colonize.
When an unexpected stowaway reveals herself in his lair, Augustine is forced to confront his past.
George Clooney’s Augustine is a scientist with a terminal disease who stays behind on an Antarctic research base to warn astronauts returning on a mission to Jupiter from landing on Earth.When an unexpected stowaway reveals herself in his lair, Augustine is forced to confront his past. The film’s brilliant split narrative balances two timelines in Augustine’s mind as well as the returning crew of the space mission quite well, deserving more credit as a somber, reflective tale set in a snowy post-human landscape.
Theroad trip movieand the post-apocalypse go hand-in-hand, even whenMad Max-style vehicles aren’t necessarily available.Enter the seldom-seen Martin Freeman movieCargo,which stars the lovable British actor and a shockingly stern and even somber role.Cargoposits Freeman as one half of a couple traveling with their newborn child in the desolate remote landscape of rural Australia, braving a world infected by a rage virus that turns victims stark-raving mad.
From there, things quickly go from bad to worse as the three soon encounter a rapid individual, leaving Martin Freeman alone to bring his child to safety.The film does a brilliant job depicting Aboriginal culture, something that’s rarely given screentime in any major film release.A tense, tragic, and deeply rattling emotion and physical journey,Cargodoes a brilliant job reminding viewers just how precious human life can be.
Even more specific to the post-apocalyptic subgenre are stories in which only a single survivor seemingly remains of the entire human race.The Quiet Earthis a film out of New Zealand that ponders just such a premise, with a lone protagonist who wakes up one day to discover everyone else has mysteriously vanished.Of course, like most “last man on Earth” films, he soon finds he isn’t the only survivor after all, with a total of three humans seemingly surviving the catastrophic event.
WhileThe Quiet Earthdoes play with a love triangle between its three protagonists, the majority of the narrative is centered on the mystery of the Earth’s sudden rapture.Shockingly, the actual reveal as to what happened and why the three survivors in particular managed to dodge it is incredibly satisfying, making the film both emotionally rich and a satisfying riddle to be solved. It’s worth noting that famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson approved the film’s scientific approach.
Despite releasing long before the first season ofThe Last of Us, The Girl with All the Giftsadmittedly did come out three years after the original game was released, bearing quite a similar premise.Just likeThe Last of Us' cordyceps fungus,The Girl with All the Giftsdescribes a zombie apocalypse brought on by a deadly strain of fungi that ends up infecting most of humanity.However, hope arrives in the form of a young girl born to two infected parents, demonstrating some of the zombies' viciousness but with an underlying intelligence capable of controlling it.
It may lift quite heavily from the plot of the now-famous video game, butThe Girl with All the Giftsis still well-worth watching in its own right.The fascinating exploration of a zombie character tasked with curbing her own ravenous impulses is an interesting one, complimented by the bleak world and tense action sequences. It’s a shame the success ofThe Last of Ushas only further buried this hidden gem into the depths of movie obscurity.
As great as more lighthearted adventures or grueling meditative stories are, the post-apocalyptic setting is also phenomenal for simple action thrill-rides.Six-String Samuraiis an absurdist indie action movie from the 90s that proves the worth of the post-apocalypse in a frantic, bloody story. The film follows a lonesome wanderer named Buddy, a guitarist styling himself after the legendary Buddy Holly, who sets out on a quest to become the new “King” of the settlement of Lost Vegas after it’s former leader, and Evlis impersonator, dies. Along the way, he picks up a stray child companion, literally just called “Kid”.
Six-String Samuraiwas made on a miniscule budget, and it certainly shows at times, but these innovations led to some jaw-dropping creativity with the action choreography and world-building. The quirky factions of music-loving bandits, sports-themed assassins, and cannibalistic nuclear families make for some truly unforgettable characters.Six-String Samuraibalances music, comedy, and exciting action in a manner that only the palette of a post-apocalypticscience fictionmovie could inspire.
