There is something powerful about the end of the world movies. Combined with the thrills of disaster and creepiness, you will be gripped by suspense.
In a short time, you will feel that you cannot take another month of staying inside and masking up against a pandemic. You will get caught by a feeling if the winter storms seem to be taking over or if natural disasters seem to be getting stronger than ever.
Despite all those fears, the end of everything has always fascinated us. It doesn’t matter if it is about aliens, zombies, or any natural disasters; the thrills we receive from such movies are always unexplainable and motivate us to enter this world of suspense.
Over the decades, these types of movies reflected the evils of our society. Moreover, these kinds of films are mirrors of our society, reflecting the ugliest delusions.
If you haven’t watched these movies yet, we have listed the best 15 end-of-the-world movies of all time for your observation and to understand how the pattern of these movies gives you chills.
So snuggle up to enter the world of apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic movie marathons and be reminded how lucky you are.
Table of Contents
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Director: Johannes Roberts
Producer: James Harris, Robert Kulzer, and Hartley Gorenstein
Star Cast: Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia, Donal Logue, and Neal McDonough
The story of the action horror film was written and directed by the same person, Johannes Robert.
It takes place in the small town of Raccoon City in 1998 and centers on survivors attempting to stay alive during the zombie epidemic.
Finch (2021)
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Producer: Craig Luck, Daniel Maze, Kevin Misher, Ivor Powell, Jack Rapke, Miguel Sapochnik, and Robert Zemeckis
Star Cast: Tom Hanks and Caleb Landry Jones
The film was written by Craig Luck and Ivor Powell and was released on November 2021. The storyline revolves around a robot designed to save the life of his creator’s cherished dog on a post-apocalyptic Earth and learns about life, love, friendship, and what it is to be human.
Mother/Android (2021)
Director: Mattson Tomlin
Producer: Matt Reeves, Bill Block, Mattson Tomlin, Rafi Crohn, Adam Kassan, and Charles Miller
Star Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Algee Smith, and Raúl Castillo
Along with direction, Mattson Tomlin wrote the story of this film released on December 2021 in the USA and January 2022 on an international level.
The storyline revolves around a young pregnant woman and her lover, who are urgently seeking shelter in a post-apocalyptic world shaken by a violent android revolt.
Don’t Look Up (2021)
Director: Adam McKay
Producer: Adam McKay and Kevin Messick
Star Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep
Written and screenplay by Adam McKay, the film revolves around the journey of two astronomers trying to alert people of an impending comet that will wipe out civilization.
The film was released in December 2021 in different parts of the United States and on the online platform Netflix.
What Still Remains (2018)
Director: Josh Mendoza
Producer: Nicholas Lazo, Gregg Meller, and Josh Mendoza
Star Cast: Lulu Antariksa, Colin O’Donoghue, Peter O’Brien, Dohn Norwood, Jeff Kober, and Mimi Rogers
The film’s story was also written by the director Josh Mendoza and focused on the post-apocalyptic story that revolves around the survival of a young woman in a world ruined by illness after losing her family.
The film was first released in the USA in August 2018.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Director: John Krasinski
Producer: Andrew Form, Michael Bay, and Brad Fuller
Star Cast: Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
Bryan Woods and Scott Beck wrote the story of this post-apocalyptic horror film in which the world is populated with blind monsters. A family is trying to hide from monsters with extremely keen hearing.
These movies will take you to experience what the end of the world would seem like. The film was released in the United States in 2018.
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)
Director: Christopher Landon
Producer: Todd Garner and Andy Fickman
Star Cast: Tye Sheridan and David Koechner
Written and screenplay by Carrie Evans, Christopher Landon, and Emi Mochizuki, the story of this film revolve around three scouts who strive to protect their town from a zombie invasion and learn the true value of friendship in the process on the evening of their last camping trip.
The film was first released on October 2015 in the United States and received mixed feedback from critics.
These Final Hours (2013)
Director: Zak Hilditch
Producer: Liz Kearney
Star Cast: Nathan Phillips, Angourie Rice, Jessica De Gouw, Daniel Henshall, Kathryn Beck, Sarah Snook, and Lynette Curran
The film was first released in Australia in 2013. The storyline of this Australian apocalyptic thriller written by Zak Hilditch revolves around a self-absorbed young guy who decided to party on his last day on earth.
Amidst this, he saved the life of a little girl looking for her father. In the end, his path leads him to the road to repentance.
Snowpiercer (2013)
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Producer: Jeong Tae-sung, Steven Nam, Park Chan-wook, and Lee Tae-hun
Star Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner, Go Ah-sung, John Hurt, and Ed Harris
Bong Joon-Ho also wrote the story and screenplay of this film. The film was released in South Korea and the Czech Republic in July 2013 in Times Square and in August 2013 in South Korea.
The storyline revolves around a new class system that emerges in the future after a failed climate-change experiment that killed all life except for the survivors aboard the Snowpiercer train.
Filming of this movie was held in Prague at Barrandov Studios, using train cars mounted on gimbals to simulate motion.
Goodbye World (2013)
Director: Denis Henry Hennelly
Producer: Mary Pat Bentel, Denis Henry Hennelly, Albertino Matalon, Guy Moshe, Sarah Adina Smith, and Matthew G. Zamias
Star Cast: Kerry Bishé, Caroline Dhavernas, Adrian Grenier, Gaby Hoffmann, Ben McKenzie, Scott Mescudi, and Mark Webber
The film first premiered at LA Film Festival in 2013. And then in April 2014 in the United States.
Written by Sarah Adina Smith and Denis Henry Hennelly, the plot revolves around a group of friends fleeing to their country cabin after a mysterious terrorist attack.
However, the challenges of living in a post-apocalyptic world soon undermine relationships within the group.
World War Z (2013)
Director: Marc Forster
Producer: Bradd Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Ian Bryce
Star Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, and Matthew Fox
The film was released in June 2013 in the United States and is inspired by the novel World War Z by Max Brooks. It revolves around a storyline in which Gerry Lane, a former employee of the United Nations, travels the world in a fight for survival to halt a zombie virus.
This virus spreads fast and is infectious, which might wipe out all of humanity and bring down armies and governments. World War Z is one of the finest movies depicting the end of the world.
After Earth (2013)
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Producer: Jada Pinkett Smith, Caleeb Pinkett, James Lassiter, Will Smith, and M. Night Shyamalan
Star Cast: Caleeb Pinkett, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, James Lassiter, and M. Night Shyamalan
This film is a narrative of Will Smith and was released in May 2013 in Tokyo and the United States.
The storyline revolves around an Earth crash that leaves Kitai Raige, played by Jaden Smith, and his father Cypher, on the Earth after a century.
This event took place because of the evacuation of civilization from the Earth. This post-apocalyptic film is all about Kitai’s risk of signaling for help after Cypher is hurt.
Take Shelter (2011)
Director: Jeff Nichols
Producer: Sophia Lin and Tyler Davidson
Star Cast: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Katy Mixon, Kathy Baker, and Shea Whigham
The film was released in 2011 in the United States following the story of a young husband and father. They are plagued by apocalyptic visions and must decide whether to shelter their family from the coming storm or protect themselves.
Take Shelter is also one of the best end of the world movies. The cast of this movie also got nominated and won several awards and recognition for their outstanding contribution to the film.
Contagion (2011)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and Gregory Jacobs
Star Cast: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Ehle, and Sanaa Lathan
The film was first released in 2011 in the United States and was written by Scott Z. Burns. Contagion seems to be a prediction of the Covid-19 pandemic and shows how the world can end because of the deadly viruses.
The storyline revolves around a highly contagious virus spread by respiratory droplets and fomites in this film.
Medical investigators and public health administrators attempt to identify and contain the infection. Still, social order is lost as the virus becomes a worldwide pandemic, and a vaccine is developed to prevent it from spreading.
2012 (2009)
Director: Roland Emmerich
Producer: Harlas Kloser, Mark Gordon, and Larry J. Franco
Star Cast: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandiwe Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson
Written by Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser, the film covers a series of global disasters that were assumed to end humanity and this world.
The plot was based on the hypothesis of the geologists Adrian Helmsley and novelist Jackson Curtis. They go through an end times series of events, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, global floods, and megatsunamis.
The film was released in November 2009 in the United States and received mixed reviews from viewers for its visuals.
Carriers (2009)
Director: Alex Pastor and David Pastor
Producer: Anthony Bregman and Ray Angelic
Star Cast: Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Emily VanCamp, and Christopher Meloni
The film was released in September 2009 in the United States and received favorable reviews from viewers and critics.
The story of this film revolves around a group of four friends who travels to seek refuge in a plague-free place. In the middle of the journey, they face several situations which later turn them against each other.
I am Legend (2007)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Producer: David Heyman, James Lassiter, Akiva Goldsman
Star Cast: Will Smith, Alice Braga, and Dash Mihok
The film was released in December 2007 in the United States and received positive reviews for its performance.
The story of this film was based on the I am Legend novel by Richard Matheson and The Omega Man by John William Corrington and Joyce H. Corrington.
The story of this film revolves around Will Smith, who portrayed the role of Robert Neville, finding the cure for a plague that kills most people and turns them into monsters.
Neville remains the only survivor and desperately seeks a cure to get back to normal life.
War of the Worlds (2005)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson
Star Cast: Tom Cruise, Miranda Otto, Dakota Fanning, and Tim Robbins
The film was based on the War of the Worlds novel by H.G. Wells and was released in June 2005 in the United States.
In the film, an American dock worker tries to protect, reunite, and protect his children when extraterrestrials attack Earth and destroy cities with giant war machines, causing him to live separately from them.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Director: Roland Emmerich
Producer: Mark Gordon and Roland Emmerich
Star Cast: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sela Ward, Emmy Rossum, and Ian Holm
Written by Roland Emmerich, the film shows the catastrophic climatic effects of disruptions to ocean circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean. As a result of extreme weather events, a new ice age and global cooling begin.
This film was released in May 2004 in the United States and Mexico and received mixed reviews.
Reign of Fire (2002)
Director: Rob Bowman
Producer: Richard D. Zanuck, Gary Barber, Lili Fini Zanuck, and Roger Birnbaum
Star Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Izabella Scorupco, and Gerard Butler
Written by Greg Chabot and Kevin Peterka, the film revolves around the set in England in 2020. After twenty years in the London tunneling project, workers inadvertently revived dragons from centuries of slumber.
Thus replacing humans as the world’s dominant species. To regain world control, Denton Van Zan (McConaughey) and Quinn Abercromby (Bale) work with each other to hunt down and destroy the beasts.
The film was released in July 2002 in the United Kingdom, United States, and Ireland and received mixed reviews from viewers and critics.
The Fifth Element (1997)
Director: Luc Besson
Producer: Patrice Ledoux
Star Cast: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker, and Ian Holm
The film was first released in May 1997 in France and received a lot of appreciation for its amazing work.
Luc Besson wrote the storyline around a former special forces major and taxicab driver, Korben Dallas (Willis), who becomes responsible for saving planet Earth after a young lady (Jovovich) falls into his cab in the 23rd century.
Later, the two team up to recover four mystical stones necessary to defend Earth against a malevolent cosmic entity’s impending attack.
Waterworld (1995)
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Producer: Kevin Costner, John Davis, Lawrence Gordon, and Charles Gordon
Star Cast: Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tina Majorino, and Michael Jeter
Written by Peter Rader and David Twohy, this post-apocalyptic film was the most expensive movie of that time.
It was released in July 1995 in the United States and received mixed reviews from audiences and critics.
The film revolves around a nameless antihero, The Mariner, who sails the Earth in a trimaran. The story starts from a distant future, which is the film’s main setting. Almost all of the land has been covered by the sea because the polar ice cap has completely melted.
The Quiet Earth (1985)
Director: Geoff Murphy
Producer: Sam Pillsbury and Don Reynolds
Star Cast: Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, and Peter Smith
The film was released in October 1985 and was based on the novel by Craig Harrison. The storyline revolves around a man named Zac Hobson.
When Zac Hobson awakens, he finds himself alone in the world. When he tries to find others, he finds only two individuals who have their agendas.
The Last Wave (1977)
Director: Peter Weir
Producer: Hal and Jim McElroy
Star Cast: Richard Chamberlain, Olivia Hamnett, Gulpilil, and Nandjiwarra Amagula
The screenplay was written by Peter Weir, Tony Morphett, and Petru Popescu and was first released in December 1977 in Australia.
The storyline of this film covers the story of a white solicitor in Sydney. He takes on a killing case and discovers that he conveys a strange, supernatural bond with a small group of Aboriginals.
A Boy and His Dog (1975)
Director: L. Q. Jones
Producer: Alvy Moore
Star Cast: Don Johnson, Susanne Benton, Alvy Moore, Jason Robards
Based on the novel by Harlan Elison, A Boy and His Dog was a great movie of the mid-seventies. The viewers appreciated the concept of post-apocalyptic in the cinema.
The story of this film revolves around a teenage boy called Vic and his telepathic dog named Blood. The two of them work together to survive in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Southwest. The film was released in March 1975 at the Filmex Festival in Los Angeles.
The movie was further also released by Shout! Factory on Blu-ray disks and DVDs in August 2013.
Final Note
There are countless possibilities for destroying civilizations and planets in the imaginary human world. We have witnessed those through the director’s lens and enjoyed watching them.
These are those movies that remind us that even the worst things can also happen in life. However, you need not worry because these are just technology-based movies
We hope you will spend some time watching these movies for an amazing adventurous experience.
