25 Best Post-Apocalyptic Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · July 9, 2026

Action intense thought provoking

The end of the world looks very different depending on who’s drawing it. The Road is a father and son trudging across a devastated America. The Planet of the Apes films, from the 1968 original to War for the Planet of the Apes, put apes in charge and humans on the run, and the Mad Max series turns the wasteland into one long car chase, Fury Road included. A Quiet Place and Children of Men take quieter, tenser angles on survival.

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

01

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 94% Metacritic 82

Caesar leads his people in a final, brutal war against the humans hunting them to extinction.

Directed by Matt Reeves · 2h 20m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar28 wins & 65 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

02

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 91% Metacritic 79

An uneasy truce between surviving humans and a growing ape civilisation starts to collapse.

Directed by Matt Reeves · 2h 10m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar17 wins & 48 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Planet of the Apes (1968)

03

Planet of the Apes (1968)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 86% Metacritic 79

Astronauts crash on a world where apes rule and humans are treated as animals.

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner · 1h 52m · Rated G

Nominated for 2 Oscars6 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Philo · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Road (2009)

04

The Road (2009)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 74% Metacritic 64

A father and son walk a devastated America searching for the coast and any reason to keep going.

Directed by John Hillcoat · 1h 51m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award5 wins & 34 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

05

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

IMDb ★ 6.2 RT 80% Metacritic 71

A drifter is exiled into the desert and stumbles onto a hidden community of lost children.

Directed by George Miller & George Ogilvie · 1h 47m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

06

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 97% Metacritic 90

A near-wordless desert chase and a franchise reboot that somehow tops the originals.

Directed by George Miller · 2h 01m · Rated R

Won 6 Oscars246 wins & 240 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Road Warrior (1981)

07

The Road Warrior (1981)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 93% Metacritic 77

A lone drifter defends a fuel-rich outpost from a marauding gang in the wasteland.

Directed by George Miller · 1h 36m · Rated R

8 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mad Max (1979)

08

Mad Max (1979)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 89% Metacritic 73

A vengeful highway cop's pursuit of a biker gang unfolds in a society already sliding into collapse.

Directed by George Miller · 1h 31m · Rated R

6 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

World War Z (2013)

09

World War Z (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 67% Metacritic 63

A former UN investigator races the globe to find the origin of a fast-spreading zombie pandemic.

Directed by Marc Forster · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

3 wins & 25 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

10

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 91% Metacritic 71

The family leaves its farmhouse for the first time since the creatures arrived.

Directed by John Krasinski · 1h 37m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award14 wins & 44 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Quiet Place (2018)

11

A Quiet Place (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 96% Metacritic 82

A family survives in near-total silence to avoid creatures that hunt by sound.

Directed by John Krasinski · 1h 31m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar38 wins & 129 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Children of Men (2006)

12

Children of Men (2006)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 92% Metacritic 84

Humanity has been infertile for eighteen years, and one miracle pregnancy changes everything.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón · 1h 49m · Rated R

Nominated for 3 Oscars49 wins & 89 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Snowpiercer (2013)

13

Snowpiercer (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 94% Metacritic 84

A class revolt aboard a perpetually moving train, the last shelter after an ice age.

Directed by Bong Joon Ho · 2h 07m · Rated R

36 wins & 109 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

14

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 46% Metacritic 47

A sudden climate shift plunges the world into an instant, catastrophic ice age.

Directed by Roland Emmerich · 2h 04m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 BAFTA Award6 wins & 12 nominations total

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, FXNow, AMC · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

28 Days Later (2002)

15

28 Days Later (2002)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 87% Metacritic 73

A man wakes from a coma to find Britain emptied out by a rage-fuelled virus.

Directed by Danny Boyle · 1h 53m · Rated R

10 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Zombieland (2009)

16

Zombieland (2009)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 89% Metacritic 73

A germaphobic survivor's rules for staying alive in a zombie-overrun America.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer · 1h 28m · Rated R

10 wins & 29 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Wall-E (2008)

17

Wall-E (2008)

IMDb ★ 8.3

A lonely trash-compacting robot falls for a sleek scout sent to check on a dead Earth.

Directed by Andrew Stanton · 0h 05m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

9 (2009)

18

9 (2009)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 57% Metacritic 60

Small sentient rag dolls are all that stands between humanity's remains and the machine that wiped it out.

Directed by Shane Acker · 1h 19m · Rated PG-13

9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Boy and His Dog (1975)

19

A Boy and His Dog (1975)

IMDb ★ 6.4 RT 80% Metacritic 68

A young man and his telepathic dog scavenge for food in a post-nuclear wasteland.

Directed by L.Q. Jones · 1h 31m · Rated R

2 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Night Flight Plus, Cultpix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Oblivion (2013)

20

Oblivion (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 53% Metacritic 54

A drone repairman on a nearly abandoned Earth starts questioning the mission he's been told is true.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski · 2h 04m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

I Am Legend (2007)

21

I Am Legend (2007)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 68% Metacritic 65

A scientist believes he's the last uninfected man in a New York overrun by mutated survivors.

Directed by Francis Lawrence · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

9 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: VIX , ViX Premium Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Book of Eli (2010)

22

The Book of Eli (2010)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 46% Metacritic 53

A lone wanderer protects the last copy of a book that could either save or doom what's left of society.

Directed by Allen Hughes & Albert Hughes · 1h 58m · Rated R

3 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Reign of Fire (2002)

23

Reign of Fire (2002)

IMDb ★ 6.2 RT 42% Metacritic 39

Dragons have reawakened and scorched civilisation, leaving small pockets of humans to survive.

Directed by Rob Bowman · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Postman (1997)

24

The Postman (1997)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 14% Metacritic 29

A drifter's stolen mail-carrier uniform accidentally sparks a movement to rebuild civil society.

Directed by Kevin Costner · 2h 58m · Rated R

7 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Waterworld (1995)

25

Waterworld (1995)

IMDb ★ 6.3 RT 61% Metacritic 56

Melted polar ice caps force humanity to survive entirely at sea, hunting for the last remaining dry land.

Directed by Kevin Reynolds · 2h 15m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar6 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.