Best Post-Apocalyptic Movies Of The 21st Century (So Far), Ranked

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 legendary post-apocalyptic movies over 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. Numerous post-apocalyptic movies have 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 like This is the End, World War Z, A Quiet Place: Day One, Dawn of the Dead, Train to Busan, and Shaun of the Dead may 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 December 29, 2024, 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.

29

A Quiet Place: Day One

IMDb Rating: 6.3/10

The third A Quiet Place movie 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.

In A 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.

28

Bird Box

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

Bird Box is a unique movie with a brilliant premise that borders on cosmic 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 Box plays 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.

27

This Is The End

IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

This is the End is 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 End never 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.

26

Warm Bodies

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

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 makes Warm Bodies such a unique experience. A romance between a human and a zombie shouldn’t work, so it’s a testament to Warm 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 Bodies would’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.

25

The Book Of Eli

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Denzel Washington starred in 2010’s The Book of Eli by 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 Eli is action-packed and features a gut-wrenching twist that makes it one of the best post-apocalyptic movies of the last decade.

24

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

In Kingdom 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.

23

28 Weeks Later

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Some fans will argue that the sequel to 28 Days Later does 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 Later focuses 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 Later is a worthy sequel that any fan of the first movie should check out.

22

World War Z

IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

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 of World 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, but World War Z does 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.

21

Dredd

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

A new adaptation of 2000 A.D.‘s incredibly popular Judge Dredd comic 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.

Dredd takes 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 what Dredd brings to the table.

20

Snowpiercer

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Bong-Joon Ho directed 2013’s Snowpiercer, an adaptation of the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige that 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 the Snowpiercer train and the frozen world they created while trying to fix the damage humans had already done.

19

The Matrix Reloaded

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

The Matrix is one of the most iconic movies ever made, introducing a sci-fi dystopian reality that many people continue to be fascinated by to this day. If the setting itself wasn’t tantalizing enough as is, then the Wachowski sisters also added a wealth of excellent fights that were choreographed in a truly brilliant manner. So, it’s easy to see why people were hyped to the moon and back for The Matrix Reloaded prior to its release.

While the movie wasn’t as beloved as its predecessor, viewers loved the exploration of human society in the real world while Neo’s powers as The One made his excursions into the Matrix pretty interesting in their own right. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, and no one expected The Matrix Revolutions to be of such poor quality, ending the series on a rather tepid note. Thankfully, the iconic imagery of The Matrix has endured to this day, and fans still love the first two movies to bits.

18

The Hunger Games

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Jennifer Lawrence got to shine in her breakout role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. The first movie thrusts people into a twisted game where two tributes from each district are chosen to take part in the titular Hunger Games, which pits these people in a fight against each other to death simply to amuse the rich.

The Hunger Games has a great concept that is executed pretty well, with the movie having several stellar highlights of its own. It’s a shame that the later films didn’t live up to the impressive standards set by its predecessor.

17

I Am Legend

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

2007’s adaptation of Richard Matheson’s legendary sci-fi novel I Am Legend, from director Francis Lawrence, stars Will Smith as Robert Neville, a virologist with the U.S. Army who also happens to be immune to the virus that decimated humanity.

Neville spends his days on the abandoned streets of New York City missing the lost society he still finds himself surrounded in while also hunting down dangerous infected humans known as Darkseekers in order to hopefully find a cure and save the human race, though he soon discovers he might not be as alone as he once thought.

16

The Road

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Road was adapted in 2009 by director John Hillcoat and follows a father and son as they spend months together traveling through the wastelands of the former United States.

The world was previously decimated by an unknown disaster that wiped out most of the population and caused a number of survivors to resort to cannibalism, making the pair’s trek towards the sea to escape the harsh winters even more dangerous and full of despair, which is well-captured by leads Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee. This is an incredibly bleak post-apocalyptic representation, but one that is all the more affecting because of how hopeless the characters’ journey feels.

15

Dawn Of The Dead

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Zack Snyder has been criticized time and time again for promoting style over substance in his movies, but this certainly works in favor of films where this kind of direction is welcome. Such is the case with Dawn of the Dead, his directorial debut that many people consider to be one of his best movies to date, which is a testament to how well this movie holds up to this day.

Serving as a remake of George Romero’s masterpiece, Dawn of the Dead may not live up to the standards of its inspiration but it is still a great watch. While the horror elements of this film may be severely downplayed, the stylistic action certainly makes for a great watch. As long as viewers don’t mind underdeveloped characters playing a central role in this film, they’ll be more than happy with what’s on offer here.

14

War For The Planet Of The Apes

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

The Simian Flu was a horrifying virus that wiped out most of the human population, and the apes slowly rose under the watchful guidance of a genetically enhanced chimpanzee named Caesar. As one would expect, humanity isn’t willing to give up the reins. War for the Planet of the Apes takes place around a time when the conflict between apes and humans has developed into full-on war.

In the rebooted Planet of the Apes series, most people consider this title to be the best of the bunch. Caesar’s character is as compelling as ever, leading to an emotional conclusion that serves as one of the better post-apocalyptic movies people can get their hands on.

13

Zombieland

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Rueben Fleischer directed 2007’s Zombieland, which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as survivors of a zombie apocalypse that ravaged the world who find each other as they travel across the United States.

While Zombieland explored a world reeling from a zombie apocalypse, it was done in a comedic, real-world way that both hilariously and emotionally captured the desensitized lives of normal, everyday zombie killers. Fans seeking out a lighthearted post-apocalyptic movie that doesn’t shy away from trying the funny side of thing will find Zombieland to be right up their alley.

12

A Quiet Place

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

A Quiet Place is awfully similar to Bird Box, although some consider it far superior. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski absolutely shine in their roles in this horror flick. Seeing an actor everyone knows from The Office doing so well in such a serious role helps elevate this movie’s quality to new heights.

The movie has a chilling premise, revolving around a bunch of blind monsters who hunt through sound alone. This leads to some extremely tense moments that are easily the best parts of this film, with the main characters being forces to hold their breath and move as noiselessly as possible in order to survive.

11

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Catching Fire takes us back to The Hunger Games’s battlefield, but this time around, it’s for the veterans. To celebrate the third quarter quell of The Hunger Games, the victors are put back in the arena and they must once again fight to the death.

Katniss is the center of attention due to her ability to challenge the Gamemakers, and the political tension in Panem continues to rise in the sequel with the destruction of the Capitol at the end of the movie.

10

28 Days Later

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

One of the most iconic post-apocalyptic horror movies ever made, fans of Cillian Murphy will love watching this actor play a lead role in a movie that continues to be one of the best zombie movies that viewers can check out for themselves. The fact that the director, Danny Boyle, doesn’t even consider this movie to be a zombie film at heart is a testament to how brilliant its themes really are.

The political allegories and moments of calm serenity present in this movie make it a great watch in every way. 28 Days Later can be a tough watch at times, but the brilliant direction and enlightening events present in this movie make it worth watching for anyone who’s a fan of deep, intricate themes told in a post-apocalyptic setting.