End of the World – 10 Essential Post Apocalyptic Horror Movies

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at the End of the World – 10 Essential Post Apocalyptic Horror Movies. This list was inspired by the recent release of A Quiet Place: Day One.

Post Apocalyptic Horror Movies

Some of the reactions to the release of A Quiet Place: Day One got me to thinking. People expected violence and carnage but instead got a tender tale of survival. This begs the question, has the traditional post-apocalyptic horror movie faded into the background a little?

Do people not know what to expect anymore? I mean, let’s be real, they all follow a similar theme. Nearly all of them feature tales of humans doing their best to survive despite the chaos around them. How have people forgotten what to expect from these films?

Sure, some of them place a closer focus on action elements but most stray pretty far from this. Today we are going to be ranking 10 Post Apocalyptic Horror Movies. Some of these movies are simply okay, some are fantastic, some are criminally underrated. All feature tales of interpersonal human drama set against the backdrop of a decaying world. Let’s go!

☢️ At a Glance: Top 5 End of the World Movies

10. The Divide (2011) – Nuclear Fallout Drama

The Apocalypse Factor: The Divide, from 2011, sees a city fall victim to a nuclear attack. Leaving the residents of an apartment complex to wait out the fallout in the building’s basement. Tensions mount, patience frays and the group’s dynamics begin to fall apart as the situation goes from bad to worse. If you take all the positives of human nature on display in A Quiet Place: Day One and flip them on their head, you have The Divide.

Knockout Verdict: Humanity at its worst.

This is the movie that made me realise that Terminator’s Michael Biehn was still acting and had built up quite an extensive resume. It’s also, by far, the worst movie on this list from a critical standpoint. Some people love this one and I enjoyed it a fair bit.

Acting is pretty terrible, characters are cliched caricatures, and some of the dialogue is laughable but it picks up later on, leading to some fairly intense moments of post apocalyptic drama. I actually enjoyed this one despite the poor critical reception and you might, too.

9. Maggie (2015) – A Slow Goodbye

The Apocalypse Factor: Maggie ticks a lot of the boxes we are looking for in a post apocalyptic horror movie. We have an inspiring tale of survival against the odds and camaraderie between humans. We have plenty of emotion and a liberal dose of sadness and hopelessness. This is one of the closest movies to A Quiet Place: Day One when it comes to themes. The only thing it really lacks is execution.

Knockout Verdict: Arnie sheds a tear.

Following the story of a father and daughter who live in a world overcome by a virus which slowly turns people into Zombies. Maggie sees father Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger) doing everything he can to stay by the side of his infected daughter (Abigail Breslin) until her final moments. Arnie is fantastic in a seriously touching, dramatic, role that helps shed some of his action hero shackles. But the clumsy script and messy pacing leave this movie to feel a little lost at times and a bit misguided. Still a great option for some seriously touching post apocalyptic horror, though.

8. Carriers (2009) – Viral Tension

The Apocalypse Factor: Post apocalyptic films tend to follow one of two themes. Either people come together to survive or people fall apart and bad things happen. The latter is the case in Carriers. This is a movie that seems all the more poignant in light of recent world events. It’s also a competent, and occasionally horrifying, thriller that disappoints at the end but is an interesting journey along the way.

Knockout Verdict: Trust no one, touch nothing.

This one is more of a thriller than a horror, a theme which we will see repeating a few times in this list. Carriers follows a group of friends heading to a supposed beach sanctuary after the outbreak of a deadly virus wipes out most of the human race.

On the way, the group encounter a man looking to get his disease stricken daughter to hospital. This was a movie that was shelved for a few years and only saw a limited release after its lead star, Chris Pine, hit it big in Star Trek. Why not check it out? You might be surprised.

7. It Comes at Night (2017) – Fear is the Virus

The Apocalypse Factor: The truth is, It Comes at Night presents itself as some creepy horror movie with a potential creature lurking in the depths of night. But, in reality, the horror here is far more human than anything. This is a study of the human psyche when presented with a legitimate threat to a person’s existence as well as the question of who to trust when the end of the world arrives on your doorstep. How do you cope and what will you do to survive?

Knockout Verdict: The darkness is inside.

It Comes At Night follows the story of a family hiding from a deadly disease in a remote house deep in the woods. The family’s patriarch, Paul (Joel Edgerton) has established a strict set of rules for his family to live by so that they can stay safe. Those rules are pushed to their limits, however, after a young family arrives seeking refuge. I watched this one in the cinema when it first came out and really enjoyed it. It tends to be one of those movies that divides critics and viewers down the middle.

6. I Am Legend (2007) – Last Man Standing

The Apocalypse Factor: Often forgotten in the horror genre, perhaps thanks to its PG-13 rating and ultra cliched Hollywood ending. I Am Legend still stands as one of the more interesting post-apocalyptic horror movies of the 2000s. It presents a vision of the apocalypse that’s both violent and depressing. It is genuinely enjoyable in parts and even touching. I Am Legend is still worth checking out.

Knockout Verdict: Will Smith vs. The World.

It follows the story of Robert Neville (Will Smith). A scientist tasked with creating a cure for a man-made virus that has wiped out most of the population and turned the rest into monsters. As the last man left alive in New York City, he fights relentless loneliness and mutated humans in his attempts to reverse the virus and save the world.

While I am not a huge fan of the Fresh Prince actor and “rapper”. I Am Legend is Will Smith at his legendary, comedian slapping best. He does a massively impressive job of relating Neville’s loneliness and increasing loss of hope.

5. #Alive (2020) – Streaming the End of the World

The Apocalypse Factor: This movie came out right around the 2020 pandemic. Meaning it resonated with a lot of people in a hugely unexpected way. The main thing #Alive did, however, was to prove that there are still new ideas to be had in the tired zombie apocalypse genre. Unsettling in parts, often fun, and interesting throughout.

Knockout Verdict: Log in, survive, log out.

You know we needed an Asian interpretation of apocalyptic doom in here, right? While I was tempted to include Train to Busan, I felt like #Alive was just so much more unique and interesting. It follows the story of a young video game streamer who finds himself locked inside his apartment alone during the start of a zombie apocalypse. Forced to survive, Oh Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) battles with hunger, anger, and his own self doubt as the zombies converge around his home.

4. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) – Bunker Down

The Apocalypse Factor: This movie is a spiritual successor to another movie that could have easily found its way onto this list – Cloverfield. Though this movie ditches the found footage presentation of the first movie to go with a more traditional narrative style. 10 Cloverfield Lane is still a tight little apocalyptic thriller that does a lot with the tiny basement space and small cast. Tense and with an intriguing mystery at its core. This is a great spin on the post-apocalyptic theme that is well worth checking out.

Knockout Verdict: Monsters inside, monsters outside.

Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead back when you couldn’t turn around without seeing her in another movie, television show or even music video. 10 Cloverfield Lane sees a young woman, Michelle, finding herself chained up in a basement after being involved in a car crash.

The men keeping her there claim the world above is no longer inhabitable after an alien attack has poisoned the air. Though Michelle will soon be left questioning whether she should stay with the men or take her chances outside.

3. 28 Days Later (2002) – Rage Against the Dying of the Light

The Apocalypse Factor: The iconic scenes of a completely abandoned London are still some of the most haunting in horror history. The movie’s impact on horror cannot be overstated. 28 Days Later is a fantastic movie that blends action with some genuine human sentiment. Working as both a high paced survival movie and a tale of human endurance. It is genuinely awesome stuff and one of the better post apocalyptic horror movies.

Knockout Verdict: Running for your life.

You know that this list would be impossible without including Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s epic post-apocalyptic zombie movie 28 Days Later, right? The plot is pretty simple. A deadly virus has spread through the UK, ravaging the population and turning them into mindless, rage filled, zombies. Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes from a coma he suffered before the outbreak of the virus. Only to emerge into London and find it deserted.

2. The Road (2009) – Bleakness Incarnate

The Apocalypse Factor: I caught this movie when it was relatively new and all I can say is that it is a tough watch. Perhaps nailing the post-apocalyptic hopelessness better than any movie on this list. There is almost no entertainment value here as the movie is just so bleak. But it is, also, one of the most effective portrayals of survival that you are going to find. Unrelenting, brutal and captivating throughout. Well deserving of a top 2 spot on our list.

Knockout Verdict: Carry the fire.

Holy shit this movie is grim. The Road follows a father and son as they travel across country to look for a more hospitable home. A cataclysmic event has caused the death of all plant and animal life on earth. As the days grow darker and life becomes increasingly less liveable.

The pair do what they can to survive while never resorting to things that will make them lose their humanity. The Road will tug at your heart strings thanks to the powerful performances of Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

1. Children of Men (2006) – No Future

The Apocalypse Factor: Aside from the unique and fascinating plot. Children of Men features some incredible, one shot, cinematography that lends it a unique, and incredibly raw, feeling among its post apocalyptic themed compatriots. It is a gritty movie that presents the end of the world as an event very much in its infancy. With hope for humanity completely dwindled and society breaking down. It’s tense, action packed, and consistently captivating. Managing to be a brilliant thriller while also examining tales of human survival.

Knockout Verdict: Hope is a dangerous thing.

I wrestled with which movie to place at the number 1 spot in this list. But Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men is just so unique that I think it deserves the spot. The world is on the brink of death as no children have been born in over 18 years. The UK has become a safe haven thanks to its still functioning government and asylum seekers flock there.

After being asked to escort a woman to safety, civil servant Theo Faron (Clive Owen) discovers that she is pregnant. The last fertile woman left on earth. Setting him on a mission to get her to a sanctuary at all costs.

The End of the World as We Know It

That brings us to the end of our journey through the wasteland. If there is one thing these movies teach us, it’s that the end of the world is rarely as cool as Mad Max makes it look. Usually, it’s just grey skies, limited food, and people being terrible to each other. Suddenly, the silence of A Quiet Place doesn’t seem quite so bad, does it?

Thanks for reading and supporting small horror sites. If you want to stick around, why not check out some horror reviews, some horror ending explained articles or some horror lists? Take care and I will, hopefully, see you again soon.

💀 Quick Picks: The Best Post Apocalyptic Horror Movies by Vibe

The “Masterpiece” Pick: Children of Men (2006)
For when you want incredible filmmaking. It isn’t strictly horror, but the tension and the single-shot action sequences are unmatched.

The “Depression” Pick: The Road (2009)
For when you want to feel something. It is relentlessly bleak, grey, and hopeless, but the father-son bond is genuinely beautiful.

The “Adrenaline” Pick: 28 Days Later (2002)
For when you want speed. The running zombies (infected) changed the game forever. It balances high-octane terror with quiet, haunting moments.

The “Psychological” Pick: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
For when you want a mystery. Is the world really ending outside, or is the monster in the bunker with you? John Goodman is terrifying.

The “Tearjerker” Pick: Maggie (2015)
For when you want a different kind of zombie movie. It focuses on the slow, painful goodbye rather than the violence. Arnie is fantastic.

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