Posted on by Toren

Toren’s Post Apocalyptic Movie Guide (a work in progress)

In which an attempt is made to catalog and compare post-apocalyptic films. Corrections? Comments? Additions? Email Toren!

(zombies sold separately)

9 (2009)
9 (2009) starring Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C Reilly, Christopher Plummer and Crispin Glover. Dir: Shane Acker

 

9 (2009)    

Type of apocalypse: war/nerve gas
Location: America?
Number of humans: zero
Years since apocalypse: less than 10
Monsters: robots (with animal bones)
Cannibalism? none
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 7/10
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12 Monkeys (1995).
12 Monkeys (1995) stars Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer. Dir: Terry Gilliam

 

12 Monkeys (1995)   

Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Philadelphia
Number of humans: lots
Years since apocalypse: 38
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
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28 Days Later (2002) stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston. Dir: Danny Boyle.
28 Days Later (2002) stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston. Dir: Danny Boyle.

 

28 Days Later (2002)

Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: London
Number of humans: lots
Time since apocalypse: 28 days
Monsters: feral infected humans
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 7/10
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28 Weeks Later (2007) stars Imogen Poots, Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne. Dir: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
28 Weeks Later (2007) stars Imogen Poots, Robert Carlyle, Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne. Dir: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

 

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Type of apocalypse: virus
Number of humans: hundreds?
Time since apocalypse: less than 3 years
Monsters: feral infected humans
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? No
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
 
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A Boy and His Dog (1975) stars Don Johnson. Dir: L.Q. Jones. Written by Harlan Ellison
A Boy and His Dog (1975) stars Don Johnson. Dir: L.Q. Jones. Written by Harlan Ellison

 

A Boy and His Dog  (1975)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Phoenix AZ
Number of humans: hundreds?
Years since apocalypse: 17
Monsters: radiation victims (“Screamers”); robots
Cannibalism? Yes
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
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After the Apocalypse (2004)
After the Apocalypse (2004)

 

After the Apocalypse  (2004)

Type of apocalypse: War
Number of humans: At least 5
Years since apocalypse:
Monsters:
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating: n/a
 
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After Earth (2013) stars Wil Smith, Jaden Smith and Zoe Kravitz. Dir: M. Night Shyamalan
After Earth (2013) stars Wil Smith, Jaden Smith and Zoe Kravitz. Dir: M. Night Shyamalan

 

After Earth (2013)

Type of apocalypse: Environmental cataclysm
Location: Undisclosed
Number of humans: 2 on Earth, multitudes in space.
Years since apocalypse: 1000
Monsters: Aliens, evolved animals.
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? Yes?
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
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America 3000 (1986) stars Laurene Landon

 

America 3000 (1986)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Washington? 
Number of humans:  tba
Years since apocalypse: 900
Monsters:  tba
Cannibalism?  tba
Ends on a positive? tba
Toren’s Rating:  tba
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Battletruck 1982 stars John Ratzenberger

 

Battletruck AKA Warlords of the 21st Century (1982)

Type of apocalypse: oil wars
Location: 
Number of humans:  thousands or millions
Years since apocalypse: less than 1 generation
Monsters:  no
Cannibalism?  no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
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The Bed Sitting Room (1969) stars Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Marty Feldman. Dir: Richard Lester

 

The Bed Sitting Room (1969)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: London
Number of humans: dozens
Years since apocalypse: 4
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? none
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
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The Book of Eli (2010) stars Densel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman, Ray Stevenson. Dir: Hughes
The Book of Eli (2010) stars Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman, Ray Stevenson. Dir: Hughes

 

The Book of Eli (2010)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: San Francisco
Number of humans: hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 30
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? Yes
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
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Blame! (2017) was directed by Hiroyuki Seshita

 

Blame! (2017)

Type of apocalypse: robot
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 2000
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
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Blindness (2008) stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo. Dir: Fernando Meirelles
Blindness (2008) stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo. Dir: Fernando Meirelles

 

Blindness (2008)

Type of apocalypse: mass hysteria
Location: unnamed city
Number of humans: billions
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  8/10
 
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Kadaver (2020) stars Gitte Witt. Dir: Jarand Herdal

Cadaver (Kadaver) (2020)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear?
Location: Norway
Number of humans: unknown
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
 
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Cargo (2017) stars Martin Freeman. Dir: Yolanda Ramke

 

Cargo (2017)

Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Australia
Number of humans: unknown
Time since apocalypse: unspecified
Monsters: infected humans
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
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Children of Men (2006) stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Dir: Alfonso Cuaron
Children of Men (2006) stars Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Dir: Alfonso Cuaron

 

Children of Men (2006)

Type of apocalypse: pandemic
Location: Britain
Number of humans: billions
Years since apocalypse: 18
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? none
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  8/10
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City of Ember (2008) stars Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Martin Landau. Dir: Gil Kenan.
City of Ember (2008) stars Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Martin Landau. Dir: Gil Kenan.

 

City of Ember  (2008)

Type of apocalypse: Unspecified
Location: Somewhere in the United States
Number of humans: Presumably thousands
Years since apocalypse: 241
Monsters: giant star-nosed mole
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
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Cloud Atlas (2012) stars Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Hugo Weaving. Dir: Wachowskis
Cloud Atlas (2012) stars Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Hugo Weaving. Dir: Wachowskis

 

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Type of apocalypse: unexplained.
Location: “Big Isle”
Number of humans: Presumably thousands if not millions or more.
Years since apocalypse: 106
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
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The Colony (2013) stars Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton. Dir: Jeff Renfroe
The Colony (2013) stars Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton. Dir: Jeff Renfroe

 

The Colony (2013)

Type of apocalypse: ice age
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably at least 100
Time since apocalypse: less than 2 generations
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
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Cyborg (1989) stars Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dir: Albert Pyun
Cyborg (1989) stars Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dir: Albert Pyun

 

Cyborg  (1989)

Type of apocalypse: plague, anarchy, genocide, starvation
Location: New York, South Carolina, Atlanta
Number of humans: Presumably thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: Less than 25
Monsters: cyborgs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
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Damnation Alley (1977) stars George Peppard and Paul Winfield. Dir: Jack Smight
Damnation Alley (1977) stars George Peppard and Paul Winfield. Dir: Jack Smight

 

Damnation Alley (1977)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: California, Utah, New York
Number of humans: At least
Years since apocalypse: 2
Monsters: giant scorpions, killer cockroaches
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
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The Day (2011) stars Shawn Ashmore

 

The Day (2011)

 
Type of apocalypse:  Undisclosed
Location:  America
Number of humans:  dozens shown
Years since apocalypse:  10
Monsters:  no
Cannibalism?  yes
Ends on a positive?  no
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
 
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Day of the Triffids (1963) stars Howard Keel. Dir: Steve Sekely
Day of the Triffids (1963) stars Howard Keel. Dir: Steve Sekely

 

Day of the Triffids (1963)

Type of apocalypse: meteor shower
Number of humans: billions
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: killer plants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
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The Day After (1983) stars Jason Robards Jr, Jobeth Williams, Steve Guttenberg, John Lithgow. Dir: Nicholas Meyer.

 

The Day After (1983)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Kansas, Missouri
Number of humans: millions
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  7/10break
Day the World Ended (1955) stars Richard Denning. Dir: Roger Corman
Day the World Ended (1955) stars Richard Denning. Dir: Roger Corman

 

Day the World Ended (1955)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Southwest America
Number of humans: more than five
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: mutant
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
 

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Deathlands: Homeward Bound stars Vincent Spano and Traci Lords. Dir: Joshua Butler.
Deathlands: Homeward Bound stars Vincent Spano and Traci Lords. Dir: Joshua Butler.

Deathlands: Homeward Bound (2003)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: America
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: 120
Monsters: mutated humans and animals
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10

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Def-Con 4 (1985) stars Maury Chaykin. Dir: Paul Donovan
Def-Con 4 (1985) stars Maury Chaykin. Dir: Paul Donovan

Def-Con 4 (1985)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Eastern Canada
Number of humans:  Hundreds or thousands
Time since apocalypse: 2 months
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive?  yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
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Delicatessen (1991) stars Dominique Pinon. Dir: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Delicatessen (1991) stars Dominique Pinon. Dir: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet

 

Delicatessen

Type of apocalypse: undisclosed
Location: France
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
Time since apocalypse: undisclosed
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
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Doomsday
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Scotland
Number of humans: millions or billions
Years since apocalypse: 30
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
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Dune Warriors (1991) Stars David Carradine. Dir:
Cirio H. Santiago

 

Dune Warriors (1991) 

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: unknown
Number of humans: millions or billions
Years since apocalypse: 40-60
Monsters: only if desert dwarves count
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating: 3.7/10
 
Equalizer 2000 (1988) stars Robert Patrick. Dir: Cirio Santiago

 

Equalizer 2000  (1987) 

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Alaska
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
Years since apocalypse: 100
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  2/10
 
Existence (2012) stars Loren Horsley

 

Existence (2012)

Type of apocalypse: unknown
Location: New Zealand
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
 
Exterminators of the Year 3000 (1983) stars Robert Iannucci. Dir: 

 

Exterminators of the Year 3000 (1983)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: hundreds or more
Years since apocalypse: less than 1 lifetime
Monsters: disfigured mutants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
 
 
Fist of the North Star (1986) was directed by Toyoo Ashida

 

Fist of the North Star (1986)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Kanto region, Japan
Number of humans: millions
Years since apocalypse: possibly less than a lifetime
Monsters: giants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
 
Five (1951) stars Charles Lampkin. Dir: Arch Oboler
Five (1951) stars Charles Lampkin. Dir: Arch Oboler

 

Five  (1951) 

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: California
Number of humans: 5
Time since apocalypse: months
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
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Future Hunters (1986) stars Robert Patrick. Dir: Cirio H. Santiago

 

Future Hunters  (1986)

Type of apocalypse: war
Location: California
Number of humans: hundreds seen but presumably more
How many years since apocalypse: 39
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes and also only the first 15 minutes take place in the post-apocalyptic world. 
Toren’s Rating:  3.7/10
 
 
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The Girl With All the Gifts (2016) stars Sennia Nanua and Glenn Close. Dir: Colm McCarthy

 

The Girl With All the Gifts (2016)

Type of apocalypse: fungal disease
Location: Home Counties, Britain
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands
Years since apocalypse: 20
Monsters: infected humans
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? debatable
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
Goodbye World (2013) stars Adrian Grenier. Dir: Denis Hennelly
Goodbye World (2013) stars Adrian Grenier. Dir: Denis Hennelly

 

Goodbye World (2013)

Type of apocalypse: computer virus
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: billions
Time since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
Hardware (1990) stars Dylan McDermott and Iggy Pop. Dir: Richard Stanley
Hardware (1990) stars Dylan McDermott and Iggy Pop. Dir: Richard Stanley

 

Hardware (1990)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably thousands or millions
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: robot
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
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Hell (2011) stars Hannah Herzsprung. Dir: Tim Fehlbaum

 

Hell (“Bright”) (2011)

Type of apocalypse: solar storm
Location: Germany
Number of humans: dozens shown
Years since apocalypse: less than six
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  8/10
 
 
Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987) stars Roddy Piper and Sandahl Bergman. Dir: Donald Jackson
Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987) stars Roddy Piper and Sandahl Bergman. Dir: Donald Jackson

 

Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: anthropomorphic mutant frogs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
Hostile (2017) directed by Mathieu Turi
 
 
Type of apocalypse: disease
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: dozens or more
Time since apocalypse: less than a decade
Monsters: mutant ‘reapers’
Cannibalism? inferred
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6.5/10
 
How I Live Now (2013) stars Saoirse Ronan. Dir: Kevin Macdonald
How I Live Now (2013) stars Saoirse Ronan. Dir: Kevin Macdonald

 

How I Live Now (2013)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: English Countryside
Number of humans: presumably millions
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
I Am Legend (2007) stars Will Smith. Dir: Francis Lawrence
I Am Legend (2007) stars Will Smith. Dir: Francis Lawrence
 
 
I Am Legend (2007)
 
Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: New York City
Number of humans: less than 6
Years since apocalypse: 3
Monsters: feral mutant humans and dogs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
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It Comes at Night (2017) stars Joel Edgerton. Dir: Trey Edward Shults

It Comes At Night (2017)

Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: American wilderness
Number of humans: less than 6
Years since apocalypse: 0-1
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6.5/10
Land of Doom (1986) stars Deborah Rennard. Dir: Peter Maris
Land of Doom (1986) stars Deborah Rennard. Dir: Peter Maris

 

Land of Doom (1986)

Type of apocalypse: war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  n/a

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The Last Man on Earth (1964) stars Vincent Price. Dir: Sidney Salkow
The Last Man on Earth (1964) stars Vincent Price. Dir: Sidney Salkow

 

The Last Man on Earth (1964)

Type of apocalypse: plague
Location: Rome or California
Number of humans: 1-2
Years since apocalypse: 3
Monsters: vampiric plague victims
Cannibalism? yes and no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6/10

The Well (2014) stars Haley Lu Richardson. Dir: Thomas S. Hammock
The Well (2014) stars Haley Lu Richardson. Dir: Thomas S. Hammock

 

The Last Survivors / The Well (2014)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Oregon Valley
Number of humans: presumably at least hundreds
Time since apocalypse: years to decades
Monsters: non
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
 
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La Jetée (1962) stars Jean Négroni. Dir: Chris Marker.
La Jetée (1962) stars Jean Négroni. Dir: Chris Marker.

 

La Jetee (1962)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Paris
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes and no
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
Le Dernier Combat (1983) stars Jean Reno. Dir: Luc Besson
Le Dernier Combat (1983) stars Jean Reno. Dir: Luc Besson

 

Le Dernier Combat (The Last Battle) (1983)

Type of apocalypse: unknown
Location: France?
Number of humans: dozens at least
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
Logan's Run (1976) stars Jenny Agutter, Michael York, Farrah Fawcett. Dir: Michael Anderson. William F Nolan (novel)
Logan’s Run (1976) stars Jenny Agutter, Michael York, Farrah Fawcett. Dir: Michael Anderson. William F Nolan (novel)

 

Logan’s Run (1976)

Type of apocalypse: unknown
Location: Washington DC
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: about 300
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
The Last Days (2013) stars Quim Gutierrez, Jose Coronado, Marta Etura. Dir: David Pastor, Alex Pastor
The Last Days (2013) stars Quim Gutierrez, Jose Coronado, Marta Etura. Dir: David Pastor, Alex Pastor

 

Los últimos días (The Last Days) (2013)

Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: Spain?
Number of humans: [pending]
Years since apocalypse: [pending]
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? [pending]
Ends on a positive? [pending]
Toren’s Rating:  n/a
 
Love and Monsters (2020) starts Dylan O’Brien. Dir: Michael Matthews


Love and Monsters (2020)
Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: America
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: 7
Monsters: giant frogs, centipedes, crabs and burrowing worms, among others
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6.8/10

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) stars Mel Gibson. Dir: George Miller
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) stars Mel Gibson. Dir: George Miller

 

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: Australian Desert
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: about five
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  7.8/10

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Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) stars Mel Gibson, Tina Turner. Dir: George Miller.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) stars Mel Gibson, Tina Turner. Dir: George Miller.

 

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: Australian desert
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: about 20
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Mad Max Fury Road (2015) stars Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Dir: George Miller

 

Mad Max Fury Road (2015)

Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location: Australian desert
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  8/10
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Mad Shelia (2016) stars Fuo Xiao. Dir: Lu Lei

 

Mad Shelia (2016)

Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location:  
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse:  
Monsters:  
Cannibalism?  
Ends on a positive?  
Toren’s Rating:  tbd
 
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Mad Warrior stars Anthony Alonzo. Dir: Willy Milan

 

Mad Warrior AKA Clash of the Warlords (1983) 

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location:  undisclosed
Number of humans: hundreds shown
Years since apocalypse:  undisclosed
Monsters:  no
Cannibalism? no  
Ends on a positive?  yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
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The Midnight Sky (2020) stars George Clooney

 

The Midnight Sky (2020)

Type of apocalypse: undisclosed
Location:  the Arctic/outer space
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse:  3 weeks
Monsters:  no
Cannibalism? no  
Ends on a positive?  no
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
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Molly (2017) stars Julia Batelaan. Dir: Thijs Meuwese
Type of apocalypse: nuclear explosion?
Location: “Sunderland”
Number of humans: dozens seen
Years since apocalypse: 2-3?
Monsters: feral subhuman “supplicants”
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a postive? yes
Toren’s Rating: 5.5/10
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Mortal Engines (2018) stars Hera Hilmar. Dir: Christian Rivers

 

Mortal Engines (2018)
Type of apocalypse: nuclear war (more or less)
Location: Europe
Number of humans: thousands or millions
Years since apocalypse: hundreds
Monsters: undead cyborg
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) stars Sumi Shimamoto. Dir: Hayao Miyazaki
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) stars Sumi Shimamoto. Dir: Hayao Miyazaki

 

Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: presumably thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: 1000
Monsters: giant mutant insects
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  10/10
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I nuovi barbari (1983) stars Fred Williamson. Dir: Enzo G. Castellari
I nuovi barbari (1983) stars Fred Williamson. Dir: Enzo G. Castellari

 

New Barbarians (I Nuovi Barbari) AKA Warriors of the Wasteland (1983)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 30ish
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating: 4.5/10
 
Night of the Comet (1984) stars Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Beltran and Kelli Maroney. Dir: Thom Eberhardt
Night of the Comet (1984) stars Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Beltran and Kelli Maroney. Dir: Thom Eberhardt

 

Night of the Comet (1984)

Type of apocalypse: comet dust
Location: Southern California
Number of humans: dozens
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: “zombies”
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
Oblivion (2013) stars Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Dir: Joseph Kosinski
Oblivion (2013) stars Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Dir: Joseph Kosinski

 

Oblivion (2013)

Type of apocalypse: war
Location: Northeastern United States
Number of humans: Hundreds or thousands
Years since apocalypse: 60
Monsters: aliens
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
 
 
Omega Doom (1996) stars Rutger Hauer
Type of apocalypse: robot/nuclear war
Location: unspecified
Number of humans: undisclosed
Years since apocalypse: undisclosed
Monsters: just robots
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
The Omega Man (1971) stars Charlton Heston. Dir: Boris Sagal
The Omega Man (1971) stars Charlton Heston. Dir: Boris Sagal

 

The Omega Man

Type of apocalypse: biological warfare
Location: Los Angeles
Number of humans: one
Years since apocalypse: 2
Monsters: albino mutants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
On the Beach (1959) stars Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins. Dir: Stanley Kramer
On the Beach (1959) stars Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins. Dir: Stanley Kramer

 

On the Beach (1959)

Type of apocalypse: Nuclear war
Location: Australia
Number of humans: dozens
Time since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  8/10
Panic in Year Zero! (1962) stars Ray Milland. Dir: Ray Milland
Panic in Year Zero! (1962) stars Ray Milland. Dir: Ray Milland

 

Panic in Year Zero!

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: California
Number of humans: dozens
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
Planet of the Apes (1968) stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter. Dir: Franklin Schaffner
Planet of the Apes (1968) stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter. Dir: Franklin Schaffner

 

Planet of the Apes (1968)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: New York
Number of humans: hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 2000
Monsters: advanced ape society
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
The Postman (1997) stars Kevin Costner and Olivia Williams. Dir: Kevin Costner.
The Postman (1997) stars Kevin Costner and Olivia Williams. Dir: Kevin Costner.

 

The Postman (1997)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Oregon
Number of humans: thousands or millions
Years since apocalypse: 15
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
The Quiet Earth (1985) stars Sam Pillsbury. Dir: Geoff Murphy
The Quiet Earth (1985) stars Sam Pillsbury. Dir: Geoff Murphy

 

The Quiet Earth (1985)

Type of apocalypse: experiment gone wrong
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Number of humans: 3
Time since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
 

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A Quiet Place (2018) Stars Emily Blunt. Dir: John Krasinski

A Quiet Place (2018)

 Type of apocalypse: alien invasion
Location: America
Number of humans: unknown
Time since apocalypse: months & years
Monsters: aliens
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  7
 
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Quintet (1979) stars Paul Newman. Dir: Robert Altman

 

Quintet (1979)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Unknown, possibly America or Europe
Number of humans: Scores or hundreds shown
Time since apocalypse: months & years
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
 
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The Road (2009) stars Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall. Dir: John Hillcoat. Cormac McCarthy (novel)
The Road (2009) stars Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall. Dir: John Hillcoat. Cormac McCarthy (novel)

 

The Road (2009)

Type of apocalypse: undisclosed
Location: Southeastern United States
Number of humans: presumably at least thousands
Years since apocalypse: 8
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? not really
Toren’s Rating:  8.5/10
Road Wars (2015) dir: Mark Atkins

 

Road Wars (2015)

Type of apocalypse: viral plague
Location: United States
Number of humans: dozens seen
Years since apocalypse: 8
Monsters: rabid plague ‘nightwalkers’
Cannibalism? only nightwalkers
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  3.5/10
Salute of the Jugger (1989) stars Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen and Vincent D'Onofrio. Dir: David Peoples
Salute of the Jugger (1989) stars Rutger Hauer, Joan Chen and Vincent D’Onofrio. Dir: David Peoples

 

Salute of the Jugger (Blood of Heroes) 1989

Type of apocalypse: war
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) stars Dylan O'Brien, Rosa Salazar, Alan Tudyk and Lily Taylor . Dir: Wes Ball
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) stars Dylan O’Brien, Rosa Salazar, Alan Tudyk and Lily Taylor . Dir: Wes Ball

 

The Scorch Trials (2015)

Type of apocalypse: solar flares and “zombie” virus pandemic
Location: America, possibly San Francisco?
Number of humans: Possibly millions
Years since apocalypse: unclear, presumably less than two generations
Monsters: insane cannibalistic virus-infected “cranks”
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? n/a
Toren’s Rating:  7/10
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Scorched Earth (2018) stars Gina Cararo

 

Scorched Earth (2018)

 
Type of apocalypse: environmental
Location: Montana?
Number of humans: Hundreds at least
Years since apocalypse: 50
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
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Screamers (1995) stars Peter Weller. Dir: Christian Duguay
Screamers (1995) stars Peter Weller. Dir: Christian Duguay

 

Screamers (1995)

Type of apocalypse: war
Location: The planet Sirius 6B
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: 10
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
 
 
She (1982) stars Sandahl Bergman and Gordon Mitchell
She (1982) stars Sandahl Bergman and Gordon Mitchell. Dir: Avi Nesher

 

She (1982)

Type of apocalypse: apparently nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: at least hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 23
Monsters: robots, mutants
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
 
 
Six-String Samurai (1998) stars Jeffrey Falcon. Dir: Lance Mungia.
Six-String Samurai (1998) stars Jeffrey Falcon. Dir: Lance Mungia.

 

Six String Samurai (1998)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Las Vegas
Number of humans:
Years since apocalypse: 40
Monsters: none
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
 
The Sky Has Fallen (2009)
Type of apocalypse: plague
Location:
Number of humans:
How many years since apocalypse:
Monsters: demonic figures
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating:  tbd
Snowpiercer (2013) stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt. Dir: Bong Joon-Ho.
Snowpiercer (2013) stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt. Dir: Bong Joon-Ho.

 

Snowpiercer (2013)

Type of apocalypse: climate change
Location: global (train)
Number of humans: hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 17
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  7/10

Solarbabies (1986) stars Richard Jordan and Alexie Sayle. Dir: Alan Johnson

 

Solarbabies (1986)    

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: 1000
Monsters: alien
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? Yes?
Toren’s Rating: tbd
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Steel Dawn (1987) stars Patrick Swayze. Dir: Lance Hool
Type of apocalypse: WWIII
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans:  Hundreds at least
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: shrieking sand-burrowing half-men
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
Stryker (1983) stars Steve Sandor. Dir: Cirio H. Santiago

 

Stryker (1983)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: at least hundreds
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes but not for the sidekick
Toren’s Rating:  2.5
Tank Girl (1995) stars Lori Petty, Naomi Watts, Ice T and Malcolm McDowell. Dir: Rachel Talalay
Tank Girl (1995) stars Lori Petty, Naomi Watts, Ice T and Malcolm McDowell. Dir: Rachel Talalay

 

Tank Girl

Type of apocalypse: comet
Location: presumably Australia
Number of humans: thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: 11
Monsters: kangaroo DNA-spliced supersoldiers
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  2/10
Terminator Salvation (2009) stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Anton Yelchin. Dir: Joseph Nichol
Terminator Salvation (2009) stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Anton Yelchin. Dir: Joseph Nichol

 

Terminator: Salvation (2009)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: California
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: 14
Monsters: robots/cyborgs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 
Threads (1984) stars Karen Meagher. Dir: Mick Jackson
Threads (1984) stars Karen Meagher. Dir: Mick Jackson

 

Threads (1984)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Sheffield, UK
Number of humans: billions
Years since apocalypse: from days to 13 years
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  8/10
 
 
 
Le Temps du Loup (2003) stars Anais Demoustier. Dir: Michael Haneke

 

Time of the Wolf (Le Temp du Loup) 2003

Type of apocalypse: disease
Location: France
Number of humans: Presumably thousands
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters: No
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? No
Toren’s Rating:  5.3/10
 
 
 
Tooth & Nail (2007)
Type of apocalypse: blern
Location:
Number of humans:
How many years since apocalypse: blern
Monsters:
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating:  TBD
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Turbo Kid (2015) stars Munro Chambers, Laurence Laboeuf and Michael Ironsides. Dir: Francois Simard
Turbo Kid (2015) stars Munro Chambers, Laurence Laboeuf and Michael Ironsides. Dir: Francois Simard

Turbo Kid (2015)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: scores or possibly hundreds
Years since apocalypse: Somewhere between 20 and 1
Monsters: robots
Cannibalism? Yes (in a way)
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 6/10
 
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Wall-E (2008) stars Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, Fred Willard. Dir: Andrew Stanton.
Wall-E (2008) stars Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, Fred Willard. Dir: Andrew Stanton.

 

WALL-E 

Type of apocalypse: Mass consumerism
Location: Unknown
Number of humans: Zero
Years since apocalypse: 800
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? None
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating:  10/10
 
Warriors of the Apocalypse (1985) stars Michael James. Dir: Bobby A Suarez

 

Warriors of the Apocalypse AKA Searchers of the Voodoo Mountain (1985)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Possibly South America
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands.
Years since apocalypse: 90 +
Monsters: jungle dwarves with healing powers
Cannibalism? unclear
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10
 
 
Wastelander (2018)
Type of apocalypse:  
Location:  
Number of humans: 
Years since apocalypse:  
Monsters:  
Cannibalism?  
Ends on a positive?  
Toren’s Rating:  tbd
 
Waterworld (1995) stars Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. Dir: Kevin Reynolds
Waterworld (1995) stars Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. Dir: Kevin Reynolds

 

Waterworld (1995)

Type of apocalypse: climate change
Location: Denver, CO and Mount Everest
Number of humans: hundreds or thousands.
Years since apocalypse: hundreds
Monsters: huge mutant fish
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  4/10

What Still Remains (2018) stars Lulu Antariksa. Dir: Josh Mendoza

 

What Still Remains (2018)

Type of apocalypse: plague
Location: unknown
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: 19+
Monsters: no
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10
 
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Wheels of Fire (1985) stars Gary Watkins. Dir: Cirio H Santiago

 

Wheels of Fire (1984)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: Likely thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: mutant subterranean”sandmen”
Cannibalism? yes
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  4/10
 
When the Wind Blows (1986) stars Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills. Dir: Jimmy Murakami
When the Wind Blows (1986) stars Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills. Dir: Jimmy Murakami

 

When the Wind Blows

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Sussex, UK
Number of humans: two known
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6/10
 

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World Gone Wild (1987) stars Bruce Dern, Catherine Mary Stewart and Adam Ant.

World Gone Wild (1987)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: America, probably California
Number of humans: at least thousands
Time since apocalypse: 75 years
Monsters: No
Cannibalism? Yes
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 5/10
 
The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959) stars Harry Belafonte. Dir: Ranald MacDougall
The World, the Flesh and the Devil (1959) stars Harry Belafonte. Dir: Ranald MacDougall

 

The World, The Flesh and the Devil

Type of apocalypse: global radioactive cloud
Location: Pennsylvania, New York
Number of humans: At least 3
Time since apocalypse: days
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  8/10

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Young Ones (2014) stars Elle Fanning, Michael Shannon and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Dir: Jake Paltrow
Young Ones (2014) stars Elle Fanning, Michael Shannon and Nicholas Hoult. Dir: Jake Paltrow

Young Ones (2014)

Type of apocalypse: drought
Location: USA
Number of humans: presumably millions or billions
Years since apocalypse: possibly less than a generation
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  7/10

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Z for Zachariah (2015) stars Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine. Dir: Craig Zobel
Z for Zachariah (2015) stars Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine. Dir: Craig Zobel

Z for Zachariah (2015)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Rural area USA
Number of humans: At least 3
Time since apocalypse: about 1 year
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  7/10

Hey some of these are on youtube!

World Gone Wild:

Stryker 1983

Hell Comes to Frogtown

She 1982

Six String Samurai


The Day After

The Bed Sitting Room

damnation alley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvLhyQVuyMI

Day of the Triffids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AXZKaEg5IM

The Day the World Ended 1955

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghdewXmTguk

Def-Con 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN0yw9g4Y2Y

Equalizer 2000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocOCJUs4dJc

6 Replies to “Toren’s Post Apocalyptic Movie Guide (a work in progress)”

  1. I can’t believe you rated 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later the same. 28 Days Later is so far superior. However, you redeem yourself with Blindness, I think you and I are the only two people in the world who liked that movie.

  2. The visual style of “Zardoz” reminds me so much of “Excalibur”!

  3. I can’t believe you thought salute of the Jugger was better than Mad Max: beyond the Thunderdome. I disagree strongly on that one.

    I don’t think I will watch Zardox.

  5. I’d see 12 Monkeys again sometime. I think I only saw it one the time (when it came out on video). Sheri really liked Delicatessen.

  6. If you do find Hardware make sure you don’t watch it with your brother.

    I went with your brother, Colin and I think Jeffyboy to see it in the theatre. I remember it because there is a part of the movie that is quite colourful and I think your brother yelled out “I’m tripping out man!” and the entire theatre (minus myself) laughed.

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