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. Some entries include links to my full review (if you can click on the movie title it will take you there) Corrections? Comments? Additions? Email Toren!

Zombie apocalypses NOT included.

2020 Texas Gladiators

2020 Texas Gladiators (1983) dir: Joe D’Amato

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Texas
Number of humans: Presumably thousands or more
Years since apocalypse: 37?
Monsters: green faced mutants?
Cannibalism? maybe
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 2/10

9 (2009)    

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

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

12 Monkeys (1995)   

12 Monkeys (1995).
12 Monkeys (1995) stars Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer. Dir: Terry Gilliam

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

28 Days Later (2002)

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.

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

28 Weeks Later (2007)

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

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

A Boy and His Dog  (1975)

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

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

After Earth (2013)

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

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

America 3000 (1986 – Click for full review)

America 3000 (1986) stars Laurene Landon

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: Colorado
Number of humans:  hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 900
Monsters:  1 mutant
Cannibalism?  no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Appleseed Alpha (2014 – Click for full review)

Directors: Shinji Aramaki, Steven Foster
Appleseed Alpha (2014) Dir: Shinji Aramaki, Steven Foster

Type of apocalypse: war
Location: New York 
Number of humans:  unknown
Years since apocalypse: 900
Monsters:  robots and cyborgs
Cannibalism?  no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Battletruck AKA Warlords of the 21st Century (1982 – click for full review)

Battletruck 1982 stars John Ratzenberger

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

The Bed Sitting Room (1969)

The Bed Sitting Room (1969) stars Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Marty Feldman. Dir: Richard Lester

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

Beyond the time Barrier (1960 – Click for full review)

Type of apocalypse: cosmic radiation ‘plague’
Location: Southwest USA
Number of humans: hundreds
Years since apocalypse: 64
Monsters: mutants
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? unclear
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

The Book of Eli (2010)

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

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

Blame! (2017) Click for full review

Blame! (2017) was directed by Hiroyuki Seshita

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

Blindness (2008)

Blindness (2008) stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo. Dir: Fernando Meirelles
Blindness (2008) stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo. Dir: Fernando Meirelles

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

Cadaver (Kadaver) (2020)

Kadaver (2020) stars Gitte Witt. Dir: Jarand Herdal

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

Captive Women AKA 1000 Years in the Future (1952 – click for review) 

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: New York City
Number of humans: scores or hundreds
Time since apocalypse: 1000 years
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Cargo (2017)

Cargo (2017) stars Martin Freeman. Dir: Yolanda Ramke

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

Children of Men (2006)

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

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

City of Ember  (2008)

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.

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

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Cloud Atlas (2012) stars Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Hugo Weaving. Dir: Wachowskis
Cloud Atlas (2012) stars Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Hugo Weaving. Dir: Wachowskis

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

The Colony (2013)

The Colony (2013) stars Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton. Dir: Jeff Renfroe
The Colony (2013) stars Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton. Dir: Jeff Renfroe

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

Cyborg  (1989)

Cyborg (1989) stars Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dir: Albert Pyun
Cyborg (1989) stars Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dir: Albert Pyun

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

Damnation Alley (1977)

Damnation Alley (1977) stars George Peppard and Paul Winfield. Dir: Jack Smight
Damnation Alley (1977) stars George Peppard and Paul Winfield. Dir: Jack Smight

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

The Day (2011) – Click for full review

The Day (2011) stars Shawn Ashmore

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

Day of the Triffids (1963)

Day of the Triffids (1963) stars Howard Keel. Dir: Steve Sekely
Day of the Triffids (1963) stars Howard Keel. Dir: Steve Sekely

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

The Day After (1983)

The Day After (1983) stars Jason Robards Jr, Jobeth Williams, Steve Guttenberg, John Lithgow. Dir: Nicholas Meyer.

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:  7/10

Day the World Ended (1955)

Day the World Ended (1955) stars Richard Denning. Dir: Roger Corman
Day the World Ended (1955) stars Richard Denning. Dir: Roger Corman

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

Deathlands: Homeward Bound (2003)

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

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

Def-Con 4 (1985)

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

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

Delicatessen (1991)

Delicatessen (1991) stars Dominique Pinon. Dir: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Delicatessen (1991) stars Dominique Pinon. Dir: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet

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

Deluge (1933) – Click for full review

Deluge (1933)

Type of apocalypse: natural disaster
Location: New York
Number of humans: scores or hundreds seen
Time since apocalypse: months
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? for some
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Doomsday (2008)

Doomsday (2008) directed by Neil Marshall

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

Dune Warriors (1991) 

Dune Warriors (1991) Stars David Carradine. Dir:
Cirio H. Santiago

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  (1987) 

Equalizer 2000 (1988) stars Robert Patrick. Dir: Cirio Santiago

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 – Click for full review)

Existence (2012) stars Loren Horsley

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)

Exterminators of the Year 3000 (1983) stars Robert Iannucci. Dir:

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

Finch (2021 – Click here for full review)

Finch (2021) stars Tom Hanks

Type of apocalypse: solar flare
Location: St Louis Missouri
Number of humans: millions inferred
Years since apocalypse: 15
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? implied
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  6.8/10

Fist of the North Star (1986) Click here for full review

Fist of the North Star (1986) was directed by Toyoo Ashida

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) 

Five (1951) stars Charles Lampkin. Dir: Arch Oboler
Five (1951) stars Charles Lampkin. Dir: Arch Oboler

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

Future Hunters  (1986)

Future Hunters (1986) stars Robert Patrick. Dir: Cirio H. Santiago

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

The Girl With All the Gifts (2016)

The Girl With All the Gifts (2016) stars Sennia Nanua and Glenn Close. Dir: Colm McCarthy

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)

Goodbye World (2013) stars Adrian Grenier. Dir: Denis Hennelly
Goodbye World (2013) stars Adrian Grenier. Dir: Denis Hennelly

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) Click for full review

Hardware (1990) stars Dylan McDermott and Iggy Pop. Dir: Richard Stanley
Hardware (1990) stars Dylan McDermott and Iggy Pop. Dir: Richard Stanley

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

Hell (“Bright”) (2011) Click for full review

Hell (2011) stars Hannah Herzsprung. Dir: Tim Fehlbaum

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)

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

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 – click for full review)

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)

How I Live Now (2013) stars Saoirse Ronan. Dir: Kevin Macdonald
How I Live Now (2013) stars Saoirse Ronan. Dir: Kevin Macdonald

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)

I Am Legend (2007) stars Will Smith. Dir: Francis Lawrence
I Am Legend (2007) stars Will Smith. Dir: Francis Lawrence

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

Idaho Transfer (1973 – click for full review)

Idaho Transfer (1973) Dir: Peter Fonda
Idaho Transfer (1973) Dir: Peter Fonda

Type of apocalypse: ecological
Location: Idaho
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: 50-something
Monsters: none
Cannibalism: not exactly
Ends on a positive: No
Toren’s Rating: 5/10

In the Year 2889 (1969 – click for full review)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: America
Number of humans: a handful
Years since apocalypse: less than 1 year
Monsters: mutants
Cannibalism: potentially
Ends on a positive: Yes
Toren’s Rating: 2/10

It Comes At Night (2017)

It Comes at Night (2017) stars Joel Edgerton. Dir: Trey Edward Shults

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)

Land of Doom (1986) stars Deborah Rennard. Dir: Peter Maris
Land of Doom (1986) stars Deborah Rennard. Dir: Peter Maris

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

The Last Man on Earth (1964)

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

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 Last Survivors / The Well (2014)

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

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: Oregon Valley
Number of humans: presumably at least hundreds
Time since apocalypse: years to decades
Monsters: no
Cannibalism?
Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating: 5/10

La Jetee (1962)

La Jetée (1962) stars Jean Négroni. Dir: Chris Marker.
La Jetée (1962) stars Jean Négroni. Dir: Chris Marker.

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 (The Last Battle) (1983)

Le Dernier Combat (1983) stars Jean Reno. Dir: Luc Besson
Le Dernier Combat (1983) stars Jean Reno. Dir: Luc Besson

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)

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)

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

Los últimos días (The Last Days) (2013)

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

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 – click for full review)

Love and Monsters (2020) starts Dylan O’Brien. Dir: Michael Matthews

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)

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

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

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

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.

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)

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

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

Mad Shelia (2016)

Mad Shelia (2016) stars Fuo Xiao. Dir: Lu Lei

Type of apocalypse: War/resource shortage
Location:  
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse:  
Monsters:  
Cannibalism?  
Ends on a positive?  
Toren’s Rating:  tbd

Mad Warrior AKA Clash of the Warlords (1983) 

Mad Warrior stars Anthony Alonzo. Dir: Willy Milan

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

The Midnight Sky (2020) Click for full review

The Midnight Sky (2020) stars George Clooney

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

Molly (2017 – click for full review)

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

Mortal Engines (2018)

Mortal Engines (2018) stars Hera Hilmar. Dir: Christian Rivers

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

Mother/Android (2021 – click for full review)

Mother/Android (2021) stars Chloe Grace Moretz

Type of apocalypse: robot uprising
Location: Massachusetts USA
Number of humans: thousands or millions
Years since apocalypse: 9 months
Monsters: androids
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  5/10

Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind (1984)

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

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

Neon City (1991 -click for full review)

Type of apocalypse: ecological disaster
Location: tbd
Number of humans: unknown
Years since apocalypse: less than 2 generations
Monsters: mutants
Cannibalism? no

Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  tbd

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

I nuovi barbari (1983) stars Fred Williamson. Dir: Enzo G. Castellari
I nuovi barbari (1983) stars Fred Williamson. Dir: Enzo G. Castellari

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)

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

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

The Noah (1975 – click for full review)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear
Location: unknown island
Number of humans: one
Time since apocalypse: immediate
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? no
Toren’s Rating:  6/10

Oblivion (2013)

Oblivion (2013) stars Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Dir: Joseph Kosinski
Oblivion (2013) stars Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Dir: Joseph Kosinski

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) click for full review

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

The Omega Man (1971) stars Charlton Heston. Dir: Boris Sagal
The Omega Man (1971) stars Charlton Heston. Dir: Boris Sagal

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 – click for full review)

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

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!

Panic in Year Zero! (1962) stars Ray Milland. Dir: Ray Milland
Panic in Year Zero! (1962) stars Ray Milland. Dir: Ray Milland

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)

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

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)

The Postman (1997) stars Kevin Costner and Olivia Williams. Dir: Kevin Costner.
The Postman (1997) stars Kevin Costner and Olivia Williams. Dir: Kevin Costner.

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)

The Quiet Earth (1985) stars Sam Pillsbury. Dir: Geoff Murphy
The Quiet Earth (1985) stars Sam Pillsbury. Dir: Geoff Murphy

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

A Quiet Place (2018) & Part II (2021)

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

 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 (both parts)
Toren’s Rating:  7 (both parts)

Quintet (1979) (click for full review)

Quintet (1979) stars Paul Newman. Dir: Robert Altman

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

Raiders of the Sun (1992) AKA Apocalypse Warriors (click for full review)

Raiders of the Sun (1992) Sirio H. Santiago

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: undisclosed
Number of humans: at least hundreds
Years since apocalypse: undisclosed
Monsters: none
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes
Toren’s Rating:  3/10

The Road (2009)

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)

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)

Road Wars (2015) dir: Mark Atkins

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 (Blood of Heroes) 1989

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

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

The Scorch Trials (2015)

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

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

Scorched Earth (2018 – click for full review)

Scorched Earth (2018) stars Gina Cararo

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

Screamers (1995)

Screamers (1995) stars Peter Weller. Dir: Christian Duguay
Screamers (1995) stars Peter Weller. Dir: Christian Duguay

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)

She (1982) stars Sandahl Bergman and Gordon Mitchell
She (1982) stars Sandahl Bergman and Gordon Mitchell. Dir: Avi Nesher

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)

Six-String Samurai (1998) stars Jeffrey Falcon. Dir: Lance Mungia.
Six-String Samurai (1998) stars Jeffrey Falcon. Dir: Lance Mungia.

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

Snowpiercer (2013)

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.

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) (click for full review)     

Solarbabies (1986) stars Lukas Haas. Dir: Alan Johnson
Solarbabies (1986) stars Lukas Haas. Dir: Alan Johnson

Type of apocalypse: ecological
Location: unknown
Number of humans: thousands
Years since apocalypse: 41
Monsters: just an alien orb
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? Yes
Toren’s Rating: 5/10

Steel Dawn (1987) (click for full review)

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) (click for full review)

Stryker (1983) stars Steve Sandor. Dir: Cirio H. Santiago

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

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

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

Teenage Caveman (1958) (click for full review)

Type of apocalypse: nuclear war
Location: unknown
Number of humans: dozens or hundreds
Years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: dinosaurs
Cannibalism? no
Ends on a positive? yes

Toren’s Rating: 4/10

Terminator: Salvation (2009)

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

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)

Threads (1984) stars Karen Meagher. Dir: Mick Jackson
Threads (1984) stars Karen Meagher. Dir: Mick Jackson

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

Time of the Wolf (Le Temp du Loup) 2003 (click for full review)

Le Temps du Loup (2003) stars Anais Demoustier. Dir: Michael Haneke

Type of apocalypse: disease
Location: France
Number of humans: Presumably thousands
How many years since apocalypse: unknown
Monsters: No
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? No
Toren’s Rating:  5.3/10

Tooth & Nail (2007)

Type of apocalypse: TBD
Location:
Number of humans:
How many years since apocalypse:
Monsters:
Cannibalism? yes

Ends on a positive?
Toren’s Rating:  TBD

Turbo Kid (2015)

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

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

Virus: Day of Resurrection (1980) AKA Fukkatsu no hi (click for full review)

Virus (1980) Director: Kinji Fukasaku

Type of apocalypse: virus
Location: USA, Antarctica
Number of humans: 200
Years since apocalypse: 0 to several
Monsters:
Cannibalism? No
Ends on a positive? No
Toren’s Rating: 7/10

WALL-E 

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.

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 AKA Searchers of the Voodoo Mountain (1985)

Warriors of the Apocalypse (1985) stars Michael James. Dir: Bobby A Suarez

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:  tbd
Location:  
Number of humans: 
Years since apocalypse:  
Monsters:  
Cannibalism?  

Ends on a positive?  
Toren’s Rating:  tbd

Waterworld (1995) (click for full review)

Waterworld (1995) stars Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. Dir: Kevin Reynolds
Waterworld (1995) stars Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. Dir: Kevin Reynolds

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)

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

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

Wheels of Fire (1984)

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Wheels of Fire (1985) stars Gary Watkins. Dir: Cirio H Santiago

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

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

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

World Gone Wild (1987)

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

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

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

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

Young Ones (2014)

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

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

Z for Zachariah (2015)

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

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

Neon City

Day of the Triffids

Captive Women

Def-Con 4

Equalizer 2000

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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