Top 15 movies about the end of the world in
Number 15:
Virus. This Indian entry tells the story of the Nipah virus, which spread in Kerala state in southwestern India, claiming the lives of nearly 20 people during its one-month duration. The plot is set in Kozhikodeand follows the various stages of the epidemic, from identification to its total annihilation.
The film approaches the afflicted and dead cases more than the political decisions and media panic in other films. It also centers around the lives of people and their relationships with others before being infected.
The film also explores the collective paranoia created by the virus outbreak and how it disrupted the life of individuals, both victims and health care professionals, making it very relatable to our current situation. Among the important details covered in the film is the disposal of bodies, whether by burial in the ground or burning, and the impact of this on the spread of the virus and any safer method that does not conflict with the culture of the ritual after death.
If you thought this was insane, wait till you reach Number 1!
Number 14
: 2012. Based on the ancient Mayan prophecy of the world ending on December 21st of 2012, the movie follows an everyday man played by John Cusack trying to survive with his family when a series of global catastrophes threatens to annihilate humanity for good.
The film draws heavily from the biblical tale of Noah’s Ark and does a pretty damn good job in making us piss our pants several times.
Number 13:
War of the Worlds. Loosely based on the 1898 similarly-titled novel by H. G. Wells, this Steven Spielberg-directed picture tells the story of a dockworker, played by Tom Cruise, trying to protect his family against an unexpected alien invasion.
The film starts with an ordinary man getting a surprise visit from his kids and quickly skips to them being attacked by giant tripod-shaped aliens and huge fleets, shelling away any possibility that this is your typical warm family movie.
The film goes down as one of the most well-known adaptations of the story, praising its lead actors and visual effects team.
Number 12:Planet Terror.
After an experimental gas is accidentally released at a remote U.S. military base in Texas that turns people into flesh-eating zombies, an eclectic group of people joins forces to survive the night.
The film has several WTF moments, like the lead heroine of the film Cherry Darling firing a grenade launcher from her leg...and Bruce Willis? What the hell are you doing here? The film was released alongside Quentin.
Tarantino’s Death Proof and acts as a double feature. The film also pays homage to 70’s grindhouse films with its damaged appearance, giving it a low-budget feel.
Number 11: The Resident Evil series.
Sexy gun-wielding heroine? Check. Badass zombie butt-kicking scenes? Check.
An interesting saga that doesn’t get repetitive or outdated? Check. This 6 part film series, loosely based on the popular video game of the same name, centers around Mila Jovovich’s character fighting against an evil corporation creating a virus that turns most of humanity into zombies.
The series received praise for its excellent representation of the video game’s mood and themes and Jovovich’s portrayal of Alice.
Number 10: Dawn of the Dead (1978 & 2004).
George A. Romero's 1978 classic isn't just a clever satire of consumerism; it also looks at how the zombie apocalypse functions like a plague.
And while Zack Snyder's action-packed remake ditched the satire, it actually expanded on the disease element.
It pays homage to the original while working on its own terms, showcasing a group of survivors fighting off giant hordes of zombies. If you’ve had a gory zombie itch lately, we recommend watching both films.
Number 9, Airplane.
While Airplane is technically a parody film about disaster movies, it does a great job ACTUALLY making one.
The movies about a weird virus that strikes an airplane crew leaves them unable to fly the plane.
And the plane’s responsibility suddenly becomes none other than Ex-Navy pilot TedStriker, who’s been nervous about flying ever since an incident he encountered during the war.
The film is filled with hilarious one-liners, like one (first 30 seconds)…and this one! We can even say that it has better ending credits music than any other film… Take that, Star Wars! And
now with Number 8, Bird Box.
You might've heard about this movie when it came out on Netflix in late 2018 and was instantly critically acclaimed for its humanistic approach towards pandemics.
The film tells the story of a global epidemic that begins to spread from eastern Europe to the rest of the world. The unexplained disease drives people to commit suicide whenever they open their eyes--It'slike looking at yourself early in the morning, basically.
Amid this nightmarish reality, Malorie, played by Sandra Bullock and her two children, embark on a life-threatening quest to find the last protected haven on Earth
. The film raises the idea of several conspiracy theories: global epidemics are a part of the biological wars waged by countries together as part of population control; yikes.
The film might be the worst-case scenario for a pandemic that’s been released during the last decade, but it's still not as bad as number one.
Number 7, Deep Impact.
Easily one of the most unforgettable movies of the late nineties, Deep Impact tells the story of a team of NASAscientists' suicidal mission of destroying a huge comet within a collision course with Earth.
There’s a deep sense of helplessness back on Earth as there isn’t a whole lot that people can do other than hope and pray that the team succeeds in their mission.
Whether you're a science geek or a sci-fi movie buff, this film is the one to watch for its interesting story-telling techniques and emotional value.
Number 6, Outbreak.
This movie might be the closest thing to what we have now, but it's still not as close as number one.
Outbreaktells the story of the resurfacing of a monkey-related disease from Africa after 25 years of its disappearance.
The disease acts as bug spray for humans, instantly killing anyone that carries it. The film is relative-- emphasis on relatively fictional-- as it does kind of document the Ebola virus outbreak-yeah that OTHER another disease- and
shows the economic and emotional breakdown of the country.
Number 5, I Am Legend.
Imagine being the last person in the world and then finding out that there are other people besides? Well, that’s what Will Smith thought.
I Am Legend revolves around a scientist who could not stop the spread of an incurable and artificial disease in New York City. Being the only one immune to the disease, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and perhaps the world;
until he begins encountering hordes of zombie-like monsters. When he finds out that other survivors like him, the plot thickens, leading him to wonder if he’s not the only one out there.
The movie had a memorable 5million dollar scene at The Brooklyn Bridge and this Bob Marley scene.
Number 4, Independence Day.
Released on July 4th of 1996, this movie is as patriotic and disastrous as it can be-and we mean disastrous in the nicest way here.
Our protagonist is also none other than Will Smith here -- GodI’s been binging way too many will smith movies lately-- also playing the role of Mr.save the earth from the evil aliens.
Number 3, Blindness.
An unknown city is ravaged by an epidemic caused by white blindness, leading it to isolate the infected people so that the disease does not spread
. Patients inside this place are divided into two camps, fighting over food and basic human needs. Soon enough, criminals and the physically powerful prey upon the weak, hoarding the meager food rations and committing horrific acts.
The film is directed by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles and is inspired by a novel with the same title by a Portuguese writer, Jose Saramago.
Number 2, 28 Days Later.
After a mysterious virus decimates the U.K. in a matter of weeks, a handful of survivors come together after a month and try to survive together long enough to be rescued.
The film’s success and global appeal led to the sequel's release, 28 Weeks Later, which is as good as the first one. Before we reveal our top pick, we’d like to give a shout-out to some movies that didn’t make a list but are still worth watching.
Number 1, Contagion.
Is Steven Soderbergh a time traveler? Seriously, this movie is WAY too relatable and fresh for our current situation.
The movie talks about an unknown killer virus that’s transmitted through pigs and bats, and In a matter of days, the virus becomes a global pandemic;
quickly affecting thousands of people. The film doesn’t necessarily talk about the end of the world but rather conveys the issues with finding a cure and the way conspiracy theorists and incompetent or malicious authorities can make it worse.
Uhm, excuse us, we need a drink; this is too real. From the initial outbreak to the search for a vaccine, this movie is a wild rollercoaster, highlighting just how quickly society can break down given a crisis.
The film stars a stellar cast of actors, including Jude Law, Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Lawrence Fishburne, and Brian Cranston.
Time for a recap! In this video, we listed our favorite disastrous movies. We made sure to cover a wide range of movies, including I Am Legend, 2012, and Contagion, to make sure we tingle your taste buds.
Do you agree with our list? Make sure to tell us about YOUR favorite end of the world movies down in the comment section below or any movies failed to mention.
And as always, thank you for tuning to InfoJunkieTV.
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