Summary

• Post-apocalyptic films have become popular as they explore the concept of living in a dystopian future and resonate with audiences seeking stories set in dystopias.
• Not all post-apocalyptic films are equal, with some underrated gems like "The Bad Batch" and "Dredd" that have fallen through the cracks.
• Films like "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "A Quiet Place" have received critical acclaim and have become cornerstones of the post-apocalyptic genre.

Post-apocalyptic films fit into their own category of cinema. The post-apocalyptic movie typically takes place in a dystopian future that shows how society has collapsed. Whether it's through extraterrestrial forces landing on Earth like in A Quiet Place or simply greed and hubris like in Mad Max: Fury Road, the concept of living in a dystopian future, post-apocalypse, has become a common thread that soothes the souls of many. All things considered, the post-apocalyptic genre has seen a great surge in the past decade, with people preferring to tell stories set in dystopias rather than utopias.

Dystopian futures have become a popular setting in cinema as many feel that they are the inevitable future of humanity. Especially since the release of Mad Max: Fury Road, its popularity has even spawned parodies, as seen in, for instance, Rick and Morty. That being said, not all post-apocalyptic films are created equal. While you have the classics like Mad Max and 28 Days Later, there are quite a few that have fallen through the cracks, getting lost in time due to the sheer volume of films being thrown our way. Here are the best post-apocalyptic movies of the 2010s, ranked.

Updated on December 8th, 2023: If you love 2010s Apocalyptic movies you’re in luck as this article has been updated with even more films and where you can watch each one of them.

10 The Bad Batch (2016)

Starring Jason Momoa, Jim Carrey, and Keanu Reeves, this underrated post-apocalyptic thriller has everything you'd want in a dystopian film. Directed by the phenomenal Ana Lily Amirpour, who had done the great A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, proves Suki Waterhouse should be a bigger star, and that the post-apocalyptic genre is a rich world to explore.

The Bad Batch Breaks the Mold

From having a main character who loses a limb at the beginning of the film to the crew of cannibals that hunt down their prey in order to stay alive, The Bad Batch is a truly unique piece of cinema. Though the film was subject to exceedingly mixed reviews with many critiquing the narrative for being too weak, it still managed to take home the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival during the year of its release. Rent on Apple TV+.

9 Dredd (2012)

Dredd is an adaptation of the Judge Dredd comic series where Dredd (Karl Urban) is part of the law enforcement of Judges who try to keep peace in the overpopulated city state MegaCity-One. Even if their methods are not always the most politically correct, or without kills, they've still got a job to do. Something that becomes apparent when Dredd and his new apprentice Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) get trapped in a building infested with criminals.

A Familiar Premise Done Uniquely

The film is a forgotten remake that deserves more love, as the script, the performances, the art direction, and the movie’s atmosphere make you believe this society has been living like this for decades. Urban is imposing in the lead character, and Lena Heady as the villain Ma-Ma Madrigal almost steals the show from him, in a movie that’s all action, all the time. Special mention goes to the everything-is-seen-in-slow-motion-drug and how it shows its effects to the audience. Rent on Apple TV+.

8 World War Z (2013)

Despite the fun that South Park made of World War Z, it is truly a sight to behold. The film follows Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) who, while stuck in traffic, makes the horrifying discovery that a lethal virus is spreading throughout the city, turning healthy individuals into feral monsters. As the pandemic drones on, Gerry leads a global search to find the source of the infection and find a way to stop the zombie pandemic before it consumes what remains of humanity.

World War Z Uses Brains Over Braun

Brad Pitt's performance, the thrilling, scary, yet not-action-focused final mission, and the way it all gets resolved with smarts rather than guns and explosions all made the movie one of a kind. The film was a staggering commercial success and revived the genre of zombie films, becoming the highest-grossing zombie film of all time. World War Z's popularity led to the announcement that a sequel was to be made, but those plans were canceled in 2019 due to budgeting issues. Stream on Paramount+.

7 Bird Box (2018)

Bird Box was a film that caught the attention of everyone everywhere when it landed on Netflix. A mysterious force arrives on the planet and, if you look at it, you are compelled to kill yourself. This force destroys the population and civilization as a whole, and the only way to survive in the world is to blindfold yourself. The film follows Malorie (played by Sandra Bullock) and her two children, Girl and Boy, as they go on a journey through the woods to try to find a place that may offer them sanctuary.

Related: Best Dystopian Movies of All Time, Ranked

A Psychological Take on Dystopia

The film is told non-linearly, with the past brought up in between the current movements of Malorie and her children. Between meeting people whom she thought she could trust and encountering mentally ill people who don't kill themselves when looking at the force, but instead just wish to bask in it, bringing other people down, Bird Box is a one-of-a-kind ride. The film was such a success that a new movie in the same universe, Bird Box: Barcelona was released in 2023, showing that there is still much more story to tell in this unique, scary world. Stream on Netflix.

6 Oblivion (2013)

Based on the unpublished graphic novel of the same name, Oblivion also pays homage to Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. Set in 2077, Earth has been destroyed by war with extraterrestrial beings and now humanity has relocated to Titan. Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is a technician sent back to Earth to fight off the rest of the remaining ETs, referred to as "scavengers." On Earth, Jack sees a spacecraft crash and rescues the survivor Julia Harper (Olga Kurylenko). Harper is later taken by scavengers and must fight against a new alien threat.

A Contemporary Take on Classic Sci-Fi Tropes

Oblivion was subject to mixed reviews on its release. Nevertheless, with a high production value and an outstanding performance from Cruise — more internal than usual — the film was highly praised for its revival of science fiction, bringing back many of the beloved aspects of classic sci-fi films as the idea behind it is nothing like most of its contemporary on the genre. This was also the first collaboration between the actor and director, who would later repeat working together in the successful Top Gun: Maverick. Stream on Hulu.

5 The Book of Eli (2010)

Denzel Washington is an astounding actor who brings every film he stars in to life, and his performance in The Book of Eli is no exception. The film takes place three decades after a war turned the surface of the Earth into a barren wasteland. A lone survivor, Eli (Washington), wanders the ruined landscape, carrying hope for humanity with him in the form of a book. Trouble stirs when another man, Carnegie (Gary Oldman), discovers Eli's book and the power it holds, wishing to take it for himself.

Two Winning Performances From Washington and Oldman

Even though the film was subject to average reviews, dividing both critics and viewers, many have stated that the performances from Washington and Oldman make up for many of the film's flaws. Both actors give it their all in what they do best, Washington being a charismatic honorable lead, and Oldman being a disgusting villain, making it a must-view for any fans of the actors. Rent on Apple TV+.

4 Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow tells the story of an alien invasion and the one man, William Cage (Tom Cruise), who might be able to save them if he learns how to fight. After being infected with alien blood, Cage starts repeating the same day over and over again, the day of the big battle, and with the help of consummate soldier Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), who also went through the same experience, he might learn how to become the hero they need.

Groundhog Day Meets Alien Invasion

Groundhog Day but it's about killing aliens is a hell of a sales pitch, and the movie delivers. The film has great action, and Cruise is always a charismatic action hero, as can be seen in his multiple entries in this list. However, what makes this movie much more interesting is the humor spread throughout it, and how it uses the repeating day formula to transform a PR hack into a killing machine. Watching Emily Blunt in hero mode is also incredible, making audiences wish for more action roles for the actress. Stream on Hulu.

3 Snowpiercer (2013)

Snowpiercer is a unique addition to the post-apocalyptic genre. Based on the French graphic climate fiction novel Le Transperceneige, the film is a South Korean-Czech co-production with 85% of the film's dialogue being in English. Starring a mixed cast of A-list Americans like Chris Evans to South Korean stars like Song Kang-ho, the film takes place on the Snowpiercer train, which is traveling along the global track and carrying what remains of humanity after a failed attempt to stop global warming brought on a new sort of Ice Age.

Related: Best Sci-Fi Action Movies of the 2010s, Ranked

Director Bong Joon-ho Leads Snowpiercer to Greatness

The main character, Curtis Everett (Evans), takes it upon himself to lead the lower-class tail section of the train in a rebellion against the elite front of the train. The film has fun with the different train sets as it keeps moving through the richer classes of the train, there are some unhinged performances by great actors like Tilda Swinton, and its twist ending is as disgusting as they come. The film was subject to critical acclaim and earned director Bong Joon-ho the award for Best Director at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. Stream on Prime Video.

2 A Quiet Place (2018)

Starring real-life couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place is a fantastic film that revolves around a family who struggles to survive in a world where making any noise will attract horrifying monsters with no ability to see but with an acute sense of hearing.

The

The film was subject to a great deal of praise and received critical acclaim for its uniqueness. A Quiet Place was nominated for dozens of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing and the Golden Globe for Best Original Score. The film's acclaim and popularity saw a sequel made in 2021, which was just as well-received as the original film and has spawned the announcement of a prequel, which has been delayed until 2024. Stream on FuboTV.

1 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Topping our list is Mad Max: Fury Road. The quintessential post-apocalyptic film, Fury Road revolves around Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) who teams up with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to flee from Immortan Joe and save his wives from enslavement.

What Makes It the Best

The film features everything; from the exploitation of water to the forced breeding of the women from Joe, Fury Road shows that in a barren wasteland where resources are slim, those with the resources hold all the power. It does all that while also creating thrilling, incredible, zero CGI, action scenes. A reboot of the original Mad Max franchise, Fury Road underperformed at the box office but was critically praised, earning a total of ten nominations at the Academy Awards. Needless to say, Mad Max: Fury Road deserves the top spot on this list. Stream on Hulu.