This article is Part 2 of our Top Post-Apocalypse Films You Haven’t Seen and covers Post-Apocalypse films from 2000 – 2022. You can read Part 1 of our Top Post-Apocalypse Films You Haven’t Seen here.
In the 2000’s, a Second Golden Age of Post-Apocalypse Films emerged. The subgenre would gain in popularity along with another film subgenre – Films About Zombies. The Zombie Apocalypse would be a favored apocalyptic event this decade with 28 Days Later (2002), Undead (2003), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Land of the Dead (2005), The Dark Hour (2006), 28 Weeks Later (2007), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Diary of the Dead (2008), Doghouse (2009) and Zombieland (2009). Other apocalypse themes would also be present this decade with apocalypse survivors fighting Dragons in Reign of Fire (2002), a Dystopian future where women are infertile in Children of Men (2006) and a post-apocalyptic world filled with vampires in I Am Legend (2007). Other classic films of the subgenre this decade included Planet of the Apes (2001), Æon Flux (2005), Idiocracy (2006), Doomsday (2008), Mutant Chronicles (2008), Terminator Salvation (2009), Carriers (2009), Pandorum (2009) and The Road (2010).
The 2010’s would continue the Second Golden Age of the subgenre with a multitude of post-apocalyptic themes. Climate change driven apocalypses would be present in Hell (2012), Snowpiercer (2013), Young Ones (2014) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). A Nuclear Holocaust post-apocalyptic world was featured in The Book of Eli (2010) and The Divide (2012). Cannibals would terrorize the post-apocalyptic wasteland in The Day (2011) and The Colony (2013). Alien Invasions and the resulting post-apocalyptic aftermath would be seen in Oblivion (2013) and A Quiet Place (2018). Dystopian futures would rule post-apocalyptic worlds in Dredd (2012), Cloud Atlas (2012), The Hunger Games (2012), Divergent (2014), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Mortal Engines (2019). And the Zombie apocalypse would prove its enduring popularity in Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Maggie (2015), Extinction (2015) and The Girl with All the Gifts (2016). Other classic films of the subgenre in the 2010’s included Monsters (2010), Stake Land (2010), Pacific Rim (2013), The Rover (2014), Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014), Insurgent (2015), Attack on Titan (2015), Turbo Kid (2015), Hidden (2015), It Comes at Night (2017), Rakka (2017), Cargo (2017), The Cured (2017), Bird Box (2018) and I Am Mother (2019).
The 2020’s continued a strong showing for Post-Apocalypse films with a few classic films of the subgenre already with A Quiet Place Part II (2020), Peninsula (2020), Love and Monsters (2020), Army of the Dead (2021) and Finch (2021). Other notable subgenre films include Cadaver (2020), The Colony (2021), The Matrix Resurrections (2021) and Black Crab (2022).
Our list of Post-Apocalypse Films features over 231+ films from the years 1960 – 2022. This Part 2 list features Post-Apocalypse Films from 2000 – 2022 while our Part 1 list features films from 1960 – 2000. For our list of the Top Post-Apocalypse Films You Haven’t Seen (Part 2) we had to exclude the following honorable mentions from our list: The Day (2011), Extinction (2015), Z for Zachariah (2015), What Still Remains (2018), Freaks (2019), Light of My Life (2019), Night Raiders (2021), Gold (2022) and Black Crab (2022).
We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Post-Apocalypse Films You Haven’t Seen (Part 2) and more details on these films can be found in the list below. Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
#10
Time of the Wolf
Plot: A family leaving the city for their countryside home find it occupied by strangers.
Apocalyptic Event: Undisclosed (but likely nuclear radiation)
KBZ’s Take: This is a Michael Haneke film (Funny Games (1997)), so if you’re familiar with his films, you’ll be prepared for the nihilistic view of societal breakdown in Time of the Wolf. It’s not a film with Zombies or other post-apocalyptic monsters, but rather a slow mediation on how societal norms and rules eventually breakdown after an apocalyptic event. It’s a highly recommended film for fans for the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/40fAKZV
Plot: Titans suddenly appear on Earth and feed on humans. 100 years later, human civilization lives in peace behind giant walls to defend themselves…until the Titans re-appear.
Apocalyptic Event: Monsters
KBZ’s Take: This is by far the most bonkers and crazy film on our list and an apocalyptic film that only the Japanese can make. This is a live adaptation of the popular magna and anime series which has resulted in very divided opinions. While the magna and anime series has better character development and world building, the live action films is a 3 hour effort across two films (this Part 1 film and Attack on Titan II: End of the World (2018)). We still enjoyed the live action films and thought it was one of the better and more unique post-apocalyptic films you’ll see.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RgjMGT
#8
Hell
Plot: In a world where the sun has turned the entire world into a scorched wasteland, a few survivors are lured into an ambush.
Apocalyptic Event: Climate Change
KBZ’s Take: This isn’t a film that breaks new ground in the post-apocalyptic film subgenre, but it’s one of the better lower budget films of the subgenre. Like other films of its type, this film focuses on a few survivors and how they must navigate this new world where water and food are scarcities. Where the film excels is in its direction and cinematography. Even though you’ll likely figure out where the story is headed, you’re still engaged enough to continue watching. That’s the hallmark of a film that punches above it’s weight and why we recommend this film for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kTF0hD
Plot: Post-apocalyptic survivors shelter themselves from zombies and mysterious creatures.
Apocalyptic Event: Undisclosed (but likely an apocalyptic war)
KBZ’s Take: This Spanish film has a surprising amount of world building and tension for a smaller scale film. Though the post-apocalyptic event isn’t revealed until the end of the film, the build up to the reveal makes the film worth watching. There’s also the constant threat from ‘monsters’ the survivors must endure which creates many suspenseful sequences throughout the film. If you haven’t yet seen this film, we highly recommend it for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: N/A
#6
The Divide
Plot: Survivors of a nuclear attack are grouped together for days in a basement with dwindling supplies and morality.
Apocalyptic Event: Nuclear war
KBZ’s Take: We were quite divided (pun intended) on whether or not to put The Divide or The Day (2011) at this spot on our list. We enjoyed both films and thought they were above average lesser-known films of the subgenre. Though we recommend watching both films, we selected The Divide for our list given it’s more unique ‘Lord of the Flies’ dynamic and some of the mysterious elements in the film (side note: you can google the film name and Hazmat suit for more details on what exactly happens in the film). If you still haven’t seen this film, we highly recommend it for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kWbc41
#5
The Colony
Plot: Underground survivors venture out into the world after discovering a distress signal from another outpost.
Apocalyptic Event: Climate Change
KBZ’s Take: This film does a great job of worldbuilding with the suspense of our survivors venturing from their underground bunkers into the new post-apocalyptic world above. Unfortunately, once they reach the other outpost, the film suffers as it drops the suspense in lieu of action chase scenes. Still, this is an overall great film to watch especially with Bill Pullman and Laurence Fishburne as the leaders of the survivors.
Additional Lists: Top Survival Horror Films You Haven’t Seen #8
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RlPGBW
Plot: Hidden deep in the forest, one man lives off his small plot of land until two women discover him and seek shelter.
Apocalyptic Event: Drop in global population; famine
KBZ’s Take: This is a very depressing film but also one of the more realistic looks at a post-apocalyptic world. With food scarce, it raises the questions most of us hope we never have to ask – what would you do when you only have enough for two people when you have three in your group? Though it has some action sequences and tense moments, it’s a slow, smaller film that explores the question if trust is compatible with survival. It’s a highly recommend film for fans of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Survival Dramas You Haven’t Seen #10
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y67jaS
Plot: Seven years after a Monster Apocalypse, a young man living underground ventures into the post-apocalyptic world to reunite with his high school girlfriend.
Apocalyptic Event: Monsterpocalypse
KBZ’s Take: This is one of our personal favorite films on this list and also one of the more comedic post-apocalyptic films in the subgenre. This is a family friendly film filled with action, adventure and some very funny monsters. However, it’s the script by Brian Duffield and Matthew Robinson that is the highlight of this film. While the visuals and special effects will enthrall the youngsters, the tongue-in-cheek 80’s type humor will make this film enjoyable for adults as well. Highly recommended film in this subgenre and the action and adventure film subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kWxoep
#2
Carriers
Plot: Survivors of a global plague drive across the American West trying to reach a utopian safe place.
Apocalyptic Event: Pandemic
KBZ’s Take: This is a grim road movie where survivors of a global plague never know who to trust. As society continues to break down, hope comes in the form of a Gulf of Mexico beach that is rumored to be free of the plague. One of the best of the subgenre that shows a more intimate and realistic look at how one might treat someone close to them that has suddenly become infected.
Additional Lists: Top Pandemic and Virus Films You Haven’t Seen #2
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JrGrxT
#1
Hidden
Plot: A family hides in a bunker to survive during a viral outbreak.
Apocalyptic Event: Pandemic
KBZ’s Take: Hidden is a mash-up of different subgenres that all result in one of the best post-apocalyptic films you will ever see. It’s part Apocalypse film, part Pandemic and Virus film and part Home Invasion horror film. Created by the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things series) and similar in vein to A Quiet Place (2018), it’s about the family dynamic as they hide from ‘something’ that lurks above. It also has creepiness and jump scares along with ‘breadcrumbs’ you’ll notice upon a second viewing of the film. And believe us, once you get to the end, you’ll want to watch a second time to see where all the hints are laid out for what’s to come.
Additional Lists: Top Survival Horror Films You Haven’t Seen #4, Top Pandemic and Virus Films You Haven’t Seen #6
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RfKEGZ
