It's the End of the World as We Know It; and, I Feel Fine!
These are films of the apocalypse and post-apocalypse. We had a lot of them in the 80s, when it looked like certain world leaders thought nuclear war was something you could survive (or would want to) and others were metaphors for different anxietes. Whatever the inspiration, they ranged from the violent to the goofy. My definition of an apocalypse is a collapse of society, so just because it doesn't feature nomads racing vehicles in the desert does not mean I don't consider it to be post-apocalyptic. As always, your mileage may vary.
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- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsMel GibsonJoanne SamuelHugh Keays-ByrneIn a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.Let's start with Max Rockatansky, member of the Main Force Police, driver of the "last of the V-8 Interceptors." The world is crumbling quickly here, as bands of crazed outlaws are terrorizing the roads and outskirts of civilization. The police are ineffective, the courts are a revolving door. In many ways, the film epitomizes urban angst of the 70s, mixing in elements of the vigilante hero (though he is a police officer), biker hysteria, and the Western. The film is massively over-the-top, but Mel Gibson keeps things centered, as the normal guy in a crazy world. Avoid the Americanized version and stick with the original Australian audio tracks. Mel sounds too much like Cliff Robertson in the dub.
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsMel GibsonBruce SpenceMichael PrestonIn the post-apocalyptic Australian wasteland, a cynical drifter agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community to get rid of a horde of bandits.Max is back and the world is in even worse shape. It looks like, at this point, the world is completely shot. You have to kind of wonder how things fell apart that badly, in the span of time between movies; but, it's incidental. The point here is to completely strip away any last vestige of civilization and turn everything into a lawless frontier. Max is now a vagabond, salvaging what he can, when he finds himself mixed with a group that has large stocks of petroleum, who are besieged by an army of psychos. This one goes whole hog, with violence and mayhem, but without the complexity of plot in the first one (relatively speaking). Max goes from wanderer to warrior, with a sense of purpose again. The action was astounding, at the time, and still hits you with its violence and relentless pace.
- DirectorGeorge MillerGeorge OgilvieStarsMel GibsonTina TurnerBruce SpenceAfter being exiled from the most advanced town in post apocalyptic Australia, a drifter travels with a group of abandoned children to rebel against the town's queen.Now, fully engaging the Western structure, Max encounters a frontier town, one with a semblance of law and order, but corrupt to the core. Max plays both sides, until he crosses the boss too much. Then, left for dead, he finds a group in search of a leader and he finds a calling, again. There's some good stuff here; but, it's more uneven than previous efforts and has a hard time duplicating the action of the previous film. Tina Turner makes a passable actress; but, Aunty needed more.
- DirectorGeorge MillerStarsTom HardyCharlize TheronNicholas HoultIn a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper and a drifter named Max.After several aborted attempts to do a new film, George Miller deliver's the next generation Max. Max meets a woman who is on the run from a gang, after she steals their most precious resource, 5 women. She needs Max's help to cross the desert. Cue engine's reving and crazies howling. Expect tons of destruction and mayhem, based on the trailer. Thankfully, they (mostly) stuck to practical effects. No official word on sequels; but, Tom Hardy did sign a 3-picture deal and you have to believe Hollywood will want to milk this, given franchise fever there.
- DirectorStanley KramerStarsGregory PeckAva GardnerFred AstaireAfter a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.Film adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel of a dying world, following a nuclear war. The Northern Hemisphere has been devastated and survivors in Australia are preparing for their own end. A submarine is sent to investigate morse code signals; but, finds no hope. The are significant changes between the novel and film; but, it does maintain the bleak outlook of the book. Ultimately, its characters must decide how they want to face the end.
- DirectorNicholas MeyerStarsJason RobardsJoBeth WilliamsSteve GuttenbergThe effects of a devastating nuclear holocaust on small-town residents of eastern Kansas.Notorious tv film, about a nuclear attack on the US and the survivors. It was rather optimistic in its limited nuclear exchange and never gets a graphic as the reality would likely be. It was an interesting experiment; but, wasn't exactly the most memorable.
- 19641h 35mPG8.4 (519K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.Nuclear paranoia turned black comedy, as a crazed general sends bombers to their targets, and some people think it might not have been a bad idea. Meanwhile, the president and his advisers have to prepare for the aftermath, if they can't stop the lone bomber still on target. The film is tremendously dark and funny; yet, scary in its far-too-plausible scenario.
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsHenry FondaWalter MatthauFritz WeaverA technical malfunction sends American planes to Moscow to deliver a nuclear attack. Can all-out war be averted?Forget the tv movie, this is the original. Somewhat overshadowed by Dr Strangelove, this film takes a more serious tone, but with a similar plot. Instead of a crazed general, a communications problem leads a bomber to ignore the recall code and head for its assigned target. The president and his advisers must find a way to stop the plane. They try to communicate, to shoot the plane down, and a deal with the devil. Great piece of drama that serves as a cautionary tale about the idea of nuclear deterrence. A young Larry Hagman would play a Russian language interpretor, with Henry Fonda and Walter Mathau as the primary leads.
- DirectorRudolph MatéStarsRichard DerrBarbara RushPeter HansenAs a new star and planet hurtle toward a doomed Earth, a small group of survivalists frantically work to complete the rocket which will take them to their new home.An astronomer discovers a rogue star on a collision course with Earth and attempts to rally the world leaders around the idea of creating a space ark to deliver a chosen few survivors to the only known habitable planet, with the remnants of their civilization and to create a new start. The film adapts Phillip Wylie's novel, and focuses on the efforts to build the ark and choose the passengers, showing compromises made and how people react. The story would influence the creation of Flash Gordon (as would John Carter of Mars) and the origin of Superman, on Krypton. A sequel novel was written, After Worlds Collide, but it was not adapted.
- DirectorRonald NeameStarsSean ConneryNatalie WoodKarl MaldenThe U.S. must join forces with the U.S.S.R. in order to destroy a gigantic asteroid heading straight for Earth.Rather bad film about a massive meteor on a collision course with Earth. It's really more of a (sub) standard disaster film, though so is any good apocalypse.
- DirectorMichael BayStarsBruce WillisBilly Bob ThorntonBen AffleckAfter discovering that an asteroid the size of Texas will impact Earth in less than a month, NASA recruits a misfit team of deep-core drillers to save the planet.A stunningly original idea of a massive asteroid in a collision course with Earth. Enter a team of oil drilling experts to try to blow the whole thing up. Sitting through this cliche you are left hoping that the world would end. It's a shallow popcorn movie that is entertaining enough if you put your brain on hold. You can thank it for Michael Bay.
- DirectorMimi LederStarsRobert DuvallTéa LeoniElijah WoodA comet is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. As doomsday nears, the human race prepares for the worst.Coming out at about the same time as Armageddon; but not quite having the same box office. It's the better rendered of the two, though it is largely a remake of When Worlds Collide. The difference is that we can't have an apocalyptic ending so it undercuts an other wise fine film. That said, it does explore how society would react to the civilization and the steps that would be taken to try to stop it.
- DirectorWilliam Cameron MenziesStarsRaymond MasseyEdward ChapmanRalph RichardsonThe story of a century: a decades-long second World War leaves plague and anarchy, then a rational state rebuilds civilization and attempts space travel.This one is a bit of a mixture of dystopia and utopia. War breaks out and devastates the world, after years of fighting and from the use of poisonous gas. Society crumbles and the people live in ruins. In one such area, a warlord, known as The Boss, rules his people and seeks to wage war on the Hill People, using airplanes that have been salvaged. Hero John Cabal enters this region, in a high tech plane and is imprisoned and forced to aid the Boss. he is able to get a message to his cohort, Wings Over the World, a group of airmen and scientists working to save humanity. They stop the atack, bloodlessly and then build a new society underground. however, trouble brews in this utopia, when they prepare to launch a craft into space, using a giant cannon. Based on the HG Wells novel and benefiting from his input, plus the vision of director William Menzies and producer Alex Korda.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.Not exactly a post-apocalyptic film; but it fits my definition. Society is in a shambles as gangs of violent young men terrorize the fringes of civilization. The center of this is Alex Large, a bright and psychopathic leader of one of these gangs. The film is as much a social satire as it is an exploration of violence and reactions to violence. its also extremely disturbing, even today, especially when compared to more modern examples of torture porn and copycat scenes. Kubrick is a master at getting you to almost sympathize with Alex, as even the members of "polite society," are fairly despicable. However, he also shows us Alex's vicious side and his casual attitude to extreme violence. Meanwhile, when Alex undergoes an experimental procedure to rid him of violent impulses, we see the extreme reaction to the situation, rather than an effort to get to the root of the problem. Not for the fainthearted and unfortunately a favorite of some people who could use professional help.
- DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsCharlton HestonRoddy McDowallKim HunterAn astronaut crew crash-lands on a planet where highly intelligent non-human ape species are dominant and humans are enslaved.I don't think I'm giving anything away here, after nearly 50 years. Mankind has brought his own destruction and his role in nature has become reversed. Tremendous film with an iconic ending.
- DirectorTed PostStarsJames FranciscusKim HunterMaurice EvansThe sole survivor of an interplanetary rescue mission searches for the only survivor of the previous expedition. He discovers a planet ruled by apes and an underground city run by telepathic humans.First we saw the aftermath of mankind's destruction. Now we watch as man and ape crash headlong into their own destruction, in the form of an underground colony of mutants, who have a doomsday bomb. Not as powerful as the original film; but, it has some great moments.
- DirectorDon TaylorStarsRoddy McDowallKim HunterBradford DillmanThe world is shocked by the appearance of three talking chimpanzees, who arrived mysteriously in a U.S. spacecraft. They become the toast of society, but one man believes them to be a threat to the human race.After the events of the previous film, we learn that Cornelius and Zira have escaped their world and moved into the past, where the shoe is on the other foot. They try to hide their knowledge of the future; but it slips out and they find themselves the hunted, to prevent their unborn child from bringing about man's downfall. It is one of the more criticized installments, based on certain events in the plot; but, it is one of my favorites.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsRoddy McDowallDon MurrayRicardo MontalbanIn a futuristic world that has embraced ape slavery, Caesar, the son of the late simians Cornelius and Zira, surfaces after almost twenty years of hiding out from the authorities, and prepares for a slave revolt against humanity.Mankind has been riddled with a plague that has killed domestic animals and apes are being used as servants. The film is largely a metaphor for slavery, as the apes turn upon their masters and you cheer them on. It is hampered by budget, though not by ambition. Not quite apocalyptic; but, it is the spark of it.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsRoddy McDowallClaude AkinsNatalie TrundyTen years after a worldwide series of ape revolutions and a brutal nuclear war among humans, Caesar must protect survivors of both species from an insidious human cult and a militant ape faction alike.The apes have won out over man, but face internal and external struggles, as Caesar must defend his people against the mutants and a power-hungry gorilla. Weakest of the bunch, plot and budget-wise.
- CreatorAnthony WilsonStarsRoddy McDowallRon HarperJames NaughtonTwo astronauts and a sympathetic chimp friend are fugitives in a future Earth dominated by a civilization of humanoid apes.A new group of astronauts find themselves in the future, where apes rule. Unfortunately, after the pilot episode, things devolve into The Fugitive, with ape costumes. It wasn't that good and departed from the films by having the humans be intelligent and able to speak. The stories weren't particularly imaginative.
- CreatorDavid H. DePatieFriz FrelengStarsAustin StokerPhilippa HarrisHenry CordenWhile on a mission, three astronauts in their spaceship get caught in a time vortex. They return to Earth in the year 3979 A.D. and discover that intelligent apes are now the highest form of life.Animated entry into the Apes saga, with the human astronauts finding a more technologically advanced ape civilization than in the films. It has some good stories; but, it is hampered by stiff animation, bland voicework, and too many cutesie ideas. It is a little more in keeping with the Boulle novel, though.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMark WahlbergHelena Bonham CarterTim RothIn 2029, an Air Force astronaut crash-lands on a mysterious planet where evolved, talking apes dominate a race of primitive humans.Horrible remake with little to offer, apart from the make-up. Tim Burton totally lost the point.
- DirectorRupert WyattStarsJames FrancoAndy SerkisFreida PintoA substance designed to help the brain repair itself gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising.Modern reboot of the Apes franchise. Not quite as original; but, it does a much better job than Tim Burton.
- DirectorMatt ReevesStarsGary OldmanKeri RussellAndy SerkisThe fragile peace between apes and humans is threatened as mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both tribes into a war for dominance over the Earth.Pretty much a remake of Conquest, and by most accounts a very good one.
- DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsDennis QuaidJake GyllenhaalEmmy RossumJack Hall, paleoclimatologist, must make a daring trek from Washington, D.C. to New York City to reach his son, trapped in the cross-hairs of a sudden international storm which plunges the planet into a new Ice Age.Badly made disaster-porn from Roland Emerich. You can write a whole thesis about the bad science in the film, not to mention the coincidences.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsMark WahlbergZooey DeschanelJohn LeguizamoA science teacher, his wife, and a young girl struggle to survive a plague that causes those infected to commit suicide.M Night Shyamalan cements his fall from grace with this horrible film about a plague that causes people to commit suicide. It was pretty much panned by everyone and was so bad they didn't even use Shyamalan's name to promote his most recent failure.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellLee Van CleefErnest BorgnineIn 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.The world is locked into a perpetual World War III and US citizens have been driven mad by nerve gas exposure (mostly implied in the novelization, moreso than the film). In this world, New York has been turned into a maximum security prison to house the rising tide of criminals. Into this world, the authorities send Snake Plisken, a former Special Forces officer and criminal, to find and extricate the President of the United States, who has crashlanded in the prison. the world is bleak and the prison is ruled by gangs of crazies, though none as deadly as Plisken. Kurt Russell channels Clint Eastwood and creates a memorable character. John Carpenter does a pretty good job with hiding his limited budget and makes up for it in imagination and a smart script.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellSteve BuscemiStacy KeachSnake Plissken is once again called in by the United States government to recover a potential doomsday device from Los Angeles, now an autonomous island where undesirables are deported.Pretty much a rehash of the first film, with a bigger budget and a less satisfying script. It's a kind of libertarian redo of the whole thing.
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsPierre JolivetJean BouiseJean RenoIn a post-apocalyptic future where no one is able to speak, the few remaining humans fight over resources in order to survive.French film, from director Luc Besson, about a decayed society where man is reduced to near animal-like state. A scavenger builds an ultralight plane and travels to a nearby city, where fish rain from the sky (never explained) and Jean Reno fights a Sylvester and Tweety battle to invade a derelict hospital, with a secret hidden inside. Visually interesting and amusing, though a bit obtuse.
- DirectorChris MarkerStarsÉtienne BeckerJean NégroniHélène ChatelainThe story of a man forced to explore his memories in the wake of World War III's devastation, told through still images.A prisoner in a post-apocalyptic world is recruited as a test subject, in an attempt to send a subject through time to contact help in different eras, to rescue the present. He is haunted by a memory of an event he witnessed as a child and falls in love with a woman from that event, when he travels to the past.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsBruce WillisMadeleine StoweBrad PittIn a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.Terry Gilliam brings us this film, inspired by La Jetee. The world has been devastated by a plague and is in a state of disarray. A group of scientists send a an back in time to learn the source of the plague and try to stop its distribution. There, we are left to wonder if Bruce Willis is in fact a time traveler or a mental patient with apocalyptic delusions. The film keeps you guessing until near the end. Gilliam is in fine form here, aided by a great cast.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.Based on the Philip K Dick novel, this Ridley Scott film explores an Earth that has been devastated by pollution, disease, and ecological disaster. Mankind has moved offworld, leaving behind the lesser citizenry to try to survive in a world of darkness, decay, and acid rain. Into this world come 5 replicants, artificial humans designed for servile roles, in search of their origin. Detective Rick Deckard has been reinstated (drafted) to hunt them down and kill them. Along the way, he finds that they are more human than he is. Visually stunning, though the story is a bit muddled. It would set the tone for dystopian films to come.
- DirectorKatsuhiro ÔtomoStarsMitsuo IwataNozomu SasakiMami KoyamaA secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.Animated adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo's groundbreaking manga. neo_tokyo has arisen from the ruins of Tokyo, when a young member of a biker gang and his friend encounter a rapidly aged child with tremendous psychic abilities. The friend, Tetsuo, starts to manifest his own abilities, while also discovering his past, a corrupt and fascist government, and the power of Akira. This is the nuclear and technological nightmare writ large, as the mental power of Akira proves more destructive than any nuclear device.
- DirectorEnzo G. CastellariStarsMark GregoryFred WilliamsonVic MorrowIn a post-apocalyptic New York City, a policeman infiltrates the Bronx, which has become a battleground for several murderous street gangs.Italian sci-film that features the Bronx as a wasteland, ripping off Escape from New York and Mad Max. It is a cult favorite, for whatever reason.
- DirectorEnzo G. CastellariStarsMark GregoryHenry SilvaValeria D'ObiciA rag-tag group of people must fight extermination squads amid their ruined city.More of the same low-budget Italian fun in the Bronx wasteland.
- CreatorSteve GerberStarsHenry CordenRobert RidgelyNellie BellflowerThundarr the Barbarian and his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel wander a devastated future Earth and fight evil wherever they find it.Mixing elements from Planet of the Apes, When World's Collide, Conan the Barbarian, and a host of other influences, this cartoon series features a barbarian warrior, his sorceress love interest (well, friend, in the platonic world of Saturday morning), and companion Ookla, the Mok (a kind of leonine humanoid) as they travel across the remnants of the United States, where they encounter mutants, monsters, and sorcerers (who are actually using advanced technology). It was a very imaginative and exciting series, conceived by writer Steve Gerber (Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck and The Defenders), with character designs by Jack Kirby (co-creator of much of Marvel) and Alex Toth (Space Ghost).
- CreatorMartin RothStarsTerry LesterJean Marie HonJosé FloresThree young scientists travel around the country in the 25th century after the world has been ravaged by pollution. In their hi-tech RV (called Ark II), they study the land and help out those in need.Live action Saturday morning series, from Filmation, about a team of scientists who travel across a devastated wasteland, helping various groups, while trying to rebuild society. It was a bit preachy and sedate; but imaginative.
- DirectorJack SmightStarsJan-Michael VincentGeorge PeppardDominique SandaIn a post-apocalyptic world, a group of survivors travel and find other settlements in huge custom designed all terrain vehicles.A nuclear war leaves destruction and weird phenomena. Across this land travels a group of Air Force personnel in a high-tech, all terrain vehicle, the Landmaster, in search of other survivors. There, they find psychotic killers, mutated insects, and strange weather. It's a nice idea; but, the execution isn't consistent.
- DirectorMichael AndersonStarsMichael YorkJenny AgutterRichard JordanA police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth.The world has been devastated by a series of wars and overpopulation, leading to a society that lives under a dome, with a tightly controlled population, enforced by the Sandmen. Logan 5 is a Sandman who is sent to find Sanctuary, the destination of rebel Runners, people who refuse to face the end at 30 (or rebirth on Carousel). What Logan and partner Jessica discover is an outside world that has recovered from the devastation. However, they can't rest as they are hunted by Francis 7, Logan's former Sandman partner.
- StarsGregory HarrisonHeather Menzies-UrichDonald MoffatIn a futuristic society where reaching the age of 30 is a death sentence, a rebellious law enforcement agent goes on the run in search of Sanctuary.TV series that followed on the heels of the movie, with some alterations. In this version, Logan and Jessica encounter and android, REM, who accompanies them as they explore the outside world, where they find various individuals and societies, while seeking to escape from Francis, who is hunting for them. The series is very much in the mode of Star Trek, thanks largely to story editor DC Fontana.
- DirectorJohn Llewellyn MoxeyStarsAlex CordMariette HartleyTed CassidyA scientist who has been preserved in suspended animation wakes up to find himself in a primitive society in the future.Alex Cord stars in this pilot movie, about a scientist who is buried inside a mountain complex, while conducting an experiment in suspended animation. He awakes in the future to discover the world has been devastated by a disaster and that a group of scientists, artists, and other experts (Pax) are trying to rebuild society. They are opposed by a group in another city, who try to persuade Cord that Pax seeks to rule and destroy. Cord must determine the truth for himself. The pilot works fairly well, though it gets bog down a bit before the climax. A series did not follow, though the prepared scripts were used again.
- DirectorMarc DanielsStarsJohn SaxonJanet MargolinTed CassidyA man awakens from suspended animation and finds himself in the 22nd century, where women rule the world and men are slaves called Dinks. He is captured and sold as a slave, but escapes and hooks up with a male rebel movement.Second attempt at turning Genesis II into a series. This version uses scripts for episodes that would follow the pilot, though John Saxon is recast as the lead. He finds himself in a society where women rule and men are held as slaves. It was a rather ham-fisted look at the equal rights issue, from an alternate viewpoint.
- DirectorRobert ButlerStarsJohn SaxonKathleen MillerKeene CurtisIn the near future, a group of scientists living in a space ship wake up from a hibernation state and come back to an apocalyptic Earth.Third attempt with Genesis II, though without creator Gene Roddenberry,; but, with John Saxon still as the lead. This time, a group of astronauts return from a space mission (involving cryogenic sleep), where they find a devastated world. They try to rebuild the PAX organization that launched them, to reclaim society. generally considered to be the worst of the three attempts with the material.
- StarsGary SiniseMolly RingwaldJamey SheridanAfter a deadly plague kills most of the world's population, the remaining survivors split into two groups - one led by a benevolent elder and the other by a malevolent being - to face each other in a final battle between good and evil.Mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's novel of an apocalyptic superplague, which wipes out most of humanity, and the survivors of the plague. I'm not a horror fan; but, mostly enjoyed the sci-fi elements, until we got int the more supernatural stuff at the end. I still think the story would have been more effective without that.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsJulianne MooreClive OwenChiwetel EjioforIn 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have somehow become infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.In the near future, increasing infertility has led to the collapse of most societies, with the UK the last remaining stable government, which is clamped down heavily on asylum seekers. Clive Owen is a former activist, turned bureaucrat, who is contracted by a militant group to escort a woman to safety. he eventually learns that she is pregnant and must be protected for the future of mankind. The film uses imagery to invoke historical elements, such as the Holocaust, Abu Ghraib Prison, and immigration battles to bring it gravitas.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsRichard DenningLori NelsonAdele JergensIn a post-Apocalyptic world after an atomic war seven disparate people find themselves in a protected valley in the home of a survivalist and his beautiful daughter.Roger Corman movie about a post-atomic wasteland, where the lone oasis is a box canyon, surrounded by lead-laden mountains. A former Naval officer and his daughter live in a well-stocked shelter, where they keep out the outside world. They eventually allow others end and must face destruction from the outside world, and a dangerous inhabitant from within. The film plays upon nuclear paranoia and ideas about surviving in bomb shelters.
- DirectorAbel GanceStarsAbel GanceColette DarfeuilSylvie GanceThe two Novalic brothers, Jean and Martial, are in love with the same woman, Genevieve. Jean is an impoverished actor and an idealistic dreamer, who does not want Genevieve to share in his life of suffering. Martial is an internationally-respected astronomer who discovers the return of Lexell's Comet, on a collision course for Earth. Meanwhile, the rich play while the world is arming for war. Martial decides to use the impending threat of world destruction to reorganize and improve global society. But he is opposed by the rich financiers and government officials who stand to lose their power and influence.French film, based on the novel Omega: The Last days of the World, by Camille Flammarion. Scientists discover that a comet is on a collision course with Earth, but the government hides the news. The hero, jean, senses the impending doom and tries to warn people; but ends up in an asylum. An stronomer seeks help to try to spread the word, while another man nivests in arms to profit from looming war. Eventually the truth is known and chaos rains.
- DirectorRay MillandStarsRay MillandJean HagenFrankie AvalonA family leaves Los Angeles for a camping trip just before hydrogen bombs destroy the city. In the midst of the chaos, the father must fight to keep his family alive along the highway.A family departs Los Angeles on vacation when they notice a series of bright flashes. They have witnessed a series of nuclear strikes and seek to find one of the character's mothers; but have to abandon the idea and seek shelter in the mountains. Along the way, they try to obtain supplies, sometimes by force, and deal with a group of thugs. Template for many future disaster films.
- DirectorThom EberhardtStarsCatherine Mary StewartKelli MaroneyRobert BeltranA comet wipes out most of life on Earth, leaving two Valley Girls fighting against cannibal zombies and a sinister group of scientists.80s apocalyptic comedy about a the Earth passing through the tail of a comet, which leaves behind a destroyed civilization and piles of clothing among red dust. A small group of teens survive. The film is nothing spectacular but is an entertaining B-movie and has a cult audience.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsCillian MurphyNaomie HarrisChristopher EcclestonFour weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.Animal activist unwittingly unleash a deadly virus, which decimates Britain. Great post-apocalyptic tale from the director of Trainspotting. Sort of a zombie movie; but not quite.
- DirectorJuan Carlos FresnadilloStarsJeremy RennerRose ByrneRobert CarlyleSix months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of Great Britain, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes according to plan.After the events of the first film, US soldiers arrive in britain to stabilize things and help repopulate the country.
- DirectorUbaldo RagonaSidney SalkowStarsVincent PriceFranca BettoiaEmma DanieliWhen a disease turns all of humanity into the living dead, the last man on earth becomes a reluctant vampire hunter.The first adaptation of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, with Matheson on the script, though he didn't like they way things were going and had his name changed for the finished film. Matheson's story tells the tale of a world of vampires who are created by a virus, rather than by supernatural means. It was, essentially, the granddaddy of modern zombie tales, though Matheson had biological vampires in mind. This version is more of a vampire film than subsequent versions and suffers from a low budget, though not from effort or from Vincent Price. It has grown in stature over the years and influenced Night of the Living Dead.
- DirectorBoris SagalStarsCharlton HestonAnthony ZerbeRosalind CashDr Robert Neville has developed an experimental vaccine which makes him the only immune survivor of a biological catastrophe. A gang of homicidal mutants blame science for their condition and attempt to kill him.This time, Matheson's I Am Legend becomes a vehicle for Charlton heston. It still strays from the source material, but is a bit better regarded. One interesting aspect is how Heston's character has become dehumanized, relative to the "vampires." He's not exactly a sympathetic hero, here.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsWill SmithAlice BragaCharlie TahanYears after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.Matheson's title finally makes it to screen, though his work doesn't make it intact. In this version, Neville is a more sympathetic figure, who has discovered a potential cure; and, the infected are less intelligent than in the novel. It lack's Matheson's ideas about the "vampires" creating a new society of their own and Neville's place within their developing belief system.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsCharlton HestonEdward G. RobinsonLeigh Taylor-YoungA nightmarish futuristic fantasy about the controlling power of big corporations and an innocent cop who stumbles on the truth.Harry harrison's story, "Make Room, Make Room" comes to screen, with Charlton Heston and Edward G Robinson. heston is a police officer, investigating the murder of a major member of the elite. the world is massively overpopulated and polluted, with food scarce. Soylent Green is being marketed as a miracle food from the sea; but, it is scarce. Heston delves into a murky corporate world and determines that the crime was more assassination than straight murder. He also uncovers the truth about the process for creating Soylent Green. I don't think I really need to reveal it, since that moment is right up there with the end of Planet of the Apes. Robinson is Heston's roommate, an old man who knew life before the current state of affairs. he assists heston in his investigation. The film also showcases a euthanasia system, where people are shown visions of the world before, with vibrant plant and animal life, as they are put to sleep. This was Robinson's final film, which adds a bit of depth, given his character's fate.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsDuane JonesJudith O'DeaKarl HardmanA ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast of the United States.Not exactly an apocalypse; but, it is the template for most zombie films, having borrowed it from Richard Matheson. the Zombie Apocalypse would follow, though.
- DirectorTom SaviniStarsTony ToddPatricia TallmanTom TowlesWhen the unburied dead return to life and seek human victims, seven refugees shelter in a house in the Pennsylvanian countryside.George Romero made a new version, largely to make money off of his original film, due to convoluted legal issues. the main difference is that it is in color.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsDavid EmgeKen ForeeScott H. ReinigerDuring an escalating zombie epidemic, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter and his TV executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.Sequel to the original Night of the Living Dead, where the full on zombie apocalypse is introduced. Once the chaos reins, a group of survivors end up holed up in a mall. The film makes more than a bit of social commentary, which adds to its popularity.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsSarah PolleyVing RhamesMekhi PhiferA nurse, a policeman, a young married couple, a salesman and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall.Zack Snyder's remake of the Romero film, minus the humor and subtleties of the original. like most Snyder films it's big on noise and short on originality or depth.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsLori CardilleTerry AlexanderJoseph PilatoAs the world is overrun by zombies, a group of scientists and military personnel sheltering in an underground bunker in Florida must decide on how they should deal with the undead horde.This film focuses on a military enclave of survivors who are looking for other survivors and a solution to the zombie plague. There is a scientist who believes that the zombies can be pacified and is conducting experiments and keeps a large test contingent in an underground holding area. Lots of social commentary in this one, which was a standard of Romero's line of films.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsJohn LeguizamoAsia ArgentoSimon BakerThe living dead have taken over the world, and the last humans live in a walled city to protect themselves as they come to grips with the situation.Romero makes a bit of commentary on the Iraq War and income inequality in this one, where a group of survivors in Pittsburgh go searching for supplies, in a heavily armed "tank". One of the tank commanders is denied a residence in the affluent section of Pittsburgh and steals the tank. A group tries to reclaim it, while the zombies move on the city. Lie I said, lot of social commentary here.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsMichelle MorganJoshua CloseShawn RobertsA group of young film students run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own.Kind of a relaunch of the story; less a sequel and more of a parallel tale.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsAlan Van SprangKenneth WelshKathleen MunroeOn an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their un-dead relatives back to their human state.Less successful follow up to Diary, focusing on an AWOL National Guardsman, from the previous film. Most criticisms point at a lack of anything new and the humor being its main positive element.
- DirectorDan O'BannonStarsClu GulagerJames KarenDon CalfaWhen two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.Based on John Russo's novel, which was a sequel to Night of the living Dead; though, it departs heavily from the novel. It's set in Kentucky, where military toxic waste sets things off. Not quite up there with Romero's stuff; but, it did alright. It led to 4 sequels, with variations of the toxin leading to zombie infestations. It doesn't reach the apocalyptic levels of Romero's films, though. I'm gonna skip the rest of them, as plots are relatively similar.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg deliver a Zom-Rom-Com, in an homage to Dawn of the Dead. Shaun is an underachieving appliance store manager, who is on the ouuts with his girlfriend, when a zombie plague decimates Great Britain. Shaun, his friend Ed, his girlfriend and her friends work to try to escape the zombies, while also collecting Shaun's mother. They end up barricading themselves in their favorite pub. It's both a great comedy and a great zombie film, magnifying the humor elements of Romero's work. Tons of fun.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostMartin FreemanFive friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from twenty years earlier unwittingly become humanity's only hope for survival.More fun from Edgar and Simon, as a pub crawl by a group of old friends reveals an alien secret and things go haywire. A slightly different apocalypse, to be sure.
- CreatorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnNorman ReedusMelissa McBrideSheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.Based on the comic book series, where a zombie plague has decimated society and a band of survivors tries to find safety and adjust to their new world. Hugely successful.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsBrad PittMireille EnosDaniella KerteszFormer United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself.Based on Max Brook's bestselling novel; but, ejecting most of its content. Brad Pitt faces the zombie apocalypse. Big on spectacle, short on the meat of Brooks' work.
- DirectorVic SarinStarsKirk CameronBrad JohnsonJanaya StephensThe Biblical prophecy of Armegeddon begins when the Rapture instantly takes all believers in Christ from the Earth. A reporter left behind learns that the Anti-Christ will soon take power.Abysmal movie, based on the book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. The books were rather sanctimonious and lightweight (go figure, since they were catering to the evangelical crowd) and this is the same, only worse. Religious nutjob Kirk Cameron stars. Yeah, they didn't try for theaters; and, instead, went with distribution via Wal-Mart and similar outlets. Even fans of the books pretty much hated it. There were two equally bad sequels.
At least the books can be read for their entertainment value, regardless of belief. You won't find much of that here. - DirectorVic ArmstrongStarsNicolas CageLea ThompsonCassi ThomsonA small group of survivors is left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction.Bigger budget theatrical remake that was even worse than the other one, if possible. About the only ones who liked it were LaHaye and Jenkins and I suspect the money they got for the film rights colored their opinion.
- DirectorRobert MarcarelliStarsCasper Van DienMichael YorkCatherine OxenbergSPOILER: A rabbi in Jerusalem develops software that can unlock prophecies in the Torah. He's murdered and the software stolen. A powerful man uses it to gain world domination.Well, there's a potential apocalypse in store here, in this tale of the rise of an antichrist. It was a bomb, though the evangelical Trinity Broadcasting likes it. Of course, they produced it.