Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi backdrop

Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi movies

After collapse: scarcity, rebuilt rules, hostile environments, and survival in the ruins of society.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

11. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Science Fiction Action Drama Thriller Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi
7.6

20142h 10min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Matt Reeves

A group of scientists in San Francisco struggle to stay alive in the aftermath of a plague that is wiping out humanity, while Caesar tries to maintain dominance over his community of intelligent apes.

Themes

Loyalty under threat, Intergroup conflict, Leadership under pressure, Trust and betrayal, Survival under collapse, Alliance and deception

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

10 Cloverfield Lane

12. 10 Cloverfield Lane

Thriller Science Fiction Drama Horror Survival Thriller
7.2

20161h 44min

United States

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

After a catastrophic car crash, a young woman wakes up in a survivalist's underground bunker, where he claims to have saved her from an apocalyptic attack that has left the outside world uninhabitable.

Themes

Survival under captivity, Trust and betrayal, Deception and control, Confinement and autonomy, Jealousy and power dynamics, External threat and isolation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

I Am Mother

13. I Am Mother

Science Fiction Thriller Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Survival Thriller
6.7

20191h 54min

Australia, United States

Director: Grant Sputore

A teenage girl is raised underground by a robot "Mother", designed to repopulate the earth following an extinction event. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news.

Themes

Reproduction ethics and control, Isolation and bunker survival, Ai governance and autonomy, Ethical limits of care, Trust and deception in survival, Truth and authority confrontation

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Light of My Life

14. Light of My Life

Science Fiction Drama Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Family Drama
6.6

20191h 59min

United States

Director: Casey Affleck

Parent and child journey through the outskirts of society a decade after a pandemic has wiped out half the world's population. As a father struggles to protect his child, their bond—and the character of humanity—is tested.

Themes

Survival under scarcity, Resilience through bonds, Parental protectiveness under threat, Secrecy as survival tactic, Trust and suspicion in outsiders, Memory and promises

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

World War Z

15. World War Z

Action Horror Science Fiction Thriller Zombie Horror
7.0

20131h 56min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Marc Forster

Life for former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane and his family seems content. Suddenly, the world is plagued by a mysterious infection turning whole human populations into rampaging mindless zombies. After barely escaping the chaos, Lane is persuaded to go on a mission to investigate this disease. What follows is a perilous trek around the world where Lane must brave horrific dangers and long odds to find answers before human civilization falls.

Themes

Public health urgency, Fragile international cooperation, Mass movement and sheltering, Fear and resilience under threat, Ethical containment tensions, Multi-perspective investigation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Oblivion

16. Oblivion

Action Science Fiction Adventure Mystery Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi
7.0

20132h 4min

United States

Director: Joseph Kosinski

After a war with alien invaders, Earth is no longer habitable, and what’s left of humanity has moved to the orbital station Tet. Jack Harper carries out technical missions on the devastated planet and coordinates resource-harvesting drones, but a chance discovery makes him question everything he believed about the war and his own assignment.

Themes

Isolation and belonging, Survival under surveillance, Memory erasure ethics, Human vs machine, Identity and autonomy, Postwar resource extraction

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Turbo Kid

17. Turbo Kid

Action Adventure Comedy Science Fiction Epic Action
6.7

20151h 35min

New Zealand, Canada

Director: François Simard

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, an orphaned teen must battle a ruthless warlord to save the girl of his dreams.

Themes

Survival under oppression, Fragile alliances, Post apocalyptic setting, Robot identity, Water scarcity pressure, Resource driven conflict

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Fourteen years after Third Impact, Shinji Ikari awakens to a world he does not remember. He hasn't aged. Much of Earth is laid in ruins, NERV has been dismantled, and people who he once protected have turned against him. Befriending the enigmatic Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji continues the fight against the angels and realizes the fighting is far from over, even when it could be against his former allies. The characters' struggles continue amidst the battles against the angels and each other, spiraling down to what could inevitably be the end of the world.

Themes

Identity under pressure, Father son conflict, Duty under collapse, Post apocalyptic resilience, Gay subtext, Deception about origins

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

What would you do on the last day on Earth? With the end of the world only hours away, the self-absorbed James heads to the ultimate party-to-end-all-parties. On his way there, he saves the life of a young girl named Rose who is searching desperately for her missing father. This simple act sets James on a path to redemption.

Themes

Group dynamics under stress, Survival under apocalypse, Crisis-driven decisions, Search for connection amid chaos, Moral ambiguity in emergencies, Illusion of safety

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

9

20. 9

Action Adventure Animation Science Fiction Thriller
7.0

20091h 19min

Canada, United States

Director: Shane Acker

When 9 awakens in a dead world, he uncovers a talisman tying him to the war machine that erased humanity. By unlocking its secret, he exposes the last survivors—and himself—to a ruthless mechanical hunt that will not stop until every stitch of their stolen souls is reclaimed.

Themes

Friendship under pressure, Authority vs dissent, Post-apocalyptic future, Man vs machine, Rag doll resilience, Hope amid ruins

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.