20 Best Post-Apocalyptic Movies on Netflix Right Now (2022) – The end of the world as we know it holds a certain allure for us. Imagine you were Will Smith from ‘I Am Legend,’ and you were one of the last humans on the planet. What would you do if you were humanity’s last hope? You can’t dispute that being the last human on Earth has its own set of benefits: you can do whatever the hell you want. But it’s a hardship to be stuck within your own house since the world outside is filled with strange monsters and people who aren’t exactly people anymore; they’re the walking dead.
Some films, such as ‘Zombieland’ and ‘Shawn of the Dead,’ take a lighthearted approach to this not-so-lighthearted predicament, making us realize that the world may not be such a dreadful place even when there are half-dead murderous humans all around us. Others, on the other hand, provide us a glimpse of the gloomy realities of a post-apocalyptic world. This includes films such as ’10 Cloverfield Lane,’ ‘2012,’ and ‘World War Z.’ So we’ve compiled a list of all the movies that are now accessible on Netflix. Some of these are great for a fun night out with your pals, while others are solely for the scares and thrills. Whatever your reason, simply scroll down and select what works best for you. Here’s a collection of really good post-apocalyptic movies on Netflix that you can watch right now.
Into the Forest (2016)
Patricia Rozema directed the Canadian horror film ‘Into the Forest.’ Because of how near it is to our reality, this narrative sends shivers down our spines. It’s about a family who lives in seclusion in a mansion in the woods in the near future. They are, nonetheless, heavily reliant on energy and technology for their survival, way of life, and safety. Their problems begin when there is a continent-wide power outage that lasts over a year, and they must learn to exist on only the necessities. This scenario goes on to demonstrate that humans are no longer a part of the natural environment and would be unable to thrive comfortably without these help. Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Callum Keith Rennie, Max Minghella, and Michael Eklund star in the film.
#Alive (2020)
This South Korean zombie flick may be the most relatable quarantine film you’ll see in 2020. ‘#Alive’ tells the narrative of Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in), a video game live streamer, and how he escapes a zombie apocalypse when he is forced to live alone in his apartment. Not only is the quarantining process in this film realistic, but so is the extensive use and reliance on social media and technology. This short will reinforce the importance of sharing knowledge, which can even save lives. The script for the film is based on Matt Naylor’s script, ‘Alone,’ which he co-wrote with Cho Il-Hyung.
I Am Mother (2019)
‘’I Am Mother’ is yet another post-apocalyptic science fiction thriller. Daughter (Clara Rugaard) lives in a bunker and is raised by a robot named Mother (Rose Byrne’s voice), who is helping to repopulate the Earth and instilling the necessary skills and values for survival on the planet. The world of Mother and Daughter is upended when a Woman (Hillary Swank) arrives with shocking news. This film takes a unique look at ethics, responsibility, parenting, and what it means to be alive in the world. On January 25, 2019, this film had its world debut at the Sundance Film Festival.
ARQ (2016)
A couple becomes trapped in a time loop within a lab, where they are attacked by a swarm of mask raiders at the start of each day. They must adapt and learn to fight these pirates while also developing technology that can serve as a power source to preserve the world from its Judgement Day. Every time the couple awakens to find themselves at the start of the time loop, the film introduces a new story twist that will keep you captivated and on the edge of your seat. The concept of time loops has been used many times before, and this is one of those films that does to its principles.
The Girl With All the Gifts (2016)
In the near future, the whole human population will be infected by a parasitic fungus spread by bodily fluids. Infected people become mindless zombies, and the only hope is a small group of second-generation offspring who devour flesh but maintain the ability to reason and justify. The plot is around a scientist, a teacher, and two soldiers who are trying to survive with the help of a remarkable girl named Melanie (Sennia Nanua). Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, and Glenn Close all appear in the picture. Colm McCarthy directs this post-apocalyptic horror thriller based on the book of the same name, ‘The Girl With All the Gifts.’
What Happened to Monday (2017)
Due to overpopulation, there is a stringent one-child policy in 2043, and all children except the firstborn enter cryosleep. To ensure this, each citizen is tracked via an electronic wristband. At this time, a mother died after giving birth to seven identical septuplet sisters. They were methodically taught to pose as a single identity under the supervision of their grandfather, and communication was the key to this. If the government uncovered more than one of them, they would be executed. When one of the sisters is jailed and her communication is cut off, all hell breaks loose. Is life given a chance under such strict conditions?
Cadaver (2020)
‘Cadaver,’ a Norwegian film, is set in a metropolis that has been burnt to the ground following a nuclear explosion, where misery is the standard. People are starving without food, violence is widespread, and seeing decaying dead bodies on the street is commonplace. In such environment, the only way to survive is to “stay together.” Leonora (Gitte Witt) and Jacob (Thomas Gullestad) are exceedingly protective of their only daughter, Alice (Tuva Olivia Remman). Mathias Vinterberg (Thorborm Harr), a famous theatre director, unexpectedly announces an exclusive show, ‘The Hotel,’ with the promise of a delicious lunch. They decide to go for the show since they see it as an opportunity to get away from reality. When fact and fiction collide, pandemonium erupts, exposing the truth about survival in a world that believes in “eat or be eaten.”
9 (2009)
‘9,’ directed by Shane Acker, stars Elijah Wood as the title character. The picture is based on Ackerman’s Academy Award-nominated short film of the same name. Around an alternate universe, a dictator orders a scientist to build a robot for the sake of technological advancement in 1930. The scientist develops B.R.A.I.N, a highly intelligent robot without a soul. When the tyrant captures the robot and turns it into a Fabrication Team to help him manufacture an army of war machines, the world is almost over. Because it lacks a soul, the Fabrication Machine decides to exterminate all life creatures on the earth.
District 9 (2009)
‘District 9’ is regarded as one of the best science fiction films of the 2000s. It is based on true events that occurred in Cape Town’s ‘District Six’ under apartheid. Four Academy Awards were given to the picture, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing. The film is a hybrid of discovered footage and science fiction; the plot begins in 1982, when an alien ship is spotted over Johannesburg. The aliens discovered on Earth were emaciated, but they were met with fear. District Nine is a defined territory of the South African government. As it becomes more and more like a prison, an insurrection breaks out, resulting in a confrontation between humanity and these extraterrestrial species.
Bird Box (2018)
After its premiere on Netflix, this film went viral, garnering nearly 45 million views. However, the film’s reviews have been uneven and contentious. ‘Bird Box,’ starring Academy Award Winner Sandra Bullock, depicts the struggle of a single mother in a post-apocalyptic world who must cross a hazardous river with her two children, with the main hurdle being that they must do so while wearing blindfolds. Doesn’t the plot sound a little familiar? That’s because it’s extremely similar to the film ‘A Quiet Place,’ which depicts the narrative of a family trapped in a post-apocalyptic world filled of sound-sensitive monsters attracted to even the smallest amount of noise. The film has received mixed reviews, with several critics expressing concern about its unclear finale. Others, on the other hand, appreciated this thriller for its fantastic concept as well as the moments when too many things were not revealed because they gave us an insight into the protagonist’s head, who was herself striving to uncover the mysteries around her.
Extinction (2018)
Nightmares of a post-apocalyptic world plague a man. After a while, these dreams become so genuine that he begins to believe they are foreshadowing of something in the future. Everyone, including his own family, begins to doubt his sanity, but he later emerges as a hero when all of the events that once troubled him begin to become true, but he is well prepared for these. ‘Extinction’ is about a man who does not disregard his intuition and subsequently uses it to protect his family from an army of extra-terrestrial aliens attempting to attack Earth. The film is so good and so skillfully directed that it serves as a model for all future alien invasion apocalyptic films. Micheal Pena does an excellent job as the lead, but the ending includes a twist that will either disappoint you or make you fall in love with it.
IO (2019)
‘IO’ depicts a post-apocalyptic future in which the Earth has been entirely wrecked to the point where humanity can no longer survive on it. Almost all humanity have left the Earth and relocated to Jupiter’s moon IO. One little girl named Sam, on the other hand, is a scientist who believes the planet can still be spared. She broadcasts a message on a common frequency in order to attract the attention of the last humans, and this is when a man named Micah, who is also on his way to board the last spaceship to IO, comes and meets her. While Micah must run to the ship, Sam must decide whether she wants to stay or migrate to IO like the other humans. This film is similar to ‘I Am Legend,’ with the exception that it does not have zombies. However, it is not as good as ‘I am Legend’ and, in some ways, wastes a very good notion. Still, it’s worth seeing once to get the full post-apocalyptic experience. The only thing it lacks is some important plot stuff.
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ is one of three Cloverfield films that explains the origins of the unusual animals shown in ‘Cloverfield’ and ’10 Cloverfield Lane.’ It all begins with a group of scientists operating within a space station circling around the Earth’s orbit. Their goal is to develop an energy source that can give the Earth with infinite energy. But the experiment goes horribly wrong, opening doors to an other reality that will bring the planet closer to its end.
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017)
You’re probably wondering what a ‘Godzilla’ movie has to do with this list. This one is a little different from the previous Godzilla films we’ve seen: it’s an anime film with a plot centered on a post-apocalyptic world where most of mankind has fled since the Earth is dominated by the Godzilla force’s leader, Kaijus. A group of refugees returns to Earth with the goal of restoring confidence in the world and fighting the dark forces of monstrous monsters. Will they be successful in their plans? To find out, watch this action-packed anime film.
How it Ends (2018)
The film depicts the narrative of a young man attempting to return home to his pregnant wife in a post-apocalyptic world. The world has changed and is filled with confusion. Will he be able to contact his wife? This film gets off to a terrific start and appears to be fairly engaging at first. However, it gradually loses track of the plot from where it began and fades into dullness. Many events and decisions made during the film will have you wondering where the film is going and why it is going in that direction. However, it is a fantastic time-killer, and you can watch it once because it has some pretty good action scenes.
Cargo (2017)
A heartwarming zombie apocalypse story about a guy looking for a new home for his newborn daughter after learning that he may only have a few hours before becoming infected by a growing pandemic. There aren’t many zombie movies with heart, but this one does an excellent job of bringing about a lot of emotions as well as thrills. I wouldn’t say it’s an Oscar contender, but it’s a breath of fresh air.
Blame! (2017)
‘Blame!’ depicts a futuristic world in which humans are entirely interwoven with cyber-technology. However, a terrible virus slowly spreads, causing all technology to malfunction and gradually killing out the whole world’s population. The anime is about a very unique and fresh topic that has also been very effectively implemented. Some severe sci-fi topics are left unexplained in the film, so if you’re unfamiliar with such flicks, make sure you have access to Google.
Spectral (2016)
The world is under assault from supernatural beings that are invisible to the human eye and annihilate everyone who comes into contact with them. The plot revolves around a special-ops unit that tackles these mysterious beings, who could be war ghosts or a botched government arms experiment. Spectral has some excellent special effects, a compelling plot, and competent performances. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s good enough for a one-time viewing.
The Worthy (2016)
‘The Worthy’ is a good watch, especially given it comes from a location where film isn’t all that popular. The film depicts how most of the world’s population is wiped out after water sources become tainted with deadly viruses. The last few survivors dwell near a reliable clean water source, which is later infiltrated by people with ill intents. When the last humans struggle over the single body of water that can keep them alive, everything turns into a brutal survival game.
Snowpiercer (2013)
Bong Joon-ho, a world-renowned Korean filmmaker, enjoys experimenting with his films. And, in his first international production, the filmmaker wonderfully imagines and explores a nightmarish society. The film’s most distinctive component is that the world has been declared uninhabitable, and thus all of the people who are still alive are on a giant train. This massive train transports people all across the world during the year, and the entire film takes place within this train. Within the population, divisions have emerged over time, as they do in our communities. The impoverished have been relegated to the back buses, where they dwell in deplorable conditions. However, at the front, luxury is the order of the day. The plot revolves around one of the poor people’s commanders pushing his compatriots to rise up in revolt against the rich and grab control of the train. The film’s set designs are just as outstanding as its sociopolitical commentary. One of the key topics of this film is how society divides itself and how the privileged exploit the illusion of power to subjugate the poor.