Witness the current box office success of The Book of Eli and The Legion, following up on the recent film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road, clearly audiences are interested in all things apocalyptic. Indeed Hollywood has had a long-standing fixation on post-apocalypse stories. Here are some notable examples:
Children of Men (2006): n 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child’s birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.
28 Days Later (2002): Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.
Waterworld (1995): In a future where the polar ice caps have melted and most of Earth is underwater, a mutated mariner fights starvation and outlaw “smokers,” and reluctantly helps a woman and a young girl find dry land.
The Quiet Earth (1985): A mans awakens to find himself alone in the world.
Mad Max (1979): In a dystopic future Australia, a vicious biker gang murder a cop’s family and make his fight with them personal.
Planet of the Apes (1968): An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where intelligent talking apes are the dominant species, and humans are the oppressed and enslaved.
A personal favorite is the 1964 classic The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price as Dr. Robert Morgan:
Dr. Robert Morgan is the only survivor of a devastating world-wide plague due to a mysterious immunity he acquired to the bacterium while working in Central America years ago. He is all alone now…or so it seems. As night falls, plague victims begin to leave their graves, part of a hellish undead army that”s thirsting for blood…his!
This is one of those movies I saw as a youth, then again and again on TV on Saturday afternoons or late night horror features. Here’s the trailer:
And believe it or not, you can see the entire movie online for free:
I can still remember feeling creeped out as at night, the undead would descend on Morgan’s house, trying to batter their way inside, taunting the good doctor with their moans, “Morgan, come out! Morgan!”
One of the biggest appeals of post-apocalypse movies is that they ask a huge ‘what if’ question: What if I was a survivor in a world where some cataclysmic event has wiped out most of humanity? The question goes directly to the oldest part of our brain that speaks to our basic instinct for survival, only doubles down on the fear factor by focusing on the solitude of the survivor — their family and general support system vanished.
What are you favorite post-apocalypse movies? What is it about them that connects with moviegoers? Why do you like them?
Just saw the The Last Man on Earth for the first time last Halloween. That was a great movie and a real genre defining moment. Price was a Doctor who had to helplessly watch his family get sick and die. Recommend to everyone.
I have to admit I also loved "Doomsday". Corny, but Rhona Mitra is amazingly hot, and there were some redeeming factors:
1) Strong female lead
2) Two communities form outside the wall of the modern world. Both devolve into barbarian like societies. Not only did humanity lose touch with technology, it also takes a step back morally. Is that avoidable in a distopian future?
3) Getting to see a Bentley driven like a monster truck
You should definitely read Matheson's I AM LEGEND (the book 'The Last Man on Earth' is based on – I think). A great read that really gets to the heart of the character's struggle.
I love the Will Smith version of that novel. While it is a poor adaptation of the story, it's a great standalone film. Love it! I also love the post-apocalypse aspects to Joss Whedon's 'Dollhouse' and 28 Days Later is always great!
The Last Man on Earth has always been the best version of that particular tale. I also had to quicken my step during nighttime walks more than once with the low moans of "…Morgan… MORGAN!" in my head.
For me, the best ex-Earth film will always be Stanley Kramer's ON THE BEACH. It's not overbearing, just quietly devastating.
Oh and if you've suffered through the emotional sinkhole that is TESTAMENT with Jane Alexander, you're no stranger to quiet devastation either. Sheesh that movie killed me.
Equilibrium kind of falls into the category. A pleasant surprise and more heart than expected from action movies. Great movie is you can get over the gun-kata thing haha.
I believe Mr Scott that the reason many people connect with post-apocalyptic movies is that they explore the themes of struggle,loneliness, desperation, isolation,pessimism and many other negative feelings that we all feel at a certain point in our lives.
Do you agree?