The Best Post-Apocalyptic Films of the 20th Century

The end of the world has always sparked our imagination, and the 20th century gave us some of the most gripping tales of survival in ruined worlds. From barren wastelands to crumbling cities, post-apocalyptic movies paint a picture of humanity’s fight to carry on after disaster strikes.

These films, spanning decades, mix action, despair, and hope, showing us what it means to rebuild—or just survive. With iconic stories and unforgettable characters, this list dives into the 50 greatest post-apocalyptic movies from the last century, ranked from the bottom up.

50. ‘The Ultimate Warrior’ (1975)

A virus wipes out most people, leaving New York a wreck. Yul Brynner’s Max protects a small group from a vicious gang.

The gritty city and raw fights capture a broken world’s despair. Brynner’s strong presence carries this lesser-known gem.

49. ‘No Blade of Grass’ (1970)

A plant virus causes famine, forcing a family to flee London. Nigel Davenport leads them through a collapsing society.

This grim film shows the harsh side of survival. Its focus on human choices makes it a stark early entry.

48. ‘The Omega Man’ (1971)

Charlton Heston is a lone survivor fighting mutated creatures. He hunts them while seeking a cure.

Heston’s bold acting drives this ‘I Am Legend’ take. The empty Los Angeles setting adds a creepy vibe.

47. ‘Damnation Alley’ (1977)

Nuclear war leaves America a mess, and Jan-Michael Vincent’s group drives through danger. Giant scorpions and storms threaten them.

The wild effects and road-trip feel make it fun, if rough. It’s a rugged slice of 70s sci-fi.

46. ‘The Last Man on Earth’ (1964)

Vincent Price battles vampire-like creatures after a plague. He’s alone until he finds others who may not be allies.

Price’s intense role anchors this early ‘I Am Legend.’ Its low-budget Roman setting feels eerie and unique.

45. ‘Zardoz’ (1974)

Sean Connery’s warrior uncovers secrets in a strange future. The world splits between savages and immortals.

This cult film mixes odd philosophy with wild visuals. It’s a bold, weird sci-fi adventure.

44. ‘Quintet’ (1979)

Paul Newman navigates a frozen world caught in a deadly game. The icy setting mirrors the bleak tale.

Robert Altman’s slow thriller focuses on mood over action. It’s a unique, cold post-apocalyptic story.

43. ‘The Bed Sitting Room’ (1969)

Nuclear war leaves England surreal, with survivors like Ralph Richardson acting absurdly. This dark comedy is quirky.

Its bizarre humor and strange visuals stand out. It’s more about human oddity than survival.

42. ‘A Boy and His Dog’ (1975)

Don Johnson’s loner and his telepathic dog roam a wasteland. They find a creepy underground society.

This quirky film blends dark humor with grim survival. The loyal dog makes it a cult hit.

41. ‘The Quiet Earth’ (1985)

Bruno Lawrence wakes to an empty world after an experiment fails. He faces loneliness and odd realities.

This New Zealand film is eerie and introspective. The empty world and twisty end stick with you.

40. ‘Night of the Comet’ (1984)

Sisters Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney survive a comet’s chaos. They fight zombies and scavengers.

This 80s gem mixes teen comedy with horror. Its fun vibe and strong leads make it nostalgic.

39. ‘Hardware’ (1990)

A robot head rebuilds itself, threatening Dylan McDermott and Stacey Travis. The future is grimy and dangerous.

This low-budget thriller has raw cyberpunk energy. The killer robot drives its tense vibe.

38. ‘The Postman’ (1997)

Kevin Costner’s drifter delivers mail to unite survivors. He faces a warlord in a nuked America.

This epic has heart and ambition, often overlooked. Costner’s hopeful hero shines in a bleak world.

37. ‘Waterworld’ (1995)

Kevin Costner’s sailor seeks dry land in a flooded world. Pirates and isolation challenge him.

The film’s grand scale and action deliver, despite mixed reviews. It’s a wet, wild apocalypse tale.

36. ‘Tank Girl’ (1995)

Lori Petty’s punk rebel fights a mega-corporation in a desert. Her tank and quirky allies defy tyranny.

This chaotic 90s cult classic bursts with anarchic energy. Its feminist edge makes it stand out.

35. ‘Delicatessen’ (1991)

A butcher rules a food-scarce building in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s comedy. Dominique Pinon stars in this odd tale.

Its quirky visuals and dark humor shine. The film offers a strange look at survival.

34. ‘Six-String Samurai’ (1998)

Jeffrey Falcon’s rock ‘n’ roll samurai heads to Lost Vegas. Death and goons chase him.

This low-budget gem mixes music and surreal action. It’s a wild ride for offbeat fans.

33. ‘Cherry 2000’ (1987)

Melanie Griffith’s tracker helps a man find a robot wife replacement. The wasteland is full of danger.

The 80s cheese and action blend oddly well. Griffith’s tough role lifts the quirky story.

32. ‘The Blood of Heroes’ (1989)

Rutger Hauer’s team plays a brutal sport in a dusty world. Survival depends on their grit.

This gritty film captures raw struggle. Hauer’s intensity makes it a compelling watch.

31. ‘DEFCON-4’ (1985)

Astronauts return to a nuked Earth, facing cannibals and a mad leader. The low-budget tale is grim.

It’s a tense story of desperation and betrayal. The raw edge fits its bleak setting.

30. ‘Escape from L.A.’ (1996)

Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken enters a prison-like Los Angeles. He seeks a doomsday device.

This ‘Escape from New York’ sequel boosts action and satire. Russell’s cool swagger keeps it fun.

29. ‘Solarbabies’ (1986)

Jami Gertz’s teens skate across a desert to find freedom. They face a tyrannical regime.

This 80s oddity mixes camp with dystopian stakes. The roller-skating heroes add nostalgic charm.

28. ‘The Day of the Triffids’ (1962)

Killer plants attack after a meteor blinds most people. Howard Keel leads the fight.

This early sci-fi horror blends creepy plants with struggle. Its bold premise is a classic.

27. ‘On the Beach’ (1959)

Gregory Peck’s survivors in Australia face radiation after nuclear war. The mood is heavy and reflective.

This slow film captures the dread of doom. The strong cast grounds its themes.

26. ‘Testament’ (1983)

Jane Alexander’s mother keeps her family alive after nuclear war. Their small town crumbles.

The quiet, personal focus hits hard. It shows the human cost without flashy effects.

25. ‘Panic in Year Zero!’ (1962)

Ray Milland’s family flees to the mountains after bombs hit Los Angeles. Looters test them.

This tense early film shows sudden chaos. Milland’s desperate father drives the drama.

24. ‘The Time Machine’ (1960)

Rod Taylor travels to a future with two human groups. He fights to survive.

The classic sci-fi and vivid world-building shine. Its adventure spirit is timeless.

23. ‘Things to Come’ (1936)

Raymond Massey leads a new society after war and plague. It explores rebuilding versus the past.

This early sci-fi epic is thoughtful and grand. Its visuals and ideas still hold up.

22. ‘The World, the Flesh and the Devil’ (1959)

Harry Belafonte thinks he’s the last in New York. Others appear, sparking tension.

The film tackles race and loneliness quietly. Belafonte’s emotional role carries it.

21. ‘Five’ (1951)

Susan Douglas and four others gather post-nuclear war. They struggle to coexist.

This minimalist film focuses on human ties. Its raw simplicity feels real.

20. ‘Mad Max’ (1979)

Mel Gibson’s cop seeks revenge in a crumbling world. The outback is a battleground.

The raw energy and car chases launched a franchise. Gibson’s intensity makes it iconic.

19. ‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ (1964)

Sterling Hayden’s mad general starts a nuclear crisis. Peter Sellers shines in multiple roles.

Kubrick’s dark comedy is sharp and chilling. It mocks the path to apocalypse.

18. ‘La Jetée’ (1962)

A man time-travels in a ruined future to save humanity. Still images tell a haunting story.

Its unique style and depth stand out. The time-travel twist lingers.

17. ‘The War Game’ (1965)

This mockumentary shows a nuclear attack’s aftermath. Survivors face firestorms and starvation.

The realistic style hits hard. It’s a stark warning of war’s cost.

16. ‘When Worlds Collide’ (1951)

Richard Derr’s scientists build an ark as a star nears Earth. Only a few can escape.

This sci-fi spectacle blends hope and sacrifice. Its bold visuals endure.

15. ‘Planet of the Apes’ (1968)

Charlton Heston lands on an ape-ruled world. A twist reveals a ruined Earth.

The social commentary and Heston’s raw role make it legendary. The world feels alive.

14. ‘The Terminator’ (1984)

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cyborg hunts a woman’s son. The future is a war-torn ruin.

Cameron’s tight thriller blends sci-fi and action. The ruined future chills.

13. ‘Threads’ (1984)

A nuclear strike hits Sheffield, following Ruth Beckett and others. The aftermath is brutal.

This unflinching film is grimly real. Every moment carries heavy weight.

12. ‘The Day of the Beast’ (1995)

Álex Angulo’s priest fights the Antichrist’s birth. He teams with a metalhead.

This Spanish horror-comedy is wild and dark. Its humor and apocalypse mix boldly.

11. ‘Escape from New York’ (1981)

Kurt Russell’s Snake Plissken saves the president in a prison-Manhattan. The city is lawless.

Carpenter’s classic drips with 80s cool. Russell’s antihero is endlessly watchable.

10. ‘Logan’s Run’ (1976)

Michael York’s Logan flees a society killing at 30. The outside hides secrets.

The sleek visuals and chase plot are 70s sci-fi at its best. It questions freedom.

9. ‘Twelve Monkeys’ (1995)

Bruce Willis time-travels to stop a plague. The future is a grim underground.

Gilliam’s twisty thriller mixes mystery and despair. Willis and Pitt’s energy grips.

8. ‘Mad Max 2’ (1981)

Mel Gibson’s Max aids a community against raiders. The desert chases are chaotic.

This sequel’s relentless action set the genre’s standard. It’s gritty and high-octane.

7. ‘Stalker’ (1979)

Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy guides men to a wish-granting room. The bleak Zone is mysterious.

Tarkovsky’s slow, philosophical film is haunting. It’s about the soul, not action.

6. ‘Akira’ (1988)

Mitsuo Iwata’s biker faces a psychic threat in Neo-Tokyo. The city nears collapse.

This anime is visually stunning and chaotic. Its themes of power hit hard.

5. ‘Metropolis’ (1927)

Gustav Fröhlich bridges a class divide in a crumbling city. The visuals are groundbreaking.

This silent classic is a visual marvel. Its rebellion story feels timeless.

4. ‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Harrison Ford hunts androids in a neon-ruined Los Angeles. Humanity’s line blurs.

Scott’s moody sci-fi noir is a visual feast. Its identity questions linger.

3. ‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Keanu Reeves’ Neo learns reality is a machine simulation. Humanity fights from a wasteland.

The Wachowskis’ game-changer blends action and philosophy. Its iconic style redefined sci-fi.

2. ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Arnold Schwarzenegger protects John Connor from a killer cyborg. The future’s fate is at stake.

Cameron’s sequel mixes heart-pounding action and emotion. The effects and story stay fresh.

1. ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome’ (1985)

Mel Gibson’s Max joins Tina Turner’s rebel to topple a tyrant. The wasteland’s stunts are wild.

George Miller’s epic blends heart and chaos. Its vivid world and energy make it a top post-apocalyptic film.

Which 20th-century post-apocalyptic film is your favorite, or did we skip a classic? Share your pick in the comments!