The greatest films to come out of Japan
For some reason, movies about the end of the world are extremely popular. Humans love watching their possible future demise it seems! What's more, great actors love playing the characters. Seemingly all of the best performers have featured in a doomsday film at some point in their careers.
Here's a collection of all the best movies about humanity ending. From pandemics to bombs, click through to discover more.
'Leave the World Behind' is the disaster flick from 'Mr. Robot' director Sam Esmail. The movie boasts an ensemble cast of Hollywood's most renowned actors, including Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon. It underscores the vital role of communication in today's world, as a family's retreat to a luxurious rental home takes a dark turn when a cyberattack disrupts their devices. Interestingly, it is also one of the first movies produced by the Obamas' company Higher Ground Productions, which they founded in 2018. The story is based on a book of the same name by author Rumaan Alam, and is reportedly one of Obama's favorites!
James Franco and Seth Rogen star in this hilarious comedy take on the apocalypse. It has lots of cameos from famous actors and great jokes.
Steve Carell and Keira Knightley play Dodge and Penny. Dodge goes to find his high school sweetheart when the end of the world is announced and Penny, his neighbor, comes along to help.
This spooky film will have your skin crawling. Lars von Trier directs this movie about the relationship of two sisters. When they realize another planet is slowly colliding with Earth, what will they do?
Michael Shannon plays a father and husband who keeps having visions of the apocalypse. He has to face the decision to preemptively protect his family, or protect them from him. Jessica Chastain also stars.
Demons have descended on the Earth and plan to destroy it. However, there is hope. Angel Michael has come down to announce humanity's last hope.
Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron star in this award-winning film. The world has already been destroyed and only a few remain. In their quest to survive, can they save the others?
Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe star in this chilling take on the end of mankind. There is a virus spreading that turns everyone into vampires. While some plot for their survival, others are trying to find a cure.
Nicolas Cage is a MIT professor who discovers a piece of paper that contains all the world's disasters in code. Past and future. He has the help of a little boy (Chandler Canterbury) to decode the messages of doom.
Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, and Chris Evans star in this scary take on humankind's future. In 2057, the sun is burning out. A team of scientists are sent to reignite it with a nuclear fission bomb, but it is not an easy task (to say the least).
In a world where women have become infertile, a miracle occurs. There is one woman on the planet who is pregnant. Only she, with help, can stop the end of the world from happening. Clive Owen and Julianne Moore star.
Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Emmy Rossum star in this take on the end of the world. A huge storm triggers the start of a new Ice Age.
In the original 'Mad Max' the world is in chaos. Only one man seeks to keep the peace, a policeman called Max (Mel Gibson). If he doesn't stop them, the world will rip itself to shreds.
Stanley Kubrick directed this wonderful film about a general who tries to pull the world into a self-destructive nuclear war. Starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Sterling Hayden.
'On the Beach' is not an uplifting film to watch. After nuclear war has broken out, the Earth faces inevitable doom in a few months. Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins star.
As the title suggests, this film involves a clashing of two worlds. Martians come to Earth and attack a small town in California. This soon escalates into a full-on invasion. Based on the book by H.G. Wells.
Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron star in this modern remake of 'Mad Max.' Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron), with the help of Max (Tom Hardy), rises against the tyrannical ruler in order to find her homeland.
Aliens come to Earth with sophisticated technology. They aim to destroy the human race, but can they beat the human spirit? Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and more star.
Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet star in this all too familiar plot. A deadly virus starts spreading around the planet. The authorities race to try and find a cure before everyone falls sick.
Amy Adams puts on a great performance in this film about aliens arriving on Earth. She plays a linguist who is hired to communicate with them. They are very different from most people's expectations.
Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel have to fend for themselves when a plague descends on humanity. However, it is not a 'normal' plague. It causes people to take their own lives.
You never really know if the end of the world is real in this film or not. When a woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) gets into a car accident, she is taken in by a man in a bunker (John Goodman). He tells her there has been a global chemical attack and so she cannot leave. But is he telling the truth?
Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman are the stars of this doomsday film. Cruise plays an Army veteran who is tasked with getting the last earthly resources. However, when he does so, he embarks on a psychological journey into himself.
Man of action Keanu Reeves stars in this remake of the 1951 original. A mysterious alien (Reeves) comes to Earth accompanied by a huge robot. Their tidings are bad, but humanity might have a chance at fighting back if the alien helps.
'Deep Impact' has a classic doomsday plot. A comet is headed towards Earth and humankind has to find a way to stop it. Starring Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, and Elijah Wood.
Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) travels around the world trying to track and trace the progression of a virus that is rapidly turning humans into zombies.
Comedy duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in this funny film. Shaun is just a normal man, but his life is turned upside down when a zombie apocalypse unfolds.
Denzel Washington plays Eli. The world is past the point of the apocalypse, but Eli may be the savior. He must protect a sacred book as he travels across a destroyed America.
Humans have advanced to create technology that allows cells to repair themselves. When it is tested on chimpanzees, they develop advanced intelligence that leads to an uprising. Starring James Franco, Andy Serkis, and Freida Pinto.
Sources: (Men's Health) (Good Housekeeping)
See also: Do you believe in the end of the world?
Best end-of-world films to enjoy
Films about the apocalypse
MOVIES Entertainment
For some reason, movies about the end of the world are extremely popular. Humans love watching their possible future demise it seems! What's more, great actors love playing the characters. Seemingly all of the best performers have featured in a doomsday film at some point in their careers.
Here's a collection of all the best movies about humanity ending. From pandemics to bombs, click through to discover more.