The end of the world is one of the issues that most concerns humanity. Death, but not understood individually, but collectively. The end of the human race or of life on the planet, as we have known it, until now.
The factors that have led to post apocalyptic movies are varied. The most recurrent: zombies and aliens.
Wars, climate change, the self-reliance of artificial intelligences and deadly diseases. All of this also has its share in post apocalyptic movies, as well.
In some cases, there is hope. In others, the end is inevitably the only possible destination.
A review of the best post apocalyptic movies
The book of Eli, from the Hughes Brothers (2010)
Denzel Washington stars in this thriller, in which nuclear attacks wiped out the ozone layer. In the middle of a suffocating desert, when man's survival is seriously compromised, selfishness and evil continue to reign on Earth. Nevertheless, the key to salvation is in the bible.
Wall-eby Andrew Staton (2008)
The excessive consumerism on the part of human beings, turned the planet into a vast uninhabitable garbage dump. To try to remedy the situation, the surviving humans must leave the planet, while some machines are in charge of cleaning up the mess. But centuries pass without pollution on Earth being reversed, so the human race is condemned to wander in space, trapped in a gigantic ship, until the end of his days.
World War Zby Marc Foster (2013)
What apparently started as a rabies epidemic ended turning more than half of the world's population into zombies. But unlike the traditional undead, those of World War Z they are much more dangerous thanks to the strength and speed they develop. Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) must travel half the world to try to determine the origin of the virus and find a possible cure.
Spree to the endby Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (2013)
Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Joan Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen and James Franco, are trapped in the latter's house, when the apocalypse breaks out. Their supplies run out and boredom threatens to kill them first, so the six actors decide to go outside. The end of the world is also told in comedy tone, although not everyone laughed at this movie.
Mad Max, by George Miller (1979)
When Mel Gibson was a complete stranger, starred in Australia, under the orders of George Miller, this action film that takes place under a bleak future. It was shot with a "ridiculous" budget of US $ 350.000, so the production and the director's vision were seriously limited.
36 years later, Miller being a prestigious director within the Hollywood machinery. With a budget of 150.000.000 US $, he shot the fourth installment of the saga, Mad Max: Road Rage. Now the director was able to capture on the big screen, his entire post apocalyptic world.
Sons of men, by Alfonso Cuarón (2006)
During the first third of the XNUMXst century, the human being becomes unable to reproduce. In addition, a flu pandemic wiped out most of the planet's children. The human race is in real danger. To complete the chaos, Britain barely manages to survive as a nation with some order and stability. Men and women inevitably die. After 20 years without births, the end for the human race is a matter of time.
War of the Worldsby Steven Spielberg (2005)
Tom Cruise produced and starred this adaptation of the classic science fiction literature, written by HG Wells and published in 1898. An extraterrestrial force that apparently has been dozing in the bowels of the earth for centuries, intends to colonize humanity. Nevertheless, the invaders end up dejected because they lack defenses against the flu.
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, as a tribute to Orson Welles and his celebrated dramatization of the 1938 novel.
interstellarby Christopher Nolan (2014)
The fields become impossible to cultivate and the crops come to an end. Human survival is seriously compromised by lack of food. In order to survive, various space missions are organized, in search of a new planet on which humanity can settle.
Armagedonby Michael Bay (1998)
The apocalypse is approaching Earth at full speed. It arrives from space in the form of a giant meteorite that will hit the planet squarely and the chances of survival are practically nil. As an extreme measure, a group of oil drillers are sent into space to install a bomb in the heart of the great space rock and pulverize it.
Tomorrow, by Ronald Emmerich (2004)
The climatic changes derived from the devastating action of man, gave rise to a new Ice Age, with totally unpredictable results. Many specialists from various areas maintain that what is portrayed in the film is something that could happen at any time, if the appropriate measures are not taken.
The Hunger Gamesby Gary Ross (2012)
A series of protracted wars they left the North American territories semi desert. The Capitol managed to establish itself as the capital of Panem (the nation resulting from the battles) and keep 12 districts subjugated. From them he obtains all the necessary resources for subsistence.
But with the 74th edition of The Hunger Games, a fratricidal tournament, to which each district must send two children or young people as tributes, a rebellion begins that seeks to end the established order.
Terminatorby James Cameron (1984)
In 2029, Skynet is an artificial intelligence that got out of control and annihilated humanity. He is about to lose the war to human resistance, led by John Connor. To prevent their end, the machines send an exterminator (Arnold Shwarzenegger) back in time to kill Sarah Connor (John's mother), before she can conceive her son.
When the original mission failed, Terminator 2: doomsday (1991), Skynet is forced to send a second exterminator (this time a more advanced model, played by Robert Patrick), to kill a teenage boy and wayward John Connor.
Matrix, from the Wachowski Sisters (1999)
The machines get out of control again, but this time enslave humanity to use brain impulses as fuel. Perhaps the most important science fiction film of the last 20 years.
Image sources: Play Reactor / EnClave de Cine / Psyche 2.0