Upamanyu Biswas
Post-apocalyptic movies have a sense of heightened expectations baked into their narrative. As the world collapses into a shadow of its former self, those left behind have to stake a claim for survival, making their journey an intense ride full of emotion and danger. Films that capture these harrowing stories of a world gone wrong have become steeped in modern culture as we watch the rapid progress of technology ourselves. They are a reflection of our fears but also our obsession with the idea of rebuilding the world from its ashes. Thus, if you are intrigued by stories that delve into life after the end times, here are the best post-apocalyptic movies on HBO Max.
4. Terminator Salvation (2009)
The fourth installment of the ‘Terminator’ franchise, directed by McG, tells the story of John Connor (Christian Bale), who is fighting a desperate war against Skynet. John and the Resistance have their plans upended when a stranger named Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) arrives at their doorstep with no memory or recollection of his past.
The crew has to subsequently decide whether he is an enemy or ally while continuing their unending struggle against their AI aggressor. ‘Terminator Salvation’ leans into an unexplored narrative within the iconic franchise, providing a different vantage point into John Connor’s struggles. As humanity and the Resistance forge ahead, everyone digs deep to find a lifeline to save them from a bleak future. The film is available for streaming here.
3. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Long before zombies started crawling in post-apocalyptic films, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ brought them to life as flesh-eating ghouls who haunt the living. Helmed by George A. Romero, the story follows a group of human survivors seeking refuge in a desolate house to shelter themselves from cannibalistic corpses. As the monsters surround the house, the crew tries to make it through the night without losing any limbs or lives.
If you want to see the historical evolution of zombies, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ is the place to start. The film popularized several aspects of the creatures that have become an iconic part of modern pop culture. It is an entertaining and gripping horror narrative where the presence of the flesh-eaters slowly breaks the unity within the humans, who try not to become the prey of their devilish tormentors. You can watch the classic here.
2. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Director Hayao Miyazaki has given birth to several imaginative films that defy expectations through their visual beauty and creativity. In ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,’ he envisions a post-apocalyptic world infested with massive insects where humanity survives in scattered pockets of existence within lush green forests. It is adapted from the director’s eponymous manga series that was published between 1982–94, focusing on the ideas of toxic environments and their effects on humans.
The narrative centers on the exploits of a young girl named Nausicaä, who hails from the Valley of the Wind and has to go on a quest to save the world from tearing itself apart. Like all of Miyazaki’s films, ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’ is brimming with the rich, dreamlike artwork that has defined all his works. The film’s central message is one that is key to all post-apocalyptic stories, where survival is uncertain in a world that has been corrupted and no longer resembles ours. You can savor the fantasy film here.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
In many ways, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road‘ is the culmination of decades of effort by George Miller to perfect his ‘Mad Max’ franchise. The film blends all the elements that work so perfectly in his previous entries while taking it in a new direction that is dripping with eye-catching style, stunning visuals, gripping narrative, and elaborately designed set pieces that raise the tension in each scene.
The Tom Hardy starrer follows the titular protagonist as he teams up with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) to go on a quest for survival while being chased across the barren wastelands by the vicious warlord of the Citadel. Its car chases and visceral bone-crunching action earned it ten nominations at the 88th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. If you haven’t watched it yet, you should definitely check it out here.
Read More: Best Post-Apocalyptic Movies on Netflix
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