Upamanyu Biswas
In post-apocalyptic settings, viewers are often treated to a bleak scenario where things have gone awfully wrong, with most of the world lying in tatters. There is a perverse joy that comes from diving into films that depict how life moves on after a harrowing annihilation event that wipes out civilization as we know it. For generations, these movies have inspired some of the most exciting and thrilling narratives, dripping with high-stakes scenarios about life and death. Therefore, if you enjoy watching such stories where hope and morality are secondary to survival in a stark and desolate world, here is a list of the best post-apocalyptic movies to watch on Hulu.
7. In the Lost Lands (2025)
Gray Alys is a woman carrying a prophecy, who hires a gun-wielding guide, Boyce, to protect her as she travels across the Lost Lands looking for a certain beast in Paul W. S. Anderson’s adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s eponymous short story. Set in a post-apocalyptic world that is the result of the Great War, the movie shows the experiences that the duo has during the adventure, including fighting goons and monsters. Starring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista, ‘In the Lost Lands’ is saved by the actors whose charisma keeps the vibe alive. You can watch the action flick right here.
6. Mother/Android (2021)
Set in a future where AI robots are waging a war against humans, Mattson Tomlin’s ‘Mother/Android’ follows Georgia (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Sam (Algee Smith) as they try to find a safe haven so that Grace can give birth to their baby. The question is: Can they survive the perilous journey wherein their hunters are devoid of emotions? More to the eyes than to the mind, ‘Mother/Android’ is an entertaining movie that isn’t as emotionally powerful as expected but does manage to establish the urgency that the situation brings. You can watch it here.
5. Biosphere (2022)
After most of humanity perishes in an apocalypse event, childhood friends Billy (Mark Duplass) and Ray (Sterling K. Brown) must find ways to keep their species alive. Helmed by Mel Eslyn, ‘Biosphere’ combines absurdity, humor, and poignancy in equal measure in a narrative that is unpredictable and full of original ideas. Unlike most post-apocalyptic stories, it is a subversive take on the genre that also has a lot of heart and interesting concepts of body transformation at its center. You can watch the movie here.
4. The Creator (2023)
Gareth Edwards’ epic sci-fi drama ‘The Creator’ is set in a world where artificial intelligence has taken over all aspects of humanity. With a war ongoing between humans and AI, we follow Joshua Taylor, who is tasked with locating a weapon developed by the chief architect of all AI tech. The weapon is believed to be so powerful that it can completely destroy human forces. When Joshua finds the weapon, he realizes the only way to defeat it is to protect it. But how long can he do that, considering almost every human he knows wants to destroy it as soon as possible? Is there any way to hide it? ‘The Creator’ stars John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, and Ken Watanabe, and is known for its stunning visual effects that do a good job of highlighting the story. The movie can be streamed right here.
3. Arcadian (2024)
Directed by Ben Brewer, ‘Arcadian’ is a thriller set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans, the few that are left, live under the constant fear of monstrous creatures that hunt them. In such a setting, we have a father and his two sons who live in an isolated farmhouse. Daily living conditions are tough, and the boys are still learning how to survive. However, when the creatures attack, they must work together with their father to stay alive. Gritty and dark in its presentation, ‘Arcadian’ offers an intriguing watch powered by the performances of Nicolas Cage, who plays the father, and Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins, who play the sons. You can watch ‘Arcadian’ here.
2. A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
‘A Quiet Place Part II’ picks up after the events of ‘A Quiet Place’ and follows the Abbott family, now comprising just Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and her children, their father Lee (John Krasinski) having died in the first movie, as it continues to survive “quietly.” Silence is everything as they look for a new place to call home without alerting the blind extraterrestrials that track their targets using their highly receptive ears. In the family’s search, they are joined by Lee’s friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy). Directed by Krasinski, ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ does full justice to its predecessor in terms of storytelling, thrill, fear, and urgency. You can watch it here.
1. 28 Weeks Later (2007)
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s ‘28 Weeks Later’ is a sequel to ’28 Days Later’ and shows the NATO forces building a safe zone in Britain in the aftermath of the Rage Virus pandemic. However, the urge of two siblings to meet their mother, who has been recently put in quarantine, leads to a breakout. When the military chief declares open fire on all the affected, ’28 Weeks Later’ turns into a string of horrific events underscored by ignorance, wrong decisions, and disastrous consequences. Starring Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Idris Elba, and Catherine McCormack, the movie is a must-watch post-apocalyptic drama that you can stream right here.
Read More: Best Post-Apocalyptic Movies on HBO Max
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