Top 10 Post-Apocalyptic TV Shows

Imagine you’re in the middle of shooting a season of “Big Brother,” when a zombie outbreak hits. Yes, the results are as terrifying as you’re imagining. With sprinting zombies that’ll turn you in an instant, and gore galore, these characters are left to forage for food and supplies and ask pertinent questions about their situation, but they’re just as likely to flip the bird as they are to shoot something in the face. And while they’re all perfect contestants for a reality show, they’re not the most likely candidates to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Mind: blown. A war leaves Finn as the last human in a strange land and our imaginations have been running wild ever since. Vampires, zombies, talking snacks and plenty of wacky adventures make this one helluva ride. It’s hilarious for all ages and its charming characters make every moment magical. There’s even a hidden snail that waves at viewers every episode! And as silly as he can be, hero Finn continually proves he’s up to the task at hand no matter how creepy or disgusting. This is one post-apocalyptic adventure not to miss.

This Discovery Channel reality show is basically an experiment to see how humans would react and survive after a huge epidemic wipes out much of humanity, with the situation simulated for the cameras. Video diary entries give an in-depth look at how these colonists feel about one another and their chances against the world and the nomads that occupy it. Sure, it doesn’t have zombies, killing or carnage, but for everyday survival there’s no better look at reality once it all ends.

Lights out. In the not-so-distant future, when all electricity suddenly turns off, humanity is tested as our dependence on technology causes society to crumble in its absence. And, with militias taking over, there’s always someone in need of help. The goal of restoring power makes this an intriguing take on the world’s end, since humankind seems to have settled into their new reality. Yet various mysteries continue to push the Matheson family forward in hopes of salvation. But with so many standing in the way, the journey will prove devastating indeed.

After a virus referred to as “The Big Death” wipes out the adult population, children are left to survive on their own. Cut to 15-years later when, as adults themselves, their way of life completely contrasts with what we know and live today, giving a fresh take on what people would be like if the apocalypse were all they’ve known. Jeremiah’s hunt for the secret place known as Valhalla turns ultimately reveals the dangers this world has in store, and Valhalla’s promise to rebuild the world keeps us going as well. But the danger lurking at this supposed refuge is even more enticing.

Better watch that cough. When a new strain of influenza wipes out the population, institutions, governments and society as a whole begins to crumble, forcing survivors to band together to stay safe. With loyalties tested and cities scavenged for supplies, the promise of a cure keeps hope alive – but at what cost? Based on a book that was in turn based on a classic ‘70s BBC show, this modern take is harsh at every turn, with characters constantly making tough decisions. That’s just how we like our apocalypses.

Boom! After a nuclear blast leaves the residents of a town to fend for themselves, the citizens of Jericho, Kansas must struggle to find food and stability in a world full of plunderers and plagued by a secret organization with ill intentions. The heroes of this town always have something to fight for, and being able to return home makes their desperate situation a little more palatable. While they may have their own stories to deal with, the survival of the town is always crucial to the survival of all.

Keep your harness fastened. Aliens invade Earth, killing most of the population and forcing children to wear a mind control device. But one band of soldiers comes together to fight back. Led by a retired Army captain and a university history professor, these survivors are constantly on the move, scavenging for supplies and weapons and using whatever means necessary to defeat their mech-using foes. With the alien technology beginning to affect people’s bodies as well as their minds, it only makes the need to survive that much stronger.

What the frak? After years off the air, the Cylons returned with a vengeance. This collective of robot beings infiltrates the 12 colonies and lays them to waste, leaving the old-fashioned Battlestar ship alone to save the day. With a great cast, an epic space setting and some of the best frakkin dogfights on the small screen, Earth’s survivors are not only out for vengeance, but also to secure the future of humanity as a whole.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Terra Nova” (2011)
- “The 100” (2014-)
- “The Tribe” (1999-2003)
- “The Leftovers” (2014-)

After waking from a coma, sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes finds his world infested with zombies. There’s no time for answers, with the hungry undead forcing Rick to team up with other survivors, some of whom prove to be even more dangerous than the hungry walkers. Based on Robert Kirkman’s bestselling comic of the same name, the show isn’t shy to pack on the gore or the heartrending drama. But it’s the ever-present zombies that force our heroes on the move constantly, making sure they’re never safe and that this is one helluva dangerous world.

Do you agree with our list? Which post-apocalyptic world would you most want to live in? For more cataclysmic Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.