Top 20 Movies Where the World Actually Ends
#20: “When Worlds Collide” (1951)
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Based on a sci-fi novel from the ‘30s, “When Worlds Collide'' concerns the impending destruction of Earth by a rogue star. The star is called Bellus, and humanity builds a space ark in the hopes of traveling to Bellus’s single planet and re-colonizing Earth. 45 passengers are allowed on board, with most of them being chosen by random lottery. The spaceship successfully takes off, and Bellus destroys Earth as the remaining humans riot in panic and anger. Luckily, the spaceship finds the planet to be habitable, and humanity starts anew on Zyra.
#19: “The Day the Earth Caught Fire” (1961)
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This British disaster film is well known for its visual effects, using brilliant matte paintings to display a convincing post-apocalyptic landscape. It opens much like “28 Days Later” with a lone man wandering the barren streets of London. Through flashbacks, viewers learn that Earth was knocked out of orbit by nuclear bomb testing and is now heading for the Sun. This also causes huge amounts of climatic disruption, including increased heat and evaporating water. In a desperate attempt to save and re-align the Earth, scientists set off nuclear bombs in Siberia. Unfortunately, the movie leaves the physical fate of Earth in question, as it ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger.
#18: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011)
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Viewers knew exactly what they were getting into with this prequel reboot. As the title suggests, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” tells the apocalyptic story of how “Planet of the Apes” came to be. The 1968 original contains one of the most iconic endings in movie history, with George Taylor realizing that the titular planet is actually Earth. In this film, test chimps are given a drug that increases intelligence. Unfortunately, a gaseous version of the drug is fatal for humans. The resulting pandemic and the increased aggression and intelligence of the chimps give rise to the Planet of the Apes. The next film, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” depicts a world in which modern society has collapsed.
#17: “The Man Who Could Work Miracles” (1937)
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This black and white fantasy comedy is adapted from H.G. Wells’ short story of the same name. Wells helped adapt the story for the screen, changing the plot and themes to convey his frustrations with the British upper class and his fears of rising Fascism and Nazism. In the film, three God-like entities conduct an experiment and bestow a regular British man with supernatural powers. The man becomes utterly drunk on power and ego, and he decides to stop the Earth’s rotation. This obviously results in the complete destruction of Earth, as everything flies off the surface and is destroyed. The Gods comment on their experiment, arguing that humanity is destined for negativity and selfishness.
#16: “These Final Hours” (2013)
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When a meteor strikes the opposite side of the world sparking a global firestorm, Australian James leaves his lover to travel across a city where anarchy rules in an attempt to reunite a girl with her family and join his girlfriend to enjoy the “party to end all parties.” An Australian film that is largely unknown in some parts of the world, “These Final Hours” deserves a great deal more acclaim and notice. With characters that are far from innocent and a goal that seems fruitless, the performances, story and situation have you rooting for them despite the odds.
#15: “The Cabin in the Woods” (2011)
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This clever horror-comedy from Drew Goddard mixes old-fashioned slasher with meta-humor and Lovecraftian elements, resulting in a compelling stew of unique ideas. The story follows the employees of a secret underground laboratory whose job is to make horror movies a reality. The deaths are part of a sacrificial ritual meant to appease mysterious creatures known as the Ancient Ones, who slumber under the Earth’s surface and thirst for human blood. The ritual fails, and the ending sees a gigantic hand emerging from the cabin, indicating that the Ancient Ones will destroy Earth. It’s a fun movie, but it contains one heck of a depressing ending.
#14: “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (2005)
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Based on Douglas Adams’ iconic franchise, this movie concerns a British man named Arthur Dent. Dent learns that his house is being demolished to make room for a bypass. He then learns that his old friend Ford Prefect is actually an alien, and Ford tells Arthur that, just like his house, Earth is being demolished by a race of aliens to make room for an intergalactic bypass. Earth is indeed destroyed by the aliens, but Arthur later learns that this was a mistake, as the destruction permit was signed by accident. Luckily, a planet builder by the name of Slartibartfast quickly gets to work on a new Earth.
#13: “The Day After” (1983)
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Undoubtedly one of the better television films ever made, as well as one of the highest-rated, “The Day After” is a product of its time. Taking place during the Cold War and showing a worst case scenario outcome of the conflict, it’s an uncompromising movie that juxtaposes life before, during and after the destruction wrought by nuclear war. We’re introduced to a world we know well and a wholly unfamiliar one at the same time, where surviving is not as easy as finding food and shelter. Ending with a single stark voice calling over the radio in vain, “The Day After” feels entirely possible.
#12: “Miracle Mile” (1988)
Just when a man finds the woman of his dreams, a phone rings and he finds out that nuclear war is imminent - we're talking real imminent. At times, Harry is uncertain that the end is, in fact, near and that the information he received was accurate, so he becomes increasingly worried that he alone sparked the panic gripping LA. Even so, Harry tries to find a way to escape his impending doom, and finds himself going to great lengths to do so. We wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of this cult film, but by maintaining the feel of an ‘80s comedy while tackling a horrific situation, “Miracle Mile” stands out as exceptional.
#11: “12 Monkeys” (1995)
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The world of “12 Monkeys” is a bleak one indeed, taking place forty years after a devastating pandemic wiped out most of the Earth’s population. The surviving humans live underground, and a criminal named James Cole is sent back in time to prevent the outbreak from occurring. The hope is that Cole will find the source of the deadly virus before it is released, allowing scientists to work on a cure. Unfortunately, the movie ends with a stable time loop. Cole witnesses his own death as a child, and a mad scientist named Dr. Peters successfully unleashes the plague on the unassuming world. “12 Monkeys” ends just as it begins - with the near-complete destruction of humanity.
#10: “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” (2012)
If a mission failed to stop an asteroid from impacting Earth and the end of the world were upon us, we could do a lot worse than Keira Knightley or Steve Carell by our side. After humanity finds out they have three weeks left to live, Carell’s Dodge and Knightley’s Penny befriend each other and try to make each other’s final weeks happier. In Dodge’s case, they do this by finding the one that got away and in Penny’s case, by returning to her family in England. But instead, they find that they are the missing ingredients in each other’s lives. Sure, their story may have a grim ending, but at least these two didn’t go out alone.
#9: “Threads” (1984)
A brutal and utterly depressing film, “Threads” originally aired on the BBC in the fall of 1984. The movie takes place in Sheffield, England during a nuclear winter, the result of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Up to thirty million people die in Britain alone, and the immediate results are looting, murder, internment camps, and a lack of clean water and medicine, resulting in an outbreak of disease. The long-term effects are rising cancer and cataract rates, deformed babies, a complete collapse of government and military, and a general return to barbaric medieval living. “Threads” has been widely acclaimed for its uncompromising realism, and it makes for a truly harrowing viewing experience.
#8: “Snowpiercer” (2013)
Before making movie history with “Parasite,” South Korean director Bong Joon-ho oversaw the apocalyptic “Snowpiercer.” The movie is based on a French graphic novel and served as Bong’s first English-language film. Like “Parasite,” “Snowpiercer” is a wonderful work of social commentary. And unlike many movies on this list, the movie begins with the world having already ended. The story takes place years after humanity inadvertently started a new Ice Age in a failed attempt to reverse global warming. The few survivors reside in a train called the Snowpiercer, which is segregated by wealth. The Snowpiercer is derailed in the movie’s ending and a few young survivors escape, indicating a potential to start again.
#7: “Interstellar” (2014)
The Earth in this Christopher Nolan sci-fi epic is no longer a lush planet where flora is plentiful; food growth has become nearly impossible and the future of humanity is in jeopardy. Primarily following the crew aboard a spaceship as they desperately search for a new inhabitable planet, the shadow of death looms large over every scene, but there’s a distinct feeling of hope that permeates the story. A visual masterpiece that keeps you guessing as to its next move and hits you at an instinctual level, “Interstellar” is a worthy addition as humankind is forced off its home permanently.
#6: “The Road” (2009)
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Cormac McCarthy is regarded as one of the finest writers in American literature, and “The Road” is arguably his masterpiece. His Pulitzer-winning novel was adapted in 2009, and it stars Viggo Mortensen as a desperate man who must keep his son safe in a post-apocalyptic America. This movie is quite unique in that it doesn’t explain how the apocalypse came about. Viewers are forced to just go with it, just as they’re forced to accept the resulting ash, persistent cold, and roving bands of cannibals. “The Road” is an uncompromising glimpse into post-apocalyptic depravity and hopelessness, and the movie is two hours of near-relentless misery. It’s a beautiful father-son story about hope and optimism, but it’s also a horrific tale about the worst of humankind.
#5: “On the Beach” (1959)
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The battle is not over even after the world has been decimated by World War III - for the nuclear fallout is on its way. “On the Beach” follows humanity as it anticipates ultimate destruction due to the impending radiation sickness that is moving south to Australia. We’re left with a world in which people are deciding either to succumb to the sickness or to end their lives themselves. A grisly window into the despair of near-certain doom, this film is a harrowing look at the outcome of nuclear war, the shadow of which loomed large when the film was released in 1959 - and it still remains relevant today.
#4: “This Is the End” (2013)
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When a group of self-obsessed, hedonistic celebrities gathers for a housewarming party on the same night of the Apocalypse, the results are absolutely hilarious. Featuring a who’s who of this generation’s comedic actors – as well as a few other random cameos – perhaps the most impressive part is not the comedy that ensues, but the fact that the filmmakers didn’t use the impressive cast as an excuse to cut corners on the effects. Whether it was the standout appearance by the intentionally obnoxious Michael Cera or the performances of the six leads, this is a flick unlike any other on this list.
#3: “Last Night” (1998)
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A tiny Canadian film made on a relatively low budget, “Last Night” revolves around a society that knows their world will end at midnight – and packs in plenty of style and substance. It details how an assortment of folks spend their last night on Earth, with one duo of strangers agreeing to take each other’s lives, one family feigning a Christmas party, and one man trying to experience as many new types of sex as possible before the end. It may never be made evident what deadly force will take them, but what is clear is that the movie’s strong direction, script and cast make it a must see for cinema buffs.
#2: “Melancholia” (2011)
Arguably the artsiest film about the end of the world, this visceral Lars von Trier joint is populated with character archetypes and metaphors too numerous to count, but the general theme involves the peace with which depressed people can face calamitous events. A newfound planet is set to collide with Earth – a somewhat obvious metaphor for the inevitability of depression. This unflinching portrayal of doomsday is a majestic vision, told through the eyes of various different types of characters – all of whom have different reactions, all of which are relatable. And while that may sound depressing in itself and does hit you at a guttural level, “Melancholia” ends on an oddly hopeful note. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Titan A.E.” (2000) Both Earth & the Moon Are Destroyed by a Directed-Energy Weapon “Knowing” (2009) A Solar Flare Wipes Out All Life on Earth “The World’s End” (2013) Humanity Is Sent Back to the Dark Ages “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) Thanos Snaps His Fingers, & Half of the Universe Disintegrates Into Dust “28 Weeks Later” (2007) The Virus Spreads to France, & Potentially the Rest of the World
#1: “Dr. Strangelove” (1964)
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In fairness to the other films considered today, it is pretty difficult to beat Stanley Kubrick. When an Air Force general orders a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union, the joint chiefs of staff, an Air Force officer and the President come together to attempt to prevent an apocalypse. Unfortunately for humanity’s sake, the War Room proves to be full of fools as these men are not exactly cool headed in the face of such impending doom. In the end, based on the theme of this list, you can imagine what goes down. Cold war fears and detonating nukes have never been so hilarious.
