10 Realistic Apocalypse Movies That Will Keep You Up At Night

There are plenty of scary apocalypse movies that involve big monsters and adverse weather events, but the ones with a touch of realism are often the scariest.

Summary

  • Realistic apocalyptic films, such as I Am Legend and Train to Busan, enhance the viewing experience by combining action, realism, and emotional impact.

  • The end of the world in a movie can occur from several catastrophic events, not just zombies or aliens, including climate change, natural diseases, and human decline.

  • Movies like World War Z and The Girl with All the Gifts offer unique takes on traditional zombie fare, making infected people more human and exploring the characters’ emotional tension.

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The Apocalypse movies that involve the most realistic themes tend to be the scariest, and watching them could only lead to more sleepless nights. Many apocalyptic films, from Day after tomorrow to war of words, They delve into the aftermath of catastrophic natural disasters and alien invasions, but focus more on action than realism. Although these films do well in the area of ​​fear factor, others do even better by introducing realistic aspects that make the audience squirm during viewing. By combining action, realism and emotional impact, the audience is more likely to identify with that apocalyptic film.

It’s easy to assume that an apocalypse means that zombies and aliens have invaded Earth, but that’s not always the case, as the end of the world can occur from any catastrophic event, including climate change, natural diseases, war, and disaster. human decline. Adding realistic themes to the mix instantly amplifies the film and allows the audience to care more about the characters, increasing the intensity of the viewing experience. That said, here are ten realistic apocalypse movies that are pure nightmare fuel, from the divisive I’m legend The ending of an overlooked thriller.

10 I Am Legend (2007)

Will Smith as Dr. Neville in I Am Legend

I’m legend is a post-apocalyptic thriller about a lone man, Robert Neville (Will Smith), who survived a plague that wiped out most of the Earth’s population and turned humans into voracious mutants called Darkseekers. These mutants can only emerge at night and are bloodthirsty, but there is more to these creatures than meets the eye. Robert is also immune, which makes for a compelling story. The apocalypse began because scientists genetically engineered the measles virus in hopes of curing cancer, but these tests created something much worse. I am legend 2 The story is set to revisit this somewhat realistic world doomed by a mysterious plague.

9 Train to Busan (2016)

Gong Yoo on the train in Train To Busan

Train to Busan, A zombie horror film, it takes the classic tropes of a zombie apocalypse but makes it more emotional and realistic. Following Seok-Woo (Gong Yoo) and his young daughter Soo-An (Kim Su-An) on their journey to Busan, the audience witnesses a viral infection spreading throughout the train and only knows so little information about it. the one the characters know when the dramatic events occur. deploy. The realism comes from the bond Seok-Woo and her daughter have when he does anything to protect her. Train to Busan explains the origin of the zombie virus using subtle clues without giving too much away, leaving the audience curious and desperate to find out more about the outbreak.

8 World War Z (2013)

Brad Pitt looking at the ruined city from a helicopter in the World War II Z poster.

World War Z is another iconic zombie thriller, except it makes the infected people more human than ravenous creatures, which enhances the film’s emotional impact. Although these humans become wilder and more confused as the virus corrupts them, they don’t actually feed on others or crave meat like stereotypical zombies do. Instead, the virus provokes greater anger and the need to infect all living things, which could be plausible in the case of a virus that takes over the brain. World War Z It stars Brad Pitt as the main protagonist, Gerry Lane, in a film that defied all the usual zombie tropes. Still, ten years later, a World War Z the sequel hasn’t happened yet.

7 The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

The girl with all the gifts

The girl of all gifts is a dystopian apocalypse film that focuses on a mysterious fungal infection that is known to engulf a person’s brain and make them hungry for human flesh. A mutated pathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis it makes people “hungry”, and infected pregnant women will give birth to hybrid children who still crave meat, but can control their hunger, speak and act completely normal regardless of the fungus. The girl of all gifts explains why children are infected and shares the emotional strain that children have to suffer in a world that sees them as monsters.

6 Cargo (2017)

Martin Freeman in Cargo (2017)

Burden shares emotional themes similar to Train to Busan in terms of a father and daughter going through an apocalypse, which makes it another rollercoaster of a movie. Starring Martin Freeman as Andy, he must find a new home for his daughter, Rosie, after she becomes infected from a bite. Throughout the film, the audience feels compassion for Andy as he begins to change and notice the physical and mental effects of the virus, but no matter what happens, he remains determined to keep Rosie safe. Burden It’s a good zombie movie for fans of World War Z as it focuses more on the family than the apocalypse happening around them, further adding to the film’s emotional narrative.

5 28 days later (2002)

Cillian Murphy flees from a burning zombie in 28 Days Later.

28 days later is an iconic zombie horror film that follows Jim (Cillian Murphy) as he wakes up from a coma a month after the outbreak, only to discover that people are now infected with a virus called “Rage.” Although it follows the classic zombie stereotype of infecting and eating people, the Rage virus has a unique origin, and characters like Jim portray a very realistic reaction when it comes to discovering zombie-like victims wandering the streets of London. 28 days later shows an empty London with only a handful of survivors banding together, making this film even scarier.

4 Snow Puncher (2013)

Chris Evans and Song Kang-Ho side by side looking stunned in Snowpiercer

Snow Punch it’s a Post-apocalyptic science fiction film that does not involve zombies or aliens, but rather focuses on a realistic dilemma between rich and poor in Earth’s second ice age. The survivors of this catastrophic event must live on a train that can travel through snow, with the poor living in poor conditions at the worst end of the train armed with guards and the rich enjoying their luxuries in premium compartments. Chris Evans plays Curtis, a man determined to start a revolution by developing a plan with his companions to take over the engine room, leading the cast of one of the best modern post-apocalyptic films, which combines fantastical elements with social commentary.

3 Children of Men (2006)

Kee on a boat in Children of Men

man’s child is a unique apocalypse movie that has one of the most realistic stories, meaning it stays away from big monsters and zombies and just focuses on humanity. Women around the world have become infertile, meaning humanity is threatened with extinction when getting pregnant is nearly impossible. However, Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) manages to get pregnant without complications, making her humanity’s last hope, but that also means she is in danger from the armed gangs who have taken over the United Kingdom. . man’s child is a well-written thriller that shows human survival on the brink of total collapse.

2 It Comes at Night (2017)

Sarah and Travis in It Comes at Night

It comes at night It surrounds the apocalypse with more mystery compared to the other films, creating an unsettling atmosphere that the audience must endure. Although there are signs of a contagious disease, there are no in-depth conversations about its origin or how the outbreak began. Instead, the film focuses on a married couple, Paul and Sarah (Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo), and their son Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), as they survive in an isolated house deep in the woods. It comes at night is a slow-burning psychological horror that plays with paranoia and shows how humans are more dangerous than the outside threat.

1 The Road (2009)

Viggo Mortensen and his son travel with a shopping cart on The Road

The way, a beautiful but deeply depressing and disturbing film, follows a father (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they travel through a post-apocalyptic world. These two characters don’t actually have names in the film, and their official cast is called “Man” and “Boy” to represent all of humanity fighting in an eerie landscape. Wandering the streets in search of supplies, they encounter cannibals and other dangerous humans. It’s an emotional story that leaves audiences on edge, worried about the father and son’s every move as they meet new people and find themselves in terrifying situations that only strengthen their bond in a realistic apocalypse film.