10 Most Fascinating "End of The World" Movies

There are many theories, ideas or should I say 'schools of thought' on how the world would end. At the height of the Cold War, nuclear annihilation ranks at the very top. While others argue it will not be man who will destroy the world (directly) but - an epidemic of global proportions (most probably from a potent strain of virus - think: I am Legend) or severe climactic change (another ice age perhaps? That would be Day After Tommorow right?) or mechanical uprising (The Terminator, anyone?) or even attack from the outside - conquering aliens (Mars Attacks!) or perhaps an asteroid. And let's not forget zombies!. Inspired by the upcoming release of Roland Emmerich's latest disaster epic 2012, which by the way I DIN”T LIKE AT ALL. Only recent movies have been listed here, mainly movies which I have seen.


Enough of talk already! Let's see which movies made my top 10!

# 10 - The Day After Tomorrow (2004) – Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhall, Emily Rossum

IMDB Rating – 6.3

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The Plot: When global warming causes worldwide disasters and leads to an ice age, a climatologist named Jack Hall tries to rescue his son Sam who is trapped in New York. Jack must go from Washington D.C. to New York, but on the way some things happen. Can Jack rescue his son?

How the World would end: As the result of global warming.

# 9 - The Fifth Element (1997) – Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich

IMDB Rating – 7.4

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The Plot: Two hundred and fifty years in the future, life as we know it is threatened by the arrival of Evil. Only the fifth element can stop the Evil from extinguishing life, as it tries to do every five thousand years. She is helped by ex-soldier, current-cab-driver, Korben Dallas, who is, in turn, helped by Prince/Arsenio clone, Ruby Rhod. Unfortunately, Evil is being assisted by Mr. Zorg, who seeks to profit from the chaos that Evil will bring, and his alien mercenaries.

How the World would end: Destroyed by Evil.

# 8 - 28 Weeks Later (2007) – Robert Carlyle, Catherine McCormack, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner

IMDB Rating – 7.1

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The Plot: Six months after the rage virus was inflicted on the population of Great Britain, the US Army helps to secure a small area of London for the survivors to repopulate and start again. But not everything goes to plan.

How the World would end: The population will die as the rage virus spreads and become a pandemic.

# 7 - Mars Attacks! (1996) – Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker

IMDB Rating – 6.3

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The Plot: When Martians begin to attack the Earth, several groups of people must try to survive. These groups include a reporter and his girlfriend, a top scientist, the president and his family (and aides), a Kansas boy and his grandma, and Tom Jones and people from a casino in Las Vegas.

How the World would end: From Martian invasion

# 6 - I am Legend (2007) – Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan

IMDB Rating – 7.1

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The Plot: Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.

How the World would end: Due to a vicious man-made virus originally created to cure cancer.

# 5 - Sunshine (2007): Cliff Curtis, Chipo Chung, Michelle Yeoh, Cilian Murphy

IMDB Rating – 7.3

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The Plot: 50 years into the future, the Sun begins to die, and Earth is dying as a result. A team of astronauts are sent to revive the Sun - but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team are sent to finish the mission as they are Earth's last hope.

How the World would end: As a result of the death of our Sun.

# 4 - 12 Monkeys (1995) – Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Madeleine Stowe, Jon Seda

IMDB Rating – 8.1

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The Plot: Terry Gilliam's nightmarish low-tech/high-tech future vision takes place in 1997, after a deadly virus has killed 99% of the human population--forcing the survivors to flee beneath our planet's surface. This leaves the (other) animals topside, to rule the Earth once again. The scientists select James Cole, an imprisoned sociopath, to return to the past and gather information useful in the defense against this contagion. Once back in time, he is to investigate the mysterious 'Army of the Twelve Monkeys' and report his findings. Scientific, social, and political themes like time travel (and its inherent paradoxes and nested loops), mental illness, the nature of reality, animal rights, and the Armageddon-potential of unchecked technological advances are artfully and cleverly explored

How the World would end: People will die due to virus.

# 3 - Terminator (1984) – Arnold Schwarzzeneger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Earl Boen

IMDB Rating – 8.1

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The Plot: The movie begins in a post-apocalyptic 2029, when Los Angeles has been largely reduced to rubble and is under the thumb of all-powerful ruling machines. Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a member of the human resistance movement, is teleported back to 1984. His purpose: to rescue Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the mother of the man who will lead the 21st-century rebels against the tyrannical machines, from being assassinated before she can give birth. Likewise thrust back to 1984 is The Terminator (Schwarzenegger), a grim, well-armed, virtually indestructable cyborg who has been programmed to eliminate Sarah Connor.

How the World would end: Machines will annihilate human population and become the dominant specie.

# 2 - 28 Days Later (2002) – Cilian Murphy, Naomi Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Huntley

IMDB Rating – 7.6

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The Plot: It has been twenty-eight days since Jim, a young bicycle courier, was knocked off his bike and injured in a car accident. When he wakes up from his coma, the world has changed. London is deserted, litter-strewn and grim, and it seems the entire world has disappeared. The truth, however, is even more horrifying - a devastating psychological virus has been unleashed on the world, turning the population into blood-crazed psychopaths driven only to kill and destroy the uninfected. A bitter struggle to get out of the city with fellow survivors to a military encampment at Manchester follows - but there, their troubles are just beginning.

How the World would end: Virus will wipe out the population.

# 1 - Children of Men (2006) – Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine

IMDB Rating – 8.1

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The Plot: In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

How the World would end: Man's inability to procreate.

So There it is.. I have covered Aliens, Viruses, Climate Change and even Evil. You might notice the notable misses from this viz. Armageddon or Independence Day. There might be many more. This is just a laundry list. All i can wish for is to get a 30 day notice period before the apocalypse. Have to finish a lot of work before that..;)