If you liked 'The Last of Us’, here are 10 that post-apocalyptic thrillers to add to your watchlist

When the world falls apart, what’s left behind isn’t just destruction—it’s a test of how far humanity will go to survive. Movies like The Road, The Girl with All the Gifts, Children of Men, The Book of Eli, Snowpiercer, and I Am Legend, explore survival, sacrifice, and the choices people make when there’s no clear path to follow. These films and shows will pull you into gripping worlds where hope is rare, and any moment could be your last.

28 Days Later (2002) 

After a highly contagious rage virus spreads through the UK, Jim wakes up from a coma to find London eerily empty and civilisation in tatters. As he joins a group of survivors searching for sanctuary, it becomes clear that the infected aren’t the only monsters left in the world. Director Danny Boyle injects heart-stopping suspense and energy into this terrifying look at human instinct, making it one of the most influential and emotionally charged zombie thrillers ever made.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Children of Men (2006) 

The year is 2027, and humanity faces extinction as global infertility leaves the world spiralling into chaos and authoritarian rule. When a lone pregnant woman, the first in 20 years appears, a cynical former activist is thrust into a desperate mission to smuggle her to safety. Alfonso Cuarón’s masterful direction and long, immersive single-shot action sequences create a dystopian world that feels shockingly real, making the audience question whether hope can survive in a world that’s lost it all.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

I Am Legend (2007) 

Years after a man-made virus wiped out most of humanity and turned survivors into nocturnal mutants, scientist Robert Neville struggles to survive alone in a deserted New York City. Haunted by loneliness and driven by hope, he searches for a cure by day while fending off the infected by night. Will Smith’s riveting solo performance brings both emotional depth and tension to this gripping apocalypse story, turning the emptiness of the city into a character of its own.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

The Road (2009)  

In a bleak and lifeless world, a father and his young son journey across barren land, searching for food, shelter, and safety while trying to stay ahead of violent survivors and roaming cannibals. Every step is a fight against hunger, danger, and hopelessness, with their bond as the only thing keeping them going. Adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s novel, The Road is a heartbreaking survival story brought to life by Viggo Mortensen’s powerful and deeply moving performance.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video    

The Book of Eli (2010) 

In a scorched and lawless post-nuclear America, Eli, a lone traveller, walks westward carrying a mysterious book believed to hold the key to humanity’s spiritual and cultural revival. Battling ruthless bandits and a power-hungry warlord, Eli’s journey is as much about faith and perseverance as it is about survival. With stylish, action-heavy sequences and a philosophical core, this film offers both adrenaline and food for thought, anchored by Denzel Washington’s stoic, yet compelling performance.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

The Walking Dead (2010–2022) 

After a global zombie outbreak, survivors must navigate a new world where the living can be more dangerous than the dead. Following former sheriff Rick Grimes and his shifting group of companions, the show delves deep into moral compromise, trust, and the constant struggle between survival and humanity. With complex characters and gut-wrenching plot twists, The Walking Dead stands as a landmark series that explores how quickly human nature can unravel when the rules disappear.

Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar

Snowpiercer (2013) 

After a failed attempt to reverse global warming turns Earth into an uninhabitable frozen wasteland, the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a constantly moving train that circles the globe on a single track, divided by class and privilege. The oppressed lower-class passengers plot a violent revolution to reach the engine, setting the stage for a brutal climb through the train’s carriages—each revealing shocking layers of the new world order. A sharp social commentary wrapped in intense action, Snowpiercer is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling, with every stop adding another moral dilemma.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)   

In a world decimated by a fungal infection, the last stronghold of humanity experiments on a group of infected children who possess the terrifying potential to be both human and predator. When their base falls, a young girl named Melanie sets out on a dangerous journey, forcing her captors to reconsider what it really means to survive. Much like The Last of Us, this thought-provoking thriller, that is based on the sci-fi horror novel from M R Carey, blends action with emotion and flips the zombie genre on its head with a surprisingly tender, but chilling, twist.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

A Quiet Place (2018) 

Lee (John Krasinski) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) struggle to keep their children alive in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by blind extraterrestrial creatures with super-sensitive hearing that hunt anything making the slightest sound. The family of four is forced to live in absolute silence, using clever tricks and strong teamwork to protect one another as grief and fear slowly creep in. With its brilliant sound design and heart-pounding tension, A Quiet Place turns silence into the ultimate survival weapon, making every moment feel like a life-or-death game of chance.

Where to watch: Netflix

Sweet Tooth (2021) 

A devastating virus wipes out much of humanity, while children are born as human-animal hybrids leaving survivors divided between fear and wonder. Gus, a gentle deer-boy hybrid, embarks on a journey across a post-apocalyptic America in search of his mother and the truth about his origins. With its deep emotional heart, Sweet Tooth offers a hopeful but bittersweet twist on the apocalypse, balancing adventure with profound questions about identity, acceptance, and survival.

Where to watch: Netflix

Lead image: Getty Images

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Also read: New spine-chilling thrillers to add to your reading list