We present to you a list of the best series about the post-apocalypse. The end of the world is near, or at least it seems so based on the spate of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic TV shows that have been released in the last few decades, especially in the last 5-10 years. In each of these series, the end of the world comes as a result of one or another tragic circumstances: nuclear war, a deadly virus, an alien invasion, even a zombie takeover of the world.
The best apocalyptic series combine intriguing plots and compelling character stories. Most are emotional, often to the point of excruciating pain, while some offer a more humorous approach. In many of them, the apocalypse is just a backdrop to a larger story about the state of humanity. But the best apocalyptic TV shows leave fans hungry for more as soon as the episode or season ends.
Here is a list of the best series about the post-apocalypse:
10. The Last Man on Earth (2015-2018)
Our top best series about post-apocalypse begins with the series The Last Man on Earth. One of the few humorous apocalypse films, The Last Man on Earth stars Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte as the title character, or so he thinks. After the emergence of a deadly virus that seems to wipe out every person in the world, Phil (Forte) spends years alone until he finally meets another survivor named Carol (Kristen Schaal). They believe they should populate the Earth, but Carol insists they get married first. Soon after, the pair stumble upon four other survivors, and Phil realizes he may have acted hastily.
The Last Man on Earth follows the journey of Phil and the other survivors he encounters, the tensions between the eccentric characters, and the hilarity that ensues as this group of misfits tries to figure out how to take back the world.
9. Left Behind (2014-1017)
The highly acclaimed supernatural drama The Leftovers begins several years after an apocalyptic event known as the "Sudden Extinction" in which two percent of the Earth's population mysteriously disappeared. The people left behind are known as "remainers," and the series follows their struggle to survive amidst a huge amount of confusion and loss.
The series Left Behind examines the human condition and its need for guidance. After the death and decline of the main religion, several cults arise. The greatest threat comes from a cult known as the Left Behind, a cult led by a man named Holy Wayne (Paterson Joseph) who believes he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Over the course of its three seasons, The Leftovers received increasingly positive reviews, with the final third season receiving a near-perfect review from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. The Hundred (2014-2020)
Set 100 years after an apocalyptic event, The XNUMX centers on young survivors. The survivors lived in space, but now it's time to try to repopulate the Earth. To do this, a group consisting of juvenile delinquents is sent to Earth. However, upon arrival, they discover that the descendants of the survivors are already living on the land.
The 100, which ran for seven seasons, received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics who called it the perfect guilty pleasure. Despite the stereotypical portrayal of the characters, there is something satisfying about seeing it all happen.
7. Sweet tooth (2021-)
Producer Robert Downey Jr. offers an interesting idea: the end of the world led to the birth of human-animal hybrid children. The story centers on Gus (Christian Convery), a 10-year-old boy who is part human and part deer. After his father's death, he sets out on a journey to find his missing mother.
The third season of Sweet Tooth is a fantasy drama that simultaneously follows Dr. Aditya Singh (Adil Akhtar), who is trying to find a cure for a virus that has infected the population, and Ursa (Stefania LaVie Owen), the leader of an army of animals who has dedicated her life to protecting hybrids. The series received a lot of positive reviews, and fans liked the fact that it was suitable for teenagers.
6. Grinding of metal (2023-)
We continue our top best series about post-apocalypse, starting with the series Gnashing of metal. In the apocalyptic world depicted in the film Rattle of Metal, based on the video game series of the same name, the Earth has become a vast wasteland, and different factions have taken over different territories, making travel from one to another almost impossible due to the enormous danger. John Doe (Anthony Mackie) suffers from amnesia and remembers almost nothing about his former life. But he works alongside his car, Evelyn, as a sought-after milkman who helps groups of people exchange goods by transporting them from one community to another. When the leader of a thriving community invites him to join her, John decides to take on the task she has set for him: deliver an important package to a dangerous place and return alive.
The first season follows John's journey, meeting people along the way such as Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz), another lone survivor with a sordid history of his own, the evil Agent Stone (Thomas Haden Church) and the maniacal killer clown Sweet Tooth (played by Joe Shonaa and voiced by Will Arnett). Rattle of Metal is true to the video game with plenty of exciting car chases and action scenes, a combination of gruesome violence, drama and wry humor.
5. Shelter (2023-)
Many people didn't know that the film Shelter is based on a trilogy of novels. The story is an interesting take on the apocalypse, in which events above ground lead to the creation of a giant underground bunker where the survivors live. But, as on Earth, the silo is divided along class lines: the working class lives on the lower levels, and the elite of high society live on the upper levels. When Juliet's (Rebecca Ferguson) friend dies under suspicious circumstances, she discovers that not everything is as it seems. She teams up with Sheriff Halston (David Oyelowo) to try to figure out what's really going on.
The Shelter, one of the best original series on Apple TV+, is about politics and truth: no one knows if what they see outside through the huge window is real, or who created the silo and why. But everyone is afraid to question the status quo. Once someone is sent outside, no one is allowed to return and they appear to die within minutes of being revealed. The first season ended on a major cliffhanger with big reveals, and fans can't wait to see how the story continues.
4. The Walking Dead: Survivors (2024)
One of the many spin-offs in the Walking Dead universe and the latest to be released, The Walking Dead: Survivors broke AMC's records and received accolades from all sides. The story takes place 13 years after a zombie apocalypse, when a virus infects everyone and upon death they turn into carnivorous undead. The series follows the two main characters of the original, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira), as they try to reunite. It also introduces some of the best new characters from the Walking Dead universe. Rick left the original series in season nine and was believed to be dead for some time. When his wife Michonne believes she has found proof that he is alive, she sets out on a journey to find him and bring him home.
A love story as much as an apocalypse, The Walking Dead: Survivors provides a satisfying conclusion to the story and characters fans have come to love. While one season may be the end of the story, other spin-offs have more to tell, as well as create new episodes and crossovers.
3. The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
Fans love The Walking Dead because as the story progresses, it becomes less and less about the danger posed by the walking undead in a new world overrun by a virus, and more and more about the danger posed by other people. And also about the difficult choices people have to make when it seems impossible. The plot follows a core group of survivors—people drawn from all walks of life—as they seek shelter, resources, and protection. It's difficult to know who to trust, and when formidable enemies appear, the group must decide how to deal with them and stay alive.
The Walking Dead follows the popular comic book series in its storylines, but diverges at some points with exciting twists that may surprise even hardcore comic book fans. Although the storylines are at times repetitive, and the show's eighth and ninth seasons suffered a dip in ratings and reviews, The Walking Dead is one of those rare series that came back strong and ended on a high.
2. Fallout (2024-)
Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Fallout is set in a future where society has inhabited underground bunkers known as vaults. Different communities trade with each other, but when a tragic event occurs, a girl named Lucy (Ella Purnell) decides to travel to the surface to find her missing father. Despite the dangers and wasteland status, other people live above the land. But these are not very friendly people, as Lucy discovers along with a mutated ghoul bounty hunter (Walton Goggins).
Fallout came out of the gate strong, with many critics applauding how closely it followed the game and even felt like a continuation of it. From the characters to the plots to the stunning visuals that seem straight out of the game, Fallout is poised to be one of the best apocalyptic TV shows ever made and the best show based on a video game.
1. The Last of Us (2023-)
We finish our top best series about post-apocalypse with the series The Last of Us. Some of us were all talking in 2023, especially the performances of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. He plays Joel, a hardened survivor in a post-apocalyptic world caused by a massive fungal infection. She is Ellie, a young girl who is believed to be immune and may have a cure. Joel reluctantly agrees when asked to take Ellie to safety. But the couple embarks on a journey filled with danger and emotional moments reminiscent of a father-daughter relationship.
Staying true to the video game while also developing separate but connected unique stories, such as the love story between survivors Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), The Last of Us became a master class in apocalyptic shows and television adaptations of video games. With 24 Emmy nominations and winning eight, The Last of Us could be the next big post-apocalyptic franchise.
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