Warner Bros.
The Big Cancel has swept through the nation, and the planet, like wildfire.
Schools, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, barbershops, bars — they’re all closed. Airports and borders have essentially been shut down. The stock market is in free fall and employees across the country are working from home at a rate this nation has never seen. People, for better or for worse, have more time on their hands than they know what to do with.
Luckily for me, though, I am uniquely equipped to survive this stuck-at-home-for-a-month nightmare scenario that we’re currently living through, as years of movie and television consumption has essentially made my brain a pop culture encyclopedia.
So, because of that, I figured I’d apply my otherwise useless entertainment knowledge to put together a movie list for those who currently find themselves in the post-apocalyptic mood. You know how people begin watching Christmas movies after Thanksgiving? Consider this the same, except instead of Christmas, it’s The Big Cancel.
Here are ten movies to watch if you just really wanna freak yourself TF out.
I Am Legend
For me, I Am Legend is the reigning heavyweight champion of post-apocalyptic cinema. Simply the GOAT. Will Smith’s performance is sneakily one of the best of his career.
Contagion
This is it — the big one. Ever since The Big Cancel swept into our lives a few weeks ago, Contagion has been the go-to talking point when it comes to apocalyptic content. Perhaps a little too-close-for-comfort for some, Contagion will absolutely freak you TF with its intense levels of realism.
28 Days Later / 28 Weeks Later
Arguably the best zombie franchise to be released during my lifetime. The original — helmed by Steve Jobs and Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle — is a modern horror classic.
Take Shelter
Michael Shannon being primetime delusional Michael Shannon. What more can you ask for?
Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World
A rom-com! About… the apocalypse? Well, uhhh…. okay, then? It’s a bizarre premise for sure, but Steve Carrell’s endless likability and Keira Knightly’s overwhelming charm make this one worth watching.
World War Z
Brad Pitt’s hair in this movie is reason enough to give it a re-watch.
A Clockwork Orange
This one has nothing to really do with viruses or apocalypses or world-ending scenarios, it’s just a wild fucking movie that certainly falls under the criteria of “freaking you TF out”.
This Is The End / Shaun of the Dead
Conversely, while neither of these movies will freak you TF out — in fact, quite the opposite — they certainly qualify as end-of-the-world flicks.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com