The end of the world is a scary thought, and yet for some reason, I'm always looking for apocalyptic thriller movies to enjoy! Putting this disconnect aside, I’ve just combed through Netflix’s current movie library to find a few movies about the end of the world worth watching this week.
It didn’t take very long for me to find a trio of worthwhile options. This includes one of the most star-studded Netflix originals of all time (seriously, you’ve got Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and more), and a zombie apocalypse movie that is particularly relevant right now as its sequel has just arrived in movie theaters.
If you’re feeling fine about the end of the world as we know it (yes, that’s a R.E.M. reference in the year 2026), here are the best apocalyptic thriller movies on Netflix you can watch now.
‘28 Years Later’ (2025)
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” has just arrived in theaters, and it ranks among this zombie franchise’s strongest efforts to date. That makes now the perfect time to get caught up on its predecessor, “28 Years Later,” if you missed it in cinemas last year. The long-awaited revival of the “28 Days Later” series, which had been dormant for almost two decades, sees original director Danny Boyle return and successfully ape the style of the influential original. It’s part horror-thriller, part coming-of-age tale, and gripping throughout.
Set, you’ve guessed it, 28 years after the rage virus swept through the United Kingdom, the British Isles are under quarantine, locked away from the rest of the world. The movie follows a group of survivors, including hunter Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his young son Spike (Alfie Williams), as they attempt to survive in this zombie apocalypse. Also starring Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes, “28 Years Later” is a franchise revival done in some style.
Watch "28 Years Later" on Netflix now
‘Leave the World Behind’ (2023)
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: “Leave the World Behind” is a divisive movie. That’s divisive with a capital D. So, consider this a warning that your mileage may vary with this post-apocalyptic thriller. Personally, I think there’s a lot of solid dread-building in this Netflix original. Yes, it struggles to bring its narrative to a satisfying conclusion, but for a movie about the end of the world, it successfully showcases characters grappling with an unthinkable situation and explores the gradual breakdown of society.
Based on the novel by Rumaan Alam, “Leave the World Behind” stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la, and Kevin Bacon. It sees a “nuclear family” enjoying a vacation on Long Island, when two strangers arrive at their door with news of a blackout. Forced together as the world collapses around them, the two families must decide whether to trust each other and how to survive a world that is rapidly descending into unthinkable chaos.
Watch "Leave the World Behind" on Netflix now
‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021)
There’s nothing particularly subtle about “Don’t Look Up.” This cautionary tale uses an impending world-destroying comet to make a clear point about humanity’s general malaise regarding the ongoing environmental destruction of our planet. It takes on-the-nose subtext to a new level. However, written and directed by Adam McKay, it’s also wickedly funny, sharply written, and packs a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Timothée Chalamet, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep.
Kate Dibiasky (Lawrence) and Dr. Randall Mindy (DiCaprio) are two scientists who make a shocking discovery: A comet is heading directly for Earth. Embarking on a cross-country tour to warn the world about this impending threat, they are stunned when nobody seems to care. Rather than take their warning seriously, they are met with disinterest and even mockery. With just six months until impact, they face an uphill struggle to convince the human population to put down their smartphones and just look up at what’s coming.
Watch "Don't Look Up" on Netflix now
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