10 Amazing and Fun Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Movies Like Mad Max

Mad Max It takes the classic post-apocalyptic survival genre and turns it into something fun and lighthearted, which has allowed it to create a subgenre of its own that many films have tried to replicate over the years. George Miller’s original films were extremely innovative for their timeand recent sequels have only taken this innovative narrative further. The best Mad Max Films are those that try to break free from convention, putting their own fun and incredible spin on the genre, without losing the suspense inherent to the post-apocalyptic genre.

George Miller’s films have a brilliant sense of scope and magnitude that really lends itself effectively to this universe, with his vision of the dystopian future varying wildly from most others that have been captured on film. In the years since the filmmaker’s success, many other projects have attempted to achieve a similar style, mixing bright colors and eccentric characters with more grounded, gritty worldbuilding. While Few have captured the same cinematic juxtapositionmany great films come close.

10

Love and Monsters

Directed by Michael Matthews

Love and Monsters tells the story of a young man named Joel who was forced to live underground after huge monsters took over the Earth’s surface. In the film, Joel reconnects with his high school sweetheart through scattered radio transmissions, searching for the love of his life despite the creatures that stand in his way. It’s a fascinating mix of action and romance This is rarely seen in this genre, but Michael Matthews’ distinct cinematic talent also gives him a very personal and moving side.

There aren’t many films like Love and Monsters: It’s moving and dramatic, but there’s also a self-aware tone that permeates as Joel (perhaps foolishly) pursues his love in the face of a world-ending catastrophe. It’s an incredibly airy watchand a lot of that comes down to Dylan O’Brian’s charismatic performance and the incredibly stylish editing choices on display. Very similar to the Mad Max franchise, Love and Monsters it also follows a single protagonist for most of the running time, which really emphasizes the themes of isolation and self-sufficiency.

9

turbo boy

Directed by François Simard, Anouk Whissell, RKSS and Yoann-Karl Whissell

turbo boy It may not be the most well-known film in this specific subgenre, but it is undoubtedly one of the most underrated. The story follows a young comic book fan who molds his personality after his most beloved heroes in order to save his enigmatic friend from the clutches of Zeus, the Greek god turned supervillain. Instead of the vehicular desert of MadMax, This film adopts a more retro-inspired post-apocalyptic world which draws enormous inspiration from the world of Greek mythology.

Very similar Mad Max, turbo boy understands the importance of creating a unique and distinctive style This is totally different from anything that came before it. This ’90s-inspired wilderness of Greek myth and legend is something that has never really been explored before, and as a result, turbo boy manages to keep the audience engaged with ease. The idea of ​​fighting Zeus himself is something that seems absurd on paper, but the gripping writing and engaging performances make it all seem somehow believable.

8

Hell comes to Frogtown

Directed by Donald G. Jackson and RJ Kizer

1988 Hell comes to Frogtown is one of the most obvious Mad Max sequels, taking very obvious inspiration from Miller’s classic franchise, maintaining its own distinct style. The film revolves around a world that has been decimated by a nuclear holocaust. This makes most of humanity unable to reproduce – but one man appears to hold the secret to an important mission. It’s one of the most fun post-apocalyptic action movies to watch after Mad Max films, and mainly thanks to the many similarities.

But despite these similarities, it is unfair to say that Hell comes to Frogtown is a direct copy of Mad Max. The films have a lot in common, but Jackson and Kizer’s 80s film also managed to create an identity of its own: It’s flashy, stylized and often tackybut there is also an emotional core that the audience can identify with. This world isn’t much different from our own, which is crucial when trying to build a post-apocalyptic wasteland. There have to be enough similarities for the audience to see reality in fiction, which Hell comes to Frogtown achieves it effortlessly.

7

Juan dos Mortos

Directed by Alejandro Brugues

Juan dos Mortos It’s much more of a full-on comedy than most other post-apocalyptic adventures, but the film’s dramatic core will be familiar to anyone who enjoyed Miller’s classics. What starts out as a simple zombie apocalypse quickly becomes something much more complex and original when protagonist Juan starts a zombie-killing business to make a living in the wasteland that Earth has become. But things quickly get out of control and Juan is forced to fight the undead for survivalnot just profit.

Juan dos Mortos has the same general spirit as Mad Maxeven though the stories are very different – is a narrative that tries to see the light in an overwhelmingly dark worlddissecting the nature of humanity in the face of its extinction. Juan dos Mortos is available on streaming to rent or buy, and is one of the most subversive examples of this particular subgenre that somehow remains criminally underrated.

6

Warm bodies

Directed by Jonathan Levine

While Warm bodies may not have the overwhelming scope and magnitude of Miller’s project Mad Max franchise, it takes the same flashy narrative and applies it on a much smaller scale. The story follows a zombie known only as “R“who falls in love with a human named Julie, whom he saves from the other zombies running loose in this post-apocalyptic version of Earth. Despite the many differences that make living together impossible, the couple tries to overcome their problems and stay together.

If this story sounds familiar, it’s because Warm bodies is essentially a horror retelling of William Shakespeare’s classic novel Cheese and guava. It’s a modern reimagining of the story that applies the essence of the story to a completely different situation, with this zombie apocalypse serving as an elegant backdrop for one of Shakespeare’s most unconventional adaptations.

5

The night eats the world

Directed by Dominique Rocher

Although Mad Max has a very distinctive style (which usually refers to big cars, dusty deserts and violent criminals), the general atmosphere can be found in a huge variety of different stories. For example, while The night eats the world It doesn’t have the flashy action or large-scale conflict of Mad Maxthe film’s unwavering dedication to style and talent is very similar.

The story follows a French musician who wakes up in his ex-girlfriend’s Paris apartment after a wild party and finds the entire city overrun by undead zombies. Unsure of what brought the world to its knees overnight, Sam decides to overcome the zombie hordes and find out if he is truly the last survivor of the apocalypse. The night devours the world is a completely original take on a well-known concept, which proves that zombie movies never go out of style.

4

Army of the Dead

Directed by Zack Snyder

Army of the Dead is undeniably among the most well-known films in this specific subgenre, arriving on Netflix in 2021 and immediately becoming one of the streaming service’s most successful projects. Directed by the extremely controversial Zack Snyder, the film follows a group of thieves and criminals who make the final gamble in a decimated Las Vegas, entering no man’s land and attempting the most dangerous heist they can imagine.

Very similar Mad MaxThe film’s well-crafted narrative and intricate world-building kicked off a potential franchise that continued with Army of Thieves in late 2021. Although Netflix canceled the Army of the Dead franchise, its short existence has still proven that there is room in today’s cinematic climate for stylish, original stories like these, and that’s exactly how it is. Mad Max became so popular in the 80s.

3

Comet night

Directed by Thom Eberhardt

Another defining post-apocalyptic adventure of the 1980s, Comet Night is set on a world that has been destroyed by a deadly projectile from space and left the planet’s surface almost uninhabitable. The story follows two sisters, played by Kelli Maroney and Catherine Mary Stewart, who try to survive in the desert by fighting radioactive creatures that have begun to thrive on the surface.

Comet Night has exactly the same sweeping, action-oriented style as Mad Maxwith all the exciting sets and cinematic visuals that accompany them. The film was clearly inspired by George Miller’s successful universe, but manages to forge its own flashy identity.

2

Zombieland

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

Zombieland might be a little oversaturated and popular for some audiences, but there’s no denying that it does a great job of bringing the thrilling action of Mad Max for a more familiar and trustworthy narrative. Follows a group of apocalyptic survivors who undertake a dangerous journey across America in search of the people and possessions they left behind during the incident that destroyed the majority of Earth’s population.

Zombieland has a brilliant soundtrack and lots of flashy production that gives it a very bright and unforgettable style in the same vein as Mad Max and its modern sequels. The film is incredibly fun to watchwith infectious performances and hilarious action set pieces that rival even the greatest moments in the Mad Max franchise.

1

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Directed by James Cameron

While The Terminator and its immediate sequels are more often considered all-out action spectacles rather than post-apocalyptic survivals, there are elements of the genre that certainly spill over and apply here as well. The film is set in an alternate version of the 1990s.after a killer robot from the future is sent back in time to prevent the apocalypse at the hands of machines.

Terminator 2 builds on the greatness of the original, spending more time in this post-apocalyptic future, exploring how the world came to ruin, and offering some fascinating commentary on the path our society is taking in a similar direction. In this way, it shares many similarities with Mad Max and its moving commentary on human nature and inherent violence.