13 Best Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Movies
6. Planet of the Apes
You may say putting this film on this list is "spoilery", but c'mon, it's been out for over 50 years!
When three astronauts crash-land on an unknown and totally unfamiliar planet over 2,000 years in the future, they realise it's inhabited by sentient apes who have an extreme prejudice to the mute, primitive humans who also share their world.
Of course, this is all turned on its head in the final moments when astronaut Taylor realises the alien world is actually Earth, as humans destroyed each other in a nuclear apocalypse.
The shocker of an ending has become one of the most famous plot twists out there, but Planet of the Apes still thrills with grim action sequences and unexpected twists. That museum scene will always be chilling.
And if this movie too dated for your taste, the rebooted trilogy that charters an alternate version of humanity's descent is a more-than-respectable substitute, with stellar performances from Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, and Woody Harrelson.