It’s 2019, and that means it’s time to enjoy a new slate of post-apocalyptic movies. These end-of-the-world, doomsday movies are perfect for anyone who loves escaping into a world of the apocalypse. From a visionary movie about a humanoid robot to a movie that reminds me of my beloved-and-canceled Colony TV series to Zombieland 2 (yay!) there are a lot of great options for the coming year.
Check out all the best post-apocalyptic movies you can watch in 2019. Share on XThe Last Man – January 18
The Last Man brings back Darth Vader (actually Hayden Christensen) in one of the first apocalyptic films of the new year. The synopsis reads: “In this chilling dystopian thriller, Hayden Christensen (Star Wars series) plays Kurt, a vet suffering from PTSD who comes home to an unholy, unruly land. The world is bad, no question–but local street prophet Noe (Harvey Keitel, Reservoir Dogs) says it’ll get even worse when a catastrophic storm strikes. As Kurt heeds Noe’s advice and readies for the apocalypse, he meets sultry Jessica, who also begins to believe. Even as the planet falls apart, Kurt finds his life finally coming together.”
This movie was previously known as Numb, At the Edge of the End, during production. The movie is 104 minutes long.
Crossbreed – February 5
This is more apocalyptic and it looks kind of silly, but hey, all in fun, right? It’s coming to VOD on February 5 and stars Vivica A. Fox and Daniel Baldwin (yep.) The shots of the alien are already making me laugh, so I won’t have high expectations for this one. You can also get this one on iTunes on February 5, so there ya go.
Battle Angel Alita – February 14
The release date for this one kept getting pushed back, but they finally settled on February 14, 2019. And it looks really good. The synopsis reads: “Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned Alita is found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido, a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic. When Alita awakens, she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious past.”
Battle Angel Alita is your Valentine's Day post-apocalyptic movie. Share on XChaos Walking – March 1, 2019
Chaos Walking is based on the novel by Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go, which is the first in a trilogy. The synopsis reads: “In the near future, Todd Hewitt has been brought up to believe that a viral germ has killed all women in a colony world and unleashed Noise, the special ability to read people’s and animals’ minds. Later, he comes upon a patch of silence and soon discovers the source of the silence: a mysterious woman named Viola Eade. On the run, they learn more about the true history of the New World.” The movie stars Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, Demian Bichir, Kurt Sutter, Nick Jonas, David Oyelowo, Cynthia Erivo, and Oscar Jaenada.
Captive State – March 29, 2019
Elements of this trailer remind me of what I loved about Colony (RIP), but I’m also concerned it might contain too much of a political statement, which in today’s climate might get a bit annoying. But I’m still wanting to give it a try, because John Goodman was amazing in that Cloverfield movie. Even the synopsis reminds me of Colony: “Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents.” I miss that show so much.
Captive State premiering Mach 29 has a #Colony vibe. I miss that show. Share on XHigh Life – April 12, 2019
High Life’s not truly apocalyptic, but it hits on the themes of isolation and survival that are often covered in post-apocalyptic films, so we’re including it in this list. It’s about a father and daughter who are struggling to survive in deep space, where they’re living in isolation. The movie stars Robert Pattinson (yes, of Twilight), Juliette Binoche, Andre Benjamin, Mia Goth, Lars Eidinger, and more.
Avengers: Endgame – April 26, 2019
After what happened in the last Avengers movie, Endgame is definitely apocalyptic. The synopsis reads: “Adrift in space with no food or water, Tony Stark sends a message to Pepper Potts as his oxygen supply starts to dwindle. Meanwhile, the remaining Avengers — Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner — must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos — the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe.”
Ad Astra – May 24, 2019
Also, speaking of movies, there's one coming out soon called Ad Astra, starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and Ruth Negga.
And since it's not about @astrasharma's tennis career, I officially don't even know what Hollywood is thinking. pic.twitter.com/aTPLo2ffOh
— Wilfy (@whitelinefervor) December 29, 2018
This one is more pre-apocalyptic-trying-to-stop-the-end-of-the-world, but it sounds amazing and I simply had to include it. “Astronaut Roy McBride travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet.” Brad Pitt stars as Roy McBride and Tommy Lee Jones stars as Clifford McBride. Other stars include Donald Sutherland, John Ortiz, Ruth Negga, Greg Bryk, LisaGay Hamilton, Jamie Kennedy, and more. With a lineup like this, I’m really intrigued how it will turn out. The movie is directed by James Gray.
(Side note: Bright Burn is releasing the same day. It’s a Superman origin story reimagined as a horror, so not really post-apocalyptic. If you can’t get in to see Ad Astra though on May 24, this could be a good alternative.)
Zombieland 2 – October 11, 2019
Just a reminder that we're getting Zombieland 2 this year. pic.twitter.com/ZJtwMidDUK
— That One Guy (@Vagineer1) January 1, 2019
Yes, Zombieland 2 is almost here! The movie is starring Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eiwenberg and Abigail Breslin. Ruben Fleischer, who directed the first, is directing this one too. It’s a true sequel returning 10 years later. We’ve recently heard rumors that not only is Bill Murray in the cast (confirmed) but Dan Aykroyd will be in the movie too.
Sign me up for #Zombieland2! Premiering October 11, 2019. Share on XTerminator 6 – November 1, 2019
#15: Terminator 6
I'm still a little cautious about this one, given the franchise's recent history. But James Cameron's involvement and retconning the last three movies are big steps in the right direction. Also, Sarah freakin' Connor is back. I have hope. pic.twitter.com/OXyycCCs5W
— Paul (@PaulRom95) December 31, 2018
Wow, we’re a long way from the new Terminator movie, and I’m already excited. It’s premiering November 1, 2019 and doesn’t even have an official title yet, except it’s known as Terminator 6. It’s a direct sequel to The Terminator and Terminator 2, ignoring everything else in the franchise that came later. It will star Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Gabriel Luna, Natalia Reyes, and Diego Boneta. Filming began in June 2018 under a working title of Terminator 6: Phoenix in Spain and Hungary, then moved to the U.S. in October. Filming wrapped in November 2018.
The Walking Dead Movies (Date TBA)
The movies featuring Rick Grimes will be available on AMC but news of a premiere date is still unavailable. #TWD #TheWalkingDead https://t.co/U2elCgXfxI
— TWD News & Recaps (@TWDNewsRecaps) December 28, 2018
Yes, you’re not imagining anything. A series of Walking Dead movies, created by AMC, are coming. Some will be about Rick Grimes, but rumors are saying that one may also star Abraham (a fan favorite) from The Walking Dead and Daniel (long-missing but not forgotten) from Fear the Walking Dead.
Robert Kirkman will be heavily involved in a trilogy about Rick Grimes. These will air on AMC.
It’s unclear when any of these will be released.
Io – Netflix, 2019
Io is a new movie coming to Netflix in 2019, but the exact date hasn’t been announced yet. The synopsis reads: “As a young scientist searches for a way to saving a dying Earth, she finds a connection with a man who’s racing to catch the last shuttle off the planet.” It stars Margaret Qualley, Anthony Mackie, and Danny Huston.
The Dead Don’t Die – 2019
This zombie comedy film is directed by Jim Jarmusch and will star Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Selena Gomez, Chloe Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Austin, Butler, Tilda Swinton, and Caleb Landry Jones. Not much is known about it so far except that it premieres sometime in 2019 and has a pretty amazing cast.
Light of My Life – Date TBA
It’s not completely clear if this one is premiering in 2019 or 2020. It is written and directed by Casey Affleck and stars Affleck, Anna Pniowsky, and Elisabeth Moss. It’s about a father and daughter who are escaping to the woods, trying to outrun a deadly wordlwide pandemic.
Lucy in the Sky – Date TBA
Lucy in the Sky (previously called Pale Blue Dot) probably isn’t post-apocalyptic, but it’s too soon to know for sure (plus it sounds fascinating.) The synopsis reads: “The story of a female astronaut who, upon returning to Earth from a life-changing mission in space, begins to slowly unravel and lose touch with reality.” Starring Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm, and Zazie Beetz, directed by Noah Hawley.
Mad Max: The Wasteland (May Be on Hold for a Long Time)
At one point, we really thought the Mad Max sequel, Mad Max: The Wasteland, was going to be released in 2020. Sadly, it may be on hold indefinitely. George Miller’s efforts to create a sequel have been hampered thanks to a lawsuit. He sued Warner Bros. over unpaid earnings. The lawsuit was filed by his production company, Kennedy Miller Mitchell, in Australia. The lawsuit alleges that Warner Bros. didn’t pay a bonus for completing the movie under budget, and also breached a co-financing agreement. There are other claims, including claims about far too many edits and cuts. Warner Bros. is counterclaiming that the movie was far over budget.
A Quiet Place 2 – May 15, 2020
John Krasinski Says 'A Quiet Place 2' Will Focus On New Perspectives – Alludes To New Characters https://t.co/ySS2qwWRwH pic.twitter.com/GlL0uxkZwN
— HN Entertainment (@HNEsocial) January 1, 2019
Bonus time! A Quiet Place 2 will premiere May 15, 2020. I can’t wait.
BIOS – October 2, 2020
In Bios, Tom Hanks will create a robot to protect his dog https://t.co/OC6PqKbhcm pic.twitter.com/Hiio1Ulj94
— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) October 27, 2017
This movie is soooo far away but I’m already really looking forward to it. It’s a scifi/post-apoc story by Tom Hanks. He’s Finch, the last man on earth and an inventor facing the end of his lown life. He builds a robot to keep his dog safe and he must teach his robot what it means to be human, so it can properly take care of his dog. ❤️The movie will be filming in Toronto and New Mexico in February 2019.
BONUS: Dystopian or Apocalyptic Movies that Take Place in 2019
While you’re waiting for these new movies to premiere, here’s a look at dystopian or apocalyptic movies set in 2019 that you can watch today.
- 2019 After the Fall of New York
- Blade Runner (yes, the original was set in 2019)
- Daybreakers
- The Island
- Mock Up on Mu
- The Running Man
See any movies premiering in 2019 that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
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