Interesting list, but I'm confused as to which "The Rapture" you're talking about — that trailer is for a bargain-basement British production yet to be released.

@Guy Lodge: That's my fault on that one… I have never seen "The Rapture" and when I was editing together David's piece that was the only trailer I found and wrongly assumed it was the right one. He's talking about Michael Tolkin's '91 film.

Where is Matrix??

Great seeing Network in there… one of my favourite films of all time. A decidedly more typical apocalyptic film by Sidney Lumet, though, is Fail-Safe, which by my estimation is a terrific film. The serious version of Dr. Strangelove, if you will. The Bedford Incident is also terrific… Moby Dick during the Cold War.

Does if have to be about Earth? Neverending Story?

how can 12 Monkeys be there but no La Jetee?!!!! 12M was BASED entirely ON La Jetee. Thats like putting the Mark Wahlberg version of Apes over the Heston one.

kudos on the Network selection. Ned Beatty's Oscar nominated boardroom soliloquy is more apocalyptic than 50,000 mushroom clouds.

@Zeus: You are absolutely right; how can any post-apocalyptic films list not include "The Matrix." For me, the best example of doom-and-gloom in film never got any better than "Dr. Strangelove."

Here's a few other films:

(1953) The War of the Worlds
(1996) Independence Day
(2002) 28 Days Later
(2007) I Am Legend

And even though it only addresses an "almost-apocalypse," I really think M. Night Shymalan's "Signs" belongs on this list.

Let me add a TV mini-series, the first two hours of "The Stand".

Children of Men = OVERRATED

Decent list but how can you not have The Day After in there?

On The Beach

The Omega Man.

where's George A. Romero's The Crazies and Don DcKellar's Last Night?

Great List!! I'd put Children of Men at one, Road Warrior a close second. I was afraid that Road Warrior wouldn't make it, since I didn't think it would be number one. But that was a pleasant surprise. It also contains one of my favorite death scenes of its main villain"s".

I think you missed "When Worlds Collide", "Armageddon", and "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". You see I too don't believe in the "no win scenario." "Millennium" has the benefit of Cheryl Ladd dressed only in a man’s shirt.

How about a little humour with your devastation? A Boy and His Dog? Tank Girl? Cherry 2000?

On the Beach. Absolutely one of the best. No question it belongs on the list.

Good list. I still have not watched Children of Men. Now I have too.
Heres MY list-

http://blog.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/2009/05/28/chuck-curry%e2%80%99s-top-ten-post-apocolyptic-films/

what about "The Postman"? that movie was excellent.

@Zeus: I Know!

@Ross:

You know what, I agree! I'm honestly the only person I know (I have a ton of movie-watching friends/family) who didn't fall in love with that film. It felt like it was pandering to it's audience the whole time with this message about "hope" and "being a faith-filled savior" and whatever. Everything about the film was excellent except its moral, which it bashed into your head every 10 seconds, just in case you forgot about what movie you were watching.

The Last Wave

Time of The Wolf

where's 28 Days Later?

The Happening

would The Seventh Seal count?

You left far too many goodies off of your "list".

re: 2
Can't you liberal Euro-trash types ever knock it off with the Bush-bashing or the Palin-hate?
Quit kissing Obama's ass.