Age of Corona: Movie Edition

The Hot Zone said this would happen

This pandemic has us all inside, with our televisions and take out. Joke's on it, we've been practicing for this for decades! What do we watch? Well, movies about how much worse it could be, or maybe a preview into our futures couldn't hurt, right? I'm talking about post apocalypse films. We all love 'em, and we've been making them since the the beginning of film. Everyone knows the Hunger Games, and Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Dead, and Mad Max franchises. Those are the easy, most recognizable ones. Here's a bunch of other good ones probably lost in the shuffle.

After a robot-led mass extinction, nine dolls given sentience struggle to bring life back to a desolated earth. Not only is this post apocalypse, but also an alternate time-line story. Written and directed by Shane Acker, it was released in 2009.

Technically taking place in a post apocalyptic society that turned Manhattan into a penal colony, the plot is a basic escape and survive story. The basic premise is also used in the Batman Arkham City videogame. Released in 1981, written and directed by John Carpenter, this one has a real classic '80s action film feel and deserves its cult following.

Most post apocalypse stories explain the current state of the world as being due to nuclear war, zombies, disease, or robot overlords. Snowpiercer's endtimes catalyst is climate change. The film addresses social status systems even in times of crisis. Directed by Boon Joon-ho, also the director of Parasite, this one should be a new classic in the genre. Plus Captain America is the star. 

Another cult classic apparently in a long list of post apocalyptic themed cult films, this one was adapted from the 1988 indie comicbook of the same name by Alan Martin and James Hewlett. Tank Girl is exactly as advertised. Its about a girl, who owns a tank. The plot diverges from the comic, leaving out important characters like Booga the Kangaroo. The film should be experienced if only for the set design, style, and music. There are plans for a reboot/remake to be released in the next few years starring Margo Robbie, probably. 

Speaking of remakes, and stuff based on indie comicbooks, this movie is chronically underrated. The original Judge Dredd, starring Rambo, flopped in 1995. This film did better, and unlike its predecessor, it has the creator's approval. Comic writer John Wagner said it was "unlike the first film, a true representation of Judge Dredd [...] The character and storyline are pure Dredd". This storyline takes place after nuclear war, and the remaining world population lives within giant city sprawls called Mega-cities. Law and order are carried out by the Judge System, which uses Wild West Sheriff-style Judges that act as police, judge, jury, and executioner. This movie got the Judge Dredd character correct, and deserves a sequel that wont ever happen. 

Because I haven't featured a zombie film yet, here's this one. I'm a huge fan of horror-comedy. Since I saw Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein when I was a kid, this genre has been one of my favorites. Zombieland may be one of the best horror comedy films out there. Shaun of the Dead is very good too, but it isnt exactly a post-apocalypse film. That movie is about Shaun and his friends experiencing the apocalypse as it unfolds. Zombieland, in comparison, is about what happens to survivors after the monster making pandemic has hit its stride. We get to see the characters adapt to new life, and trying to solve problems like what to do about a twinkie craving in the midst of a food shortage. 

I saved the bestest for the lastest. 

Not only is this film a retro sci-fi masterpiece, its also an over the top action film, and a feel good story about friends. Set in the mid '90s in an alternate timeline where, presumably, the world ended in robot perpetuated nuclear holocaust, a teenager meets new friends and fights a despot hoarding water resources. Also, there is a power glove. Also it's a Canadian film, eh.