The end of the world has never looked so binge-worthy. Whether it’s a zombie outbreak, nuclear fallout, or an environmental catastrophe, post-apocalyptic series offer gripping tales of survival, hope, and resilience. If you’re in the mood for dark futures and fierce heroes, here’s a roundup of the best apocalyptic shows you can stream today across platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV+.
The Last of Us: A Heart-Wrenching Journey
No list of survival stories would be complete without mentioning The Last of Us. Adapted from the legendary PlayStation game, this HBO hit follows Joel and Ellie as they navigate a decaying America ravaged by a fungal pandemic. The series is brutal, emotional, and profoundly human — a masterclass in storytelling set against a hauntingly beautiful wasteland.
Battlestar Galactica: Humanity Among the Stars
Often celebrated as a sci-fi masterpiece, Battlestar Galactica also fits neatly into the post-apocalyptic genre. After a devastating Cylon attack, humanity’s last survivors flee through space aboard a ragtag fleet, searching for a new home. Beyond the space battles, the show digs deep into questions of politics, faith, and what it means to survive when everything is lost.
Station Eleven: Art After the Fall
Station Eleven brings a refreshing perspective to the apocalypse. Rather than focusing on chaos and violence, it follows a troupe of traveling performers bringing hope to a shattered world decades after a deadly flu wiped out civilization. Thoughtful and beautifully shot, the series reminds us that art and storytelling might just be humanity’s ultimate survival tools.
The Rain: Death Comes from the Sky
In this Danish thriller, survival depends on staying dry. A deadly virus carried by rain has decimated the population. Years later, two siblings venture out of their bunker into a dangerous, desolate landscape. The Rain offers a chilling twist on classic post-apocalyptic tropes — and shows that even the weather can be your enemy.
Fallout: Life After Nuclear Doom
Adapted from the beloved video game franchise, Fallout envisions a world centuries after nuclear annihilation. Humanity clings to life in underground vaults — until Lucy, a vault-dweller, ventures onto the radioactive surface. Expect danger, dark humor, and a grim exploration of how societies evolve — and decay — after total collapse.
Silo: Secrets Beneath the Surface
In Silo, humanity’s last survivors are packed into a massive underground facility, told that the outside world is deadly. But when an engineer named Juliette starts asking questions, she unearths a web of lies more dangerous than any external threat. Based on Hugh Howey’s novels, Silo is a claustrophobic and thought-provoking thriller.
The Walking Dead: The Undisputed Zombie Epic
The Walking Dead is the godfather of TV zombie apocalypses. Spanning 11 seasons and multiple spinoffs, it’s an epic saga of survival, shifting alliances, and hard moral choices. Love it or hate it, no other show captures the grinding, emotional toll of long-term survival quite like this one.
All Of Us Are Dead: High School of the Dead
This Korean breakout hit drops a zombie outbreak right into a high school. Brutal, fast-paced, and relentless, All Of Us Are Dead delivers intense action while exploring loyalty, fear, and desperation among teens fighting for their lives. Warning: it’s as gory as it is addictive.
Sweet Tooth: A Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tale
Part dystopian epic, part road trip, Sweet Tooth follows Gus — a half-human, half-deer boy — as he navigates a world devastated by a mysterious event called “The Great Crumble.” Tender, whimsical, yet heart-wrenching, it’s a rare feel-good entry in an often grim genre.
3%: A Harsh Test of Merit
Set in a future Brazil where only a lucky few escape poverty for a utopian island, 3% is a gritty, tension-filled series about privilege, survival, and social injustice. In a world where second chances are nonexistent, every decision could mean life or death.
Snowpiercer: Survival on a Frozen Earth
When Earth freezes over, the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a constantly moving train. Snowpiercer turns the classic class struggle into a brutal battle for survival, with each train car representing a slice of society — from luxury to pure desperation.
Bonus Picks: Gems You Might Have Missed
Some post-apocalyptic gems like The 100, 12 Monkeys, and Revolution aren’t available on major streamers right now but are worth seeking out on VOD. And if you want something that flirts with the genre without fully diving in, don’t miss The Leftovers — a haunting meditation on grief after a mysterious global tragedy.
