With all of the Oscar buzz generating around Adam McKay’s latest film, Don’t Look Up, its gone on to set the record for the second most-watched original Netflix film in the company’s history. The film takes an upsetting and very serious scenario like an impending apocalypse and gives it a more comedic spin while also offering a thought-provoking commentary in its satire.
Of course, McKay’s film isn’t the first to take a satirical approach a situation like the “end of the world.” In fact, some of them have gone on to be considered classics, while others unfairly continue to fly under the people’s radar.
Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
While Don’t Look Up explores the potential ways for the Earth to evade a massive comet collision, the characters of Seeking a Friend for the End of the World unfortunately don’t have the luxury of those those possibilities. With only two weeks remaining until an asteroid collides with Earth and ends all life, a chance encounter between two depressed strangers ends up changing both of their lives for what little remaining time they have left.
Despite the film’s melancholy plot, there’s several notable moments of legitimate humor to balance it all out. It’s the unexpected chemistry between Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, however, that makes it such a tender and charming experience. There’s also a few surprise appearances from comedians like Patton Oswalt, TJ Miller, and Amy Schumer that are sure get a laugh as well.
Night Of The Comet (1984)
Available To Stream On Tubi
Despite its cult classic status, Night of the Comet continues to be overlooked more than should. When the Earth is passed through the tail of a comet, two valley girls are left struggling for survival in a baron Californian city with a reduced population and a rust-colored haze covering the sky.
Heavy on dry-humor, more light on horror, and being completely drenched in ’80’s culture, there really hasn’t been made quite like it, before or since. After all, in what other movie can one enjoy the craziness of an ’80s valley girl firing off a machine gun?
Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
Available To Stream On Starz
The first installment of Edgar Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy,” Shaun of the Dead is often credited for reigniting the people’s interest in the zombie genre. When a zombie breakout occurs in London, a slacker named Shaun steps up protect his friends and family from the undead, but will is inexperienced and irresponsible nature get in the way?
This was Edgar Wright’s first major studio film, and he uses his talents behind the camera very effectively. It showcases his iconic film-making style and technique with some of the creepiest, as well as the funniest scenes of Wright’s movies.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2004)
Available To Stream On HBO Max
When a film opens up with singing dolphins prophesying the end of the world before flying away into space, it’s more than obvious what kind of wild ride the audience is in for. Based on the novel by Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy tells the story of Englishman Arthur Dent, who heads off on an intergalactic adventure after a diplomatic error causes the demolition of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass.
The destruction of planet Earth occurs relatively early in the film, but the journey that follows is where the fun starts to fully kick in. While the differences between the Hitchhiker’s Guide book and the movie may be off-putting to die-hard fans of the source material, it’s still an enjoyable time for any science-fiction fan, or anyone looking for a good laugh.
Planet Terror (2007)
Available To Rent On Apple TV+
The first film of the 2007 double-feature, Grindhouse (alongside Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof), Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror is a loving tribute to a long-forgotten film genre. Its story follows a group of Texans as they fight for to survive zombies and a ruthless military unit in the midst of a biochemical outbreak.
Compared to Death Proof, this first half of Grindhouse is absolute insanity. Its over-the-top and tongue-in-cheek tone allow for some of the most outrageous visuals Rodriguez has ever created. He made a bad movie on purpose, and he pulls of the old-school grindhouse film aesthetic quite nicely.
Rapture-Palooza (2013)
Available To Stream on Peacock
Rapture-Palooza wasn’t quite the subject of controversy nor the commercial success that many would’ve thought it was, due its quiet VOD release, but it’s gained a small yet dedicated following since then. Anna Kendrick stars as Lindsey, who after being left behind during the rapture, hatches a plan with her boyfriend to take down the demonic false prophet of the apocalypse simply known as “The Beast.”
The film’s humor is mostly hit-or-miss, but when the jokes do hit, they hit hard. Kendrick is funny as usual, but it’s Craig Robinson as “The Beast” that provides the biggest laughs. It may be considered blasphemous in the eyes of certain viewers, but for anyone who carries a sense of humor about the subject, it’s worth checking out at least once.
Anna And The Apocalypse (2018)
Available To Rent On Apple TV+
Perhaps the most unique and original take on the zombie genre since Shaun of the Dead, John McPhail’s Anna and the Apocalypse is no ordinary zombie film: it’s also a Christmas-themed musical. When a zombie apocalypse hits a small English town, a group of teens find themselves both singing and slashing their way through survival.
In the midst of all its violent and terrifying zombie attacks, the films keeps a strong sense of humor about itself, while also cranking out some of the most memorable musical numbers in recent film history. Anna and the Apocalypse is one of the best dark movie musicals ever, but also an underrated Christmas movie that’s destined to become a classic.
Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)
Available To Rent On Apple TV+
Known as Stanley Kubrick’s one and only comedy, Dr. Strangelove isn’t just considered to be one of the greatest comedies ever made, but is held in high regard as one of the greatest films of all time. The nuclear tensions of the Cold War may seem like a very serious subject in the US and world history, but somehow, Kubrick managed to make a brilliant farcical comedy out of it.
In many ways, Dr. Strangelove really is the Don’t Look Up of the 1960’s. It managed to take a very serious topic and tell a comedic cautionary tale of how much worse humanity is capable of making such an already stressful situation. With hilarious performances from Peter Sellers (playing three different roles) and George C. Scott, along with Kubrick’s exceptional direction, it’s an absolute must watch for any self-labeled film buff.
The World’s End (2013)
Available To Rent On Apple TV+
The final film of the “Cornetto trilogy,” The World’s End lives up to its name in more ways than one. When five childhood friends are roped back into another attempt of conquering a pub crawl that they failed to finish as teenagers, they find that their hometown isn’t quite the same as it once was, harboring a dark secret that finds them struggling to survive the night while also getting absolutely hammered.
It’s a fitting conclusion to the disconnected trilogy, with its trademark visual humor and brilliant performances from the cast, while also making for a fun and unpredictable stand-alone science-fiction story. There are also many thought-provoking ideas and symbolism, such as the hidden meanings behind pub names like The World’s End.
This Is The End (2013)
Available To Stream On Starz
What happens when a group of famous actors left behind during the rapture have to make it through the fiery, demon invested fallout of Armageddon? Well, according to Seth Rogen’s This Is The End, the odds of survival for those clueless individuals are rather slim.
With an all-star lineup including Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, and Emma Watson (all playing exaggerated versions of themselves), the chemistry and exchanges between the cast create some of the funniest moments within their respective careers. It’s not only one of the most original comedies of the 2010s, but its also refreshing to know that those actors are willing to make to make fun of themselves to that extent.
