In case you somehow missed it, there was a major federal election this week in the United States, and if it’s anything to do with power decisions, regardless of the outcome or which side you’re on, once the votes have been cast and the winner declared, people turn to entertainment. Whether for comfort or distraction, entertainment is a choice when things are uncertain or complicated, and especially around political cycles, dystopian-themed entertainment is surprisingly popular. It’s kind of like during the pandemic when people were really interested in movies and TV shows about fictional pandemics and the end of the world – Remember when COVID began to have a global impact in early 2020 and Steven Soderberg Contagion started to top the rental charts? There’s just something about movies that are “on-topic” with how a population feels in complicated times that makes them go to people’s entertainment.

Given this general trend, people may be looking to immerse themselves in some dystopias, and as someone who generally enjoys the genre in both film, television, and even books, I have some movie recommendations for you to play streaming if you’re watching the (fictional) end of the world is your business. To be very clear: there is nothing political about this list per se. Sure, the societies and worlds in these stories have their own political issues and challenges that, depending on how you see the world, may or may not align with yours. That’s not what this list is about. This list is just a good end of the world as we know it entertainment options you can stream after a long election cycle. From newer releases to classics and from franchises to stand-alone projects, there’s something for everyone here. Now onto the list.

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1. The civil war

Let’s get the newest and possibly most divisive film on this list out of the way, Alex Garland’s film. The civil war. Launched earlier this yearthe film stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno and Nick Offerman and follows a team of war journalists who travel from New York City to Washington DC during a US Civil War Once with war being fought across the country between the federal government and secessionist movements, journalists try to reach the capital to interview the president before rebel forces take the White House. The film, A24’s second highest-grossing film to date, airs on Max.

2. Planet of the Apes (1968)

I could put almost everything Planet of the Apes franchise is here, but if you only want to watch one, watch this one. Loosely based on Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel and starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly and Linda Harrison, the film follows astronaut Taylor who crashes on a distant planet led by intelligent and advanced apes who dominated primitive humans, either by killing them, enslaving them, or experimenting on them. The final shot of the film is iconic and stunning. The film is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video. Other films selected from the general franchise, including from 2024 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesare available to stream on Disney+.

3. treatment (2013)

Another situation where there is a whole series of movies, the entry I will put on this list is the first movie: 2013’s treatment. Written and directed by James DeMonaco, treatment stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane and Max Burkholder and follows a wealthy family who must protect themselves during a home invasion. The twist here is that this home invasion takes place during the annual Purge, an event where all murder is legal for 12 hours thanks to a law passed by the ruling political party in a post-economic collapse of the United States. The film is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.

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4. Balance

Set in a post-World War III dystopian future, Balance tells the story of a world where feelings and artistic expression are forbidden and citizens are forced to use drugs that suppress emotions. However, when an enforcement officer accidentally misses a dose of drugs, his own emotions begin to awaken and he discovers disturbing truths about the totalitarian regime under control. The film stars Christian Bale, Emily Watson and Taye Diggs. The movie doesn’t have the best reviews, but there are some great fight scenes. It is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, but may also be available on Pluto TV.

5. giver

Yes, Taylor Swift is for a short time giver and yes, that counts in why I’m putting this on the list, but giver it’s also just a good story. Based on Lois Lowry’s novel of the same name (which is phenomenal, so read it), the film is set in a perfect world free of all pain and suffering, but at a cost, with all the memories of the past held by one. the person, the Receiver of Memory. In the film, a young man named Jonas is set to become the next recipient of the memory. As he learns from The Giver, Jonas discovers things about the illusion of perfection that will change everything. In addition to Swift, the film stars Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites, Odeya Rush, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holmes, Cameron Monaghan and Emma Tremblay. giver is available on Max.

6. Interstellar

Yes, I’m calling Interstellar a dystopia. Directed by Christopher Nolan (who wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan), Interstellar Follows a group of astronauts who leave a near-future dystopian Earth ravaged by death and starvation as they travel through a wormhole near Saturn as they try to find a new home for the rapidly depleting humanity of time. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, Matt Damon and Michael Caine. While the film is largely considered a science fiction film as most of its story focuses on the space aspects of the story, the elements of Earth’s ecological destruction are the dystopian element. The film is available to stream on Peacock and Paramount+. Additionally, the film celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and will return to theaters in December.

7. High Rise

Launched in 2015, High Rise is a British dystopian thriller film adapted from the 1975 novel of the same name by JG Ballard. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans and Elisabeth Moss, the film is set in a luxury high-rise that has everything its residents need in the building, but is also divided according to income with the lower classes on the building. the lower floors and the rich above. When a class struggle breaks out, so does violence between the haves and the have-nots. High Rise is broadcast on Max.

Bonus: The Hunger Games movie

Possibly one of the most popular dystopian franchises of recent years, this list simply wouldn’t be complete without it The Hunger Games movies, especially the first four movies in the series that follow the original trilogy of books written by Suzanne Collins. The films follow Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a young woman forced to compete in an elaborate, televised event that is essentially a fight to the death against other teenagers from the 12 districts of Panem – a nation born out of the former United States of the games serving as punishment for a past rebellion against the Capitol. The movies are available on Hulu with a STARZ subscription, including the latest film in the overall franchise, the prequel Ballad of songbirds and snakes. A sixth film in the franchise, Sunrise on the Sickle due in theaters in 2026 (with a novel preceding it on March 18, 2025.)