Oblivion & 9 Other Best Dystopian Films About Nuclear War

Nothing is more thrilling and simultaneously terrifying like a film about nuclear war. From the build-up to the detonation and aftermath of the attack, every minute is an emotional experience using fiction to show the grim reality of such a disaster. Although not all these movies show a post-apocalyptic dystopian world, those that do paint quite a picture of what life would be like when disaster strikes.

The fascination with war films has led to some truly remarkable productions. The ’90s in particular, have some of the best nuke films in history. While some focus on portraying the nuclear disaster as accurately as possible, a few add a comedic aspect that lightens up the subject matter.

10 On The Beach (1959)

Based on a novel, On The Beach shows the aftermath of a nuclear war that wipes out most of humanity. The nuclear fallout slowly makes its way to Australia, the only remaining safe haven. As the annihilation of all life grows imminent, those still alive treasure their last moments on earth in different ways.

The slow burn of the impending tragedy makes this post-apocalyptic film an emotional journey as the audience watches some characters find love in the midst of disaster and others achieve a life-long dream before they take their last breath. With the central theme being the end of the world, there are no happy endings in this one, even for the romance storyline which has a tragic ending.

9 Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Also known as Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, the film is a political satire of nuclear conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Lauded as one of the best comedies ever made, Dr. Strangelove tells the story of a delusional general who triggers a nuclear holocaust and the frantic, hilarious attempts by other politicians and generals to stop it.

As one of Stanley Kubrick’s best productions, the film combines humor and the doom and gloom of nuclear warfare to create a feeling of comic dread throughout its run. This approach gives a lighthearted take to the usually grim portrayal of films about nuclear war. While it doesn’t delve into the aftermath of such a tragic event, any list of nuke films would be remiss in leaving out this classic favorite.

8 Testament (1983)

As a family goes about their daily routine in Testament, disaster strikes when nuclear devices detonate in a nearby city. The survivors attempt to recapture normalcy but the loss of essentials like food, water, and gas make it difficult. Things take a turn for the worst when people start dying from radiation poisoning.

Testament is an emotionally devastating film with an accurate depiction of the fallout of a nuclear war. The factual accuracy of the impact and effects of such a disaster are haunting, leaving a heartwrenching image in the minds of all who watch the movie.

7 Special Bulletin (1983)

In Special Bulletin, a group of terrorists threatens to detonate a homemade nuclear device if the U.S. government doesn’t agree to hand over the triggers for their nuclear weapons. The terrorists take a reporter and his cameraman hostage, using them to convey their demands.

True to its name, the inciting incident and every major event in the film were told through news broadcasts. The movie gives a realistic portrayal of fictional events with frightening—and impressive—accuracy. It’s a classic nuke film that remains one of the best, years after its broadcast.

6 The Day After (1983)

Due to rising tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, each of the sides launches missiles at the other. In the United States, the target of the missiles is Kansas City and that’s the center of attention throughout the movie, with the focus on select residents.

The Day After depicts ordinary people living their lives, the terrifying build-up to the disaster, and the aftermath of the nuclear attack. This approach shows the audience how easily an ordinary day can turn tragic within seconds.

5 Threads (1984)

A nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States throws the town of Sheffield into chaos. A pregnant young woman named Ruth is separated from her lover, Jimmy, during the fallout and struggles to survive the post-apocalyptic world where food has become the only thing of value and the cause of many fights.

Most dystopian movies about nuclear war have a grim tone, but Threads takes it a notch higher. It shows the horrifying reality of a nuclear war, highlighting the message that no one wins when it comes to such a tragedy. From the beginning right until the heartbreaking end, Threads is unrelentingly dreadful.

4 When The Wind Blows (1986)

The animated disaster film, When The Wind Blows, follows an elderly couple—Jim and Hilda Bloggs—and their life before, during, and in the aftermath of a nuclear war. Their naivety leaves them inadequately prepared for the nuclear attack, resulting in devastating consequences.

Despite the animated nature of the film, it captures the couple’s emotions throughout the attack in a way that’s touching and relatable. From Jim’s struggle to find food supplies because of everyone stocking up for the disaster, to their desperate attempts to return to normalcy afterward.

3 Miracle Mile (1988)

After Harry mistakenly intercepts a phone call from a frantic soldier warning about an impending nuclear attack, he warns others and takes off to find his new lady love, Julie, so they can escape together. Miracle Mile mainly focuses on the leading moments before the attack, capturing Harry’s panic and the doubts of the unconfirmed attack he keeps warning others about.

For most of Miracle Mile, Harry questions the validity of the warning as he makes his way through the city to get to Julie. The audience shares his conflicting emotions of panic and self-doubt until the very last minute when the movie finally shows whether the threat was real or a terrible misunderstanding.

2 The Divide (2011)

After nuclear explosions go off in New York City, a group of nine people escapes the blast by hiding in their apartment building’s bomb shelter. As the film progresses, tension rises within the group over food rations—among other things.

The Divide has a great ensemble performance, which includes Lauren German (from Lucifer) and Michael Eklund, as they show the depravity of the human mind during a disaster. It’s tragic and disturbing, but also an interesting take on a post-apocalyptic world that captures the sentiment “survival of the fittest” in a brutal way. It holds the audience’s attention but is one of those creepy movies fans wouldn’t watch twice.

1 Oblivion (2013)

Set in 2077, Oblivion shows a world that was ravaged by an alien attack that destroyed the moon and led to a nuclear war that left most of Earth uninhabitable. Tom Cruise plays the lead character, Jack, who’s a key member in the fight against the extraterrestrials that still roam the earth.

The post-apocalyptic action flick paints a gruesome picture of a war-torn planet, using all the best elements of the brilliant 1970s sci-fi films. The twists in the story also add a little mystery and thrill to the action-packed plot and the nostalgic feel of the movie, reminiscent of past sci-fi faves.

About The Author

Tricia Mawire
(172 Articles Published)

Tricia is a List Writer for Screen Rant with a background in creative writing and a love for all things film and TV. She fell in love with reading at the age of 10 after discovering that her favorite movie, Matilda, was based on a novel. That led to her first in-depth analysis of literary work to her mom and anyone who’d listen. If she’s not reading or writing stories with crazy plot twists, she’s bingeing a new series and ranting about character arcs and plot holes. Or she’s eating French fries.

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