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It's the end of the world as we know it, so here are the top five apocalyptic movies

This week Chris Pine, Margot Robbie and Chiwetel Ejiofer caught in a love triangle in a desolate environment in Z for Zachariah. As per usual with many futuristic films, the film set in a post-apocalyptic world. Want more preparation for the end of the world? Here are our five favorite post-apocalyptic movies.

Oblivion

A throwback to classic sci-fi, Oblivion utilizes a post-apocalyptic storyline well, and provides a good time for sci-fi fans that has enough mystery to keep the film running. Tom Cruise gives a dynamic performance as an explorer turned fugitive, and the unique visual storytelling by Joseph Kosinski gives viewers a beautiful and terrifying look at the Earth tarnished by war.

There are few clues as to why the apocalypse occurred, but the message is clear; humanity has become so intent on pushing forward with technology that they've become apathetic to the ways of the Earth. It's a mysterious film that takes a simple premise and explores it in interesting ways, standing as an exhilarating adventure and a warning about the over-reliance on technology.

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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a remarkable and inventive action film that takes familiar themes and explores them in original ways as a political thriller. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes manages to hold up against the other movies in the genre, including the original Rise of the Planet of the Apes by being not only a power struggle between the two societies but by being unpredictable. This is clearly not just an action film; it is a tense, emotional journey that gives audiences a grey morality and three dimensional characters.

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The duality in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one of its major advantages. While the story could have easily gone down in a predictable route (humans are evil and greedy throughout), Director Matt Reeves cleverly shows the "humanity" of both sides and never gives the audience a clear cut hero or villain. Both the humans and apes are compared through their societies and (most importantly) families, specifically the dynamic between fathers and sons.

Snowpiercer

A gem of modern indie films, Snowpiercer is a stylized thriller that presents a very interesting vision of the future, as well as a solid emotional core that binds the story together. Director Joon-ho Bong crafts a masterwork of action, with well-choreographed sequences of combat and weaponry improved by a great cast, including a brooding and powerful role from Chris Evans, as a revolutionary leader with a checkered past and a score to settle. But all of it fits within Snowpiercer's vision of the future; a train that circles the frozen and post-apocalyptic world, and a group of servers reduced to a modernized caste system. Snowpiercer is a cautionary tale of survival and human will, enhanced by its action and strengthened by its characters.

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Shaun of the Dead

Zombies are a common trend within many post-apocalyptic films, but none have told their stories quite like Shaun of the Dead. Edgar Wright's film is a parody of post-apocalyptic films, but isn't just a series of gags; The film acknowledges humanity's faults and builds off the issues that draw it closer to an apocalypse. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost give great comedic performances, and their onscreen friendship is one of the film's highlights. The actors' chemistry is tangible, ranging from comic banter to emotional climaxes. The style of apocalypse in Shaun of the Dead is also unique. Instead of attempting to highlight a global conflict, the film cherishes its isolated environment.

The Matrix

One of the greatest sci-fi films of all time, The Matrix is a high-powered action thriller that uses classic philosophy to create riveting post-apocalyptic world. The film's directors, the Wachowski siblings, use influences such as Plato's Allegory of the Cave to tell the story of the Matrix, a computer program that simulates reality, and shows the struggle of the humans that fell into conflict with the system.

Keanu Reeves gives a memorable performance as Neo, adding depth to the heroic character and playing well into the film's emotional themes of hope and redemption. Other strong performances include Laurence Fishburne as revolutionary leader Morpheus and Hugo Weaving as the villainous Agent Smith. The Matrix is a science fiction classic that uses the post-apocalyptic world to tell a classic story, populated by great characters and one of the most creative plots that sci-fi cinema has seen.