10 Best Post-Apocalyptic Shows That You Can Stream Right Now

Looking for your next end-of-the-world binge that will keep you up way past bedtime.
You are in the right wasteland because these shows deliver heart, horror, and a surprising amount of hope.
From prestige tearjerkers to pulse-pounding thrill rides, each pick offers a fresh angle on survival.
Queue them up now and see which one grabs you first.
1. The Last of Us (HBO Max)

HBO’s adaptation takes a familiar “end of the world” setup and turns it into something deeply human, often quieter and more heartbreaking than you expect.
After a fungal outbreak collapses society, hardened survivor Joel is tasked with escorting Ellie across a dangerous, fractured America, and the show steadily reveals how love and grief can be just as deadly as monsters.
What makes it so gripping is the way it balances action with moral weight, asking who deserves saving and what survival costs over time.
Even in its most violent moments, the series never forgets the emotional toll of living without stability, safety, or trust.
It’s suspenseful, beautifully produced, and surprisingly tender.
2. Fallout (Prime Video)

Amazon’s take on the iconic game franchise delivers a wasteland that’s both brutal and darkly funny, which keeps the violence from feeling one-note.
The story follows Lucy, a sheltered vault dweller who ventures into the surface world after her home is threatened, and she quickly learns that post-apocalyptic life runs on bargains, betrayal, and bizarre power structures.
The show’s retro-futuristic aesthetic is a huge part of the appeal, with cheerful 1950s vibes clashing against radiation, scarcity, and chaos in a way that’s oddly mesmerizing.
Beneath the humor, there’s a sharp look at class, control, and what people are willing to accept in exchange for “safety.” It’s entertaining, slick, and relentlessly unpredictable.
3. Silo (Apple TV+)

Apple TV+ nails the slow-burn tension here, building a world that feels both claustrophobic and endlessly intriguing.
Humanity lives inside a giant underground silo with strict rules, rigid hierarchy, and a carefully controlled narrative about why the outside world is deadly.
When a series of events cracks open that official story, the mystery becomes less about survival and more about truth, propaganda, and who benefits from fear.
The show is at its best when it lets you sit with the uneasy feeling that something is off, even in ordinary conversations or routine work scenes.
Strong performances and layered world-building make it easy to binge, and the twists land because the series takes its time earning them.
If you like dystopian mysteries, this one hooks fast.
4. Station Eleven (HBO Max)

Rather than turning the apocalypse into nonstop chaos, this series focuses on what happens after the worst is over, when people are left with memory, loss, and the question of what still matters.
Following a deadly flu pandemic, a traveling theater troupe performs Shakespeare for scattered communities, and the show weaves their present-day journey with flashbacks that gradually reveal how everyone became connected.
It’s emotional without being manipulative, and it’s thoughtful about the way art can serve as survival, not just entertainment.
The pacing is dreamy but still compelling, especially as it introduces threats that aren’t zombies or monsters, but ordinary human desperation.
If you want something haunting, hopeful, and different from standard dystopian fare, it’s an unforgettable watch.
5. The Walking Dead (AMC+)

Few shows defined modern apocalypse TV the way this one did, and even years later, it’s still one of the most addictive survival dramas you can start streaming.
A zombie outbreak forces small groups of survivors to build new rules on the fly, and the most frightening danger isn’t always the undead—it’s what people become when resources vanish and fear takes over.
Over time, the series turns into a study of leadership, loyalty, and how morality shifts when there’s no law to enforce it.
The show’s long run means you’ll get major highs, shocking losses, and constant reinvention as communities rise and collapse.
It’s dramatic, intense, and packed with cliffhangers that make “just one more episode” basically inevitable.
6. Sweet Tooth (Netflix)

This series proves a post-apocalyptic world doesn’t have to be relentlessly bleak to be gripping.
After a mysterious event wipes out much of humanity and hybrid children begin to appear, young Gus—part boy, part deer—sets off on a dangerous journey with a reluctant protector.
The show blends adventure, heart, and real tension, using its fairy-tale sweetness to make the darker moments hit even harder.
It also sneaks in big themes about prejudice, exploitation, and the way fear turns people into predators, even when they think they’re doing the “right” thing.
The emotional center is strong enough that you get attached quickly, and the world feels imaginative rather than depressing.
It’s a great pick if you want apocalypse vibes with warmth and hope.
7. Black Summer (Netflix)

This is the kind of zombie series that feels like you’re running alongside the characters, because the tension rarely lets up.
Set during the early, chaotic days of an outbreak, it follows multiple strangers as they scramble for shelter, transport, and any scrap of safety they can find.
The storytelling is fragmented in a way that works, because it mirrors how disorienting survival would be when you can’t plan more than five minutes ahead.
Characters make messy choices under pressure, and the show doesn’t soften the reality of panic, selfishness, or sudden loss.
The action is sharp and relentless, but it’s not mindless; it highlights how quickly “normal” people can unravel.
If you like fast pacing and real dread, this one is intense.
8. The Rain (Netflix)

A chilling concept drives this Scandinavian series: the rain itself carries a deadly virus, meaning even stepping outside can be a fatal mistake.
After spending years hiding in a bunker, siblings Simone and Rasmus emerge into a ruined Denmark to search for answers, supplies, and anyone who might still be alive.
The show blends survival drama with a mystery about what caused the collapse and how it might be stopped, which keeps the plot moving beyond basic scavenging.
What stands out is the shifting group dynamics as new allies arrive, trust becomes fragile, and leadership changes hands depending on who has resources or information.
It’s moody, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, with enough twists to keep you watching.
If you want something different from U.S.-style apocalypse shows, it’s a solid binge.
9. See (Apple TV+)

In this world, humanity has been blind for generations, and society has rebuilt itself around that reality with new rituals, new politics, and new forms of violence.
The story follows Baba Voss, a fierce protector raising twins who can see—an impossible trait that makes them both miraculous and dangerous in the eyes of a fearful world.
The show’s biggest strength is its commitment to the premise, from the way people fight and travel to how power is enforced through religion and myth.
It’s also surprisingly emotional, especially as parenthood, loyalty, and identity collide with survival.
The action is cinematic and often brutal, but the world-building is what keeps it fascinating.
If you like epic, high-concept dystopian drama, this one feels huge.
10. The Leftovers (HBO Max)

A global event removes 2% of the world’s population in an instant, and the real apocalypse becomes psychological: everyone left behind has to keep living without any satisfying explanation.
The show follows families and communities as grief, guilt, and belief reshape their identities, and it captures that unsettling feeling of being “post-disaster” even when civilization technically still exists.
What makes it so compelling is how it refuses easy answers, instead focusing on the ways people cope, spiral, or cling to meaning when reality stops making sense.
The tone is intense but beautifully written, with moments of dark humor and sudden tenderness that feel startlingly real.
If you like shows that are emotional, eerie, and deeply character-driven, this is a must-watch.
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