Top 10 Last Person Alive Movies

WatchMojo

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the most harrowing, affecting and unsettling movies that fit into the survival-focused “last man alive” post-apocalyptic genre.

Transcript

00:00 Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down the most harrowing, affecting and unsettling

00:09 movies that fit into the survival-focused, Last Man Alive post-apocalyptic genre - even

00:15 if many of these films don't literally feature only one man left standing.

00:26 The last man on Earth.

00:34 Released in 1964, this adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel "I Am Legend" stars

00:39 Vincent Price as Dr Robert Morgan, the presumed sole survivor of a global pandemic that has

00:44 turned people into nocturnal vampire-like creatures.

00:55 By day, Morgan fortifies his home and hunts the infected, while by night he defends against

01:00 their assaults.

01:01 His existence is a bleak routine of loneliness, and the haunting question of whether he is

01:05 truly the final human alive.

01:07 The film delves into themes of isolation and the desperation of clinging onto past normalities

01:12 in the face of an apocalyptic crisis.

01:14 It stands out for its atmospheric tension and Price's compelling performance, making

01:19 it an all-time horrific classic.

01:32 How about the last robot-functioning genre?

01:35 In the distant future, Earth has been abandoned due to overwhelming pollution and waste, leaving

01:39 it uninhabitable.

01:41 Among the remnants of civilisation is Wally, a small waste-collecting robot who has unexpectedly

01:46 continued his duties long after his model has been discontinued.

01:56 His routine existence is upended when he encounters Eve, a sleek reconnaissance robot sent to

02:01 the planet to search for signs of life.

02:03 The film follows Wally's adventure as he falls in love with Eve and follows her into

02:07 outer space, leading to a journey that could alter the fate of both people and robots.

02:12 Through the eyes of Wally, the film explores environmental catastrophe, the consequences

02:16 of consumerism and the power of love and perseverance.

02:30 Oblivion is a visually stunning and thought-provoking science fiction film that delves into themes

02:35 of memory and identity.

02:36 Set in 2077, Earth has been devastated by a war with alien invaders, leading to relocation

02:42 to a moon of Jupiter.

02:43 Harper, one of the only individuals left, is a drone technician tasked with extracting

02:48 vital resources.

02:54 His existence is upended when he rescues a stranger from a downed spacecraft, prompting

02:58 him to question everything he knows about the war, his mission and himself.

03:02 Oblivion crafts a narrative that is as much about the internal struggle of its protagonist

03:06 as it is about the survival of humanity, intertwining mystery and suspense with a deep philosophical

03:11 inquiry.

03:26 Set after a global nuclear war, "On the Beach" depicts the final months as a deadly

03:30 radioactive cloud slowly makes its way to Australia, the remaining habitable place on

03:34 the globe.

03:35 With no hope, the film shows how different characters come to terms with their impending

03:39 doom.

03:40 It's a stark, poignant representation of the nuclear age's fears and the capacity

03:44 for hope, love and dignity in the face of certain annihilation.

03:53 The film, directed by Stanley Kramer and based on Neville Shute's novel, features Gregory

03:57 Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins, delivering powerful performances

04:02 that underscore the narrative's grave themes.

04:04 "On the Beach" serves as a haunting reminder of nuclear war's potential to erase everything

04:10 we love.

04:25 In the United Kingdom, a virus outbreak transforms those infected into rage-filled zombies, leading

04:31 to societal collapse.

04:32 Jim, a bicycle courier, awakens from a coma in a deserted hospital, only to find London

04:37 in ruins and seemingly devoid of life.

04:42 As he navigates through the desolate city, he encounters other survivors, including Selina

04:46 and Frank, who are struggling to maintain their sanity amidst the chaos.

04:51 Directed by Danny Boyle, the film is credited with revitalising the zombie genre, introducing

04:56 the concept of fast-moving zombies that would influence subsequent films and media.

05:00 "28 Days Later" is not just a survival story, it's a profound meditation on the

05:04 breakdown of society and the moral dilemmas faced by those left to inherit the Earth.

05:22 This compelling adaptation of a Richard Matheson is iconic in the post-apocalyptic genre.

05:26 Starring Charlton Heston as Dr. Robert Neville, the film envisions a desolate Los Angeles,

05:31 where Neville is possibly the only one uninfected after a biological war has decimated humanity

05:37 and transformed the rest into nocturnal, hostile mutants.

05:47 Amidst this backdrop of isolation and despair, Neville's daily existence is a stark testament

05:52 to resilience, as he navigates through the ruins of civilisation, seeking a cure for

05:56 the plague that has transformed society.

05:59 The film delves into themes of isolation and the search for redemption, making it a poignant

06:03 tale of the lengths a person will go in the face of apocalyptic calamity.

06:18 In a post-apocalyptic world rendered almost uninhabitable by a cataclysmic event, the

06:22 story follows Eli, a solitary man who has been wandering across North America for 30

06:27 years.

06:28 He is given with him a mysterious book, the last of its kind, which he believes holds

06:32 the key to salvation.

06:39 Along his journey, Eli encounters various survivors, including a tyrannical ruler desperate

06:44 to seize the book for his own ends.

06:51 The film is notable for its exploration of faith, determination and the power of knowledge

06:55 in the face of desolation.

06:57 Eli's quest is as much about protecting the sacred text as it is about his personal

07:00 belief in a higher purpose amidst the ruins of civilisation.

07:04 With its stark landscapes and themes of redemption and hope, the book of Eli blends action with

07:08 a deeper philosophical inquiry into what it means to be a survivor.

07:26 This adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel presents a bleak vision.

07:31 A father and his young son journey across a barren America that has been destroyed by

07:35 an unspecified cataclysm.

07:37 The landscape is ash-covered, food is scarce and the few survivors left have turned to

07:41 cannibalism or are struggling to keep their humanity.

07:48 He and his son face not only the physical dangers of a world devoid of life, but also

07:52 the psychological torment of maintaining hope in an utterly hopeless situation.

07:57 Their relationship, built on love and trust, becomes a beacon of hope in the darkness.

08:01 The road is a powerful examination of the instincts of survival and the endurance of

08:06 love between a father and a son in the face of absolute despair.

08:18 After a scientific experiment aimed at creating a global energy grid goes disastrously wrong,

08:28 Zak Hobson wakes to find himself seemingly the only person left alive.

08:32 The film, set in New Zealand, centres around Zak's initial delight in his newfound freedom,

08:37 which quickly turns to despair as the loneliness and weight of being the only person alive

08:42 bear down on him.

08:51 His discovery of two other survivors introduces complex dynamics of power, jealousy and the

08:55 need for connection.

08:56 The Quiet Earth is fundamentally about isolation and the psychological effects of being among

09:01 the last people left.

09:02 The film's climax, featuring a visually stunning cosmic event, leaves viewers contemplating

09:07 the nature of existence and our place in

09:28 our lives.

09:38 Based on the same 1954 novel as "The Last Man on Earth" and "The Omega Man", this

09:42 suspenseful story stars Will Smith as a scientist who is the sole survivor of a viral outbreak.

09:47 Although immune, he is not alone.

09:49 The virus has turned the rest of the world into nocturnal mutants who are violently hostile

09:53 to any form of life.

10:00 By day, he scavenges New York for food and supplies, while by night, he barricades himself

10:05 against the infected.

10:06 His only companions are his loyal dog Sam, and the mannequins he talks to as a way to

10:10 maintain some semblance of normalcy.

10:15 But his daily broadcasts for other survivors are a testament to his refusal to give up

10:23 hope.

10:24 And that's the end of our list.

10:28 What other movies could have made this list?

10:29 Let us know in the comments.

10:42 Bye!

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