What to Watch During the Apocalypse (Netflix)

Well, the world is officially ending. How tragic.

The corona virus has closed all schools, colleges and universities. All major football tournaments have been suspended for the foreseeable future and there’s no more toilet paper at Morrisons. The latter of which was definitely included in the book of Revelations.

I wasn’t particularly concerned about the virus until cinemas across Britain announced they were going to shut their doors from the end of the 17th. Getting home that day was scary, my favourite past-time is to watch new films and talk about them to people. So, if all cinemas were shut, how would I get my latest movie fix?

Well, the answer was obvious. Netflix and Amazon Prime were waiting with tons of new films being added every week to keep us entertained. It can be easy to lose track of what’s worth watching again. Fortunately, I managed to spare some time to guide you through Netflix and together we can find something you are genuinely interested in.

A Quiet Place

Release date: April 5th 2018

Director: John Krasinski

Starring: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt

A Quiet Place is set in a post-apocalyptic world where mysterious creatures have appeared and kill or destroy anything making any sound. John and Emily play fictionalised versions of themselves as the married Lee and Evelyn with three children and another on the way. Together the group try to survive as their farm gets bombarded with these creatures.

A Quiet Place was added onto Netflix earlier this month as its sequel (simply titled A Quiet Place Part 2) was set to release on the 18th of March. Due to the current crisis the release date was pulled back, much to people’s chagrin. This film is well worth your time if you enjoy tension filled movies about family. A film about togetherness would be perfect to bring people together during this trying time. The performances are superb and despite some weak moments, the film is perfect.

Insidious

Release date: April 29th 2011

Director: James Wan

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye

Insidious is about the Lambert family who moves into a new home and discovers that a mysterious demonic presence has latched onto their son Dalton.

Directed by the creator of the Saw franchise, James Wan knows how to effectively get a scare out of his audience. The film was so successful it made three sequels, all of which are on Netflix. If you enjoy the first one, you can then watch the whole series. Perfect for when you’re bored of being trapped in the same, this horror series is ideal for making you feel uncomfortable in your own house.

The Cabin in the Woods

Release date: April 13th 2012

Director: Drew Goddard

Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Bradley Whitford

Five friends go on holiday to a cabin in the woods and discover a variety of horrifying creatures, and uncover a mysterious conspiracy controlling their stay.

A fantastic parody of the horror genre, The Cabin in the Woods is both an in-depth mockery of the characters and monsters of horror films. There are many loving homages to horror films of past and even a few of its own. The performances and concept of The Cabin in the Woods means that any other horror film you see after will never be the same

La La Land

Release Date: January 13th 2017

Director: Damien Chazelle

Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling

Set in modern-day Hollywood, two aspiring stars fall in love while trying to achieve their goals and dreams.

This musical from 2017 destroyed Hollywood with its enticing original music and enchanting dances from the stars and surrounding cast. The film earned six Oscars from 14 nominations and won Best Director, Actress and Best Original Song for City of Stars. Chazelle’s film is an honest portrayal of love in the modern day and is perfect for a couple looking for enthusiasm in this scary time.

When Harry Met Sally

Release Date: 1st December 1989

Director: Rob Reiner

Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan

Harry and Sally have friends since they both left for New York, but years on since their first meeting, there’s a tension in the air, but neither of them want to lose the friendship.

Perhaps in your quarantine you’ve managed to maintain communication with a particular loved one. This film perfectly exemplifies how friendship can grow into love, and it’s a true heart-warmer for anyone. The film’s interspliced with people talking about their own marriages and together, it makes When Harry Met Sally a calm film about love that is perfect to watch together. As long as you’re both blocked off by a good distance to avoid spreading the disease.

Call me by Your Name

Release Date: 27th October 2017

Director: Luca Guadgnino

Starring: Arnie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet

In 1980s Italy a forbidden love forms between two men, a 17-year-old student and his father’s research assistant.

This film has amazing talent. Both Arnie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet completely knocked it out of the park with their portrayals of Oliver and Elio, the complications of their homosexual love in an uncomfortable time period adds to the feeling of forbidden love and earned Timothée Chalamet an Oscar nomination. It’s hard to not mention Sufjan Steven’s magnificent music for the film, Mystery of Love being a truly beautiful piece worth listening to, even if the film isn’t your style.

21 Jump Street

Release Date: 16th March 2012

Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube

Two young-ish looking police officers go undercover at a high school to stop the spread of a new dangerous drug called H.F.S.

Lord an Miller’s second feature film (since 2009’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) was a huge success and featured a sequel in 2014. The comedic pairing of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum is an unexpected masterpiece. The supporting cast isn’t anything to miss either, Ice Cube, Dave Franco, Brie Larson and Rob Riggle among others form an amazing comedy that fires on all cylinders. The film parodies the whole concept of undercover police movies and features many references and call-backs that forces one to laugh in their seat uncontrollably.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Release Date: 25th May 1975

Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones

Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle

King Arthur’s knights of the round table go on their God-given quest to find the Holy Grail and encounter many mysterious and weird characters on their journey.

The Monty Python group struck gold with their sketch comedy series Monty Python, and many feared their first original film would suffer from a lack of direction. The film clearly keeps the signature sketch-comedy style of Monty Python but lets it flow naturally into the film, with peculiar events and actions occurring on their quest. Instantly quotable this film is guaranteed to make you laugh and leave you thinking about it for weeks to come.

Death of Stalin

Release Date: 20th October 2017

Director: Armando Iannucci

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeffery Tambor

After Stalin’s unexpected death in 1953, the Russian Council of Ministers scramble to maintain order, get rid of the others and become the new leader.

Armando Ianucci is most famous for his show The Thick of It, and its American counterpart, Veep. However, this isn’t his first feature film, as that was in fact In The Loop, part of The Thick of It. This film maintains the same classic style of comedy as The Thick of It and most peculiarly doesn’t have the actors putting on phony Russian accents. Jason Isaacs’ especially exemplifies this with his performance, acting as an English teenager searching for a fight.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Release Date: 20th December 2017

Director: Jake Kasdan

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black

When four teenagers are stuck in a video game, they must band together and complete the game to escape.

This 2017 sequel to the 1995 film starring Robin Williams was a surprise hit late into that year. But the combined talents of its four stars and understandable addition to the Jumanji canon made for an entertaining romp. The film is family-friendly, so if you’ve got younger members of the family, it could make for an entertaining couple of hours. Otherwise, there’s plenty to enjoy on your own viewing!

The Fugitive

Release Date: 24th September 1993

Director: Andrew Davis

Starring: Harrison Ford, Tommy-Lee Jones

Dr Richard Kimble is accused of murdering his wife and after being accidentally freed goes on the run from an aggressive U.S. Marshall

Harrison Ford has had a very successful career after such roles as Indiana Jones and Han Solo. In The Fugitive he plays the sympathetic character of Richard Kimble in an equally as memorable as his other roles. Of course, Tommy-Lee Jones has an equally as admirable performance that won him an Oscar, and five years later, his own spin-off in U.S. Marshals. A crime-filled thriller, full of murder and twists and turns worth your time.

Looper

Release Date: 28th September 2012

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt

A future scheme has the Mob send their bothers to the past to be killed by a hired gun until they are eventually forced to kill their future selves. Joe’s future self however isn’t ready to give up and escapes his murder.

This 2012 hit for the future Knives Out director surprise all with its creative interpretation of the future. The performances and story make the film extremely captivating, and although there’s a few plot holes, they shouldn’t distract you from Rian’s 2012 masterpiece.

Star Trek (2009)

Release Date: 8th May 2009

Director: J. J. Abrams

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg

James T. Kirk is forced into a position of power after a Romulan creates black holes to try and destroy the Federation.

The 2000’s reboot of the classic TV show prompted fear from fans of the original show and its spin-offs. The future Star Wars director stuck with his vision and presented a film which honoured the original series and opened the doors for new fans. The film also boasts an impressive cast including Eric Bana, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho and Anton Yelchin.

Ender’s Game

Release Date: 25th October 2013

Director: Gavin Hood

Starring: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld

Ender Wiggin is an intelligent child recruited by the International Military and trained to fight an alien species that attacked Earth.

The film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s iconic novel of the same name helped to increase Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld’s stardom. Although the film only grossed $15 million more than its budget, it’s become a cult classic to die-hards of the sci-fi genre. It’s also important to note that Orson Scott Card’s opinions regarding homosexuality are not represented in the film or by anyone involved in its making.

Ex Machina

Release Date: 21st January 2015

Director: Alex Garland

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac

A young programmer is brought out to a man named Nathan’s house to see his ground-breaking humanoid A.I. and testing its human qualities.

This scary, alternate depiction of the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the humanity that created it. The film follows and discusses the capabilities of a perfect program created by imperfect beings, and the concept of love to an inhuman object. Alicia Vikander’s Ava performs extraordinarily as the humanoid robot that craves freedom from Oscar Isaac’s Nathan. We watch as she attempts to outsmart her creator and become truly human.

Dunkirk

Release Date: 21st July 2017

Director: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy

Allied forces are trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk by the German army and we watch as they attempt to escape with as few casualties as possible

Christopher Nolan’s Oscar nominated War epic was his latest film after Interstellar and earned him his fourth and fifth nominations. The film follows three different stories. Soldiers on the beaches awaiting the boats to escape from axis forces. It also follows Tom Hardy’s character on a plane to help save some of the soldiers. Finally, it follows a family sailing to the beach to save some people when they find Cillian Murphy and he tries to convince them to return home.

Good Time

Rlease Date: 17th November 2017

Directors: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Buddy Duress

After a failed bank robbery, Connie Nikas’ handicapped brother is arrested and attacked in jail. Connie attempts to get enough money to pay for his bail while hiding from the police.

The Safdie brother’s 2017 critical hit was snubbed at the 2018 Oscars but has earned a loyal fanbase. The pair also directed the 2020 film Uncut Gems and their style has become instantly recognisable. If you enjoyed the Adam Sandler film, Good Time is very enjoyable. Jack Whitehall fans may even remember he claims to have auditioned for a role in the film during one of his stand-up shows.

The King

Release Date:

Director: David Michôd

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Dean-Charles Chapman

The newly crowned King Henry V is given the unenviable task of dealing with palace politics and a rising threat from France.

Timothée Chalamet has become a rising star in the acting world and his role in The King perfectly suits his acting style. He plays Henry V following the sudden death of his father and soon must fight France in the iconic battle of Agincourt. The performances by Joel Edgerton as Falstaff is also accurate and respectful to the historical figure he’s playing.

I think before you really look for something to watch, there's no harm in checking little articles like this, but I'd suggest asking your friends for suggestions. Eight of the films listed here have all been recommended to me by my friends. I won't name and shame, but they know who they are. Going online for suggestions is fine but your friends will know you better than I ever will. Use this time to watch something out of your comfort zone, you might appreciate it more than you thought.

Anyway, I hope these films can entertain you while we all cough and splutter our ways to an early grave. If there's any more I should mention, feel free to tweet at me (@ClistDavid) or write your own list!