What to enjoy following after The Last of Us

Image: Gunpowder & Sky

The Last of Us, the post-apocalyptic HBO dramatization adjusted from Naughty Dog’s 2013 game of the same name by Chernobyl maker Craig Mazin as well as collection co-creator Neil Druckmann, ended its very first period previously this month.

The collection celebrities Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones) as Joel, a middle-aged survivor of a lethal pandemic that is employed to guard Ellie (played by other Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey), a lady birthed with a mystical resistance to the infection, throughout the nation to a study station with the intent of discovering a treatment. Along the method, both are required to emulate the myriad scaries of this unusual brand-new globe — consisting of zombie-like creatures, militant factions, as well as cannibalistic cult leaders — all while expanding better with each other. It might not be a story about love, yet it definitely is one that reverberated with target markets, with the very first 6 episodes of the program balancing over 30 million customers.

The 9th as well as last episode of the period, which has reignited debate about the ending between fans new and old, accomplished a collection high of over 8.2 million viewers in spite of competitors from this year’s Oscars. Another period has actually currently been greenlit, with celebrity Bella Ramsey specifying that we possibly won’t see Joel and Ellie again until “end of 2024, early 2025” at the earliest.

If you’re searching for one more program to fill up deep space left by The Last of Us’ ending, not to fret: We’ve touched the mycelial network that is Polygon’s team to develop a checklist of the very best post-apocalyptic-adjacent programs to enjoy while we patiently wait on the collection’ following phase. Obviously, every person’s mosting likely to state The Mandalorian — which likewise stars Pedro Pascal as an abrupt practical papa number to a incorrigible trouble-seeking young people — yet that referral is so noticeable, we figured you currently thought about it.

If you’re searching for some even more referrals, scroll via for our ideas of the very best programs to enjoy after HBO’s The Last of Us.

Station Eleven

Image: Parrish Lewis/HBO Max

What it is: A taking a trip cinema performers makes its method around the Great Lakes area a couple of years after a flu-like pandemic caused completion of human being. On one quit, Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis) runs into a terrible cult led by a guy whose past is unconsciously connected to hers.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: Stop me if you’ve heard this: We’re two decades on from a lethal pandemic. People are using what they have, as well as often having a hard time to bear in mind what humankind, area, as well as link must seem like. Though Station Eleven as well as The Last of Us have really various terrible drives, the feeling of survival — as well as whether plain survival suffices — bonds these 2 cosmically. They’re part of the same cultural mycelial network, is what I’m claiming. —Zosha Millman

Where to enjoy it: Station Eleven is readily available to stream on HBO Max.

The Road

Image: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

What it is: John Hillcoat’s 2009 adjustment of Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic unique celebrities Viggo Mortensen (the Lord of the Rings trilogy, A History of Violence) as well as Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), that hike throughout a globe wrecked by a mystical termination occasion that has actually created the fatality of almost all plant as well as pet life.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: It’s dispiriting as fuck! Aside from that, it’s a post-apocalyptic tale that fixates a father-son connection that advances under the discomfort of a number of existential risks, consisting of yet not restricted to greatly armed, fierce cannibal gangs. You want cannibalism? Oh kid, are you gonna obtain cannibalism. —Toussaint Egan

Where to enjoy it: The Road is readily available to stream completely free on Plex, readily available to stream with advertisements on Tubi, Pluto TV, as well as Vudu, as well as readily available to stream with a collection card on Hoopla.

Black Summer

Image: Netflix

What it is: An offshoot of Z Nation, it’s a zombie program co-created by John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, Sick). Black Summer adheres to a mother (Jaime King) divided from her little girl at the beginning of a zombie armageddon, as well as that lays out with a little team of allies to locate her.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: In enhancement to the “adult seeking to protect a child in a post-apocalyptic setting” feelings, it’s likewise the real ideal zombie program on television. —Pete Volk

Where to enjoy it: Black Summer is readily available to enjoy on Netflix.

The Lone Wolf as well as Cub collection

Image: Katsu Production/Toho Company

What it is: Kenji Misumi’s 1972 chambara movie (as well as its 5 follows up) based upon Kazuo Koike as well as Goseki Kojima’s timeless manga of the very same name celebrities Tomisaburo Wakayama as Itto Ogami, the disgraced previous death squad of a lawless shogun, that comes to be a sellsword after his other half is killed. Taking his 3-year-old child Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) along, Itto sculpts a swath of fatality as well as damage via any person that attempts to intimidate him as well as his kid.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: A youngster discovers exactly how to manage themselves in a rough as well as fierce globe by viewing (as well as periodically assisting) their daddy murder a number of men that played a silly game (attempted to eliminate father) as well as won a silly reward (obtained eliminated themselves). —TE

Where to enjoy it: All 6 of the Lone Wolf as well as Cub movies are readily available to stream on Criterion Channel.

Children of Men

Image: Universal Pictures

What it is: Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 dystopian activity thriller fixate Theo (Clive Owen), a civil slave living in a future where human inability to conceive has actually left culture on the edge of collapse. He is hired by his ex-wife to secure an expectant female — the very first in over 20 years — via a rough as well as fierce globe to safety and security. While originally without hope, Theo at some point comes to be ready to take the chance of whatever — including his very own life — in the hope that the female’s kid might be the trick to a much better future.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: Children of Men happens in globe inexplicably wrecked by an international disaster. Although not as promptly serious as the Cordyceps fungi in The Last of Us, the movie’s inability to conceive dilemma essentially changes the whole world right into one huge hospice with culture falling down right into despotism as humankind gradually yet definitely races towards termination. So yep, it’s a whole lot like The Last of Us! —TE

Where to enjoy it: Children of Men is readily available to rent out for $3.99 on Prime Video, Apple, as well as Vudu.

Prospect

Image: Gunpowder & Sky

What it is: This 2018 indie sci-fi journey movie celebrities Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) as well as Jay Duplass (The Puffy Chair) as a child as well as papa that trip to collect treasures in the harmful woodland of a remote unusual moon. When both are assailed by 2 competing miners, Ezra (Pedro Pascal) as well as his companion Number Two (Luke Pitzrick), the lady’s papa as well as Ezra’s companion are eliminated in the scuffle — compeling the enduring 2 to create a hopeless partnership to repel hirelings, run away the world, as well as snatch their haul of room treasures.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: Pedro Pascal as well as a smart-alecky youngster are required to interact to make it through an aggressive atmosphere as well as homicidal enemies… precede! —TE

Where to enjoy it: Prospect is readily available to stream on Hulu, with a collection card on Kanopy, as well as to rent out for $1.99 on Prime Video, Apple, as well as Vudu.

Sweet Tooth

Photo: Kirsty Griffin/Warner Bros.

What it is: A post-apocalyptic dream reveal adjusted from a comics where an infection eliminates a lot of humankind as well as part-human, part-animal infants begin being birthed.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: An unique kid with a “gruff protector” functions to make it through in an apocalyptic globe. —PV

Where to enjoy it: Sweet Tooth is readily available to enjoy on Netflix.

Logan

Image: 20th Century Fox

What it is: James Mangold’s 2017 superhero movie adapts Mark Millar as well as Steve McNiven’s “Old Man Logan” comics story, adhering to the adamantium-clawed mutant (Hugh Jackman) as he tries to make it through in a dystopian future where no mutants have actually been birthed in over 20 years as well as almost all of the X-Men — conserve for Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) as well as Caliban (Stephen Merchant) — are dead. When Logan consents to companion a mystical lady called Laura (Dafne Keen) to a sanctuary on the American-Canadian boundary, he quickly finds that not just is she a mutant on the run from a rotten biotech corporation, yet that they share an extensive link much deeper than either of them formerly recognized or comprehended.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: A fatal pandemic, a culture progressively slumping over towards systemic collapse, joblessness intensified by the outsourcing of labor by means of automation… Sorry, what was the concern once again? Oh yep, exactly how is Logan like The Last of Us? Well, it’s about a terrible old guy with “a particular set of skills” (that is, an ability for murder) that comes to be the surrogate daddy number to a similarly fierce little lady. The 2 trip throughout the nation, absorb the views, as well as of course, bond over the murder of lots of hopeless as well as destructive assholes along the road. —TE

Where to enjoy it: Logan is readily available to stream on Disney Plus.

The Passage

Image: Eliza Morse/Fox

What it is: An adjustment on Justin Cronin’s trilogy of books from Liz Heldens (Friday Night Lights), The Passage adheres to a girl that is picked to be the guinea pig for a harmful infection, as well as the guy that makes a decision to secure her rather. Sound acquainted?

Why it’s like The Last of Us: Swap out “zombies” for “vampires” as well as “immunity” for “chosen test subject,” as well as you’re rather dang close. —PV

Where to enjoy it: The Passage is readily available for electronic acquisition on Amazon, Google Play, as well as Vudu.

The Girl With All the Gifts

Image: Poison Chef

What it is: television expert Colm McCarthy adjusted Mike Carey’s book regarding a post-apocalyptic future after a lethal fungal infection, as well as an unique girl that might hold the trick to a treatment. Please note: The flick is ideal experienced without recognizing far more.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: This one’s so on the nose, it’s also obtained apocalyptic fungis! —PV

Where to enjoy it: The Girl With All the Gifts is readily available to stream completely free with advertisements on Tubi, Pluto TV, as well as Vudu, or completely free with a collection card on Hoopla as well as Kanopy.

Over the Garden Wall

Image: Cartoon Network

What it is: An computer animated miniseries from Patrick McHale (Adventure Time, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio) that adheres to 2 bros that wind up in an unusual woodland as well as are attempting to make their back residence.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: Two individuals endeavor via a harmful, undiscovered land full of prospective risks, as well as are not exactly sure that to trust fund. Also, Melanie Lynskey turns up! It’s actually excellent. —PV

Where to enjoy it: Over the Garden Wall is readily available to stream on HBO Max as well as Hulu.

Midnight Special

Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

What it is: Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), Joel Edgerton (The Underground Railroad), as well as Jaeden Martell (It) celebrity in this 2018 sci-fi roadway flick as Roy Tomlin, his good friend Lucas, as well as Tomlin’s child, Alton, that race to run away a mystical cult as well as a federal government manhunt after Alton starts to materialize strange telekinetic capabilities.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: A dad dangers whatever — his life, his task, prospective apprehension by the authorities — in order to supply his kid from damage. Also, did I discuss it’s obtained a weird militant cult à la Kathleen’s Hunters as well as David’s cannibals? —TE

Where to enjoy it: Midnight Special is readily available to rent out for $2.99 on Prime Video, Apple, as well as Vudu.

Train to Busan

Image: Well Go U.S.A. Entertainment

What it is: An international smash-hit zombie flick from South Korean supervisor Yeon Sang-ho (Psychokinesis, Hellbound), the flick portrays the outbreak of a zombie armageddon from aboard a high-speed train.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: In enhancement to the zombie component, the lead character of Train to Busan gets on the train with his little girl, as well as looks for to secure her from the risks on the train as well as off it. —PV

Where to enjoy it: Train to Busan is readily available to stream on Prime Video, Peacock, Shudder, as well as AMC Plus. It is likewise readily available completely free with advertisements on Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Crackle, as well as Vudu, or completely free with a collection card on Kanopy as well as Hoopla.

I Am Legend

Image: Warner Bros.

What it is: Will Smith celebrities in Francis Lawrence’s 2007 post-apocalyptic activity thriller as Robert Neville, a virologist required to make it through in a partly ruined New York City full of human beings that have actually been changed right into fierce nighttime mutants. Immune to the infection himself, Neville functions to create a treatment while protecting a set of various other immune human beings.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: You understand the bargain — a globe wrecked by a mystical infection, a guy searching for tranquility with the loss of whatever he when enjoyed as well as treasured, altered human beings that are nevertheless at risk to shooting. There’s a youngster in this flick also that Robert takes a sparkle to as well as tries to secure like he when provided for his very own lost child. —TE

Where to enjoy it: I Am Legend is readily available to rent out for $3.99 on Prime Video, Apple, as well as Vudu.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Image: Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

What it is: Hayao Miyazaki’s 1984 post-apocalyptic dream anime adheres to the eponymous adolescent princess of a town that comes to be involved in the machinations of a power-hungry realm trying to remove the Ohm, a race of huge mutant pests that have actually surpassed the world.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: Of all the movies as well as television programs discussed on this listing, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind possibly has among the closest alongside The Last of Us’ Cordyceps fungus in the type of a toxic woodland including huge mutant insects as well as poisonous spores. Though not unsusceptible to the spores herself, Nausicaa nevertheless stands for a messianic number matching to that of Ellie from The Last of Us, one that — while not with the ability of getting rid of the woodland — nevertheless has the power to bring equilibrium in between the insectile citizens of the harmful woodland as well as the residues of humankind. —TE

Where to enjoy it: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is readily available to stream on HBO Max.

War of the Worlds

Image: DreamWorks Home Entertainment

What it is: Steven Spielberg’s 2005 movie starring Tom Cruise as well as Dakota Fanning changes H.G. Wells’ timeless 1898 sci-fi unique right into a post-9/11 scary dramatization, informing the tale of a Brooklyn dock employee that has a hard time to secure his kids following an unusual intrusion.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: A dad securing his kid from apocalyptic risks both amazing as well as social, such as killing a guy whose ranting actions endangers to jeopardize not just his very own life yet the lives of those around him. —TE

Where to enjoy it: War of the Worlds is readily available to stream on HBO Max as well as Paramount Plus.

Leave No Trace

Image: Bleecker Street Media

What it is: Debra Granik’s work of art adjustment of the 2009 story My Abandonment, regarding an expert (Ben Foster) with PTSD that lives off the grid with his little girl (Thomasin McKenzie). It’s a stunning flick, as well as both of them are amazing in it.

Why it’s like The Last of Us: What is an apocalyptic risk otherwise the Grid? That’s a stretch, yet the connection in between papa as well as little girl is main to what makes Leave No Trace job, along with the rich eco-friendly atmosphere of the setup. There’s a whole lot to such as in this for followers of The Last of Us. —PV

Where to enjoy it: Leave No Trace is readily available to stream on Netflix, or completely free with a collection card on Kanopy as well as Hoopla.

 

Source: Polygon