Random Underrated Sci-Fi Movies Set In A Lawless Post-Apocalyptic Frontier (19 items)

(#8) Carriers
- Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Emily VanCamp, Christopher Meloni, Kiernan Shipka, Ron McClary, Mark Moses
Carriers is a post-apocalyptic body horror movie starring Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, and Emily VanCamp as four survivors constantly on the move to avoid infection. A viral pandemic has taken out most of the people in the world, and these lonely four are trying to wait it out so they can restart their lives in the ruins of the world.

When it was released, Carriers received positive reviews, and now holds a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's an interesting story set in a chaotic atmosphere, but the film suffered an incredibly limited release, so not many people were able to see it when it came out.
(#16) Quintet
- Paul Newman, Bibi Andersson, Fernando Rey, Vittorio Gassman, Brigitte Fossey, Nina van Pallandt, David Langton, Craig Richard Nelson
Quintet is a Robert Altman film starring Paul Newman, Bibi Andersson, Vittorio Gassman, Brigitte Fossey, and Nina Van Pallandt. The story is set during the dawn of a new ice age, which has left much of modern society under a vast deserted tundra. Newman plays Essex, a seal hunter traveling north to reunite with his brother, Francha.

It's a bit surprising given the names behind it, but Quintet was a financial disaster that received mostly negative reviews. Despite this, it is often well-regarded as a cult classic by those who have seen it, and should definitely be watched by anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre.
(#11) The Rover
- Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy, David Field, Anthony Hayes, Gillian Jones, Susan Prior, Richard Green, Tawanda Manyimo, James Fallon
The Rover is a dystopian film set in the Australian Outback one decade after the collapse of the global economy. The Outback has devolved into a lawless wasteland where crime and poverty are common. The movie stars Guy Pierce as Eric, a former Australian soldier who lost his family. Robert Pattinson plays Reynolds, a young American who lacks the skills and knowledge to protect himself, making him dependent on others for survival.

The movie is a perfect example of one the critics loved, but nobody saw in theaters. The Rover managed to nab five AACTA nominations, winning two for Best Supporting Actress for Susan Prior and Best Sound. It cost $12 million to produce, and only managed to pull in $3.2 million at the global box office. The critics liked it for a reason, and anyone who enjoys this genre is bound to appreciate The Rover for the brilliant acting and storytelling.
(#12) Mother/Android
- Chloë Grace Moretz, Algee Smith, Raúl Castillo, Owen Burke, Kate Avallone, Jared Reinfeldt
(#9) The Quiet Earth
- Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, Pete Smith, Zac Wallace, Norman Fletcher, Tom Hyde
The Quiet Earth is a 1985 post-apocalypse film loosely based on the novel of the same name. The film stars Bruno Lawrence, Alison Routledge, and Peter Smith as three people who have survived a cataclysmic disaster. The disaster came at the completion of "Project Flashlight," a research program meant to provide the world with a global energy grid. Instead, it erased nearly every living person on Earth.

The movie didn't perform particularly well when it was first released, but it has gone on to achieve the status of a cult classic. Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson said it is one of his all-time favorite science fiction films, and fans have deemed it one of the all-time best films from New Zealand.
(#5) Stake Land
- Nick Damici, Connor Paolo, Danielle Harris, Kelly McGillis, Sean Nelson, Michael Cerveris, Bonnie Dennison, Chance Kelly, Adam Scarimbolo, Marianne Hagan, Stuart Rudin
Following a global pandemic of vampirism, the remaining humans of the world find that they have to hide or hunt the demonic monsters that have spread across the globe. Cities are little more than tombs, and the remaining people hide out in rural communities. The film follows the adventures of a young man who is taken under the wing of a vampire hunter known only as "Mister." The two battle for survival in a world full of monsters while trying to find a safe place to call home.

Critics gave the film high marks, and it has received a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 66% on Metacritic. Stake Land was shown at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the Midnight Madness Cadillac People's Choice Award. Despite not receiving more widespread viewing, the film did well enough to warrant the production of a sequel, which was released on Syfy in 2016.