The buzz of the deadly virus never gets faded, in the movies, so the real world. Outbreaks, apocalypses, pandemics are something we’ve always seen in films, (luckily, we’ve never been part of those eras in which plagues like The Black Death or Plague of Justinian originated and wiped out the majority of earth’s population) but looks a tiny virus, which can’t be seen from human eyes, hitting us really hard these days.
I know you are a cinephile and quarantined thus landed here. Thank me later for the film choices, it took around 3 days finding these horrifying, gory, sci-fi dramas.
This is the only time to watch these 10 epidemic movies even if you are not fond of horrific and thriller genres—you will be enjoyed.
1. Contagion (2011)
A businesswoman returns from the Hong Kong trip. Soon after she dies from a mysterious sickness, later her husband discovers his son dies from the same unknown illness. By the time CDC starts to figure out the cause of death, a virus spreads across the nation and worldwide, thus people begin to panic that turn into violence. As mortality rate rises up, doctors and scientists start to work on vaccines, but by the time it prepares the virus kills approx. 26 million people in the entire world.
2. Outbreak (1995)
Back in the 1960s, a deadly virus called “Matabla” is destroyed in Zaire (Africa) by the US army. Almost 3 decades later, Colonel Sam Daniels (US virologist & medical researcher) probes into the site, collects the information and comes back. Despite Sam suggestion towards senior the virus can cause serious crises, the officer takes it lightly. A monkey that carries the “Matabla” virus illegally transports to the small town of California, causing the virus to spread. This soon becomes an “outbreak”, which leads the army to intervene and quarantines the place. Daniels learns that McClintock (general officer) will bomb the town for its prevention, termed as “Operation Clean Sweep”, and use it as warfare bio-weapon. But McClintock’s mission gets failed, and Daniels secures the anti-virus for saving the town’s survivors.
3. 12 Monkeys (1995)
In 2035, a majority of the world’s population has been wiped out from the unknown virus. James Cole, a prisoner agrees to help scientists to go back in 1996 to find the origin of the outbreak, which will help to identify the cure of it. James wrongly reaches back in 1990, there he is quarantined for his madness remarks. He meets scientist Dr. Kathryn Railly, and another patient Jeffrey Goines, who believe in his defends. Later going to the right destination back in 1996, the story continues to back and forth of time travel to identify the truth about the origin of a deadly epidemic.
4. World War Z (2013)
Lane (former UN investigator) and his family’s peaceful life turn into danger when they encounter unusual chaos of people, infected as zombies, and survivors. Lane is assured his family would be safer if he helps to find the origin of an infection outbreak, the move can help to find the cure for it. Going through the deadly ways, he reaches the point of emergence where he successfully finds the vaccine (pathogen) to stop being more zombies.
5. I Am Legend (2007)
Robert Neville (an army physician-scientist) lives in New York, probably the only human, surrounded by mutant cannibals also called “DARKSEEHKERS”, caused by the manmade virus, which approximately wiped out most of the humanity, except immune ones. Neville day to day lives encountering “DARKSEEHKERS”, searching out other immunes through radio broadcast and finding a cure of the sickness.
6. Resident Evil (2002)
A deadly virus that unleased in the underground secret scientific research facility “the hive” leading to death the members and turning them into zombies. A supper computer-controlled by “red queen” shuts down the facility for virus prevention, but Alice (staff member), who is stuck in the facility tries to come out, fights against the “red queen’s” command and zombies with help of paramilitary unit, who is sent to charge the situation.
7. 28 Days Later (2003)
Unknowing the fact of consequences, a group of animal rights makes an attempt to liberate infected chimpanzees. 28 days later, a man called Jim wakes up from the coma, finds himself alone and abandoned in London city. Furthermore, the human turned into zombies, infected by chimpanzees, attack the man but rescues by other survivals. The story continues when they find other dangerous situations on their way.
8. Train to Busan (2016)
Seok-woo, who finds less time to spend with his daughter due to work, and lives apart from his wife. Upon Su-an’s birthday request, who wants to see her mother, the father agrees to take her to Busan. While traveling through the train, a young infected girl onboards in hurry as the last passenger turns into a zombie and bites others. As the train passes through the way, passengers start turning zombies. By the time a train reaches all the way from Seoul to Busan, it kills everyone except Su-an and Seong-kyeong (a pregnant lady), who then later save by military to quarantine place.
9. Rec (2007)
A reporter, and cameraman who cover one of Barcelona’s fire stations for the TV show called “While You’re Sleeping”. While mid of the shoot, the station receives an emergency call for an old lady who is stuck in flat. The cameraman counties to record as they reach the building, where police already in-charge. Approaching the flat the old lady bites up the policeman and turns into a zombie, causing locks down the building by the army. Residents who stay inside start to get infected. Reporter Ángela who tries to run out of it finds the cause of the outbreak inside the building.
10. The Happening (2008)
A school science teacher named Elliot discusses with his students about unexplained theories about nature. Meanwhile, New York starts to witness the mysterious behavior of people and “mass suicide”. The government claims toxin chemicals attacked by terrorists, causing everyone to leave the city. Halfway through, Elliot discovers that scientifically “plants” and “trees” are the cause, controlling human minds that lead humans to kill themselves. After wiping out the northeastern’s population partially, the disaster stops, but it actually never stops…..