Films like World War Z
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines World War Z, going by its Boxlist taste profile: A fantastical horror film that is dark, inventive and sweeping. Best if you like the extraordinary over the everyday. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of social commentary and resilience and survival, plus tags such as nuclear weapons, epidemic and zombie apocalypse.
Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on World War Z (2013).
- 1
I Am Legend (2007)
Film7.2Easier to follow
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: virus, zombie, dystopia.
- 2
28 Days Later (2002)
Film7.2Heavier option
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: epidemic, virus, zombie.
- 3
Pacific Rim (2013)
Film6.8
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: apocalypse, dystopia.
- 4
Pitch Black (2000)
Film6.8
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 5
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Film7.6
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: dystopia.
- 6
They Live (1988)
Film7.3
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 7
Aliens (1986)
Film7.9
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary.
- 8
Serenity (2005)
Film7.4
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: dystopia.
- 9
Film7.3
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 10
Film6.7
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: virus, zombie, dystopia.
- 11
Chaos Walking (2021)
Film6.9Lighter option
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: dystopia.
- 12
Starship Troopers (1997)
Film6.9
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: dystopia.
- 13
The Book of Eli (2010)
Film6.8
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and sweeping, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 14
Film7.2
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 15
The Mist (2007)
Film6.8
Why it's like World War Z: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival.
Boxlist compares World War Z with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like World War Z?
- Picks with a similar feel include I Am Legend, 28 Days Later, Pacific Rim and Pitch Black. Each shares part of World War Z's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
- How are these films like World War Z chosen?
- Boxlist compares World War Z with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter film like World War Z?
- Chaos Walking has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.