10 Movies & Shows Similar to The Midnight After (2014)

Description: Like 'The Midnight After', this film presents a dystopian near-future where society is collapsing due to unexplained phenomena. Both use long, immersive takes to create tension and realism, with similar themes of hope amidst despair. The urban decay and societal breakdown mirror the Hong Kong of 'The Midnight After'.

Fact: Features several famous long takes, including a 4-minute single-shot action sequence. The dystopian details include subtle references to contemporary politics. Originally conceived as a '1984'-style story in the 1990s before being revived.

Description: Like 'The Midnight After', this film presents a sudden, unexplained collapse of society with horror elements. Both explore how ordinary people react to extraordinary circumstances, with similar pacing that alternates between quiet tension and intense action. The empty urban landscapes in '28 Days Later' mirror the eerie Hong Kong streets in 'The Midnight After'.

Fact: Shot mostly on digital video to give a gritty, realistic feel. The opening scene of empty London was filmed at 4am on Sundays. The 'infected' move fast because director Danny Boyle wanted to update zombie tropes.

Description: This film shares with 'The Midnight After' a blend of horror, dark humor, and social commentary. Both movies feature ordinary people facing extraordinary, otherworldly threats, with a strong emphasis on family dynamics and survival. The sudden appearance of a monstrous entity in 'The Host' parallels the unexplained phenomena in 'The Midnight After', creating a similar sense of dread and confusion.

Fact: 'The Host' was inspired by a real-life incident where a Korean mortician working for the U.S. military dumped formaldehyde down the drain. The creature was designed by Weta Workshop, known for their work on 'The Lord of the Rings'. It was the highest-grossing South Korean film at the time of its release.

Description: Like 'The Midnight After', this film traps ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances with supernatural elements. Both explore how fear and paranoia can divide people more than the actual threat, with similar themes of isolation and the unknown. The confined supermarket setting creates tension comparable to the minibus in 'The Midnight After'.

Fact: Based on a Stephen King novella. The film's ending differs significantly from the book. Frank Darabont used the same cinematographer as 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

Description: This film shares 'The Midnight After's' bleak, post-apocalyptic tone and focus on human relationships in extreme circumstances. Both explore themes of survival and the lengths people will go to protect loved ones, with similarly sparse dialogue and haunting atmospheres. The undefined nature of the apocalypse in both films adds to their unsettling quality.

Fact: Based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer-winning novel. Viggo Mortensen lost so much weight for the role he fainted during filming. The film's gray palette was achieved by shooting in Pennsylvania during winter.

Description: This film shares 'The Midnight After's' mix of apocalyptic themes with dark comedy and pub culture. Both involve a group of friends facing an inexplicable societal collapse, with the British humor of 'The World's End' mirroring the Hong Kong-style absurdity in 'The Midnight After'. The films similarly explore themes of nostalgia and the loss of identity in modern society.

Fact: The film completes Edgar Wright's 'Three Flavours Cornetto' trilogy (with 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz'). Simon Pegg actually drank real beer in the pub crawl scenes. The film's title refers both to the final pub on the crawl and the apocalyptic events.

Description: Like 'The Midnight After', this British sci-fi horror features ordinary urban youth facing an alien invasion. Both films blend street-level realism with fantastical elements, creating a unique atmosphere where the mundane collides with the extraordinary. The films share a similar energy and pacing, with sudden bursts of violence amidst dark humor.

Fact: John Boyega's debut film role, years before 'Star Wars'. The alien creatures were inspired by gorillas and deep-sea fish. The film's budget was just £8 million but received critical acclaim worldwide.

Description: This film shares 'The Midnight After's' themes of societal breakdown and class struggle in a confined, apocalyptic setting. Both explore how humans organize (or disorganize) when faced with existential threats, with strong visual storytelling and bleak atmospheres. The train setting creates a similar sense of claustrophobic tension as the minibus in 'The Midnight After'.

Fact: Based on a French graphic novel 'Le Transperceneige'. Chris Evans turned down 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' to make this film. The train set was 500 feet long, built across three soundstages.

Description: This film shares with 'The Midnight After' a post-apocalyptic setting where the nature of the threat remains mysterious. Both explore themes of survival and what it means to be human, with strong child protagonists facing extraordinary circumstances. The blending of horror and emotional drama creates a similar tone to 'The Midnight After'.

Fact: Based on the novel by M.R. Carey, who also wrote the screenplay. The fungal infection premise is scientifically plausible. Filmed in Birmingham, England, standing in for a deserted London.

Description: Like 'The Midnight After', 'Train to Busan' is a gripping thriller that combines elements of horror and societal collapse. Both films explore the breakdown of social order in the face of an inexplicable catastrophe, with a strong focus on human relationships under extreme stress. The confined setting of the train mirrors the isolation felt in 'The Midnight After', amplifying the tension and fear.

Fact: 'Train to Busan' was the first Korean film of 2016 to break the audience record of over 10 million theatergoers. The film's director, Yeon Sang-ho, originally planned it as an animated feature before deciding on live-action. The zombie makeup took 2-3 hours to apply for each actor.