Apocalyptic and End Times

The revelation of the “end of the world” in biblical apocalypses is rooted in the unveiling of a predetermined, unstoppable course of history that culminates in a radical transformation of earthly reality. Modern films that portray global disasters, threats of human extinction, and dystopian futures repurpose these concepts to express and explore contemporary anxieties and hopes. This chapter takes a genealogical approach to films portraying various types of apocalypses and End Times scenarios, comparing and contrasting interrelated strands of narrative that have emerged out of the potent global stew of history, politics, religion, and entertainment over the last century, as various fears and desires have commanded the attention of the human species.