Looking for something to watch like HBO’s The Last of Us after finishing that show? Here are other movies and TV shows like it to watch, from post-apocalyptic dramas to Pedro Pascal movies and more.
The Last of Us, the post-apocalyptic HBO drama adapted from Naughty Dog’s 2013 game of the same name by Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin and series co-creator Neil Druckmann, concluded its first season earlier this month.
The series stars Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones) as Joel, a middle-aged survivor of a deadly pandemic who is hired to shepherd Ellie (played by fellow Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey), a girl born with a mysterious immunity to the infection, across the country to a research outpost with the intent of finding a cure. Along the way, the pair are forced to contend with the myriad horrors of this strange new world — including zombie-like creatures, militant factions, and cannibalistic cult leaders — all while growing closer together. It may not be a story about love, but it certainly is one that resonated with audiences, with the first six episodes of the show averaging over 30 million viewers.
The ninth and final episode of the season, which has reignited debate about the ending between fans new and old, achieved a series high of over 8.2 million viewers despite competition from this year’s Oscars. Another season has already been greenlit, with star Bella Ramsey stating that we probably won’t see Joel and Ellie again until “end of 2024, early 2025” at the earliest.
If you’re looking for another show to fill the void left by The Last of Us’ finale, not to worry: We’ve tapped the mycelial network that is Polygon’s staff to create a list of the best post-apocalyptic-adjacent shows to watch while we patiently wait for the series’ next chapter. Obviously, everyone’s going to mention The Mandalorian — which also stars Pedro Pascal as a gruff no-nonsense father figure to a incorrigible trouble-seeking youth — but that recommendation is so obvious, we figured you already thought of it.
If you’re looking for some more recommendations, scroll through for our suggestions of the best shows to watch after HBO’s The Last of Us.Station Eleven
What it is: A traveling theater troupe makes its way around the Great Lakes region a few decades after a flu-like pandemic brought about the end of civilization. On one stop, Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis) encounters a violent cult led by a man whose past is unknowingly linked to hers.
Why it’s like The Last of Us: Stop me if you’ve heard this one: We’re 20 years on from a deadly pandemic. People are making do with what they have, and sometimes struggling to remember what humanity, community, and connection should feel like. Though Station Eleven and The Last of Us have very different tragic thrusts, the sense of survival — and whether mere survival is sufficient — bonds these two cosmically. They’re part of the same cultural mycelial network, is what I’m saying. —Zosha Millman
Where to watch it: Station Eleven is available to stream on HBO Max.The Road
What it is: John Hillcoat’s 2009 adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel stars Viggo Mortensen (the Lord of the Rings trilogy, A History of Violence) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), who trek across a world wracked by a mysterious extinction event that has caused the death of nearly all plant and animal life.
Why it’s like The Last of Us: It’s depressing as fuck! Aside from that, it’s a post-apocalyptic story that centers on a father-son relationship that evolves under the duress of several existential threats, including but not limited to heavily armed, violent cannibal gangs. You want cannibalism? Oh boy, are you gonna get cannibalism. —Toussaint Egan
Where to watch it: The Road is available to stream for free on Plex, available to stream with ads on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Vudu, and available to stream with a library card on Hoopla.Black Summer
What it is: A spinoff of Z Nation, it’s a zombie show co-created by John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, Sick). Black Summer follows a mom (Jaime King) separated from her daughter at the start of a zombie apocalypse, and who sets out with a small group of allies to find her.
Why it’s like The Last of Us: In addition to the “adult seeking to protect a child in a post-apocalyptic setting” vibes, it’s also the actual best zombie show on TV. —Pete Volk
Where to watch it: Black Summer is available to watch on Netflix.The Lone Wolf and Cub series
What it is: Kenji Misumi’s 1972 chambara film (and its five sequels) based on Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima’s classic manga of the same name stars Tomisaburo Wakayama as Itto Ogami, the disgraced former executioner of a villainous shogun, who becomes a sellsword after his wife is murdered. Taking his 3-year-old son Daigoro (Akihiro Tomikawa) along, Itto carves a swath of death and destruction through anyone who dares to threaten him and his child.
Why it’s like The Last of Us: A child learns how to handle themselves in a harsh and violent world by watching (and occasionally helping) their daddy murder a bunch of dudes who played a stupid game (tried to kill daddy) and won a stupid prize (got killed themselves).
