The highly-anticipated prequel to Mad Max: Fury RoadFuriosa, continues to be a popular topic of discussion online thanks to casting news and behind-the-scenes details about the post-apocalyptic film. Fans can only hope it will have a happy ending just like Fury Road did, as the dystopian movie had a surprisingly satisfying conclusion.

Other apocalyptic and dystopian films like The Day After Tomorrow and Bird Box have hopeful endings that often signal the beginning of a better tomorrow for the bleak worlds the movies are set in. Their heroic protagonists may not always survive, but their sacrifice allows for a brighter future for those they leave behind.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Available to stream on HBO Max.

Day After Tomorrow NYC

The Day After Tomorrow is a classic disaster film that depicts the devastating effects of years of neglecting the greenhouse effect. A deep freeze envelops the world, bringing with it a barrage of hurricanes, tidal waves, tornadoes, and more. The movie primarily focuses on the paleoclimatologist, Jack Hall, who goes on a dangerous quest to save his son.

After an unbelievable death toll and a grueling journey for the protagonist, he manages to save his son just in time for the weather to normalize. On the news, government officials are promising to never ignore the environment again, as they have thankfully learned their lesson in the worst way possible.

Children Of Men (2006)

Available to rent on Apple TV.

Children of Men movie poster

Based on P. D. James' 1992 novel, Children of Men is an award-winning dystopian film that takes place in a future where humans have lost the ability to procreate. Infertility has led to chaos across the world, with asylum seekers flocking to the United Kingdom. There, former activist Theo Faron helps the refugee Kee, who is miraculously pregnant.

The movie's ending is more bittersweet than happy, as it shows Theo and Kee successfully evading the violence of the city and boarding a boat that will take them to the sanctuary. Theo succumbs to his wounds, but Kee and her child are found by a vessel called "Tomorrow" that will take them to the scientists who may be able to turn the tide.

Wall-E (2008)

Available to stream on Disney+.

WALL-E and EVE share a kiss

It may be a charming animated film, but Wall-E deals with the serious issue of climate change through its moving narrative about the last robot on an earth full of garbage. His daily routine of cleaning and organizing trash is interrupted by the arrival of a ship with a highly-advanced occupant, who soon finds a singular living plant.

Wall-E's epic adventure through space helps humans uncover details about their home world, eventually prompting them to go back and rehabilitate the planet. There's a nerve-wracking moment where it seems as if the adorable protagonist may not survive, but he thankfully fully recovers just in time to enjoy his new companions on earth.

2012 (2009)

Available to stream on Peacock.

The ark in 2012.

When Dr. Adrian Helmsley and his team realize that the apocalypse is about to happen, their warning prompts the government to create arks to save a select portion of the population in 2012. In another part of the country, writer Jackson Curtis learns about the cataclysmic event and does whatever it takes to save his family.

In the end, after a debate about the morality of letting Curtis and other people die outside of the ark, the main characters manage to survive along with the rich and powerful. It's a happy conclusion for them, but a disaster for everyone else around the globe who presumably drowned that day.

Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Available to stream on Prime Video.

Shaun and Ed in the final scene of Shaun of the Dead

The salesman Shaun and his friends find themselves in the middle of the zombie apocalypse in Shaun of the Dead. The funny zombie film follows the group's attempts at survival in the increasingly overwhelmed area in London, which all culminates in an intense sequence in their local pub.

There are several comedic references and numerous horror tropes in Shaun of the Dead, which all build up towards its somewhat optimistic ending. The finale shows a newscaster detailing how the undead have been repurposed as pets and workers, with life mostly going back to normal for the survivors. Shaun is shown playing video games with a chained up and zombified Ed, a recreation of an earlier scene from the film.

I Am Legend (2007)

Available to stream on HBO Max.

Robert holding a gun in a field in I Am Legend.

Based on Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name, I Am Legend portrays a terrifying dystopian future where a man-made virus has killed most people on earth. A lone survivor, Dr. Robert Neville, roams New York while developing a cure he hopes can undo humanity's worst mistake.

Robert ends up having to sacrifice himself to save Anna and the young Ethan, who deliver the cure to a settlement – it's implied that they will rebuild the world with it. An alternate ending that most fans prefer shows the protagonist surviving and realizing that he has become the monster, which is more faithful to the novel, but isn't as hopeful as the original conclusion.

Train To Busan (2016)

Available to stream on Prime Video.

A woman and a child walking on train tracks as seen through a sniper rifle in Train to Busan.

A regular train route becomes the site of a life-and-death battle after an unexpected outbreak in Train to Busan. Disillusioned fund manager Seok-woo struggles to stay alive along with his daughter Su-an, who just wanted to spend her birthday with her mother in Busan.

Seok-woo sadly perishes in the process of getting his daughter and the pregnant passenger Seong-kyeong to safety. An emotional ending shows how the pair manage to narrowly evade getting shot by snipers when the soldiers hear Su-an singing "Aloha ʻOe" in the tunnel. It's a tear-jerking conclusion that thankfully leaves the innocent child unharmed.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Available to rent on Apple TV.

Max looking up in a crowd in Mad Max Fury Road

Often cited alongside the best action movies of the decadeFury Road is a post-apocalyptic film centered on Max Rockatansky's efforts at escaping the barren Wasteland in search of a better life. Along the way, he teams up with Imperator Furiosa, who's also fleeing from the unforgiving cult leader Immortan Joe and his group of fanatical War Boys.

After an intense car chase full of deaths and explosions, the antagonist and several of his goons ends up dead. His corpse is more than enough proof of change for the people back at the Citadel, who gather to cheer for Furiosa and her allies. There's a moment where she and Max lock eyes for the last time, sharing a glance of gratitude before his departure.

Zombieland (2009)

Available to rent on Apple TV.

The main characters in Zombieland.

It may be a comedy film full of sidesplitting scenes, but Zombieland is also a surprisingly realistic zombie movie that teaches some useful tips and tricks in case fans ever find themselves in a world full of the undead. The college student Columbus showcases most of these techniques, which he shares with the other survivors he meets: Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock.

The heartfelt but still humorous ending depicts the four of them getting in a car together after a near-death experience in an amusement park. Columbus' voiceover talks about the value of his newfound family who make the end of the world bearable.

Bird Box (2018)

Available to stream on Netflix.

Sandra Bullock holding a child in the woods in Bird Box

Bird Box depicts a terrifying apocalyptic event caused by enigmatic entities that prompt anyone who looks at them to die by suicide. At the center of the chaos is Malorie Hayes, a mother who sets out to investigate an alleged safe place that could be the solution to keeping her and her two children alive.

Following a stressful confrontation with villainous survivors who force her companion Tom to sacrifice himself, Malorie and her kids eventually reach the supposed sanctuary, which is actually a former school for the blind. Her and her children can finally live without blindfolds, as it's surrounded by birds that warn them if any creatures are close. The entire final sequence is like a much-needed sigh of relief after their nerve-racking journey.

NEXT: The 10 Best Apocalyptic Movies of the 2010s, According to IMDb