Best pandemic movies? - Blu-ray Forum

karsten · 02-26-2020, 02:40 PM

For no reason whatsoever today, I just randomly and completely by chance happened to be wondering what the best pandemic-related movies might be.

I suppose that there would be two kinds:

1) movies about pandemics qua pandemics (relatively realistic)

and

2) movies with other sorts of contagions as pandemic-metaphors (i.e., zombie/creature flicks, World War Z, I Am Legend, that sort of thing).

The latter are certainly entertaining because, well, monsters!

I've seen a lot of those (the films, not the monsters).

But what are everyone's favorite movies in the first category? That is, movies that treat pandemics as realistically as possible? You know, challenges that preppers might face, infrastructure breakdown and ensuing results, etc. Any recommendations?

I know that there's even a film simply titled Pandemic, but haven't seen it.

The Debts · 02-26-2020, 02:48 PM

Quote:

For no reason whatsoever today

MifuneFan · 02-26-2020, 02:49 PM

Contagion obviously. I also thought Blindness handled it well with a different kind of premise.

DarkEco910 · 02-26-2020, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Contagion obviously. I also thought Blindness handled it well with a different kind of premise.

My sister is traumatized by Contagion. I think it's pretty accurate to how something would go down. Scares me a little, too.

karsten · 02-26-2020, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mertz523

My sister is traumatized by Contagion. I think it's pretty accurate to how something would go down. Scares me a little, too.

Will have to give it a look.

I'd think that the more realistic-seeming such a film would be, the more frightening. And perhaps educational -- in a completely hypothetical kind of way, of course; just a thought experiment, to pass the time.

wallendo · 02-26-2020, 03:09 PM

I enjoyed The Andromeda Strain.

The virus never reaches pandemic stage, but is generally realistic - although the ending isn’t.

PS-RagE · 02-26-2020, 03:10 PM

.

Bradsdadg · 02-26-2020, 03:13 PM

How about a tv series? Only went 2 seasons, but I did enjoy this one:

CreasyBear · 02-26-2020, 03:16 PM

Contagion and Outbreak are my favorites.

Himmel · 02-26-2020, 03:20 PM

AKORIS · 02-26-2020, 03:27 PM

filmbuffTX · 02-26-2020, 03:29 PM

This PBS American Experience documentary is good. There’s also Horton Foote’s 1918 (1985) with Matthew Broderick. The full movie is on YouTube. I had to read the play in high school, so I think I’ll check it out soon.

MifuneFan · 02-26-2020, 03:37 PM

Netflix also has a new documentary series titled Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak

imsounoriginal · 02-26-2020, 03:52 PM

Been saying it since it came out: Contagion is the scariest movie ever made.

Watched it again a couple of weeks ago and my opinion has not changed.

sandman slim · 02-26-2020, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Been saying it since it came out: Contagion is the scariest movie ever made.

Makes a pretty terrifying double feature with 12 Monkeys.

ImBlu_DaBaDee · 02-26-2020, 04:25 PM

The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy is a fantastic story about a global pandemic

RossyG · 02-26-2020, 04:33 PM

The Omega Man would be my nomination.

If TV is included, then the BBC's 1970s series Survivors is starting to look too close to reality to be comfortable. Even the opening credits are scary.

Johnny Blu · 02-26-2020, 04:36 PM

And the Band Played On

This was an HBO movie that came out in 1993. I haven’t seen this in a while, but I remember how captivating it was. A truly remarkable film, loaded with unbelievable performances.

Per IMDB: The story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic, and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it.

ol_Dut · 02-26-2020, 04:46 PM

I'm partial to this one.

Leonidas King · 02-26-2020, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Himmel

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iYCwlnZ0HVI

Blah. REC ftw!

02-26-2020, 02:40 PM	#1
karsten Senior Member Member since:Jan 2020	Best pandemic movies? For no reason whatsoever today, I just randomly and completely by chance happened to be wondering what the best pandemic-related movies might be. I suppose that there would be two kinds: 1) movies about pandemics qua pandemics (relatively realistic) and 2) movies with other sorts of contagions as pandemic-metaphors (i.e., zombie/creature flicks, World War Z, I Am Legend, that sort of thing). The latter are certainly entertaining because, well, monsters! I've seen a lot of those (the films, not the monsters). But what are everyone's favorite movies in the first category? That is, movies that treat pandemics as realistically as possible? You know, challenges that preppers might face, infrastructure breakdown and ensuing results, etc. Any recommendations? I know that there's even a film simply titled Pandemic, but haven't seen it. Last edited by karsten; 02-26-2020 at 02:56 PM.

02-26-2020, 03:10 PM	#7
PS-RagE Senior Member Member since:Mar 2019 Location:Canada Home Theater Gallery:11 4K collection:24 Blu-ray collection:528 DVD collection:1638 Digital collection:73 iTunes collection:1736	. Last edited by PS-RagE; 02-26-2020 at 04:58 PM.

02-26-2020, 02:49 PM	#3
MifuneFan Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:New York City 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1143 Trading Score:69	Contagion obviously. I also thought Blindness handled it well with a different kind of premise.

02-26-2020, 03:09 PM	#6
wallendo Power Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Southeastern NC 4K collection:100 Blu-ray collection:1027 DVD collection:7 MA collection:3 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:4	I enjoyed The Andromeda Strain. The virus never reaches pandemic stage, but is generally realistic - although the ending isn’t.

02-26-2020, 03:13 PM	#8
Bradsdadg Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jul 2017 4K collection:361 Blu-ray collection:1835 DVD collection:216 Trading Score:15	How about a tv series? Only went 2 seasons, but I did enjoy this one:

02-26-2020, 03:27 PM	#11
AKORIS Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Beautiful Pacific Northwest 4K collection:662 Blu-ray collection:3655 Blu-ray reviews:19

02-26-2020, 03:29 PM	#12
filmbuffTX Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:May 2015 4K collection:267 Blu-ray collection:6361 DVD collection:2270 Digital collection:1617 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:16	This PBS American Experience documentary is good. There’s also Horton Foote’s 1918 (1985) with Matthew Broderick. The full movie is on YouTube. I had to read the play in high school, so I think I’ll check it out soon.

02-26-2020, 03:52 PM	#14
imsounoriginal Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:NYC 4K collection:320 Blu-ray collection:946 DVD collection:70 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:59	Been saying it since it came out: Contagion is the scariest movie ever made. Watched it again a couple of weeks ago and my opinion has not changed.

02-26-2020, 04:25 PM	#16
ImBlu_DaBaDee Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Nov 2018 4K collection:264 Blu-ray collection:431 DVD collection:30	The Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy is a fantastic story about a global pandemic

02-26-2020, 04:36 PM	#18
Johnny Blu Power Member Member since:Nov 2010 Location:Rhode Island 4K collection:310 Blu-ray collection:1166 DVD collection:33	And the Band Played On This was an HBO movie that came out in 1993. I haven’t seen this in a while, but I remember how captivating it was. A truly remarkable film, loaded with unbelievable performances. Per IMDB: The story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic, and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it.

02-26-2020, 04:46 PM	#19
ol_Dut Reviewer Top contributor Member since:Dec 2010 Location:Suburban Minneapolis 4K collection:421 Blu-ray collection:6912 DVD collection:700 Blu-ray reviews: 76 Trading Score:41	I'm partial to this one.

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