For some reason, humans are more than ever drawn to stories about what would happen, if the world somehow would suddenly come to an end. One of the most popular shows in this subgenre of fiction is the TV show, The 100. This is why we have taken the task of bringing you a list of TV shows like The 100.
The 100 is set 97 years after a nuclear war destroys civilization, causing humans to flee. With survivors being housed in a spaceship, life had begun to return to some semblance of normality. However, as a punishment for their misdemeanours, 100 juvenile delinquents are sent back to Earth, to test the grounds, with the hopes of repopulating the planet.
List of Shows Like The 100
1. The Wilds (2020-2022)
The Wilds, just like The 100 follows the plight of a group of teenagers who are thrown into a fight with the world around them for their own survival. In this show, a group of teenage girls from different backgrounds are held captive and stranded on an island and must navigate the challenges that the island poses to them and their chances of survival. This is one of the best shows like The 100 you can watch.
The show has a mystery brewing under the surface, which the group try their best to uncover, in order to understand if their plane crash onto the island was the result of a sinister plan or just mere bad luck. The series explores themes ranging from feminism, and identity, to social connections. The show gained positive reviews for its plot, acting performances and plot, garnering a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series at the GLAAD Media Awards.
2. Dominion (2014-2015)
This science fiction post-apocalyptic series has a supernatural twist to it. Similar to a show like The 100, Dominion is set in a world where a huge catastrophic event has left humanity fighting for its survival. It is set in the same universe that housed the 2010 fantasy film Legion. If you’re looking for shows like The 100, then Dominion is a good choice.
The catastrophic event referenced is known as the ‘Extermination War’. The series follows the story of Sergeant Alex Lannen, who discovers he’s the ‘Chosen One’ to protect the human race and restore balance to the world while having to fend off powerful angels and entities. The show combines these action, drama, and fantasy elements to tell a compelling story of a world on the brink.
3. Falling Skies (2011-2015)
Falling Skies changes things up again, although a post-apocalyptic science fiction television similar to The 100, except the culprit for the near-extermination of the human race isn’t disease, zombies, or a natural disaster. Rather, it is the result of an alien invasion. Check out Falling Skies if you’re on the lookout for more shows like The 100.
The show is about a group of lucky survivors, led by retired US Army Colonel Dan Weaver, played by Will Patton and his second-in-command, former history professor Tom Mason, played by Noah Wyle. Together, they take the fight back to the aliens and try to win back the planet from the invaders. If you are interested in this blend of action, drama, and science fiction, then this just might be the show for you.
Also Read: Shows like Alice in Borderland
4. Station Eleven (2021-2022)
Station Eleven is a limited TV series based on the novel of the same name by Emily St. John Mandel. The show takes place in a post-apocalyptic world just like The 100, where a deadly pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. Unlike other shows where the main premise is to just ensure survival, a travelling theatre company known as the Traveling Symphony have taken up the task of providing a means of entertainment and joy to the survivors.
It adds a good twist to the science fiction genre, as it amplifies the importance of art in society, as it provides meaning to an otherwise dour life. Station Eleven shows the deeper effects of the collapse of civilization, past the loss of life alone, but the loss of a reason to live.
5. Snowpiercer (2020-2022)
Snowpiercer is a sci-fi dystopian thriller based on the film of the same name directed by Bong Joon-ho. The show is set in a world in the near future of 2026, where just like The 100, a select few inhabitants of Earth find shelter within a large moving vehicle. In the case of Snowpiercer, with the world a frozen wasteland, the survivors live aboard a perpetually moving train called the Snowpiercer.
The series follows the passengers on the train who still suffer from the same class inequalities that they did in the outside world. The show uses these fantastical plots to drive examinations of themes such as inequality, socialism vs. capitalism, politics and class in a new world. Check out this action-packed show if you’re looking for shows like The 100.
6. The Last Ship (2014-2018)
The Last Ship is a post-apocalyptic film similar to The 100 and more especially Snowpiercer previously seen on this list. In this show, instead of having a perpetually moving train, we have a ship. In this world, a global pandemic has wiped out most of the world’s population, and the show follows a crew of a naval destroyer, the USS Nathan James, as they try to find a remedy for the virus.
The show explores themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the struggle to survive against all the odds. If this is what rocks your boat then why don’t you join the crew of the USS Nathan James in this vividly created post-apocalyptic world as they race against time in a bid to save their world. Check out this series if you’re looking for shows similar to The 100.
7. Jericho (2006-2008)
Jericho takes place in an alternative universe just like The 100, in a small town in Kansas, USA. In this show, after a series of unexplained nuclear attacks have ravaged 23 major cities in the US, the occupants of the town of Jericho have no choice but to rally together to protect themselves from the consequences of these nuclear attacks which have seen them isolated from the rest of the country.
The show points a magnifying glass towards themes ranging from the strength of togetherness, leadership, and the determination to survive the threats faced by the outside world. The characters must make sure to not be waylaid by petty squabbles and power struggles, as a bigger threat lies in wait which they need to prepare well for. You should definitely watch Jericho if you’re looking for shows like The 100.
8. The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
The Walking Dead will not be a new name to consumers of media, as this IP has spawned a series of video games and multiple TV spin-offs. It is quite simply a huge cultural phenomenon. A post-apocalyptic drama, The Walking Dead makes good use of a large ensemble cast just like The 100, who all manage to put in quality performances despite their varying screen time.
The characters are survivors of a zombie apocalypse, who constantly have to fend off attacks from zombies known as ‘walkers’. They still have to manage inter-communal relationships with other settlements and groups, some of whom are hostile. And intra-communal quarrels that inevitably crop up from time to time. Walking Dead is a must-watch for people who are fans of shows like The 100.
Also Read: Shows like Lost
9. The Last of Us (2023-Till Date)
Unlike The Walking Dead which saw video game adaptations created after the series’ success, The Last of Us is a re-imagination of the best-selling game of the same name. The plot centres on Joel and Ellie, two survivors of a pandemic, who just like in The 100, have to traverse a hostile environment while still suffering the effects of a catastrophic event.
The show casts The Mandalorian lead, Pedro Pascal as Joel, and former Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey as Ellie. The show explores a variety of themes, with an emphasis on sacrifice, with the show’s plot climaxing at a point where a huge decision has to be made in sacrificing for the greater good. Check out The Last of Us if you’re in search of shows similar to The 100.
10. Z Nation (2014-2018)
“Z Nation” is a post-apocalyptic TV series that does away with the usual world-building of how the world became the way it currently is, and instead just like The 100 throws us several years into the future. The show centres on a group of survivors who are on their way to California from New York, transporting a fellow survivor who could end up being the cure to the zombie outbreak. If you’re looking for apocalyptic shows similar to The 100, then you should check out Z Nation.
In their sojourn, they have to protect this survivor and themselves from zombies, the virus and their fellow humans who may try to take advantage of their plight. The series is known for infusing comedy in this post-apocalyptic show, managing to balance the show’s light-hearted and serious portions. If such a style is one which interests you, then I suggest you take a look at this 5-season series.
Honourable Mentions
Here are a few shows like The 100 that didn’t make the list that you can also check out:
1. Into the Night
2. Daybreak
3. The Last Man on Earth
4. The Rain
N.B: Till date refers to the date of this article’s publishing.
