Post-apocalypse now: At the cinema and on TV

Fascination with apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic scenarios in filmed entertainment continues unabated.
In July, I wrote about the record 11 post-apocalyptic themed TV shows currently airing. Since then, we’ve had the premiere of “Fear the Walking Dead,” about the early days of the zombie apocalypse, and the season (perhaps series) finale of “Zoo” unleashed the animal apocalypse where all creatures great and small turned on their human masters.
I count at least nine more TV series in the works that are set during or after apocalyptic events.

At the movie theaters, this has been a busy year for post-apocalyptic fiction with films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Insurgent.”
On Friday, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” opened and showed audiences a bleak, desert landscape swallowing the remains of a once-major city, now inhabited by dangerous zombies infected with the Flare virus.
This year is poised to beat the record nine post-apocalyptic movies released theatrically in 2013.
So far, nine post-apocalyptic movies have premiered this year.
Up next are “Attack on Titan: Part 1,” which will have a limited theatrical run on Sept. 30. “Attack on Titan: Part 2” will follow on Oct. 21.

Related reading:

List of post-apocalyptic TV shows.

Comprehensive list of post-apocalyptic movies.

Photos: “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” poster (top); “Fear the Walking Dead” promotional art; final scene from CBS drama “Zoo”; and “Attack on Titan” movie poster.