14 Movies/TV Shows To Watch If You Love Fallout

Bethesda Softwork’s latest open-world offering is overflowing with adventures, characters, and enemies to encounter (read our Fallout 4 review). But what do you do when your fingertips are numb from all the hours and hours spent marathoning through the wasteland of Boston’s Commonwealth? We’ve gathered some of the best films to watch if you find yourself wanting to soak in that Fallout vibe and ‘50s retro vision of the future aesthetic, but want to put down the controller for a while.

Them! (1954)
If a retro sci-fi film about gigantic, radioactive ants sounds familiar, it should. Fallout 3's "Those!" mission is a clear nod to this '50s classic, with fire-breathing ants patrolling the streets of D.C. Nasty, overgrown, mutated insects are a staple of the Fallout series, and this is as good a touchstone to watch as any from the era. As a fun added bonus, try to find similarities between this film and Rockstar's L.A. Noire.

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Speaking of sci-fi classics, you ever wonder where some of the inspirations for Fallout's more fantastical technology comes from? Fallout's futuristic robo-helper, Protecttron, looks an awful lot like the robotic helper from this '50s gem. On top of that, there's plenty of that retro sci-fi look to bask in, most of which looks like it would nicely fit into the wasteland. (Bonus: a young, brown-haired Leslie Nielson in his first starring role).

Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
This Stanley Kubrick black comedy puts an over-the-top, satirical spin on the hysteria surrounding nuclear war during the Cold War. Dr. Strangelove is an important milestone in pop culture's interpretation of nuclear war, specifically the iconic scene with Major T.J. "King" Kong riding a warhead like a bucking bronco, cowboy hat in hand. A variety of absurd scenes make it a must-see for Fallout fans, from a soft-spoken President Muffley humorously attempting to talk down Russian leaders over the phone from all-out war to General Ripper's unsettling obsession with "precious bodily fluids." To cap off the Fallout connections, Dr. Strangelove features stock footage of nuclear explosions set to a classic tune that would fit nicely into any wasteland DJ's playlist. 

A Boy and His Dog (1975)
This '70s post-apocalyptic adventure shares a lot in common with Bethesda Softwork's RPGs, including a lone wanderer just trying to get laid (we're still trying to solve that riddle in Fallout 4) and a canine companion referred to as "dog meat." Watching it only makes us wish that Dogmeat could talk back in Fallout 4. 

The Road Warrior (1982)
Few films are as important to the core post-apocalyptic vibe of Fallout as the Mad Max series. We chose to highlight the action-packed sequel starring Mel Gibson from '82 since many folks are likely already familiar with this year's fantastic Mad Max: Fury Road. Check out The Road Warrior if you love Fallout's insane outfits, unhinged characters, and shaggy canine companions.

Brazil (1985)
If you're into Fallout, you probably dig its retro-futuristic aesthetic. Terry Gilliam's Brazil delivers that look in spades, telling the tale of a man on the run from the law through a surreal lens. Brazil is worth watching if you get a kick out of the clunky-yet-stylish computers and other technology of the wasteland.

12 Monkeys (1995)
Despite a plot that involves time travel, 12 Monkeys shares some core similarities with Fallout. The apocalypse has already happened and our hero, played by Bruce Willis, is incarcerated in a subterranean prison when he's selected to venture out to help find a solution to mankind's predicament. Brad Pitt also joins the cast as an absolute nutcase who would fit nicely into a Fallout game.

Six-String Samurai (1998)
This film by Lance Mungia hits several key notes that will appeal to big Fallout fans. Buddy, who looks a lot like Buddy Holly, travels the post-apocalyptic desert sands with nothing but a six-string guitar and the trusty katana nestled inside it. Remnants of 1950s culture fill the world, from dusty communists that think the war is still waging to a bowling team of bounty hunters. The "Lost Vegas" setting also thematically connects it to Fallout: New Vegas. If you like Fallout and a goofy anime sentimentality, check it out. 

The Iron Giant (1999)
The only animated film on our list takes place in 1957, shortly after the Russians launch the Sputnik satellite into orbit. On top of the "war on communism" vibes, The Iron Giant is also reminiscent of Fallout in how it injects advanced tech into the '50s. In this case, a humongous, metallic robot crashes onto the planet an befriends a little boy. He's almost like a less-deadly Liberty Prime.

Fido (2007)
The wretched, irradiated ghouls of Fallout's wasteland are just a hair removed from being zombies. Fido takes us the rest of the way by introducing an alternate 1950s where families harness cutting-edge technology to domesticate the undead into servants like butlers or necrotic brides. It's a goofball, over-the-top tale that would work well as a sidequest in Fallout.

Mad Men (2007)
No apocalypses are seen in the award-winning AMC series, just a lot of grownups drinking too much, chain smoking, and chewing up the 1950s decor. The advertising pros at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce end up trying to sell their clients the future in their campaigns, which delivers a tasty hit of that Fallout flavor. On top of that, it's just a really, really good show set in the middle of the century. After watching, Don Draper will likely inspire you to boost up your Wanderer's charisma. (For more on Mad Men and Fallout, read our theories of how the cast would fare in the wasteland)

The Road (2009)
The film based on Cormac McCarthy's captivating novel, The Road, is perhaps the grimmest, most grounded look into a bleak post-apocalyptic wasteland. There aren't any thrilling firefights or martial-arts battles to break up the dreary tale of a father and his son just trying to eke by – only desperate people doing desperate things to survive. This should be familiar to anyone who has called Bethesda's wasteland home.

The Book of Eli (2010)
Denzel Washington stars as Eli in a film set 30 years after nuclear blasts ravage America, wandering the shattered West Coast battling savage raiders using his trusty shotgun and hand-to-hand combat skills. Gary Oldman stars as the leader of a run-down village trying to restore civilization. From here, Eli's fate interweaves with the town in a way that might remind Fallout fans of the settlements they've influenced in the Capital and Commonwealth wastelands.

The Last Man on Earth (2015)
Fallout's premise is a grim look at the potential aftermath of nuclear war, but let's be honest, many of us like to play the game like complete idiots. If you enjoy romping around the wasteland like a king, greedily scooping up and hoarding anything that isn't nailed down, you might enjoy Will Forte's FOX show.