Unveiled: Amazon’s 118-Minute Post-Apocalyptic Military Action Thriller Is the Must-Watch Blockbuster Dominating Streaming at No. 1!
The Zombie Stampede: Why Everyone Is Watching ‘Apocalypse Z’ (Even If The Critics Are Groaning)
Well, darlings, it seems the apocalypse is proving to be terribly good for business. It didn’t take long for one of Prime Video’s most anticipated titles to sink its teeth into the streaming charts. Released on October 30, the military action thriller Apocalypse Z: New World serves as a sequel to one of Amazon’s biggest hits ever. And is anyone really surprised? It has quickly become the most popular movie on the platform-even if the critics are clutching their pearls and reaching for the smelling salts.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by those nasty, zombie-like creatures, Apocalypse Z: New World draws its inspiration from Manel Loureiro’s popular novel series. But here is the tea: where the first movie was an intimate, character-driven story about one man’s survival, the sequel has decided to go big or go home. It adopts a more ensemble-driven approach, making it feel bigger, bolder, and definitely more action-heavy.
Set six months after the events of the first movie, the survivors are living in the Canary Islands, which have become one of Europe’s last remaining safe havens. However, supplies are running low, and a special expedition is organized to travel to the mainland. Joining the mission is Roberto, a man whose questionable motivations threaten to complicate an already dangerous situation. Before you can say “pass the popcorn,” the military-style operation turns into a desperate fight for survival against massive hordes of infected and growing tensions among its own members.
Jam-packed with intense firefights, desperate rescue missions, and enormous hordes of fast-moving infected, Apocalypse Z: New World has managed to take Prime Video by storm. After just a couple of days, it has officially claimed the No. 1 spot on both the U.S. and global Top 10 charts, solidifying its status as a streaming smash.
Featuring the return of José María Yázpik as Pritchenko, Berta Vázquez as Lucía, and everyone’s favorite cat, Lúculo, the film also stars Carlos Alcaide as Roberto. Clocking in at almost two hours, the film may not feel as intimate as its predecessor, but what it lacks in depth, it more than makes up for in spectacle.
However, the film hasn’t been everyone’s cup of tea. Though it lacks enough reviews for a score on Rotten Tomatoes, the ones it does have are rather biting, with critics going so far as to call it “boring.” Audience reviews are equally mixed, ranging from “derivative” to “a really cool zombie movie.”
As of right now, there’s no word on if the franchise will continue beyond a second movie, but there’s no shortage of source material. Loureiro’s novel series spans three books, so the potential is definitely there. As we wait to find out what comes next, be sure to stream both Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End and New World on Prime Video.