Set in the declining era of the Mayan civilization, Apocalypto tells the story of Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), a peaceful hunter living in a remote village. His life is shattered when a brutal invading force led by Zero Wolf raids his village, raping the women and enslaving the men to be used as human sacrifice to appease the gods and avert a drought.

Directed by Mel Gibson, Apocalypto is a visceral action-adventure set during the decline of the Mayan civilization. Watch Apocalypto | Netflix

The apocalypto genre has its roots in ancient mythology and biblical prophecy. However, the modern concept of apocalypto movies began to take shape in the 20th century. The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in post-apocalyptic films, such as "The Last Man on Earth" (1964) and "A Boy and His Dog" (1975), which explored the consequences of nuclear war and environmental disasters.