Top 10 Action Films Set in Exclusion Zones

Description: A classic Soviet film where a guide, known as the Stalker, leads two men into the Zone, a mysterious area where wishes supposedly come true. The film's slow pace and philosophical undertones make it a unique entry in this list.

Fact: The film was shot in Estonia, with the Zone scenes filmed in an abandoned hydroelectric power station.

Description: While not an action film, this Stephen King adaptation involves a teacher who wakes up from a coma with psychic abilities, predicting disasters. The film's exploration of isolation and the aftermath of a catastrophic event ties into the theme.

Fact: Christopher Walken's character, Johnny Smith, was originally named Johnny B. Goode, a reference to the Chuck Berry song.

Description: A family on a road trip becomes stranded in a nuclear testing zone, where they are hunted by mutant cannibals. The film's setting in a contaminated, abandoned area provides the backdrop for intense action and horror.

Fact: The film was a remake of Wes Craven's 1977 original, with the director's son, Jonathan Craven, co-writing the screenplay.

Description: Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Eli travels through a desolate landscape, protecting a sacred book. The film's setting, with its abandoned cities and lawless zones, echoes the theme of exclusion zones.

Fact: Denzel Washington did his own stunts for the film, including a scene where he jumps from a moving vehicle.

Description: In a post-apocalyptic world where survivors live underground, a team ventures to the surface to investigate a distress signal, only to find a new threat. The film's setting in a frozen, abandoned world provides a chilling backdrop for action.

Fact: The film was shot in a cold storage facility in Toronto to simulate the icy conditions of the surface world.

Description: After a nuclear attack, survivors take refuge in the basement of their apartment building, leading to a descent into madness and survival at all costs. The film's claustrophobic setting and the theme of isolation make it a compelling addition.

Fact: The film was shot in a real abandoned building in New York City, adding to its gritty realism.

Description: A group of friends on a "extreme tourism" adventure in Chernobyl find themselves trapped in the exclusion zone, facing unknown horrors. This film captures the eerie atmosphere of the abandoned city, making it a perfect fit for this list.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life tours of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Some scenes were actually shot in the abandoned city of Pripyat.

Description: Although not set in a traditional exclusion zone, the film's setting in a world where silence is survival, with creatures that hunt by sound, creates an exclusion zone-like atmosphere. The family's struggle to survive in this silent world is both thrilling and poignant.

Fact: Emily Blunt, who plays the mother, was actually pregnant during filming, which added authenticity to her character's pregnancy.

Description: This TV movie depicts the aftermath of a nuclear war, focusing on the lives of people in a small Kansas town. While not an action film per se, the survival elements and the setting of a post-nuclear wasteland fit the theme.

Fact: The film was shown on ABC with a warning to parents about its graphic content, leading to a significant public discussion on nuclear war.

Description: While not directly about an exclusion zone, the post-apocalyptic setting where society has collapsed offers a similar sense of desolation and danger. A father and son journey through a bleak, abandoned world, facing survival challenges at every turn.

Fact: Viggo Mortensen lost 30 pounds for his role to portray the emaciated look of his character.