This year marks the rise of bunker-themed narratives dominating television.

Kicking off in January, season 2 of Fallout (available on Amazon Prime Video) immerses viewers in a colorful alternate reality set centuries post-nuclear devastation. Here, the privileged reside in underground “vaults,” while others navigate a perilous wasteland filled with monsters and mercenaries. Vault-dweller Lucy embarks on a quest to confront her nefarious father, Hank, alongside The Ghoul, a gritty radioactive gunslinger.

Following closely is the second season of Paradise (on Disney+), premiering this month. This tale unravels after a cataclysmic volcanic tsunami wipes out civilization, forcing America’s elite to seek refuge in Colorado’s mountains. Secret agent Xavier Collins, on a mission to uncover the truth behind U.S. President Cal Bradford’s murder, sets out to find his wife, Terry, all amid brewing political conflicts within the Corralado bunker.

Anticipation builds for season 3 of Silo (coming soon to Apple TV). Set in a dystopian future where Earth’s atmosphere becomes toxic, society collapses, leaving citizens confined to a structured, dark underground existence with no recollection of their past due to historical records being obliterated 140 years ago. When engineer Juliet discovers shocking evidence of a conspiracy within Silo’s leadership, she starts to question whether the surface is indeed as fatal as they’ve been led to believe.

Additional fictional bunkers echo the disaster movie genre, such as Greenland 2: Immigration and the musical Of End. This resurgence in bunker-themed narratives is no coincidence, especially as the novel I Never Knew a Man, set in an underground prison, went viral on TikTok in 2024.

While the concept is not new—dating back to Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Poison Belt from 1913—its current popularity highlights widespread global anxiety. This anxiety reflects a world where responsibility is often outsourced and where the fortunate few seek safety from external threats; rumors abound of celebrities acquiring doomsday bunkers.

Ultimately, regardless of the flavor of bunker fiction, themes of violence and survival intertwine. Whether through the clever narrative of Fallout, the intricate murders in Paradise, or the convoluted conspiracies in Silo, all narratives converge in a metaphorical “hole in the ground,” illustrating our collective fascinations with dystopian endings and the shrinking horizon of the future.

Perspectives on this phenomenon diverge. Some view it as surrendering to our inherently selfish nature, resigning ourselves to the doom we envision. Alternately, others, including myself, interpret it as a call for meaningful change—a purifying fire that compels us to reconsider societal structures. The characters we cherish in bunker fiction could not emerge without such transformative events. I find relatable figures in Fallout, Paradise, and Silo, reinforcing the idea that bunker fiction mirrors real-life aspirations for change.

TV Series:

Fallout: Season 2
Amazon Prime Video

Paradise: Season 2
Disney+

Silo: Season 3
Apple TV

Book Recommendation:

Bunker
Bradley Garrett, Penguin Books
This striking nonfiction guide explores the mindset of those preparing for an apocalypse, revealing a complex understanding of contemporary apocalypse culture.

Bethan Ackerley is an associate editor at New Scientist. With a passion for science fiction, comedy, and anything eerie, follow her on Twitter @inkerley.