Apocalypse Wow - Top 10 Movie & TV Dystopian Futures

Ever since the Disco era, calamity has been cool at the movies. There is something about viewing the human race at the end of its collective rope that fascinates us. And if cool machinery and Will Smith are involved, all the better

And with Terminator Salvation - the continuation of the preeminent post-apocalyptic saga - hitting theaters Thursday, it got us wondering - why is dystopia such a box office draw?

We can't deny the appeal of the apocalypse. Just because Star Trek and it's retro 1960s Space Age vibe are top dog at the water cooler right now, we shouldn't expect a slew of movies in depicting Earth as the second coming of Zenn-La.

Last we checked, there was no online petition calling for a live-action remake of "The Jetsons."

Thankfully, the prognostication skills of most filmmakers leave much to be desired. Nearly every type of disaster predicted at the multiplex has failed to materialize.

We're nearly halfway through 2009 and "Judgment Day" is still just a WWE pay-per-view event, "Big Brother" lets you watch wannabe celebrities, Soylent Green isn't people (yet), and the only prison in Manhattan is run by your friendly neighborhood Co-Op board.

Accurate or not, we've had some unforgettable glimpses into what our future probably won't look like. And whether it was by nuclear holocaust or technological warfare, one thing is certain - IT'S ALL OUR FAULT!

So in honor of John Connor and his gloomy outlook on life, here are the Top 10 Dystopian Futures.

Writer Michael Avila is the producer for the nationally syndicated movie show Lyons & Bailes REEL TALK. Visit www.REELTALKtv.com to check your local listings.