Michael Tolkin, who wrote the screenplay for The Player, directed a decent 1991 flick called The Rapture. It's a psychological/religious drama starring Mimi Rodgers and David Duchovny and it concerns (as the title suggests) the biblical end of times.
Another movie that might fit your bill is When the Wind Blows, an animated film released in 1986. It depicts a nuclear attack on the UK from the vantage point of a retired couple.
Lastly, you can always achieve the pre-, post- and during effect by watching Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 4, and the Road Warrior sequentially.
