A pretty good book I read freshman year that I think would make a good movie is called "On the Beach."
I don't remember everything exactly, but it follows a submarine commander or something. At first he's on his ship looking for life that still is alive on other continents. If I remember correctly Australia is the last continent that hasn't gone to extinction. The time is just after a major nuclear war. So many bombs were exploded that the entire atmosphere was filled with radiation and kills everything in its path. Scientists believe that the cloud of radiation will get to Australia in a 2 maybe 3 months. Basically after the sub guy comes back he's with his wife and kid and the story pretty much shows normal life in the world (Australia), as the cloud of radiation approaches. People get suicide kits, etc. Life goes on, except every conversation deals with how they're all going to die. Eventually signs of radiation sickness are seen. People start buying cars they've wanted since kids, living their lives to the fullest until they die. One guy dies vomiting, puking, etc. in his childhood dream car. I think the last people are going to the beach to watch the sunset one last time before they die. The end. (everybody dies)
It was a pretty descent story.