If you are in the mood for an edge of your seat movie watching experience then cue up a good disaster flick. Check out our list of the best and epic disaster movies.
These films cover a range of disaster scenarios, from natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes to extraterrestrial invasions and pandemics.
Natural Disasters
1. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
A climate disaster film about a catastrophic global cooling triggered by climate change. This sets off extreme weather events and plummets earth into sudden ice age that threatens humanity’s survival. A must-see for disaster movie lovers! Starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal.
2. 2012 (2009)
This movie just about has the entire disaster genre in one film. A global cataclysmic event predicted by the Mayan calendar sets off massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions threatening to wipe out humanity. John Cusack stars along with Amanda Peet.
3. San Andreas (2015)
An action-packed thriller following a rescue helicopter pilot’s efforts to save his estranged family amidst the aftermath of a massive earthquake along the San Andreas Fault in California. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino.
4. Twister (1996)
One of our classic favorites! This one follows a team of storm chasers pursuing tornadoes across the American Midwest. The movie is about a meteorologist who is racing to deploy a groundbreaking tornado-tracking device. Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton.
5. Dante’s Peak (1997)
A suspenseful thriller about a volcanologist investigating unusual activity near a dormant volcano, only to discover that the volcano is about to erupt, putting a nearby town in peril. Starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton.
6. Volcano (1997)
A disaster film set in Los Angeles, where a geologist and emergency officials race against time to stop a volcanic eruption that threatens to engulf the city in molten lava. Starring Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche.
7. Earthquake (1974)
A disaster film depicting the aftermath of a powerful earthquake striking Los Angeles, focusing on the struggles of various characters as they navigate the chaos and destruction. Starring Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner.
8. The Perfect Storm (2000)
Based on a true story, this film tells the harrowing journey of a commercial fishing boat caught in the midst of a monstrous storm off the coast of New England, battling towering waves and hurricane-force winds. Starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg.
9. The Wave (2015)
A Norwegian disaster film inspired by a real-life event, where a massive landslide triggers a tsunami threatening a small town, as residents race against time to escape the towering wave. Starring Kristoffer Joner and Ane Dahl Torp.
10. The Quake (2018)
Following the events of “The Wave,” a sequel set in Norway, where a geologist discovers evidence of an imminent earthquake threatening Oslo, leading to a race against time to save his family and the city. Starring Kristoffer Joner and Ane Dahl Torp.
11. Into the Storm (2014)
This flick follows storm chasers and residents of a small town as they encounter a series of devastating tornadoes, capturing the chaos and destruction on camera. Starring Richard Armitage and Sarah Wayne Callies.
12. Hard Rain (1998)
An action-packed thriller follows an armored car guard as he tries to protect a small town from a gang of thieves during a massive flood caused by a torrential downpour. Starring Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater.
13. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
This classic disaster film follows the passengers aboard a luxury ocean liner overturned by a giant wave on New Year’s Eve, as they struggle to survive and escape the sinking ship. Starring Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine.
14. Poseidon (2006)
This remake of the classic disaster film “The Poseidon Adventure” follows a group of survivors trying to escape a capsized luxury cruise ship turned upside down by a rogue wave. Starring Kurt Russell and Josh Lucas.
15. The Flood (2019)
This British disaster film follows a hardened immigration officer as she faces moral dilemmas and personal challenges while dealing with refugees seeking asylum amidst a catastrophic flood in the UK. Starring Lena Headey and Iain Glen.
16. Pompeii (2014)
A historical disaster film follows a gladiator in ancient Rome as he battles for survival and love amidst the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which threatens to destroy the city of Pompeii in a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Starring Kit Harington and Emily Browning.
17. The Core (2003)
Elements of science fiction in this one. This story follows a team of scientists embarking on a dangerous mission to restart Earth’s core using a nuclear device, as the planet’s magnetic field collapses, leading to catastrophic natural disasters. Starring Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank.
18. The Impossible (2012)
Based on a true story about everyday normal people who find themselves vacationing in Thailand when the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami hits their resort. With an IMDB rating of 7.5, placing it as one of the highest rated among natural disaster films. Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland.
19. Everest (2015)
Another film based on true events, this biographical survival film follows two expeditions attempting to summit Mount Everest in 1996, facing severe weather conditions and tragic consequences. Starring Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Asteroids
20. Armageddon (1998)
This high-octane action film follows a team of oil drillers sent into space to destroy an asteroid the size of Texas on a collision course with Earth, risking their lives to save humanity. One of my all time favorites, this one is sure to offer a excellent movie-watching experience. Starring Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck among other numerous familiar faces.
21. Deep Impact (1998)
This sci-fi disaster film depicts humanity’s desperate attempts to prevent an extinction-level event caused by a massive comet hurtling towards Earth, threatening total world destruction. Starring Morgan Freeman and Téa Leoni.
22. Greenland (2020)
This disaster film follows a family’s desperate journey to reach a safe haven amidst the catastrophic events triggered by the impact of a planet-killing comet on Earth. Starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin.
Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
23. The Road (2009)
Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this film follows a father and son’s perilous journey across a post-apocalyptic landscape, struggling to survive and retain their humanity amidst the remnants of civilization. Starring Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
24. Waterworld (1995)
Set in a future where the polar ice caps have melted, covering the Earth in water, a lone sailor with mutant abilities becomes embroiled in a quest for a mythical dry land amidst the chaos. Starring Kevin Costner and Jeanne Tripplehorn.
25. The Day After (1983)
This made-for-TV movie depicts the aftermath of a full-scale nuclear war between NATO forces and the Warsaw Pact, focusing on the struggles of ordinary Americans to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Starring Jason Robards and JoBeth Williams.
26. The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
A sci-fi thriller follows an alien visitor arriving on Earth with a warning about humanity’s destructive tendencies, triggering global panic and a race against time to prevent the planet’s destruction. Starring Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly.
27. 28 Days Later (2002)
Following a viral outbreak that turns humans into rage-infected zombies, a small group of survivors struggle to navigate a desolate and dangerous landscape in post-apocalyptic Britain. Starring Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris.
28. I Am Legend (2007)
In a post-apocalyptic New York City overrun by mutant creatures following a global pandemic, a lone survivor battles to survive amidst the ruins of civilization. Starring Will Smith and Alice Braga.
29. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
A romantic comedy-drama follows two neighbors who form an unlikely bond as they embark on a road trip to reunite with lost loved ones in the final days before an asteroid collisions impending doom. Starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley.
30. The Rover (2014)
In a lawless and desolate Australian outback after a global economic collapse, a man seeks revenge for the theft of his car and forms an uneasy alliance with a wounded gang member left behind by his companions. Starring Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson.
31. Sunshine (2007)
A crew of astronauts embarks on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying sun with a massive stellar bomb in a last-ditch effort to save humanity from freezing to death in apocalyptic event. Starring Cillian Murphy and Rose Byrne.
32. 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain (2017)
Based on a true story, a former professional hockey player becomes stranded in the High Sierra mountains during a snowstorm and must battle the elements and his own demons to survive. Starring Josh Hartnett and Mira Sorvino.
33. The Last Days on Mars (2013)
During a Martian research mission, astronauts discover evidence of microbial life but face a deadly contagion that turns their colleagues into violent zombies as they struggle to escape the Red Planet alive. Starring Liev Schreiber and Romola Garai.
34. After Earth (2013)
In a future where humanity has abandoned Earth after it became inhospitable, a father and son crash-land on the planet and must survive its dangerous and evolved wildlife to signal for help. Starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith.
35. Snowpiercer (2013)
In a post-apocalyptic world where Earth has frozen over, the last remnants of humanity survive aboard a perpetually moving train, where social stratification and rebellion threaten the fragile balance of power. Starring Chris Evans and Song Kang-ho.
Alien Invasions & Extraterrestrial Threats
36. War of the Worlds (2005)
Humanity fights for survival against technologically advanced extraterrestrial tripods unleashing devastation and chaos. This one has tons of exciting action. Starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.
37. Cloverfield (2008)
A found-footage thriller follows a group of friends navigating the streets of New York City during a monster attack, captured through the lens of a handheld camera. Starring Lizzy Caplan and T.J. Miller.
38. Independence Day (1996)
Humanity’s united efforts to repel an alien invasion on Independence Day, as disparate groups come together to fight back against overwhelming odds. Starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
39. Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
Earth’s defense against a second, more advanced alien invasion twenty years after the events of the first film, leading to an epic battle for the fate of humanity. Starring Liam Hemsworth and Jeff Goldblum.
40. Skyline (2010)
Residents of Los Angeles struggle to survive and escape amidst an alien invasion, with extraterrestrial spacecrafts harvesting humans for unknown purposes. Starring Eric Balfour and Scottie Thompson.
41. The Darkest Hour (2011)
Young Americans stranded in Moscow fight to survive and escape amidst an alien invasion that unleashes deadly energy-based creatures. Starring Emile Hirsch and Olivia Thirlby.
42. The Andromeda Strain (1971)
This sci-fi thriller follows a team of scientists investigating a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism brought to Earth by a crashed satellite, as they race to contain the lethal organism and prevent a global pandemic. Starring Arthur Hill and James Olson
Man-Made Disasters & Technological Threats
43. Contagion (2011)
The rapid spread of a deadly virus and the efforts to contain the outbreak and find a cure while society crumbles under fear and panic. This film was made 9 years before the COVID pandemic and is eerily accurate to reality. Starring Matt Damon and Kate Winslet.
44. Outbreak (1995)
When an infected African monkey is smuggled into the United States, the virus quickly spreads. A team of scientists races against time to stop a deadly virus from spreading across the United States. Starring Dustin Hoffman and Rene Russo.
45. The Core (2003)
A team of scientists embarks on a dangerous mission to restart Earth’s core using a nuclear device, as the planet’s magnetic field collapses, leading to catastrophic natural disasters. Starring Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank.
46. Geostorm (2017)
A futuristic action thriller set in a world where satellites control the global climate, as a series of malfunctions triggers deadly weather anomalies threatening to unleash a catastrophic geostorm. Starring Gerard Butler and Jim Sturgess.
47. The Happening (2008)
A high school science teacher and his wife try to survive a mysterious airborne neurotoxin that causes people to commit suicide en masse. Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel.
48. Deepwater Horizon (2016)
The real-life events surrounding the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, leading to one of the worst environmental disasters in history. Starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell.
49. The Towering Inferno (1974)
Set in a state-of-the-art skyscraper during its opening party, where a fire breaks out, trapping guests and employees on the upper floors, leading to a daring rescue mission. This film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture among many others. Starring Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.
50. The Cassandra Crossing (1976)
Passengers aboard a train unknowingly carrying a deadly plague, as authorities struggle to prevent the infected train from reaching populated areas. Starring Sophia Loren and Richard Harris.
51. Airport (1970)
A classic disaster film set in a busy airport during a snowstorm, where a series of crises including a bomb threat and a passenger’s heart attack test the limits of the airport’s staff and emergency responders. Starring Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin.
52. Containment (2015)
This British thriller follows a group of residents trapped inside a quarantined apartment complex in London after a deadly virus outbreak, as tensions rise and trust breaks down amidst the growing chaos outside. Starring Lee Ross and Louise Brealey
53. Daylight (1996)
This action-thriller follows a former EMS chief as he leads a group of survivors trapped in a collapsed tunnel beneath the Hudson River, racing against time to find a way out before the tunnel collapses further. Starring Sylvester Stallone and Amy Brenneman.
54. The Tower (2012)
This South Korean disaster film set in a luxurious skyscraper follows a Christmas Eve party turning into a fight for survival when a fire breaks out, trapping thousands of people inside the towering inferno. Starring Sang-kyung Kim and Ye-jin Son
55. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
This psychological thriller follows a young woman who finds herself trapped in an underground bunker with two men, one of whom claims that the outside world has been ravaged by a chemical attack, leading to a claustrophobic battle for survival. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman
56. The Hurricane Heist (2018)
A team of thieves attempts to execute a daring heist during a Category 5 hurricane, leading to a showdown amidst the swirling chaos. Starring Toby Kebbell and Maggie Grace.
Monster & Creature Features
57. Pacific Rim (2013)
Humanity’s desperate battle against colossal sea monsters known as Kaiju, deploying giant human-piloted robots called Jaegers to defend civilization from annihilation. Starring Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba.
58. Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)
A sequel to “Pacific Rim” follows a new generation of Jaeger pilots as they face an evolved threat from the Kaiju and a conspiracy threatening to plunge the world into chaos once again. Starring John Boyega and Scott Eastwood
59. The Meg (2018)
A team of scientists and deep-sea divers encounter a massive prehistoric shark known as the Megalodon, trapped in the depths of the ocean and threatening to wreak havoc on unsuspecting beachgoers. Starring Jason Statham and Li Bingbing.
60. The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
A British sci-fi film follows a journalist investigating strange weather phenomena and global climate disruption caused by simultaneous nuclear tests, leading to a race against time to prevent a catastrophic shift in the Earth’s orbit. Starring Edward Judd and Janet Munro.
61. The Day of the Triffids (1962)
A British sci-fi horror film where Earth faces a global catastrophe caused by meteor showers and genetically engineered plants known as Triffids, attacking and devouring humans amidst the collapse of civilization. Starring Howard Keel and Nicole Maurey.
62. World War Z (2013)
A former United Nations investigator travels the globe to find the origin of a zombie pandemic and stop the deadly virus from spreading further. Starring Brad Pitt and Mireille Enos.
Other
63. Titanic (1997)
A romantic drama set against the backdrop of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic, as passengers and crew face tragedy and survival amidst the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Do you have a favorite movie featuring Mother Nature at her fiercest or have something to add to the list of must-see natural disaster flicks? Keep the list going by adding them in the comments!