15 of the Best Disaster Movies of All Time

A staple of the summer blockbuster season, disaster movies continue to bring in the big bucks for the major studios. Just like the horror genre, humans are fascinated by natural disasters and watching major landmarks – such as The White House and the Eiffel Tower – destroyed by earthquakes, tidal waves, and meteors from outer space. These big-budget projects draw in audiences with their thrilling depictions of catastrophic events and are as much about the plot and characters as they are about showing the devastation and destruction caused by these natural and sometimes man-made events. 

From earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions to alien invasions and tidal waves, disaster movies have covered a wide range of scenarios and captivated audiences with their impressive visual effects and heart-pumping action. While they have been around since cinema began, it wasn’t until the 70s that the disaster movie really came of age, with people wanting to escape from the problems of the real world (such as the Vietnam War and economic crisis) by watching the Earth burn to the ground on the big screen.

Movies such as Airplane, Earthquake, and The Towering Inferno were not only massive hits at the box office but also critically acclaimed. These flicks laid the foundation for the genre, with most movies following a group of survivors facing a cataclysmic event and needing to band together to make it out alive. 

While there was a lull in the 80s, the disaster movie hit a new peak in the 90s and continues to be a thrilling genre thanks to the advancement in special effects. Modern disaster movies also address wider world issues such as climate change and the threat of extinction through a deadly pandemic, something we are all too familiar with these days. 

So whether you want to see the world hit by an asteroid or ravaged by another ice age, this list will keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat. 

15 of the Best Disaster Movies of All Time

1. The Towering Inferno (1974)

Paul Newman and Steve McQueen lead an ensemble cast in this captivating disaster movie from the 70s. When the 81st floor of the 136-floor Glass Tower in San Francisco goes up in flames, those trapped on the floors above must work together to try and escape the towering inferno (pun intended). 

It’s a simple premise that works so well thanks to the incredibly talented cast – with Newman and McQueen joined by William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Robert Wagner, Robert Vaughn, and more – engaging script, and impressive special effects, especially for a movie released before the invention of CGI. And don’t let the three-hour runtime scare you off, as there is plenty to keep you entertained throughout. 

Not only was The Towering Inferno box office gold, raking in over $203 million, but it was well received by the critics and nominated for eight Academy Awards, taking out a gold statue for Best Song, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. 

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2. Armeggedon (1998)

The critics might have hated it and the science is non-sensical, but Armeggedon is up there as one of the great modern disaster movies. When a massive meteor is discovered that is set to hit Earth in 18 days and end life as we know it, NASA decides the best course of action is to train a gang of oil drillers as astronauts and send them up into space with the intent to drill into the asteroid and blow it in half so that it misses Earth.

Absurd plot aside, this is a popcorn movie for the ages and features one of the great ensemble casts, with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Will Patton, William Fitcher, and Michael Clarke Duncan, just some of the talent involved. Coming from director Michael Bay, you know to expect incredible special effects, choppy editing, and a lack of plot, which is more than made up for by the action set pieces. 

Disparaged by critics, Armeggedon made a whopping $553 million and was the highest-grossing movie of 1998. If you leave your brain at the door you’re in for a rollicking good time. 

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3. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

While we are fans of the 2006 remake, namely thanks to Kurt Russell’s star turn, it’s hard to beat the original when it comes to The Poseidon Adventure. Based on Paul Gallico’s novel of the same name, this seafaring adventure centers on the SS Poseidon, a luxury cruiseliner on its last voyage. When a tsunami hits on New Year’s Day, the ship is turned upside down and those that survived must stick together and make their escape before the ship fills with water and sinks. 

Gene Hackman’s disgraced Reverend Frank Scott does his best to lead the survivors to safety as they encounter all manner of obstacles as the ship slowly fills with water. What makes The Poseidon Adventure great is the character development, with the actors given room to flex their acting muscles. You actually start to care about them, making their deaths even more impactful. 

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4.  Airplane (1970)

Often cited with kicking off the disaster movie genre in the 70s, Airplane was a surprise hit when released in 1970. Making $124.8 million at the box office from a budget of just $10.2 million, Airplane was also nominated for nine Oscars, with Helen Hayes winning Best Supporting Actress.

Set during a horrific snowstorm that causes chaos at the fictional Lincoln International Airport, a Boeing 707 is also taken over by terrorists, with the movie showing how those on the plane and down below react to the deadly situation. Featuring the likes of Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, and more, Airplane is pretty slow during the first third of the movie but really heats up towards the climax, delivering an action-packed finale that will have you on the edge of your seat. 

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5. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Based on the book The Coming Global Superstorm, this epic disaster movie depicts a series of extreme weather events that lead to a new ice age. As this is all occurring, Dennis Quaid journeys across America to save his son, Jake Gyllenhaal, who is trapped in a frozen New York. This is Ronald Emmerich at his best, with the director proving CGI is his greatest friend.

Although the science is a little iffy, the story is full of emotion and you can’t help but cheer on Quaid as he encounters various dangers and situations along the way. Even though The Day After Tomorrow is close to two decades old, the message presented is clear: if we don’t do something about climate change soon there won’t be an Earth left saving. 

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6. Dante’s Peak (1997)

After a nearby volcano erupts, putting the town of Dante’s Peak at risk, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) must team up and guide the townsfolk to safety while dodging volcanic debris and lava in this cult 1997 flick.

A moderate success at the box office, Dante’s Peak didn’t exactly go down well with critics, who found the plot and dialogue poor. While there is some truth to this, Dante’s Peak is still entertaining, with Bronson and Hamilton both giving it their all. The special effects are also decent for the time period, making the action unfolding on screen that bit more believable. 

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7. Contagion (2011)

Predicting the COVID-19 pandemic a decade before it happened, Contagion is a scary look at how bad things could really get. The plot centers on a contagious virus that turns into a pandemic and sends the world into chaos. Several different story threads are followed as we see how the virus impacts medical researchers, the government, and everyday folk trying to survive. 

Contagion was a decent success when it first hit cinemas and had another reassurance in 2020 when COVID-19 hit. Not only is the movie thrilling, but the science discussed is spot on, making it all the more lifelike. Along with the well-written script and great direction by Steven Soderbergh, the cast is full of Hollywood A-listers, including Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, and Bryan Cranston. 

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8. Titanic (1997)

You can’t have a list of disaster movies and not include Titanic. James Cameron’s love story set on board the doomed RMS Titanic is one of the biggest movies of all time and was recognized in 2017 by the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

The Paramount Pictures flick follows the relationship between Kate Winslet’s well-to-do Rose DeWitt Bukater and Leonardo DiCaprio’s stowaway Jack Dawson, but the real action occurs when the Titanic hits an iceberg and starts to sink.

Watching the once unsinkable ship slowly begins to sink as people are violently dispatched in various ways is thrilling, while the climatic and tragic finale continues to be debated by fans over two decades later. In our humble opinion, Rose could have made room for Jack if she really wanted. 

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9. The Birds (1963)

Ok, this one isn’t about a natural disaster per se, but killer birds are still pretty menacing and a disaster of catastrophic nature. Imagine stepping outside and having a murder of crows trying to peck your eyes out! Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 60s horror details random bird attacks over the course of several days in a Californian seaside town. 

This one isn’t going to win any awards for special effects, with some of the bird attack scenes comical (although it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Special Effects, so what do we know?), but it is full of tension and showcases Hitchcock’s incredible skill as a director. Giving Tippi Hedren her debut role, The Birds is rightfully hailed as a masterpiece and has inspired a host of modern horror directors. 

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10. San Andreas (2015)

This is the type of film the Rock can churn out in his sleep and people will pay to see it, no matter the reviews (which weren’t great). The former wrestler plays a helicopter rescue pilot who must use all his skills to rescue his wife and daughter when the San Andreas faultline erupts and turns Los Angeles into a disaster zone. 

This movie is exactly what you expect from one starring Dwayne Johnson; so-so acting (Carla Gugino is the exception), plenty of action, and Johnson saving the day. It’s a paint-it-by-numbers disaster movie saved by Johnson’s charm and the great special effects. Watching Los Angeles being destroyed will never get old. 

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11. 2012 (2009)

Roland Emmerich is arguably the greatest modern-day director of disaster movies. With several blockbusters under his belt, the German went all out for the end-of-the-world blockbuster 2012. Based on the 2012 phenomenon that the world would end on 21 December 2012 (the Mayans were all about it), the movie depicts a world hit by a raft of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and global floods. While the majority of the world is doomed, it turns out the elite have known about the event for years (of course they have). The major world governments had gotten together and created massive ships to hold the boldest and brightest minds, along with the richest people on the planet, to start life anew once everything returns to normal. 

The movie follows struggling writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) who finds out about these ships and does his best to find safe passage on them while trying to save his family and several other survivors he meets along the way. The storyline doesn’t really matter that much, as 2012 is all about the special effects. Watching Los Angeles being wiped out by tidal waves and Las Vegas engulfed by a volcanic eruption are with the price of admission alone. 

It’s far from the best disaster movie, but the epic special effects, combined with an all-star cast (including Woody Harrelson, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandiwe Newton, and more), make 2012 an enjoyable watch. 

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12. Twister (1996)

Highlighting the dangers storm chasers encounter on a daily basis, Twister is an exceptional disaster movie that will leave you wanting more. This is not a bad thing considering a sequel has recently been greenlit some two and a half decades later. 

Focusing on two rival storm chaser teams going after tornados in Oklahoma, Twister is part romance (Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt play storm chasers who are divorced but still have feelings for each other), part comedy, and part drama, with the tornado set pieces unlike anything that had been seen before. Even today, the special effects still hold up and you feel like you are inside a tornado as you watch the countryside get destroyed. 

Like so many disaster movies, the cast is stacked, with Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck, Todd Field, and Jeremy Davies joining Paxton and Hunt, while the tornados themselves are like an extra character that loom large throughout the flick. 

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13. Volcano (1997)

1997 was a hell of a year for the disaster movie. While Titanic led the way, two movies about volcanic eruptions also vied for attention. One was the previously mentioned Dante’s Peak, which was a mild success, and the other was Volcano, which didn’t quite live up to expectations. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its moments, but in 97 people preferred to watch Pierce Brosnan (at the height of his Bond fame) than grizzled veteran Tommy Lee Jones. 

Volcano stars Jones as the Office of Emergency Management commander of Los Angeles who must find a way to divert the flow of lava from an erupting volcano in the La Brea Tar Pits. Assisted by geologist Anne Henche and his second in charge Don Cheadle, Jones finds himself in several dangerous situations as he tries to save LA. No surprise this movie makes for a great double bill with Dante’s Peak.

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14. Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Based on the real-life Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, this gripping feature follows several members of the crew stationed on the oil drilling rig when all hell breaks loose. Pressure from upper management to complete the drilling process on time leads to a massive blowout and the rig catching on fire. It’s then a race against time to escape as the men and women battle raging fires, falling machinery, and smoke inhalation. 

Although the movie does take a few liberties with the actual events, it’s still pretty spot-on with what happened. The cast is excellent and led by Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, and John Malkovich. If you want to learn more about the tragedy that claimed the lives of 11 crewmen and spilled an estimated 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, we recommend the National Geographic doco featuring interviews with those who were there when it happened.

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15. Deep Impact (1998)

Released the same year as Armeggedon, Deep Impact is another disaster movie about an out-of-control asteroid heading for Earth. While not as successful as Armeggedon, this movie did get two thumbs up from the scientific community, who agreed it is a much more accurate picture of what would happen if an asteroid collided with Earth.  

The main story deals with attempts to divert the comet, which fails, along with following Leo Beiderman (Elijah Wood), the teenager who discovered the asteroid, and his journey to try and get his girlfriend and her family to safety. This is also the first movie where Morgan Freeman plays the President of the United States, something he has gone on to do in several other features. 

Like most disaster movies, the best part about Deep Impact is when the destruction occurs in the final third, with spade debris and giant tidal waves wiping out massive cities across the world as the likes of Téa Leoni, James Cromwell, and Leelee Sobieski do their best to survive. 

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