20 Best Movies about Natural Disaster

Cinema serves as a sanctuary for storytelling enthusiasts, showcasing a variety of genres like action, horror, comedy, thriller, romance, and even unique blends such as horror-comedy, comedy-action, and comedy-romance.

Disaster films captivate audiences by skillfully merging thriller, drama, action, and romance elements. These films typically portray characters facing a multitude of challenges, leading to the 'disaster movie' becoming a must-see category for film lovers.

Disaster movies offer not only diverse genres but also valuable life lessons, including survival strategies and emotional resilience. Here, Showpoiler has compiled a list of the top 20 natural disaster movies from across the globe.

1. Only The Brave

In 2013, the United States experienced a series of massive wildfires. To combat these devastating fires, over 200 firefighting personnel were mobilized to extinguish the raging flames in the extensive forests. Tragically, the fires claimed the lives of 19 individuals, all of whom were firefighters.

This film invites viewers to experience the courageous efforts of firefighters as they battle these immense forest fires through the perspective of Brendan McDonough, portrayed by Miles Teller. Brendan is a young man who discovered his true calling when he applied for a job as a firefighter.

2. The Impossible

"The Impossible" is a gripping natural disaster film based on a true story, chronicling the Belon family's struggle for survival following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while vacationing in Thailand. Featuring a stellar cast, including Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland, the movie is directed by J.A. Bayona and highlights the exceptional talents of its actors.

Viewers praise the film's intense atmosphere and powerful performances, which effectively recreate the terrifying events of the catastrophe. Garnering critical acclaim, "The Impossible" has earned an impressive $198.1 million at the box office.

3. Contagion

The recent resurgence of the Coronavirus outbreak has sparked renewed interest in films centered around disastrous pandemics, such as The Flu (2013) and Steven Soderbergh's Contagion. Contagion tells the chilling story of a lethal virus originating in China, which claims the life of Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), among others.

The virus spreads rapidly across the United States and worldwide, with China recording the highest number of infected individuals. The film explores the characters' struggle to survive amidst a pandemic thought to have originated from pigs and bats.

4. The Wave

"The Wave," a captivating natural disaster film directed by Roar Uthaug, follows geologist Kristian Eikjord, played by Kristofer Joner, at the Arkenset Monitoring Station in the tourist village of Geiranger. Kristian discovers missing water detection sensors, which leads to an 80-meter-high tsunami devastating the village.

Amid the chaos, Kristian and his daughter Julia are separated from his wife Idun and son Sondre, who are in a hotel. Determined to reunite, Kristian and Julia embark on a perilous journey to save their family. Immerse yourself in the gripping and suspenseful story of "The Wave" to find out if they succeed.

5. Greenland

In the film, John Garrity (Gerard Butler), a renowned building engineer, receives alarming news of an approaching meteor, Clarke, threatening Earth's existence. He, along with his ex-wife Allison (Morena Baccarin) and their son Nathan, are granted an exclusive evacuation ticket.

Unfortunately, the evacuation process is hindered when Nathan's medical condition prevents them from boarding the plane, causing panic and disorder. The situation worsens as the family becomes separated, but they eventually reunite to confront the apocalypse together, defying the odds and surviving the calamity.

6. Twister

Bill Harding, portrayed by Bill Paxton, is a former weather and storm researcher who has transitioned into a career as a weather reporter. He arranges a meeting with his meteorologist wife, Jo, played by Helen Hunt, with the intention of obtaining her signature on their divorce papers so that he can proceed to marry his current girlfriend.

Coincidentally, the day they meet turns out to be marked by a significant storm, prompting the couple to devise and execute a plan they had previously developed during their time as husband and wife. As a result of working closely together during this challenging situation, Bill and Jo find themselves growing closer, rather than being separated as initially intended.

7. The Perfect Storm

In 1991, a remarkable event transpired where a fisherman faced dangerous waves in the open ocean, which eventually inspired the 2000 film "The Perfect Storm." The story follows a fisherman, humiliated by a meager catch, who boldly decides to venture on another fishing expedition with his crew. Despite mixed opinions, the crew agrees to the journey, hoping for a bountiful haul.

Unfortunately, their efforts yield an even worse catch, but the ambitious captain continues their search. They soon confront a massive wave, posing a significant threat to their survival. To learn the fate of the fisherman and his crew, watch "The Perfect Storm."

8. Earthquake

Earthquake, a natural disaster film from the 1970s, has garnered significant acclaim over the years. While the special effects in this movie may not be as advanced as those found in contemporary disaster films, audiences can still experience a unique sense of excitement when watching Earthquake.

The film depicts the harrowing events that transpire when Los Angeles is struck by a catastrophic earthquake. Set in the 1970s, Earthquake relies on relatively minimal effects compared to modern-day films, which often employ an abundance of visual effects.

9. Volcano

Following a minor earthquake in Los Angeles, a surprising geological event has occurred: the formation of an underground volcano. This poses a significant risk, as the intense heat and molten lava could erupt suddenly, potentially causing extensive damage throughout the city.

Initially hesitant to take action, the government has now acknowledged the imminent danger posed to the residents of Los Angeles. Recognizing that ongoing seismic activity could trigger the eruption of the subterranean volcano, authorities have swiftly commenced evacuation procedures to ensure public safety.

10. The Day After Tomorrow

The movie portrays the devastating effects of natural disasters caused by global warming. The filmmakers aimed to reduce carbon emissions and maintain cleanliness during filming. The story follows paleoclimatologist Jack Hall( Dennis Quaid) who predicts a massive storm that will engulf some states, including Manhattan.

Unfortunately, Jack's son, Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) is participating in a competition in Manhattan. After Manhattan is hit by a tsunami, Jack sets out to rescue Sam, with the help of Jason Evans and Frank Harris. The film's emotional moments include Sam facing wolves and the storm's eye while trying to obtain medicine for Laura, played by Emmy Rossum, who has a blood infection.

11. San Andreas

The 2015 disaster movie features impressive CGI effects that create an immersive experience for viewers. The film follows Ray, a rescue helicopter pilot, who saves a driver named Keren from a ravine, starting a chain of events that lead to a devastating earthquake in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The earthquake triggers tsunamis, landslides, and flash floods, and Ray goes on a mission to save his wife and daughter. Despite the destruction, the film offers lessons about family and hope. It is a great movie for families to watch and boasts a well-crafted story and visually stunning effects.

12. Deep Impact

"Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" are two movies that share a similar plot where humanity faces extinction from a meteor. However, unlike "Armageddon," which portrays destruction through an explosion, "Deep Impact" shows it through a tsunami. The movie begins with a young man named Leo Biederman (Elijah Wood) discovering a meteor.

An MSNBC reporter named Jenny Lerner (Téa Leoni) also uncovers the truth and causes a stir. To counter the threat, the government launches a shuttle named Messiah to destroy the meteor, but a second meteor is heading toward Earth, and Messiah can only destroy the larger one. The smaller meteor hits the Atlantic Ocean, causing a massive tsunami.

13. Armageddon

Michael Bay is a filmmaker known for creating disaster movies filled with destruction and chaos. One of his most successful movies is "Armageddon." In the movie, a massive meteor the size of Texas is headed toward Earth and a team of professional drillers is sent to drill into the meteor and place a bomb inside to disintegrate it.

The mission is successful, but not all of the team members make it back to Earth. The climax of the movie is emotional and touching, with the character Harry sacrificing himself for humanity. The film is further elevated by the inclusion of Aerosmith's hit song "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" from the soundtrack.

14. The Core

When the Earth was struck by a thunderstorm, scientists declared that the planet's core had ceased spinning. In order to get it spinning again, they had to send a vehicle to drill into the Earth's center and detonate a nuclear device.

This action was deemed imperative to prevent further damage to the planet, but it was not an easy task. No one had ever been to the Earth's core before and the expedition was highly dangerous, with the potential for no survivors.

Despite its intriguing premise, "The Core" was not well-executed and came across as a B-grade movie, particularly due to its subpar visual effects. The movie was criticized by scientists for its inaccuracies in scientific representation.

15. Poseidon

This movie is based on Paul Gallico's novel "The Poseidon Adventure" and is about a disaster that occurs on a luxury cruise ship. Robert Ramsey, his daughter Jennifer, and her boyfriend, Christian, are on board the ship when a tidal wave hits and capsizes the ship. Along with other passengers, they must navigate through the upside-down ship to escape.

The film, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, explores the true nature of human beings under pressure and stirs emotions as the survivors face many obstacles and dangers on their journey to safety. The film is intense and exciting, with scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

16. Daylight

"Daylight" is not solely a movie about a natural disaster; it focuses on disasters caused by human negligence. However, the impact is just as frightening as a true natural disaster. The movie takes place in a tunnel that spans a river. At the time of the incident, traffic in the tunnel was extremely congested with buses, family cars, and trucks.

Amidst the heavy traffic, a truck carrying hazardous waste, which was intended for illegal dumping, collided with a car driven by a diamond thief who was driving at high speed. The collision resulted in a massive explosion, causing almost all the vehicles in the tunnel to catch fire.

Only a few individuals, including taxi driver Kit Latura (Sylvester Stallone), survived the disaster. They are trapped in the tunnel, which is rapidly losing air, while the river water outside threatens to seep in due to cracks caused by the explosion.

17. Dante's Peak

Several volcanologists were sent to the city of Dante's Peak to research the fluctuations in the local volcano and determine whether it posed a threat to the residents. One of these volcanologists was Dr. Harry Dalton, played by Pierce Brosnan, who had recently recovered from a traumatic volcanic disaster four years prior.

While at Dante's Peak, Dr. Harry maintains contact with Rachel, the mayor of the city, and the two develop a close relationship. However, when the volcano begins exhibiting unusual and abnormal activity, it becomes clear that an eruption is imminent. Rachel quickly issues an evacuation order for the residents of Dante's Peak.

18. Pompeii

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD was one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in human history. This disaster film romanticizes this historical event as the backdrop for the tale of a gladiator named Milo seeking revenge on a Roman senator who had previously massacred his people.

However, the storyline of the movie is predictable and feels like a retread of previous films. Despite this, the depiction of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is impressive, showcasing the magnitude of the explosion and the destruction it caused through visually stunning effects, allowing for an enjoyable viewing experience.

19. 13 Minutes

"13 Minutes" is a disaster movie featuring an ensemble cast of well-known actresses, including Thora Birch, Anne Heche, Amy Smart, and Paz Vega. The film takes place in a small town where four families are greatly impacted by a massive tornado. Each family faces unique challenges, including immigration issues, sexual orientation discrimination, and abortion.

The head of disaster management is tasked with managing the rescue efforts in the wake of the natural disaster while also searching for his missing deaf daughter. Despite the film's attempt to incorporate in-depth family problems into a natural disaster-themed movie, the execution falls short of being impressive.

20. 2012

The film "2012" is based on a Mayan prophecy about the end of the world, which was believed to be tied to the end of their calendar. The film was inspired by a real-life event in 2012 when NASA reported the largest coronal mass ejection in 150 years. The film depicts the world's plates destabilizing due to rising temperatures in the earth's core caused by a solar storm.

The government creates an ark to save 100,000 selected individuals, but tickets are sold to billionaires for €1 billion. The movie shows the destruction of cities in America and Japan, followed by the shifting of the earth's magnetic field and the change in the location of the highest plateau on earth. The film portrays how families support each other.

According to Showpoiler, those are the top 20 movies about natural disasters. Rest assured, every single one is a must-watch that topped the box office charts! So, why wait? Get your popcorn ready, dive into these films, and experience the exhilarating world of the natural disaster genre!