Disaster movies have always been a big draw for audiences. The genre first started to gain interest in the 1970s, with films like The Poseidon Adventure and Towering Inferno becoming big hits. While it is not one of the most prolific genres, even this last decade has delivered some solid disaster films.
Many of the most popular films in this genre focus on the big world-threatening natural disasters or apocalyptic events, while others take a more grounded or serious approach to the idea. Some even use the concept for humor. However they tackle their premise, these films are worthwhile additions to the disaster genre.
Geostorm (2017)
Roland Emmerich is the master of disaster movies. While he did not have any disaster films in the last decade, his frequent collaborator Dean Devlin delivered one Emmerich would be proud of.
Geostorm imagines a not-too-distant future in which satellites control the world's climate. Not surprisingly, someone gains control of the satellite system and uses it to create deadly storms around the world. The movie is a dumb bit of fun with plenty of great disaster action — but you might have to turn your brain off for a bit.
Deepwater Horizon (2016)
Sometimes real-world events inspire some of the most compelling and harrowing disaster movies. Deepwater Horizon looks at the events that caused the worst oil spill in American history. However, the film focuses more on the people on the rig when it exploded.
The movie builds the tension up so effectively that it becomes almost unbearable. Once everything goes wrong, it becomes an enthralling and nail-biting survival story. The great cast including Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell add a lot to the story.
San Andreas (2015)
If there is one action star you want by your side during a disaster, it is most certainly Dwayne Johnson. He plays a helicopter search and rescue officer who is always there to save the day. When a massive earthquake hits California, he goes on a mission to rescue his daughter.
The movie is another big blockbuster filled with scenes of massive destruction. If that is the kind of entertainment you love, this movie will not disappoint, even if it does play fast and loose with the science of the situation.
Crawl (2019)
While it was somewhat overlooked when it came out last year, Crawl is one of the most fun movies of 2019. The story follows a young woman who goes to check on her dad as a hurricane approaches. She finds him injured in the basement of the house and as she attempts to rescue him, they are surrounded by alligators.
Crawl is a great mix of disaster movie and a creature feature. Just when things seem like they cannot get any worse, they do. The film is a non-stop thrilling adventure with plenty of great jump-scares throughout.
Take Shelter (2011)
While a disaster movie that doesn't worry about logic can be a bit of escapism fun, the genre isn't all about mindless destruction. Take Shelter is a gripping film that uses the threat of disaster to tell an engrossing character story.
Michael Shannon plays a family man who begins having visions of an impending flood that will wipe everything away. As he attempts to protect his family from the coming danger, those around him begin to worry about his mental state.
Melancholia (2011)
Lars Vin Trier is not the kind of filmmaker most people would associate with disaster movies. Unsurprisingly, Melancholia is vastly different from other works in the genre, and has some very poignant things to say.
The film follows two sisters struggling with their estranged relationship. Things grow worse when a mysterious new planet emerges in the sky that threatens to collide with Earth. The potentially apocalyptic setting makes for a really powerful and moving story of depression.
The Impossible (2012)
The images of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand are still unforgettable all these years later. The Impossible tells an incredible true story that came out of that horrific event.
Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts star in the film as husband and wife on vacation with their young boys. who get caught up and separated when the tsunami hits their resort. It is a harrowing and moving story that also features an impressive turn from Tom Holland as one of the sons.
Only The Brave (2017)
Another true story that tackles a tragic event in recent memory is the firefighter drama Only the Brave. Josh Brolin stars as the leader of a group of hotshots, an elite firefighting team from Granite Mountain who put their lives on the line to protect their town from an inferno.
The film only focuses on the devastating blaze in the final act of the film. Before that, Only the Brave does a wonderful job of establishing the team, their relationships with each other, and their unrelenting bravery.
This Is The End (2013)
One of the most interesting things about disaster movies is seeing how people pull together to survive in the face of all the destruction. This is the End takes a more comedic look at the situation by imagining how a bunch of spoiled and immature celebrities would behave in such a predicament.
Actors like Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jonah Hill all play exaggerated versions of themselves as they are trapped in a mansion when the world outside starts to end. This is the End is a hilarious, vulgar and outlandish take on the genre, and is one of the funniest movies of the decade.
Contagion (2011)
In early 2020, Steven Soderbergh's Contagion gained new-found popularity due to its eerie similarity to the current world events. The film features an all-star cast in this grounded and realistic look at how the world would react to a worldwide spread of a virus.
Contagion is a fast-paced and heart-pounding thriller that manages to be very intelligent and entertaining at the same time. it might hit too close to home for some viewers but it is a fascinating film to watch given the context.