Natural disaster movies always keep me on the edge of my seat, combining the thrill of survival with the panic of impending doom. I’m a big horror fan, but I also find that a good natural disaster film can give me knots in my stomach just as much as a good horror flick. Survival is one of my favorite sub-genres, and many of these movies include those intense elements of humans battling against the odds. Here’s my list of the best natural disaster movies you should watch!
If you like this list, I also recommend checking out my list of 17 of the best Horror & Thriller Movies Set in Snow and Ice!
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1. Twister (1996)
Directed by Jan de Bont, Twister stars Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton as storm chasers trying to capture data on the most violent tornadoes. The special effects are jaw-dropping, and the story keeps you hooked from start to finish.
2. Twisters (2024)
Twisters is the highly-anticipated 2024 reboot of the 1996 film starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. I know people are sick of reboots but this one is fantastic. Though not as good as the original, it’s so much fun and I highly recommend it!
3. Greenland (2020)
Greenland, one of my personal favorites directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, follows a family’s desperate journey to survive a planet-killing comet.
4. Deep Impact (1998)
Directed by Mimi Leder, Deep Impact features Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, and Morgan Freeman. It tells the story of a comet on a collision course with Earth and the efforts to prevent the catastrophe.
5. Armageddon (1998)
Armageddon, directed by Michael Bay, stars an ensemble cast including Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler. The film follows a group of oil drillers sent to space to destroy an asteroid before it hits Earth.
6. The Core (2003)
Directed by Jon Amiel, The Core stars Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank. The story revolves around a team sent to the Earth’s core to restart its rotation and prevent a global catastrophe.
7. The Perfect Storm (2000)
The Perfect Storm, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, features George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. It tells the true story of a fishing boat crew caught in a monstrous storm.
8. Volcano (1997)
Directed by Mick Jackson, Volcano stars Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche. It centers around a volcano erupting in the middle of Los Angeles.
9. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
The Day After Tomorrow, directed by Roland Emmerich, stars Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie depicts a sudden global superstorm that causes catastrophic weather events.
10. The Wave (2015)
Directed by Roar Uthaug, The Wave stars Kristoffer Joner and Ane Dahl Torp. It follows a geologist who tries to save his family from a massive tsunami caused by a mountain collapse.
11. The Quake (2018)
The Quake, directed by John Andreas Andersen, features Kristoffer Joner and Ane Dahl Torp. It’s a sequel to The Wave and follows the same family as they face a devastating earthquake in Oslo.
12. 2012 (2009)
Directed by Roland Emmerich, 2012 stars John Cusack and Amanda Peet. The movie explores a global catastrophe caused by the Earth’s crust destabilizing.
13. Geostorm (2017)
Geostorm, directed by Dean Devlin, stars Gerard Butler and Jim Sturgess. It’s about a satellite network designed to control the climate that goes haywire, causing catastrophic weather events.
14. Moonfall (2022)
Directed by Roland Emmerich, Moonfall stars Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, and John Bradley. The plot revolves around the moon being knocked from its orbit and threatening Earth.
15. San Andreas (2015)
San Andreas, directed by Brad Peyton, stars Dwayne Johnson as a rescue pilot trying to save his family during a massive earthquake in California.
Any recommendations for me?
