The 10 Best Disaster Films Of All Time!

The most recent film on this list, San Andreas obviously has an advantage in its special effects department, but aside from that, it was excellent because of the subplots going on within it, like the parents having to deal with the loss of their other daughter. The earthquake followed by the tsunami was a great way to be able to tell the story, and everyone had their own heroic moment as opposed to The Rock doing all the work himself.

Instead of being caught in a natural disaster, Twister brought the unique twist of having our heroes hunt down the danger, as Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton tried to create an advanced weather alert system by getting themselves caught in the midst of huge tornadoes. Of course, this is a brilliant film to check out, as the stunning visuals and great acting keep the thrills and tension high throughout!

Volcano is just a fun film to watch, which is what you’re normally looking for in disaster films. It may be a bit of a strange one, but if you turn off your brain then this is an exciting thrill ride. Tommy Lee Jones stars as the head of the Los Angeles Emergency management department, who doesn’t believe his superiors when they tell him that there is nothing behind a minor earthquake that occurs in the city one night. Of course, he figures out that it is actually a precursor to a volcano forming in the city and goes on to try and evacuate the city before millions of lives are lost.

One of the classic stories of survival, The Poseidon Adventure focuses on an ocean liner which capsizes at sea after being hit by a tidal wave, and on a priest who leads the surviving crew through the bowels of the upside-down ship in order to try and find an escape. Gene Hackman stars as the titular priest as he tries to save a number of lives. Truly a classic, and pulled off in spectacular fashion considering it was made in 1972, this is one of the greats!

Or if you prefer something g a little more modern and closer to home, why not go for one of the most heart wrenching and dramatic films I’ve ever seen? World Trade Center tells the tale of two Port Authority Police officers who became trapped in the wreckage of the world trade buildings after the 9/11 attack. Nicholas Cage and Michael Pena appear as the police, who try to survive and find some light in their horrific situation on one of the saddest days which the western world has faced in modern times.

For sheer destruction, The Impossible is really high on this list. Another one to pull on your heartstrings, this focussed on a tourist family who become trapped in Thailand as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami hits. The family is split up during the chaos and have to find each other among the wreckage left behind, seeing the tragedy of the event before them as they go. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as the titular parents bring something truly magical to this story, and it’s one to absolutely not miss!

Ever see Armageddon? As much as I personally love that film, it was about as realistic as Donald Trump becoming Preside… never mind. But Deep Impact is, in some ways at least, a similar film. Instead of focusing almost entirely on the astronauts trying to stop a meteorite hitting Earth though, this one focuses on the people of Earth going through what they are certain are their final days. Sometimes the most devastating films, showing what is the very worst of times for humanity, can also show us at our very best, and can inspire us to band together as the characters do in these dark times, but to keep that strength in the lighter times too. Unfortunately, in Deep Impact, there are shelters where people will be able to survive, and a hefty conflict begins to break out over who will be allowed inside and who will be left to die. With a massive cast including Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Morgan Freeman, Vanessa Redgrave, and Tea Leoni, this focuses on the greatest disaster possible while telling the tale of how it affects absolutely everyone.

My favorite Volcano related film by a long, long way. Pierce Brosnan stars as a Vulcanologist who goes to Dante’s Peak, a small town next to a long dormant (and believe to be extinct) volcano. Dante’s Peak was recently named the second most desirable place to live in America, and so they really don’t want to believe Brosnan’s character when he tells them that their volcano may not be entirely asleep. Instead of many of the films on this list, which focus on a disaster early on and later focus on the aftermath, Dante’s Peak is all about the build of tension to an inevitable conclusion, which is ironically a lot like how volcanoes actually work.

Actually putting people against an enemy with a face (sort of) is a very different sort of film. Actually bringing humanity together, forcing them to unite for the purpose of survival, is a wonderful way to inspire everyone watching. And Bill Pullman certainly managed that as President Whitmore in the finale of a gripping, truly cheesy film which nobody can truly dislike. It brings together everything you could ask for, and unfortunately something which couldn’t quite be replicated for last year’s Independence Day: Resurgence. Nevertheless, this was one of the best disaster films of all time. But possibly, not quite THE best…

Of course! If you want the ultimate disaster film, truly focusing on how to survive in the darkest and most trying of times, then this has to be it! In my opinion, The Day After Tomorrow focuses on what could happen in the future if climate change is allowed to run rampant. It shows an arctic storm circling the northern hemisphere, driving conditions far, far below freezing, and making the United States and much of Europe and Asia an arctic wasteland where nobody can survive for long. Jake Gyllenhaal leads a group of his friends in trying to survive these conditions, while his father (played by Dennis Quaid) attempts to convince the president to evacuate the northern half of the United States, before coming after his son on foot! This is an incredible story, and a film I’ve watched many, many times.

And that’s all folks! Do you agree with the list or do you think it was a disaster? (I had to make that pun). Either way, let me know in the comments and check out The Comical Theory on Facebook and @ComicalTheory on Twitter for more!