The Disaster Film subgenre resides within the Action, Thriller, Drama and Sci-Fi genres. This subgenre also includes other film subgenres such as Action Thrillers, Aviation Thrillers, Aquatic Thrillers, Apocalypse Films, War Dramas and Survival Dramas. The Disaster Film subgenre features Films about Earthquakes, Films about Tsunamis, Films about Avalanches, Films about Tornadoes, Films about Wildfire, Films About Volcanoes and Volcanic Eruptions, Films about Floods, Films about Aviation Disasters, Films about Aquatic Disasters, Films about Nuclear Disasters, Films about Terrorism, and Films About Pandemic or Viral Outbreaks. We do also include Apocalypse Films in the Disaster Film subgenre but have a much more inclusive list of Apocalypse Films here.
The First Golden Age of Disaster Films started in the 1970’s with a variety of films about natural and man-made disasters. Aviation Thrillers were one theme of Disaster Films with Airport (1970), Airport 1975 (1974), The Hindenburg (1975) and Airport ’77 (1977). Airport ’77 was also an Aquatic Disaster Film along with The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Juggernaut (1974), Gray Lady Down (1978) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). Natural Disasters were also in vogue with earthquakes in Earthquake (1974), fire out of control in The Towering Inferno (1974) and avalanches in Avalanche (1978). Other classic and notable Disaster Films of the decade including The Andromeda Strain (1971), Two-Minute Warning (1976), Rollercoaster (1977), The Swarm (1978), A Fire in the Sky (1978), The China Syndrome (1979) and Meteor (1979).
The 1980’s saw a decline in Disaster Films but had a few classic films of the subgenre. The Chain Reaction (1980) dealt with a nuclear disaster, Warning Sign (1985) dealt with a viral outbreak in a lab, and Miracle Mile (1988) dealt with an impending Nuclear War.
The 1990’s saw the Disaster Film return in popularity with many films focused on natural disasters. Twister (1996) dealt with tornadoes, White Squall (1996) involved a group of boys caught in a white squall, Dante’s Peak (1997) and Volcano (1997) both featured volcanoes and Hard Rain (1998) was set during a massive flood. Disaster Films that also included Apocalyptic elements included Deep Impact (1998) and Armageddon (1998). However, the decade belongs to a film that featured one of the most infamous disasters in human history – the sinking of the previously thought unsinkable Titanic. Titanic (1997) would win 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and go on to become the highest grossing film of all time. Other classic and notable subgenre films of the decade included Outbreak (1995), Apollo 13 (1995), The Trigger Effect (1996), Daylight (1996) and Hostile Waters (1997).
In the 2000’s, the terrorist attack on September 11, 2000 in the U.S. spawned a wave of 9/11 themed films including Flight 93 (2006), United 93 (2006) and World Trade Center (2006). Sci-Fi driven Apocalypse films would also be featured in the Disaster Film subgenre with The Core (2003), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Right at Your Door (2006), The Happening (2008), Knowing (2009) and 2012 (2009). Natural disasters with Aquatic Thriller elements would be featured in The Perfect Storm (2000), Poseidon (2006) and Tidal Wave (2009). Other classic and notable films of the 2000’s include K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) and Dragon Head (2003).
The 2010’s would become the Second Golden Age of Disaster Films featuring a variety of themes within the subgenre and the rise of World Cinema films focused on disasters. The most prominent theme of the decade included disasters happening during Historical Events with The Impossible (2012), Pompeii (2014), The 33 (2015), Deepwater Horizon (2016), Patriots Day (2016) and Only the Brave (2017). Tornadoes would continue to be a popular natural disaster with Take Shelter (2011), Nailbiter (2013) and Into the Storm (2014). And World Cinema would feature the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Land of Oblivion (2012), an uncontrollable fire in The Tower (2012), a tsunami in The Wave (2015), a volcanic eruption and aviation disaster in Flight Crew (2016), an earthquake and nuclear disaster in Pandora (2016) and a naval submarine disaster in Kursk (2018). Other classic and notable subgenre films of the 2010’s included Aftershock (2012), Flight (2012), The Last Days (2013), All Is Lost (2013), Hours (2013), San Andreas (2015), No Escape (2015), The Finest Hours (2016), Patriots Day (2016), Geostorm (2017), Just a Breath Away (2018), Skyscraper (2018) and Skyfire (2019).
The 2020’s have produced two classic films of the subgenre with The Burning Sea (2021) and Moonfall (2022) and notable films including The Midnight Sky (2020) and Greenland (2020).
Our list of Disaster Films includes over 93+ films from 1962 – 2023. As noted above, our list of Disaster Films focuses on natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. Though we include some Apocalypse Films, they tend to be more Sci-Fi in nature and we have a much more comprehensive list of Apocalypse Films here. For our list of The Top Disaster Films You Haven’t Seen, we included a variety of films with different themes. The honorable mentions that did not make our list includes Rollercoaster (1977), The China Syndrome (1979), Warning Sign (1985), White Squall (1996), Deep Impact (1998), Dragon Head (2003), Right At Your Door (2006), Tidal Wave (2009), Aftershock (2010), Take Shelter (2011), The Tower (2012), The Last Days (2013), Hours (2013), These Final Hours (2014), San Andreas (2015), Life on the Line (2015), Flight Crew (2016), Pandora (2016), Just a Breath Away (2018), Kursk (2018), 13 Minutes (2021) and Moonfall (2022).
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We have embedded a compilation video of our Top Disaster Films You Haven’t Seen and more details on these films can be found in the list below.
Plot: An Australian nuclear plant worker tries to warn the public about contamination from the nuclear plant.
Disaster: Nuclear Plant Leak
KBZ’s Take: This film doesn’t have your typical Disaster Action but rather has some great Action Chase scenes. And those chase scenes are worth seeing alone as they’re directed by George Miller. This has a few of the same actors from Mad Max (1979) and almost plays as a prequel to that film. There’s also a cameo from Mel Gibson as an auto mechanic in the beginning of the film. This is a little-known hidden gem of the film that is recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Y4ZSAR
Plot: The lives of townspeople just outside of Chernobyl before and after the nuclear meltdown.
Disaster: Nuclear Plant Meltdown
KBZ’s Take: If you’re a fan of the Chernobyl Limited Series (considered the definitive take on the Chernobyl disaster), then you should see this similar yet very different film. Where the Chernobyl series focused on the actual Nuclear Plant disaster and government coverup, this film shows the lives of different individuals as the accident happens and 10 years after the meltdown. It’s not an action-based Disaster Film but rather a slow burn on the effect radiation from the disaster has on the different people over time.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JitUg4
#8
Skyfire
Plot: Theme Park is built on an island with a dormant Volcano…which isn’t dormant much longer.
Disaster: Volcanic Eruption
KBZ’s Take: This Chinese film is directed by Simon West (Con Air (1997), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)) and has some incredible action sequences. The film has speaking parts in both Chinese and English (so there are subtitles) but you won’t notice those as the Volcano erupts and non-stop action for the last hour of the film begins. While this film has similarities to Jurassic Park (1993), it gets some major props for its incredible special effects and actions sequences. And it often doesn’t follow most Hollywood Disaster Film tropes which is another bonus. Recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kJWnBm
#7
The 33
Plot: 33 miners are trapped in a collapsed mine for 69 days.
Disaster: Mine Shaft Collapse
KBZ’s Take: Like most Disaster films, this has two parallel threads – the emotional core of the survivors trapped and the more action focused efforts to rescue the survivors. It’s the latter thread that is most intriguing in this film as the government and rescue efforts highlight just how difficult it was to rescue the trapped miners. It’s also based on a true story that makes the slow descent into madness of the surviving miners that more intense. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wyQzxi
Plot: Firefighters battle deadly wildfires to save an Arizona town.
Disaster: Wildfires
KBZ’s Take: This type of natural disaster is unique in that Wildfires aren’t often represented in Disaster Films. Out of control fires are usually associated with a building or other structure. The film itself is action-packed and an intense look at Firefighter tactics in trying to contain the wildfire. It also has an all-star cast with Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, James Badge Dale and Taylor Kitsch. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kKm84G
Plot: An oil platform collapses and Norwegian officials and researchers realize there’s a more serious problem starting.
Disaster: Oil Spill / Fire
KBZ’s Take: This is a more recent film that is on quite a few “Best of 2021” film lists. We’re highlighting it on our list as many people might have missed this great Disaster Film. Similar to Deepwater Horizon (2014), this film shows not only the environmental dangers that happen with the collapse of an oil rig and resulting spill, but how dangerous work is on the rig. This is also a Disaster Film with a strong emotional core that eventual leads to an Action-Adventure type rescue effort that is one of the best of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3JfsnaD
Plot: Passengers try to escape a ship that is capsized at sea.
Disaster: Tidal Wave / Capsized Ship
KBZ’s Take: This is one of the best films of the subgenre and was released during the first Golden Age of Disaster Films. We’re highlighting it on our list so younger fans don’t miss out. While it does have a remake with Poseidon (2006), that film is vastly inferior to the original. Though released in 1972, the original Poseidon Adventure isn’t dated as a film and still has some amazing special effects and action sequences. There’s also a better emotional connection with the survivors in the original film that the remake failed to reproduce.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3YiVPRF
Plot: A family on vacation in Thailand is separated during a tsunami.
Event: Tsunami
KBZ’s Take: We have seen tidal waves, earthquakes and other historical disasters on film, but never has a film shown the true dangers of a tsunami so effectively. The traumatic event is captured perfectly on film both with the tsunami and its effects and the family separated and searching for their loved ones. It’s one of the most powerful films you’ll ever see about ordinary people trying to rise above tragedy. One of KBZ’s highest recommended films to see.
Additional Lists: Top Historical Event Films You Haven’t Seen #1
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/4044dGe
Plot: At the opening party of a new office building, a massive fire breaks out trapping people inside.
Disaster: Skyscraper Fire
KBZ’s Take: A classic film of the subgenre (and Action genre), this is a film that still has some amazing effects even today. The fire effects are the highlight of this film even though it has a classic pairing of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. It also has an all-star cast with William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire and Richard Chamberlain. There’s numerous ‘edge of your seat’ sequences in this film and it’s not an easy film to watch if you’re afraid of heights – one of the last sequences involves people trying to escape the building (now engulfed in flames) through wires connected near the top of the building. Highly recommended film for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3R8yeAy
Plot: Powerful tornadoes ravage a small town as residents try to seek shelter and storm-chasers hope to get a once-in-a-lifetime shot of the phenomenon.
Disaster: Tornadoes
KBZ’s Take: We’ll start off by saying it’s best to ignore the IMDb rating for this film as we have no idea how it’s rated so low. This is a solid 7.5-8/10 rating (and we’ve seen quite a few films). While you do have the typical cardboard cutouts for characters in the film, you’re usually watching a Disaster Film for the action and special effects. And this film delivers both in some of the most amazing special effects of tornadoes we’ve ever seen. There are also many unique action sequences that we were thrilled to see while watching this film. We’ll go ahead and say it that we think this film is better than Twister (1996) which used to be considered the de facto film on Tornado disasters. The acting is comparable in both films, but it’s the special effects in Into the Storm that make it the film to see. In the event you haven’t seen this film yet, add to the top of your queue now as it’s one of the best of the Disaster Film subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Hz9D4B
