Disaster movies are a Hollywood staple, and there are a ton of classic examples of the blockbuster genre available on streaming. Big-budget disaster films seem to come and go in popularity depending on the decade, but they all share a few things in common. They are often larger-than-life and exaggerated, and they utilize every aspect of the art of film to deliver an experience that pushes the boundaries of cinema. Disaster films can dramatize real-life events from history, or they can dream up some nightmare scenario that plays on the fears of the audience.

Each new advancement in film technology has spurred a renewed interest in disaster films, and each successive generation pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. Despite the spectacle and excitement, the real strength of the disaster film is the human element, and the best examples of the genre delve deep into how people respond to local and even global disasters. Though they can often be quite simple from a storytelling perspective, disaster movies are quintessential cinema, and have a universal appeal that transcends cultures. While they might be designed for the big screen, disaster films are still exciting on streaming.

8

Airport (1970)

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1970’s Airport isn’t just a great disaster film, it’s generally considered to be the precursor to the entire disaster movie boom of the 1970s. Adapting the Arthur Hailey novel of the same name, the movie plays on the very real fear of air disasters that began with the popularization of jet travel in the mid 20th century. Relying more on tension than action, Airport features several interweaving storylines. As such, it employs a large ensemble of recognizable stars, from the lead roles to minor supporting parts.

Airport spawned several sequels, including:

Instead of having a contrived plot that leads to the imminent disaster, Airport gets into the granular details of how air travel works. While this could have been a boring proposition, each new detail is used to add to the suspense as everything begins to go wrong. At its heart, though, the sprawling disaster epic is more about the characters than the disaster itself, giving the conflict more stakes as tensions continue to mount.

7

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

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Though many disaster films are often about exploring what could happen, Deepwater Horizon is an example of a real event being dramatized for the screen. Based on the real-life disaster that gave the movie its name, Deepwater Horizon is a harrowing story about the dangers of oil rigs and the consequences of poor management. While it may not have the gigantic scope of other disaster films, the tension and suspense is unrelenting as the survivors are forced to face a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly situation with very little hope of being rescued.

Typically known for his action movie roles, Mark Wahlberg turns in one of his best performances as Mike Williams, and he’s joined by an ensemble that includes the likes of John Malkovich and Kurt Russell. Despite its positive critical reception, Deepwater Horizon was something of a notorious box office bomb that lost upwards of $100 million (via Box Office Mojo). Fortunately, the underrated disaster film has found new life on streaming platforms.

6

Independence Day (1996)

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Disaster movies can be about natural phenomena, transportation crashes, and even industrial accidents, but Independence Day proved that an alien invasion could be just as effective. The 1996 Will Smith vehicle was helmed by disaster movie auteur Roland Emmerich, and imagined how the United States would respond to an imminent invasion by an alien force. The bulk of the movie’s action explores the chaos of the invasion, and how various characters struggle to survive against environmental obstacles.

Like many disaster movies before, Independence Day shows a smattering of characters from all walks of life, and it captures the global scope of the story. While Emmerich’s films have a reputation for being overdone and poorly written, Independence Day is the pinnacle of ’90s popcorn cinema, and captures the fun of going to the movies. It also holds an important place in the pantheon of alien invasion films, and the scene where the aliens destroy the White House is an iconic part of Hollywood history.

5

тιтanic (1997)

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тιтanic is a unique specimen among disaster films because it spends the bulk of its running time being a romantic drama before taking a sharp turn in its final act. James Cameron’s blockbuster is based on the 1912 тιтanic disaster, but dramatized many of the events on the boat for added flair. The romance between Jack and Rose captured the hearts of viewers in the late ’90s, and the harrowing scenes of the ship’s demise are still some of the greatest moments in any disaster movie.

One thing that тιтanic does well that many disaster movies struggle with is building stakes, and the lengthy film gives the viewer plenty of characters to care about before thrusting them into danger. Too much action can be desensitizing, and тιтanic allows for tension to build as the lives of the pᴀssengers are explored before they either survive or perish in the notorious maritime disaster. While the romance may overshadow the disaster elements, they can’t be ignored.

4

Greenland (2020)

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The disaster film has fallen out of favor somewhat in the 2020s, but Greenland is a great modern example of the genre. Starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, Greenland is a refreshing take on the disaster formula by limiting its scale while still having global scope. The world-ending disaster at the heart of the story is experienced by a single family, and their journey personifies the persistence of humanity in the face of impossible odds.

Greenland intentionally limits its scenes of destruction, and that makes every moment feel intense and important. The ticking clock element is also a nice added touch, and there is legitimate suspense as the characters race against time to get to safety. A sequel to Greenland is currently in the works, and the main cast is returning to reprise their roles.

3

Earthquake (1974)

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Along with Airport, The Towering Inferno, and The Poseidon Adventure, 1974’s Earthquake is one of the crown jewels of the ’70s disaster movie boom. Charlton Heston stars in a uniquely Hollywood film that concerns a gigantic earthquake in the City of Angels, and the consequences of the disaster. While not as well-crafted as the aforementioned Airport, the visual effects in Earthquake are top-notch, and the sH๏τs of the aftermath of the destruction are pure cinematic magic.

The film utilizes an interweaving narrative where the adventures of several characters intersect with the тιтular disaster. It may not have the same emotional resonance as other disaster flicks, but Earthquake is certainly one of the quintessential examples of the genre.

2

Dante’s Peak (1997)

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One of two volcano disaster films that premiered in 1997, Dante’s Peak is often overlooked in favor of the much more simply named, Volcano. Action icons Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are on a mission to save a small town when a nearby volcano threatens to erupt and destroy everyone. Like many of its contemporaries, the bulk of Dante’s Peak is about setting up the stakes as the disaster looms in the last half of the movie.

While far from perfect, Dante’s Peak features a ton of great visual effects, and the simple plot is supplemented by likable and compelling characters. Some of the movie’s action is a bit cheesy, but it hearkens back to an earlier era of disaster films. Neither volcano movie from 1997 fared particularly well at the box office, but Volcano just barely edged out Dante’s Peak in the critical department with a 49% score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to a 30%.

1

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

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Roland Emmerich hit his peak with 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow, the first disaster movie to truly lean into the idea of climate catastrophe. Each era of disaster film encapsulates the anxieties of their time, and The Day After Tomorrow presents a pretty bleak outlook concerning the environment and the effects of global warming. However, it also finds a strong narrative thread, and delivers an exciting throughline that humanizes the mᴀssive scale of the film’s disaster.

As is the case with most disaster movies, The Day After Tomorrow is a showcase for cutting-edge CGI, and many of the action set pieces are impressive for 2004. While it hasn’t aged perfectly, the blockbuster epic is still a shining example of the disaster movie genre, and delivers all the thrills and chills that are expected from a Hollywood movie.