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The Greatest Disaster Films in Cinema History

The Greatest Disaster Films in Cinema History

Updated: by

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

50. Into the Storm (2014)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

49. Airport 1975 (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

48. Daylight (1996)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

47. Hard Rain (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

46. Dante's Peak (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

45. The Core (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

44. Poseidon (2006)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

43. Volcano (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

42. Earthquake (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

41. Battle Los Angeles (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

40. 2012 (2009)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

39. Vertical Limit (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

38. Deep Impact (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

37. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

36. San Andreas (2015)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

35. Mars Attacks! (1996)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

34. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

33. The Perfect Storm (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

32. Armageddon (1998)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

31. The Book of Eli (2010)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

30. Outbreak (1995)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

29. Omega Man (1971)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

28. War of the Worlds (2005)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

27. Twister (1996)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

26. The Blob (1958)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

25. White Squall (1996)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

24. Airport (1970)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

23. Alive (1993)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

22. It's a Disaster (2012)

Courtesy of Oscilloscope

21. The Mist (2007)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

20. Arachnophobia (1990)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

19. The Towering Inferno (1974)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

18. Everest (2015)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

17. Independence Day (1996)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

16. The Road (2009)

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

15. Cloverfield (2008)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

14. Melancholia (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

13. The Last Man on Earth (1964)

Source: Courtesy of American International Pictures

12. On the Beach (1959)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

11. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

10. Attack the Block (2011)

Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

9. The War of the Worlds (1953)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

8. Titanic (1997)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

7. The Impossible (2012)

Courtesy of Lionsgate Films

6. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

5. United 93 (2006)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

4. The Birds (1963)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

3. Children of Men (2006)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

2. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

1. Apollo 13 (1995)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

50. Into the Storm (2014)
49. Airport 1975 (1974)
48. Daylight (1996)
47. Hard Rain (1998)
46. Dante's Peak (1997)
45. The Core (2003)
44. Poseidon (2006)
43. Volcano (1997)
42. Earthquake (1974)
41. Battle Los Angeles (2011)
40. 2012 (2009)
39. Vertical Limit (2000)
38. Deep Impact (1998)
37. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
36. San Andreas (2015)
35. Mars Attacks! (1996)
34. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
33. The Perfect Storm (2000)
32. Armageddon (1998)
31. The Book of Eli (2010)
30. Outbreak (1995)
29. Omega Man (1971)
28. War of the Worlds (2005)
27. Twister (1996)
26. The Blob (1958)
25. White Squall (1996)
24. Airport (1970)
23. Alive (1993)
22. It's a Disaster (2012)
21. The Mist (2007)
20. Arachnophobia (1990)
19. The Towering Inferno (1974)
18. Everest (2015)
17. Independence Day (1996)
16. The Road (2009)
15. Cloverfield (2008)
14. Melancholia (2011)
13. The Last Man on Earth (1964)
12. On the Beach (1959)
11. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
10. Attack the Block (2011)
9. The War of the Worlds (1953)
8. Titanic (1997)
7. The Impossible (2012)
6. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
5. United 93 (2006)
4. The Birds (1963)
3. Children of Men (2006)
2. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
1. Apollo 13 (1995)

Disaster films have been scaring viewing audiences for decades, ever since the release of the 1933 film, "Deluge," often considered the first disaster film of all time, a tale that focused on what happens after tragedy strikes, and how humanity deals with the aftermath of a catastrophe. It is a topic that Hollywood – and audiences – have been fascinated by. The idea that at a moment's notice, something can go from tranquil and peaceful to wrathful and destructive.

It is something many of us are all too familiar with. Hurricanes and tornadoes have wreaked havoc on homes and communities demonstrating that while nature can be beautiful, it also comes with a destructive and deadly side. Disaster movies have been around for over a century, but not all stand on equal footing. Some far outshine others and rise above to remain the greatest disaster films in cinema history.

The 1970s saw a particular explosion of disaster movies, with notable ventures including "Airport," "The Poseidon Adventure," and "The Towering Inferno." Regardless of the decade, the best disaster films combine setups of natural catastrophes with conclusions of human will. This results in adventures that illustrate the often unpleasant determination to survive through the toughest, deadliest situations. (Check out the greatest tragic movies of the 21st century.)

Methodology:

To determine the greatest disaster films in cinema history, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies with at least 1,000 reviews on IMDb were considered, and documentaries were not excluded. Director information is from IMDb.

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