The opportunity to look at the world with different eyes and spend several hours looking at how our familiar world collapses and falls has made this genre one of the most popular in cinema.
A feeling of anxiety and concern for what is happening on the screen makes the heart beat faster and worry about the main characters. It feels like viewing disasters can only be compared with a roller coaster or extreme sports, but this option is safer and does not even require leaving the walls of your own home. In this article, we highlight the best disaster films.
What is a disaster movie?
A catastrophe film is one of the genres of cinema in the focus of which a cataclysm is approaching or occurring in real time. It impresses the viewer in the first place with an amazing picture, incredible special effects and the scope of the shooting.
The main characters are given little screen time. Often this is a family or several people who are trying to survive in extreme conditions. A protagonist is an ordinary person or even a loser, finding within himself previously unknown forces and will to live, manifested in emergency situations. He is trying to survive and help other people or relatives, while maintaining human qualities and dignity. Also, in disaster films for the main characters, a special kind of danger is other people. Covered with panic and fear of imminent death, they turn into wild animals that can eliminate everyone in their path.
The world in such a movie is plunged into chaos and anxiety, moral principles are falling, and impunity and lawlessness are pushing people to looting and crimes.
In a separate genre, this category of cinema stood out relatively recently, in 1970, with the release of the picture "Airport". Filmmakers' vocation and love for this genre were brought by films released several years later: The Adventures of Poseidon, Earthquake, and Hell in Heaven. What are the best disaster films today? This will be discussed further.
A new round in the development of disaster films was introduced by the invention of computer graphics in the early 90s. Nowadays, huge amounts of money and a huge amount of resources are allocated to create the best films about disasters.
What are disaster films?
This genre has many subspecies and categories. A wide variety of films allows you to choose films for every taste and theme.
Natural disasters depict disasters caused by forces of nature. These can be hurricanes, storms, storms, avalanches, floods, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. A high degree of risk of falling into a similar situation and helplessness of a person before the will of the elements shock the audience and make it possible to realize their worthlessness in this world.
Accidents in which accidents leading to fatal consequences are shown - aircraft crashes, collisions of cars or wrecks of ships. Events develop around a limited number of people: passengers and drivers of vehicles. Conventionally, such tapes can be divided into several parts: about the causes leading to the accident, about attempts to prevent it and the consequences of the disaster.
Pandemics in which a world or individual country is affected by a previously unknown virus or infectious disease. This is one of the options for the end of the world that arises after unsuccessful testing of a vaccine or mutation of an existing virus, which people still have no immunity from.
Top 10 Best Disaster Films
According to user ratings, reviews of film critics, as well as reviews from viewers, the top best disaster films of all time are as follows:
- "Titanic";
- "Armageddon";
- "I'm legend";
- "The Adventures of Poseidon";
- "The child of man";
- "Independence Day";
- "Day after tomorrow";
- "The perfect storm";
- "War of the Worlds";
- "2012".
Actual Films
The carelessness and quiet quiet life makes us think that no disasters threaten us within our home. Despite this, terrible cataclysms and accidents are constantly occurring in the world, turning over the usual charter of the lives of millions of people. To remind people of the tragedies that shook the world, they make films that have real implications. The best disaster films based on real events are described below .
The Titanic (1997)
One of the most popular films based on real events. The Titanic became famous not only for the amazing scenes of the wreck of the largest passenger ship in the world, but also thanks to the story of touching and tragic love.
The three-hour film shows the collision of the Titanic liner with an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and the last hours after its crash, which killed 1,517 people. The film was awarded several Oscars and became one of the most famous representatives of the genre.
The Impossible (2012)
What other good disaster films are there? The list of the best continues "Impossible" (2012). Spanish English-language disaster film based on the real fate of the family of Maria Belon, who was in the center of the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004. The main character, along with her husband and three sons, was on vacation in Thailand.
During the disaster, she lost part of her leg, and her whole family nearly died. Naomi Watts was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as the main character in this film.
Uncontrollable (2010)
What other disaster films can be called? The list of the best does not leave "Uncontrollable" (2010). The film is based on real events that occurred in 2001, when a train filled with toxic waste got out of control. The main characters are railway workers trying to stop the freight train and prevent a massive explosion.
The Living (1993)
The film illustrates the events of 1072 and shows the crash of an airplane flying over the Andes. A small group of survivors of the accident is trying to survive on the snow-capped peaks of the mountains.
The Perfect Storm (2000)
The American drama about how the crew of a fishing vessel got into the epicenter of a hurricane that came from Bermuda with a cold front from the mainland, resulting in the so-called perfect storm.
Disaster Films
The best disaster films about natural disasters:
"Dante's Peak" (1997), events in which unfold in a fictional town: he faces a volcanic eruption. Seismologist Harry Dalton is trying to warn residents about the possible consequences of a disaster that suddenly becomes a global threat.
What are the best news from disaster films? This may include Towards the Storm (2014). This film was released not so long ago and is still at the top of the rating. The invasion of tornadoes destroys the town of Silverstone. All its inhabitants fell under the destructive power of a tornado, and meteorologists predict only the worst. While most are trying to escape from the city, the daredevils go to the very epicenter of the tornado to take a spectacular photo.
"Tornado" (1996) shows how a group of meteorological researchers hunts for a tornado to get the necessary information from its epicenter.
“Volcano” (1997): in the center of Los Angeles, a sleeping volcano suddenly wakes up, the eruption of which can destroy the entire city and its inhabitants. A brave meteorologist is trying to stop the disaster.
The San Andreas Fault (2014). A Los Angeles Fire Department pilot embarks on a dangerous journey to save his daughter. Meanwhile, the San Andreas fault causes an earthquake of nine points.
Space Disaster Films
Best films about space-related disasters:
1. "Clash with the abyss" (1998) talks about the heroic struggle of mankind against the fall of a 500-gigaton comet to the surface of the Earth.
2. "Independence Day" (1996). A large alien spaceship stops at the surface of the earth. It soon becomes clear that the intentions of the aliens are not peaceful, and they begin to conquer the largest cities in the world.
If we recall space disaster films, Armageddon (1998) will top the list of the best. A giant asteroid is approaching Earth, which can destroy it in an instant. To save people from imminent death, NASA decides to destroy it in space. To lay explosives in an asteroid should simple drillers who had not previously been in space.
Apollo 13 (1995). The film tells about the tragic space mission to the moon. Already at the very approach of the ship, a serious breakdown is discovered, which puts an end to missions and threatens the life of astronauts.
War of the Worlds (2005) is a film adaptation of the famous novel by Herbert Wells, in which humanity will have to survive the attack of unknown space aliens, destroying everything in its path and turning the Earth into ashes.
Films about the end of the world and about the apocalyptic world
The best disaster films about the end of the world are presented including 2012 (2009). The plot is based on the date of December 21, 2012, which was considered the day of the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar. On this day, all the planets of the solar system should stand in one row, which will lead to earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions.
What else can be called the best disaster films? The rating does not leave the film "The Day After Tomorrow" (2004). The plot shows the catastrophic effects of global warming in a series of unexpected weather changes that will lead to global cooling.
The Phenomenon (2008). An unknown natural phenomenon leads to the fact that people massively commit suicide. Only one family is trying to figure out the causes of this disaster and survive in a chaotic world.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). Due to a failed vaccine test, virus-infected monkeys enter the streets of the city. They are aggressive and destroy everything in their path.
“Mist” (2007) is a film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, in which thick fog covers the earth, and unknown monsters that kill people fill the streets.
Transport accidents
The best transport-related catastrophe films:
1. "Poseidon" (2006). A giant wave flips a cruise ship on New Year's Eve. While hundreds of surviving passengers are waiting for help in the main hall, a group of daredevils sets off in search of a way out.
2. “Lost Flight” (2006) - a dramatic thriller based on the true events of September 11, 2001, when the 757 captured by terrorists managed to avoid getting into world shopping centers, thanks to the brave passengers who took control of the aircraft.
What other best disaster films are there ? The rating to this day does not leave Metro (2013). Russian film about the disaster that happened in the subway due to the active development of the center of Moscow. In the wall of one of the tunnels of the subway, a water supply breakthrough occurs. This breakdown threatens serious destruction throughout the city.
"Backward thrust" (1991). Two brother firefighters have to deal with a series of serious arsons in the city center and find the terrorist who organizes them.
You can recall films about disasters for a long time. Everyone forms a list of the best for themselves separately. And here it is impossible not to disagree, because we are all different, and our tastes are different.
The article provides a general list of the best films, and what to remove from it and what to add - the choice is yours. Happy viewing!