Disaster movies will never go out of fashion; watching a group of A-list actors fight for their lives against the forces of nature in a CGI blockbuster spectacle will always draw in crowds. But, truth be told, these movies are only sometimes great. Perhaps more than any other genre, it’s easy for a disaster movie to win audiences over because the main ingredients for success are simple: a big budget, recognizable faces, and lots of action. However, the role of CGI in these movies cannot be understated. Over the past two decades, plenty of filmmakers have made it their mission to take this fairly straightforward subgenre of action movies and create something genuinely thrilling, subverting expectations and changing the genre in one way or another. The evolution of CGI has played a significant role in this, allowing filmmakers to create increasingly realistic and immersive disaster scenarios.
Lee Isaac Chung’s “Twisters“ clearly aims to be one of those examples; from the trailers, it’s evident that the movie is loud, bold, and doesn’t hold back regarding the action. But that alone isn’t enough to make it a success. What the following disaster movies have all achieved is a balanced blend of action and drama, never relying on the on-screen spectacle to do all the heavy lifting but also never shoving it to the side. These are the stories that really stick with audiences long after the credits roll, and it’s their success that keeps pushing the genre forward and making people come back for more. Other notable examples include “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Deep Impact.”
War Of The Worlds (2005)
“War of the Worlds” might sound like an action-packed sci-fi adventure on the surface. Still, the way that Spielberg tells this story from such a grounded and unwitting perspective keeps the sci-fi jargon at a distance and focuses on the humans in this story and how they react to this disaster. The film is based on H.G. Wells’ novel, but Spielberg’s approach gives it a modern twist that instead draws inspiration from popular ’90s disaster movies like “Independence Day” and “Armageddon.” The film also features one of Tom Cruise’s strongest performances, bringing the audience into this crumbling world through his eyes.
Cloverfield (2008)
Another disaster movie that gives its story a sci-fi twist, “Cloverfield” tells the story of a group of friends who find themselves in the middle of the action when an unidentified creature attacks New York City. Most recognizable for its unique handheld camera approach to filming, “Cloverfield” is an excellent example of how to make something brilliant without a huge budget or A-list actors to fill seats. The film makes the most of its concept, with huge-scale action sequences that mostly take place behind the lens of a cheap camcorder, building on that sense of realness and integrity that sucks the audience in so effectively.
Contagion (2011)
Unlike many of these films, it’s not nature to blame for the disaster that lies at the heart of “Contagion,” but humanity themselves. Steven Soderbergh’s unique drama centers around a deadly infection that quickly becomes a worldwide epidemic as international forces struggle to keep the virus under control. It lacks the action spectacle and blockbuster set pieces that often characterize the disaster genre, but that works entirely to its benefit. “Contagion” takes a much quieter approach to storytelling, reflecting how some disasters can completely destroy our world before we’ve even noticed. The movie gathered huge amounts of attention in 2020 for supposedly “predicting” the COVID-19 pandemic and the worldwide response to it, proving how frighteningly authentic it actually was.
The Impossible (2012)
Although “The Impossible” is more of a grounded drama than most of the entries on this list, that doesn’t stop it from being absolutely exhilarating at times. The story follows a happy family on their vacation in Thailand when an unexpected tsunami destroys their peace and quiet and tears them apart. The film is best known for being Tom Holland’s first significant on-screen role, but it’s Naomi Watts who gives the standout performance as a mother who will do anything to protect her children from the forces of nature. The action set pieces are enormous in scale and demand the audience’s attention, while the more emotional side of the story gives it a human edge despite the big-budget storytelling.
Gravity (2013)
Nobody ever said that disaster movies have to take place on Earth. Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar-winning sci-fi movie follows two determined astronauts as they’re separated from their spaceship in the middle of a debris storm and forced to make their way to safety before returning to Earth. The film has been endlessly praised for its creative direction, stunning visuals, and sweeping musical score, but what really stands out with “Gravity” is the sense of perseverance and willpower embedded into these characters. The entire story celebrates humanity and our ability to fight under intensely distressing circumstances, which is essentially what this whole genre is about.
Everest (2015)
Though it’s not a worldwide disaster, the incident recounted in Baltasar Kormakur’s “Everest” is just as frightening and engrossing as any other entry in the genre. Following two groups of explorers as they attempt to climb Mount Everest in deadly conditions, the film takes all the typical conventions of the disaster genre and applies them on a more microscopic scale. There’s no end of the world in sight, but these explorers all face a series of life-threatening disasters on their way to the top. It’s a poignant exploration of how many risks often pave the road to glory and the kind of mental fortitude required to face them.
Jurassic World (2015)
The “Jurassic World” franchise has developed a pretty poor reputation following the lackluster sequels of recent years, but it’s worth remembering that the original film in this modern trilogy is actually a very strong example of how to make big-budget “franchise” storytelling genuinely exciting. Sure, it’s essentially a remake of the original “Jurassic Park” under slightly modified circumstances, but it’s extremely difficult to live up to the standards of such a beloved classic, and “Jurassic World” does that and more. It features an excellent Chris Pratt before he was in every movie under the sun, and the CGI is consistently impressive with some really creative dinosaur designs.
San Andreas (2015)
While it’s starting to feel like Dwayne Johnson has made approximately one thousand movies in this vein, “San Andreas” is arguably the blueprint. In the film, the wrestler-turned-actor plays a rescue-chopper pilot forced to work alongside his estranged wife after the San Andreas fault tears California apart and his daughter is lost. This movie is excellent at creating an atmosphere of dread that manifests from start to finish, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as things keep going wrong and expectations are consistently overturned. The emotional drama mirrors the on-screen action in a compelling way that makes “San Andreas” stand out from the countless other action flicks of its nature.
Greenland (2020)
When a deadly meteor shower sends a planet-destroying comet on a collision course with Earth, it’s down to one man to protect his family and escort them all to (relative) safety before time is up. Although “Greenland” was unceremoniously dumped on streaming services during the pandemic and consequently didn’t make much of a splash, the film succeeds where many others have failed, thanks to its narrative simplicity and emotional core. Following one character on his quest to protect the people he loves is much more engaging than just watching the world fall apart, which “Greenland” understands and fully capitalizes on. The set pieces are thrilling, Gerard Butler’s performance is surprisingly touching, and the message about love and self-sacrifice shines through.
Thirteen Lives (2022)
“Thirteen Lives” is a dramatic recreation of the real-world disaster that took place in Thailand in 2018, when a group of young soccer players were stuck in a cave after an unexpected collapse. Directed by Ron Howard, the film closely follows the many rescue attempts led by on-site first responders and local community members over multiple weeks of trying to get the young boys (and their coach) back to safety. The film is much slower paced and less sensationalized than most disaster movies, but the way the tension keeps rising and the knowledge that what you’re watching truly happened is enough to make this one of the most engaging and stressful watches in recent memory.
What do you think of our list? Which films do feel are the best disaster films of the 21st Century so far? Have you seen “Twisters” yet? If so, what did you think? Please let us know in the comments section below or on Next Best Picture’s X account and check out our latest Oscar predictions here.
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