The Greatest Disaster Movies of All Time

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Updated September 15, 2023 121.6K votes 9.5K voters 490.3K views
Over 9.5K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Greatest Disaster Movies of All Time
Voting Rules
Only disaster movies should be here

These are the most entertaining, the most fun, the greatest disaster movies ever made, ranked by movie experts and film fans alike. There is a long history of these kinds of movies in cinema - never to be taken too seriously, always slightly histrionic - for moviegoers who love to watch action disaster movies that level cities and have populations run screaming for their lives. This list includes thrillers that center around a natural disaster, like a storm, as well as other kinds of catastrophe that might cause an apocalypse.

This list of floods, fires, earthquakes, and alien attacks is built from both your votes and those lists that Rankers have contributed. If you are a die-hard fan of disaster movies, if you know your extreme weather such as F-5 Tornados from your 10.5 Earthquakes, make your own ranking of these to really impact the list order! And if you see a good film that should be amongst these greatest disaster movies of all time, please add it!

Be sure to check out Ranker's list of all disaster films.

Check out more great lists like the Best End of the World Movies, New Disaster Movies, Worst Game of Thrones Characters, Best Horror Anime, and Celebrities With Allergies.

Most divisive: Poseidon
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  • The Day After Tomorrow
    1

    The Day After Tomorrow

    2004
    4,208 votes
    • Actors: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ian Holm, Emmy Rossum, Sela Ward
    • Directed by: Roland Emmerich
    In the thrilling disaster film, The Day After Tomorrow, Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid), a paleoclimatologist, sets out on a daring mission to rescue his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) amidst a sudden and extreme shift in global climate. The world plunges into a new Ice Age almost overnight, leaving cities frozen and societies in chaos. Meanwhile, Sam and his friends hunker down in the New York Public Library, battling against time and the biting cold. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this movie is a chilling tale of survival against nature's most brutal forces.

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  • Twister
    2

    Twister

    1996
    3,434 votes
    • Actors: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Jami Gertz, Lois Smith
    • Directed by: Jan de Bont
    Twister is a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled ride through the world of storm chasing. Bill Harding (Bill Paxton), a seasoned meteorologist, teams up with his estranged wife Jo (Helen Hunt), an equally passionate and fearless tornado researcher. Their mission? To deploy their revolutionary weather research device right in the heart of dangerously unpredictable cyclones. The movie, directed by Jan de Bont, delivers a gripping tale of science, nature's fury, and human resilience. Aided by an ensemble cast that includes Philip Seymour Hoffman and Alan Ruck, Twister is an action-packed thriller where the weather is the ultimate antagonist.

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  • Independence Day
    3

    Independence Day

    1996
    3,868 votes
    • Actors: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch
    • Directed by: Roland Emmerich
    In the groundbreaking sci-fi action film Independence Day, mankind faces the threat of global destruction at the hands of malevolent extraterrestrials. As cities crumble under colossal alien ships, a disparate group of survivors emerges. Among them is President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), hotshot pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith), and eccentric scientist David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum). Together, they devise a risky plan to repel the invaders and save humanity. Directed by Roland Emmerich, this 1996 blockbuster was applauded for its impressive special effects and won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

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  • Deep Impact
    4

    Deep Impact

    1998
    2,896 votes
    • Actors: Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Morgan Freeman
    • Directed by: Mimi Leder
    Deep Impact, a gripping blend of science fiction and drama, presents an imminent extinction-level event as a comet is set to collide with Earth. In this high-stakes narrative, journalist Jenny Lerner (Téa Leoni) uncovers the truth, while President Tom Beck (Morgan Freeman) steers the nation through crisis. Astronaut Spurgeon Tanner (Robert Duvall) leads a team in an audacious attempt to destroy the comet. This race against time, filled with suspense and bravery, explores humanity's struggle for survival in the face of annihilation.

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  • Outbreak
    5

    Outbreak

    1995
    1,962 votes
    • Actors: Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding
    • Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
    In the gripping film Outbreak, a deadly and highly contagious virus is unleashed in a small California town. The virus, brought to American soil by an African monkey, swiftly turns the peaceful town into a hotbed of contagion. Sam Daniels (Dustin Hoffman), a maverick virologist, races against time to isolate this new pathogen before it spreads beyond control. Assisting him are his ex-wife, Robby Keough (Rene Russo), and his loyal colleague, Casey Schuler (Kevin Spacey). The trio must navigate governmental obstruction, personal tensions, and their own fears in this tense medical thriller. Their mission: halt the outbreak and prevent a potential global catastrophe.

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  • 28 Days Later
    6

    28 Days Later

    2002
    697 votes
    • Actors: Cillian Murphy, Noah Huntley, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns
    • Directed by: Danny Boyle
    In the suspenseful thriller 28 Days Later, London bike courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) awakens from a coma in an abandoned hospital. He finds the city eerily deserted, save for infected humans ravaged by a mysterious virus. Meeting a small group of survivors, including the stalwart Selena (Naomie Harris), they navigate the post-apocalyptic landscape, clinging to hope. Directed by Danny Boyle, this film masterfully combines elements of horror and drama, presenting a chilling scenario of societal collapse due to a relentless pandemic. Its raw depiction of survival amidst chaos earned critical acclaim and notable box-office success.

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