Entertainment

158 voters

The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Disaster Movies

Updated September 30, 2019 1.6k votes 158 voters 3.5k views33 items

List RulesVote up the best guilty pleasure disaster movies.

While they may not be beloved by critics, there's nothing better for a hefty dose of escapism than guilty pleasure disaster movies. While they may be chalk full of cheesy special effects, glaringly obvious plot holes, and bad acting, these films are the go-to for many when life gets overwhelming and you want something easy to help disengage.

The dumb disaster movies below don't demand a whole lot from their audience, so you can easily tune out the world and simply kick back watching stock characters try to save the world, evade explosions, and navigate situations so absurd you simply cannot suspend your disbelief. They may be corny, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. You don't always want Apollo 13. On occasion, you just want to kick back with some Michael Bay. Browse this list to find the best guilty pleasure disaster movies for your viewing delight!

...more

1
83
16
Twister
Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Released: 1996
Directed by: Jan de Bont
Twister is a 1996 American disaster drama film starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt as storm... more
More Twister
#20 of 50 The 50 Highest Grossing '90s Movies, Ranked#151 of 246 The Best Rainy Day Movies
2
75
15
The Day After Tomorrow
Emmy Rossum, Jake Gyllenhaal
Released: 2004
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
The Day After Tomorrow is a 2004 American climate fiction-disaster film co-written, directed,... more
More The Day After Tomorrow
#58 of 178 The Best Dystopian And Near Future Movies#9 of 37 The Best Snowy Thriller Movies, Ranked
3
65
17
Independence Day
Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum
Released: 1996
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Independence Day is a 1996 American science fiction disaster film co-written and directed by... more
More Independence Day
13 Things That Prove Pacific Rim And Independence Day Are The Exact Same Movie#13 of 99 The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time
4
52
13
Jurassic World
Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt
Released: 2015
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Jurassic World is a 2015 American science fiction adventure film directed by Colin Trevorrow,... more
More Jurassic World
21 Easter Eggs Hidden in 'Jurassic World'#742 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time
5
60
22
Armageddon
Ben Affleck, Bruce Willis
Released: 1998
Directed by: Michael Bay
Armageddon is a 1998 American science fiction disaster thriller film, directed by Michael Bay,... more
More Armageddon
#391 of 781 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made#174 of 557 The Greatest Film Scores of All Time
6
47
14
Deep Impact
Morgan Freeman, Robert Duvall
Released: 1998
Directed by: Mimi Leder
Deep Impact is a 1998 American science fiction disaster film directed by Mimi Leder, written... more
More Deep Impact
#133 of 196 The Biggest Tearjerker Movies of All Time#154 of 498 The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time
7
52
21
2012
Amanda Peet, Woody Harrelson
Released: 2009
Directed by: Roland Emmerich
2012 is a 2009 American science fiction disaster adventure film directed and co-written by... more
More 2012
#9 of 13 Other Guys From Movies Who Never Should Have Lost The Girl#6 of 32 The Best Fantasy Movie Posters
8
41
17
Outbreak
Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey
Released: 1995
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Outbreak is a 1995 American medical disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and based on... more
More Outbreak
The Bubonic Plague Ravaged San Francisco In The 1900s—And The Government Tried A Massive Cover Up#76 of 134 The Best Movies You Never Want to Watch Again
9
40
17
Deep Blue Sea
Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J
Released: 1999
Directed by: Renny Harlin
Deep Blue Sea is a 1999 science fiction horror film, starring Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL... more
More Deep Blue Sea
#1126 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies#154 of 541 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies
10
39
17
Dante's Peak
Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton
Released: 1997
Directed by: Roger Donaldson
Dante's Peak is a 1997 American epic disaster adventure film directed by Roger Donaldson, and... more
More Dante's Peak
#30 of 102 The Best 1990s Action Movies#3 of 58 The Best Pierce Brosnan Movies
11
45
25
Volcano
Tommy Lee Jones, Don Cheadle
Released: 1997
Directed by: Mick Jackson
Volcano is a 1997 disaster film directed by Mick Jackson and produced by Andrew Z. Davis, Neal... more
More Volcano
#462 of 625 The Greatest Action Movies Of All Time#35 of 71 The Top 20+ Best Tommy Lee Jones Movies of All Time, Ranked
12
34
13
The Core
Hilary Swank, Stanley Tucci
Released: 2003
Directed by: Jon Amiel
The Core is a 2003 American science fiction disaster film. It concerns a team that has to... more
More The Core
#42 of 49 The Very Best Movies About Hackers#3 of 14 The Most Ridiculous Movie Hacking Scenes, Ranked By Silliness
13
38
21
The Perfect Storm
George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg
Released: 2000
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
The Perfect Storm is a 2000 American biographical disaster drama film directed by Wolfgang... more
More The Perfect Storm
Tragic Facts About The Perfect Storm, The Shipwreck Story No One Lived To Tell#101 of 277 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry

14
35
19
San Andreas
Dwayne Johnson, Kylie Minogue
Released: 2015
Directed by: Brad Peyton
San Andreas is a 2015 American disaster film directed by Brad Peyton. A Los Angeles Fire... more
More San Andreas
#33 of 317 The Greatest Disaster Movies of All Time#18 of 32 Blockbusters With No Cultural Impact Whatsoever, Ranked
15
32
21
Anaconda
Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube
Released: 1997
Directed by: Luis Llosa
Anaconda is a 1997 adventure-horror film, directed by Luis Llosa, starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice... more
More Anaconda
Over 20 Years Later, 'Anaconda' Is Still A Delightfully Dumb Cinematic Experience#102 of 190 The Greatest Animal Movies Ever Made
16
31
19
The Mist
Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden
Released: 2007
Directed by: Frank Darabont
The Mist is a 2007 American science fiction horror film directed by Frank Darabont, and based... more
More The Mist
#47 of 722 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time#27 of 170 The Most Utterly Depressing Movies Ever Made
17
25
12
Poseidon
Emmy Rossum, Fergie
Released: 2006
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Poseidon is a 2006 disaster film directed and co-produced by Wolfgang Petersen. It is the... more
More Poseidon
#27 of 41 The Greatest Lost At Sea Movies Ever Made#35 of 67 The 25+ Best Kurt Russell Movies of All Time, Ranked
18
24
16
Into the Storm
Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies
Released: 2014
Directed by: Steven Quale
Into the Storm is a 2014 American found footage disaster film directed by Steven Quale,... more
19
21
12
Hard Rain
Morgan Freeman, Betty White
Released: 1998
Directed by: Mikael Salomon
Hard Rain is a 1998 American/British action thriller film, produced by Mark Gordon, written by... more
More Hard Rain
#59 of 84 The Best Thriller Movies Of The 1990s#52 of 55 The Best Morgan Freeman Movies
20
23
16
The Impossible
Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor
Released: 2012
Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona
The Impossible is a 2012 drama film directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and written by Sergio G.... more
21
22
16
Geostorm
Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess
Released: 2017
Directed by: Dean Devlin
Geostorm is a 2017 American disaster science-fiction action film directed by Dean Devlin. A... more
More Geostorm
#8 of 14 Movies Where A Solution Becomes An Even Bigger Problem#3 of 13 The Best New Disaster Movies of the Last Few Years
22
23
17
The Towering Inferno
O. J. Simpson, Paul Newman
Released: 1974
Directed by: Irwin Allen, John Guillermin
The Towering Inferno is a 1974 American action drama disaster film produced by Irwin Allen... more
More The Towering Inferno
#167 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#226 of 369 The Best Movies Based On Books
23
22
16
Godzilla
Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston
Released: 2014
Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Godzilla is a 2014 American science fiction monster film directed by Gareth Edwards. It is a... more
More Godzilla
#50 of 105 The Greatest Movie Remakes of All Time#2 of 14 Movie Trailers Are Lying To You

24
15
12
Supervolcano
Gary Lewis, Robert Wisden
Released: 2005
Directed by: Tony Mitchell
Supervolcano is a science docufiction disaster television film that originally aired on 13... more
25
21
21
Sharknado
Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo
Released: 2013
Directed by: Anthony C. Ferrante
Sharknado is a 2013 science fiction TV movie directed by Anthony C. Ferrante.... more