At the mercy of the elements: 20 best disaster movies

20. "The 33"

• 2014
• Chile, Colombia, Spain, USA
• Drama, biography, history
• 2 hours 7 minutes
• Director: Patricia Riggen
• Starring: Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Mario Casas
• IMDb: 6.9
• MyShows: 4.24

Due to the connivance of the owner of a Chilean mine, 33 miners are trapped 700 meters below the surface. The only way out is blocked and there is not enough food for everyone. Miner Mario (Antonio Banderas) takes responsibility for the safety of his comrades and leads them to freedom. The chance that the rescuers will be able to find the miners is only 1%.

Patricia Riggen's ("Jack Ryan") movie with a star-studded cast: Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Mario Casas, and James Brolin. Based on real events that took place in a mine in San Jose in 2010.

19. "Adrift"

• 2018
• USA, Hong Kong, Iceland
• Action, thriller, drama, melodrama, adventure, biography
• 1 hour 36 minutes
• Director: Baltasar Kormákur
• Starring: Shailene Woodley, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Thomas, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Grace Palmer
• IMDb: 6.6
• MyShows: 4.05

Tami (Shailene Woodley) and Richard (Sam Claflin) meet in Tahiti and fall in love. Together they embark on a romantic yacht trip across the Pacific Ocean and are unexpectedly caught in a devastating storm.

A spectacular movie about the resilience of the human spirit and the ultimate power of love, shot by three-time Oscar winner, cameraman Robert Richardson. Based on the true story of yachtswoman Tami Oldham Ashcraft.

18. "The Finest Hours"

• 2016
• USA
• Action, thriller, drama, history
• 1 hour 57 minutes
• Director: Craig Gillespie
• Starring: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Eric Bana, Holliday Grainger
• IMDb: 6.7
• MyShows: 3.86

1952. The oil tanker Pendleton is caught in a storm that rips the ship in two. Coast Guard personnel are assigned a suicide mission to rescue the sailors.

The movie script is based on the documentary book by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherma. The Oscar-nominated screenwriting team of Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, and Eric Johnson worked on the script.

"Most of all, '"The Finest Hours"' is like a playful version of a Disney fairy tale that is equally suitable — and sure to please — adults and children alike. <...> A fascinating, very entertaining movie that takes your breath away and won't fade hope. After it leaves a surprisingly light feeling: you can believe and not believe that in real life there is a place for such a feat and such incredible luck", — writes Valeria Vysosova in Fashion Time.

17. "Melancholia"

• 2011
• Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany
• Fiction, drama
• 2 hours 10 minutes
• Director: Lars von Trier
• Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgård, Brady Corbet
• IMDb: 7.1
• MyShows: 3.64
  

The planet Melancholia is approaching Earth, the collision and subsequent demise of human civilization is inevitable. The complex relationship of sisters Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Ginsburg) becomes a reflection of global catastrophe.

16. "Deepwater Horizon"

• 2016
• USA, Hong Kong
• Action, thriller, drama, history
• 1 hour 47 minutes
• Director: Peter Berg
• Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Dylan O'Brien, Kate Hudson
• IMDb: 7.1
• MyShows: 4.1

The true story of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig accident in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred in 2010. Engineers on watch learn that an expensive but important test was not performed on an oil well. This turns into one of the biggest man-made disasters in history.

The established duo of Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg is already a sign of quality. The picture received two Oscar nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects, which means that the spectacularity it does not take.

"And the movie is really scary, when the accident began, so shot that the breathtaking", — _CHASER_

15. "Deep Impact"

• 1998
• USA
• Fantastic, action, thriller, drama
• 2 hours
• Director: Mimi Leder
• Starring: Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Charles Martin Smith
• IMDb: 6.3
• MyShows: 3.75

Teenager Leo Biederman (Elijah Wood) from Richmond one day discovers an unknown comet in the night sky. He takes a picture with a telescope and sends it to an observatory in Arizona, where it goes to an astronomer named Dr. Wolf (Charles Martin Smith). The scientist analyzes the data and learns that the comet's orbit will intersect with the Earth's orbit and it will happen in two years. When this becomes widely known, the population panics, mass evacuations begin, and amidst the chaos, the countdown is steadily counting down.

A classic of the genre: sci-fi about apocalypse and saving a world threatened with destruction by a comet collision.

14. "Everest"

• 2015
• UK, USA, Iceland
• Biography, adventure, drama, thriller
• 2 hours 1 minute
• Director: Baltasar Kormákur
• Starring: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Emily Watson
• IMDb: 7.1
• MyShows: 4.0

In May 1996, one of the biggest disasters in the history of Everest's conquest occurred. Several professional climbers and a few amateurs, dreaming of seeing the "roof of the world", set out on the infamous expedition. Their dream came true, but the descent turned out to be more dangerous than the ascent.

The tragedy of 1996, which occurred in the Himalayas, became the basis of the picture. The story sparked a widespread public debate about how to treat such commercial guided climbs, as well as what to do with common human ethics when it comes to survival in extreme conditions.

13. "Twister"

• 1996
• USA
• action, thriller, adventure
• 1 hour 53 minutes
• Director: Jan de Bont
• Starring: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Jami Gertz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lois Smith
• IMDb: 6.6
• MyShows: 3.83

Scientists from the United States have invented a device that will predict the appearance of tornadoes in the near future. Researchers decide to test it on a day when several tornadoes walk across the American expanses at once. But during the raging elements to do it's not so easy.

The movie "Twister" was nominated for an Oscar in the categories Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.

12. "The Perfect Storm"

• 2000
• USA
• Action, thriller, drama, adventure
• 2 hours 10 minutes
• Director: Wolfgang Petersen
• Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, John C. Reilly, William Fichtner
• IMDb: 6.5
• MyShows: 3.86

A group of fishermen head out to the high seas to catch a record-breaking catch, rake in the bounty and never need anything again. However, the place they go to is not safe at all — and the fishermen are caught not only by professional luck, but also by a deadly hurricane.

The movie-catastrophe is based on the true story of the crew of the fishing boat "Andrea Gail", caught in one of the strongest storms in history in 1991. The screenplay is based on the book of the same name by Sebastian Junger (1997).

11. "Exit" / 엑시트

• 2019
• South Korea
• Action, comedy
• 1 hour 43 minutes
• Director: Lee Sang-geun
• Starring: Jo Jong-seok, Im Yoon-ah, Go Doo-shim, Park In-hwan, Kim Ji-young
• IMDb: 7.0
• MyShows: 4.32

A soulful action comedy from South Korea. Lee Yong-nam (Jo Jong-seok) is a loser in life. He can't build a career and doesn't get along with his family. The guy succeeds only in rock climbing, and one day the lessons bear fruit. Poisonous gas begins to spread through the city, and Yong-nam's agility helps him save his family and beloved.

"What a great movie!!! I had time to worry, laugh, and cry. <...> The movie will definitely brighten up a boring evening, I recommend it. I would even say that it inspires and motivates a little", — kseniyayuryevna

10. "Mira"

• 2022
• Russia
• Fantasy, adventure, drama
• 1 hour 50 minutes
• Director: Dmitriy Kiselev
• Starring: Veronika Ustimova, Anatoly Bely, Evgeny Egorov, Daria Moroz, Maxim Lagashkin
• MyShows: 4.19

Meteorite rain falls on Vladivostok. In the epicenter of the disaster are 15-year-old Lera Arabova (Veronika Ustimova) and her family. The only hope to save themselves is the clues of Lera's father, who is on an orbital station and takes every opportunity to contact his daughter.

Russian movie-catastrophe, which will definitely not leave the audience indifferent.

"Interesting movie, special effects at the level, the play of actors is not bad, in some moments make you worry for yourself, there are small sags and puffs, but it does not spoil the good impressions of the movie", — UlNESULNEK

"A heartbreaking movie, thought I'd watch it in the background, ended up not taking my eyes off it. The graphics, the acting, the plot are just incredible", — Alena_533

9. "Don't Look Up"

• 2021
• USA, Canada
• Drama, sci-fi, comedy
• 2 hours 18 minutes
• Director: Adam McKay
• Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett
• IMDb: 7.2
• MyShows: 3.98

A real apocalypse is about to happen in the world, but people ignore the danger, not taking the warnings of scientists seriously. When astronomers discover that a huge comet is headed for Earth that will destroy life on the planet, their attempts to inform the world fail: they are ridiculed on the news and social media, and devalued in the Oval Office.

Netflix's star-studded project entered the top 10 in nearly a hundred countries and became the online platform's third most popular movie in 11 days.

8. "The Cloud" / Die Wolke

• 2006
• Germany
• Thriller, drama, sci-fi
• 1 hour 45 minutes
• Director: Gregor Schnitzler
• Starring: Paula Kalenberg, Franz Dinda, Hans-Laurin Beyerling, Carina Wiese, Jennifer Ulrich
• IMDb Rating: 6.3

The small German town of Schweinfurt is in panic: there is an accident at a nearby nuclear power plant, and the neighborhood is slowly covered with a black radioactive cloud. People are fleeing from their homes to escape the deadly radiation. Against the backdrop of the unfolding catastrophe, the madding crowd and general chaos, a touching love story is born.

"The Cloud" is an adaptation of Gudrun Pausewang's novel of the same name. The plot was motivated by the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but the writer moved the action to West Germany.

7. "K-19: The Widowmaker"

• 2002
• USA, Germany, Canada, UK
• Drama, history, thriller, detective, military
• 2 hours 18 minutes
• Director: Kathryn Bigelow
• Starring: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard, Sam Spruell, Tim Woodward
• IMDb: 7.3
• MyShows: 3.89

The Soviet Union launches the first nuclear submarine, the K-19, and the command appoints Alexei Vostrikov (Harrison Ford) as commander. Unexpectedly, the officer receives an order to immediately conduct a training operation in the open sea. Team members express dissatisfaction, because during the campaign they are forced to work in extreme conditions. Vostrikov doesn't react to the outbursts of his subordinates and continues testing. But soon after the planned launch of a ballistic missile, the crew of the K-19 will face a real nightmare.

The movie is based on real events and tells about the tragedy that happened to a Soviet submarine in 1961 during the first combat campaign.

6. "Independence Day"

• 1996
• USA
• Adventure, action, sci-fi
• 2 hours 25 minutes
• Director: Roland Emmerich
• Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch
• IMDb: 7.0
• MyShows: 4.02

On the eve of America's Independence Day, an oversized alien ship docks to Earth. Smaller ships separate from it and enter the planet's atmosphere. No one knows what to expect from the visit of extraterrestrial guests. Very soon it becomes clear that the intentions of the aliens are not peaceful at all.

The movie-catastrophe spawned a popular franchise, with video games, novels, comic books, and even a BBC radio show, where the same events were described from the point of view of British residents.

5. "The Day After Tomorrow"

• 2004
• USA
• Adventure, drama, thriller, fantasy
• 2 hours 4 minutes
• Director: Roland Emmerich
• Starring: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Dash Mihok, Jay O. Sanders
• IMDb: 6.5
• MyShows: 4.16

Global warming is in full swing on Earth. The glaciers are melting, but the temperature of the world's oceans is not rising, but, on the contrary, sharply decreasing. And all this is just the beginning — the beginning of the end. Paleoclimatologist scientist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) tries to warn the U.S. government about the impending disaster and the early onset of the ice age, but his words, of course, no one takes seriously.

"The Day After Tomorrow" won the BAFTA Award for Best Visual Effects and was nominated for a Saturn Award in the categories of Best Science Fiction Film and Best Special Effects.

4. "Alive"

• 1993
• USA, Canada
• Thriller, drama, adventure, history
• 2 hours 7 minutes
• Director: Frank Marshall
• Starring: Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton, Bruce Ramsay, David Kriegel
• IMDb: 7.1
• MyShows: 4.04

In 1972, a Uruguayan airline plane crashes with mostly members of the student rugby team, their family and friends on board. They were flying to a friendly match in Santiago, but in turbulent conditions the plane crashed into a high plateau and broke into pieces. More than half the passengers miraculously survived. But the short-lived search for the crew quickly came to an end, and the young survivors of the plane crash have to survive on their own in the harsh conditions.

The film was based on the documentary book "Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors" (1974) by Piers Paul Read, which told about the crash of a real plane on October 13, 1972.

3. "The Impossible" / Lo imposible

• 2012
• Spain, Thailand, USA
• Drama
• 1 hour 53 minutes
• Director: J. A. Bayona
• Starring: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Samuel Joslin, Oaklee Pendergast
• IMDb: 7.5
• MyShows: 4.38

Henry (Ewan McGregor), Maria (Naomi Watts) and their three children come to Thailand for Christmas. They live in a luxury villa located right on the ocean. December 26 in the Indian Ocean there is a strong earthquake, which became the most powerful in the history of observations. It's followed by a tsunami that blows away everything in its path. The family finds itself in the epicenter of catastrophic events.

The film is based on the true story of María Belón, who vacationed in Thailand with her family in 2004. All five members of the family managed to survive the tsunami. Maria personally chose Naomi Watts for the lead role and spent a lot of time with her, helping her to prepare for filming.

2. "Aftershock" / 唐山大地震 

• 2010
• China
• History, drama
• 2 hours 15 minutes
• Director: Feng Xiaogang
• Starring: Zhang Guoqiang, Zhang Zifeng, Xu Fan, Zhang Jingchu, Li Chen
• IMDb: 7.5
• MyShows: 3.97

In Tangshan, China, which is located in Hebei Province, an earthquake that lasted less than a minute occurred in the summer of 1976. It is considered to be the biggest natural disaster of the XX century. As a result, several hundred thousand people died, the city was almost completely destroyed. Townswoman Li Yuanni (Xu Fan) loses her husband and is faced with a terrible choice: she can save only one of the two children — a son or a daughter.

The film grossed $100 million worldwide with a budget of $25 million.

1. "Only the Brave"

• 2017
• USA
• Drama, thriller, biography, history
• 2 hours 14 minutes
• Director: Joseph Kosinski
• Starring: Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Connelly, Taylor Kitsch, Andie MacDowell
• IMDb: 7.6
• MyShows: 4.59

Joseph Kosinski's ("Top Gun: Maverick", "Oblivion") movie about a team of firefighters who risk everything to fight a deadly wildfire in Arizona. The picture is based on real events of 2013.

"The most gorgeous movie. The kind of movie you want to forget to revisit again", — CAST

"A good movie about a difficult profession. A must-see, about the real heroes among us", — g1275551