Among the films that most capture the attention of viewers are those with natural disaster plots, which is why a large number of productions are made in this style, with various approaches that reveal the deepest fears of humanity about what can happen if nature wakes up.
These films usually have a lot of special effects, plenty of action and plots that aim to move the emotions of the audience. In this way, they bring together many interests that allow them to become, generally, box office hits. In addition, some of them are classics that people watch over and over again without getting tired.
Armageddon (1997) 38%
Armageddon is one of the most acclaimed films by the public when talking about productions where the life of humanity is at risk (with a 73% audience acceptance according to Rotten Tomatoes).
Moreover, all viewers remember the soundtrack and the love story that is threatened by the meteorite which is advancing towards the Earth. Undoubtedly, this is a film that can be seen time and time again, more than 20 years after its release.
Earthquake (1974) 42%
This film is one of the 70s productions that was dedicated to catastrophic plots and was composed of a choral cast that divided the burden of the film into various dramas.
Earthquake won great recognition for its sound, visual effects, editing and soundtrack (made by John Williams), which made the viewers feel that they were living the catastrophe together with the protagonists.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004) 44%
A new ice age is the premise of this film that engages viewers with its impressive visual effects. This film is one of the most recent on this list, but it is almost 20 years old since its release.
The Day After Tomorrow deals with a disturbing story for humanity right now, due to climate change and global warming. It exposes drastic weather phenomena that cannot be stopped and threatens the lives of millions of people.
Deep Impact (1998) 45%
In the late 1990s, meteors, as a subject, were popular in Hollywood and one of the films that worked with this narrative was Deep Impact, in which the epic and the intimate are combined to expose the reality of a group of people whose lives are threatened.
The film plays with deep emotions, but never ceases to be entertaining, which is why it has won a great number of fans in recent years.
The Perfect Storm (2000) 47%
Twenty years have passed since its release and many still consider this film as one of the most unforgettable and exciting about natural disasters.
The sea is the protagonist of this plot and here it highlights human fragility, while sustaining the intense emotions that accompany these tragedies, with characters struggling to get out of the hell that they are going through.
Volcano (1997) 50%
These sleeping giants represent one of the most feared dangers for humanity, but despite the threat, viewers still enjoy watching them on screen, triggering adrenaline levels through their action scenes.
The audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is only 31%, so audiences didn’t really agree with the critics’ score, probably because the narrative is not as compelling as in other films.
Twister (1996) 57%
The 1990s and early 2000s were great years for Helen Hunt, who made a variety of productions leading to her winning, deservedly, an Oscar.
One of her films during this time was Twister, which, although was not the most recognized for its plot and quality, is undoubtedly one of the most remembered films by fans, who practically suffered nervous breakdowns while the tornado moved closer to the protagonists.
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) 79%
A tsunami puts an ocean liner at risk, in one of the top stories about the genre. In The Poseidon Adventure, people try to survive by trying to climb to the top of the ship, which manages to keep the tension up throughout the film.
The script has a solid structure, allowing more minutes to be spent on the tragedy and less time on-screen for extended scenes presenting the characters, thus achieving greater suspense, emotion and entertainment.
The impossible (2012) 81%
This film was highly praised by critics and audiences, who were amazed by the fact that the plot is based on real events. The tsunami that devastated Thailand and killed more than 230,000 people in 2004 is reflected on the big screen through the story of a family that, without any chance, manages to survive the devastating natural disaster.
The Spanish director J.A. Bayona was impressed by the story of survival and decided to make a film, which beyond the special effects, shows the human side of what happens when nature unbalances the world. Although it is a film that is less than 10 years old, it deserves its title as a classic due to its quality and the recognition it obtained via various international awards.
San Francisco (1936) 100%
With visual effects unusual for the time, this film successfully captivated both the audience and the critics.
The story focuses on the tragedy of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through a dramatic and romantic plot with three of the great actors of the time, Jeanette MacDonald, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.
