19 Best Disaster Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · July 25, 2026

Disaster movies are a good excuse to watch a big cast have the worst day of their lives. A fire in a skyscraper (The Towering Inferno), a capsized ocean liner (The Poseidon Adventure), a bomber on a snowy night at the airport (Airport): the 1970s pretty much wrote the playbook. Titanic tops the list as a doomed romance set against a real tragedy, while Apollo 13 and Sully prove that true stories can be every bit as tense as the made-up ones.

Titanic (1997)

01

Titanic (1997)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 88% Metacritic 75

A doomed shipboard romance set against history's most famous maritime disaster.

Directed by James Cameron · 3h 14m · Rated PG-13

Won 11 Oscars126 wins & 84 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Airport (1970)

02

Airport (1970)

IMDb ★ 6.6 RT 72% Metacritic 42

A blizzard, a bomber and a stowaway all converge on one chaotic night at a major airport.

Directed by George Seaton · 2h 17m · Rated G

Won 1 Oscar5 wins & 19 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Towering Inferno (1974)

03

The Towering Inferno (1974)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 69% Metacritic 69

A fire breaks out during a skyscraper's star-studded opening gala, trapping guests at the top.

Directed by John Guillermin · 2h 45m · Rated PG

Won 3 Oscars13 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

04

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 82% Metacritic 70

The survivors of a capsized ocean liner climb upward through the wreckage looking for a way out.

Directed by Ronald Neame · 1h 57m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar5 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Apollo 13 (1995)

05

Apollo 13 (1995)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 92% Metacritic 78

A moon mission's crew has to improvise a way home after an oxygen tank explosion cripples their spacecraft.

Directed by Ron Howard · 2h 20m · Rated PG

Won 2 Oscars31 wins & 59 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sully (2016)

06

Sully (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 85% Metacritic 74

A pilot's emergency river landing saves every passenger, then triggers an investigation questioning his judgement.

Directed by Clint Eastwood · 1h 36m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar14 wins & 36 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Impossible (2012)

07

The Impossible (2012)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 81% Metacritic 73

A family is separated and searches for each other after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Directed by J. A. Bayona · 1h 53m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar28 wins & 70 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Angel Studios, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Outbreak (1995)

08

Outbreak (1995)

IMDb ★ 6.6 RT 59% Metacritic 64

An Army virologist races to contain a lethal airborne virus before it spreads beyond one small town.

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen · 2h 09m · Rated R

5 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Contagion (2011)

09

Contagion (2011)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 85% Metacritic 70

A fast-spreading virus is tracked from patient zero through a global scramble for a vaccine.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh · 1h 46m · Rated PG-13

2 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

World War Z (2013)

10

World War Z (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 67% Metacritic 63

A former UN investigator races the globe to find the origin of a fast-spreading zombie pandemic.

Directed by Marc Forster · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

3 wins & 25 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Armageddon (1998)

11

Armageddon (1998)

IMDb ★ 6.7 RT 42% Metacritic 42

A crew of oil drillers is trained as astronauts to blow up an asteroid heading for Earth.

Directed by Michael Bay · 2h 31m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 4 Oscars15 wins & 41 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Deep Impact (1998)

12

Deep Impact (1998)

IMDb ★ 6.3 RT 45% Metacritic 40

Humanity races to stop or survive a comet on a collision course with Earth.

Directed by Mimi Leder · 2h 02m · Rated PG-13

5 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Independence Day (1996)

13

Independence Day (1996)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 77% Metacritic 59

Earth unites against an alien invasion fleet bent on total annihilation.

Directed by Roland Emmerich · 2h 25m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar35 wins & 35 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

14

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 46% Metacritic 47

A sudden climate shift plunges the world into an instant, catastrophic ice age.

Directed by Roland Emmerich · 2h 04m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 BAFTA Award6 wins & 12 nominations total

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, FXNow, AMC · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Twister (1996)

15

Twister (1996)

IMDb ★ 6.6 RT 68% Metacritic 68

Storm chasers race a series of tornadoes to test an experimental data-collection device.

Directed by Jan de Bont · 1h 53m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 2 Oscars11 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, TNT, TBS, tru TV, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

2012 (2009)

16

2012 (2009)

IMDb ★ 5.9 RT 40% Metacritic 49

A string of global catastrophes sends humanity into a last-ditch scramble to survive on giant arks.

Directed by Roland Emmerich · 2h 38m · Rated PG-13

5 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, Philo, YouTube TV, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

San Andreas (2015)

17

San Andreas (2015)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 48% Metacritic 43

A massive earthquake along the San Andreas Fault forces a rescue pilot to save his own family.

Directed by Brad Peyton · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

2 wins & 10 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dante's Peak (1997)

18

Dante's Peak (1997)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 34% Metacritic 43

A volcanologist tries to convince a small town to evacuate before a dormant volcano erupts.

Directed by Roger Donaldson · 1h 48m · Rated PG-13

4 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, AMC, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Volcano (1997)

19

Volcano (1997)

IMDb ★ 5.6 RT 48% Metacritic 54

A volcanic eruption beneath Los Angeles threatens to bury the city in lava.

Directed by Mick Jackson · 1h 44m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.