6 Best Skyscraper Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 23, 2026

Glass and steel towers are perfect stages for disaster, action and wonder. Skyscraper has a security expert rescuing his family from the world’s tallest blazing tower, High-Rise has residents of a luxury tower descending into class warfare, and Man on Wire follows a French high-wire artist’s tightrope walk between the Twin Towers. World Trade Center, Die Hard and The Towering Inferno round out the six.

Skyscraper (2018)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A security expert must rescue his family from a burning, sabotaged high-rise.

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber · 1h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

High-Rise (2015)

TMDB ★ 5.7

A luxury apartment tower's residents descend into class-based chaos and violence as services break down.

Directed by Ben Wheatley · 1h 59m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel, Warriors and Gangsters Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Man on Wire (2008)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 100% Metacritic 89

A Frenchman's illegal high-wire walk between the Twin Towers, told like an actual heist.

Directed by James Marsh · 1h 34m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar46 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

World Trade Center (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Two Port Authority officers trapped in the rubble of the collapsing towers fight to survive and hold on to hope.

Directed by Oliver Stone · 2h 09m · Rated PG-13

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

Die Hard (1988)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 94% Metacritic 72

An off-duty New York cop battles terrorists who have taken over a Los Angeles skyscraper.

Directed by John McTiernan · 2h 12m · Rated R

Nominated for 4 Oscars10 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

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

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.

6 Best Skyscraper Movies

Skyscraper (2018)

High-Rise (2015)

Man on Wire (2008)

World Trade Center (2006)

Die Hard (1988)

The Towering Inferno (1974)

You might also like

19 Best Disaster Movies of All Time

6 Best Firefighter Movies of All Time

8 Best Steve McQueen Movies

8 Best Movies of 1974

250 Best Movies of All Time

6 Best Elevator and Trapped-in-a-Building Movies