Twister and 11 more of our favorite disaster movies

Disaster movies are a subgenre of action and adventure films in which the primary conflict for the characters is an ongoing disaster, such as meteors, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, pandemics, catastrophic climate change, etc. These natural or man-made disasters pose a serious threat on a small or worldwide scale, and characters have to do their best to survive against insurmountable odds.

With the highly anticipated disaster movie Twisters set to hit theaters on July 19, we thought now would be the perfect time to share some of our favorite disaster films. Of course, it would only make sense for us to start with easily one of the best modern disaster flicks, Twister.

Twister (1996)

Where to watch: Max, available to rent or buy on digital platforms

Twister centers around a group of storm chasers pursuing deadly tornadoes in the Midwest. They hope to test a revolutionary tornado research device that could improve warning systems and save lives. But in order for the device to work, it has to be deployed very close to a tornado, which ultimately puts the group's lives at risk. The cast is made up of Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes, and others.

2012 (2009)

Where to watch: Hulu, AMC+, available to rent or buy on digital platforms

Based on the 2012 phenomenon that the world would end in the year 2012, this disaster film follows multiple characters as they struggle to survive a series of global catastrophic events, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, etc. John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandiwe Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson all star in this epic science fiction disaster film.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Where to watch: Hulu, available to rent or buy on digital platforms

The Day After Tomorrow sees multiple characters struggling to survive catastrophic natural disasters caused by a sudden climate shift. Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ian Holm, Emmy Rossum, Sela Ward, and many others star in this disaster film.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on digital platforms

The Perfect Storm is based on the 1997 non-fiction book of the same name by Sebastian Junger. It revolves around the crew of a commercial fishing vessel lost at sea as they try their best to navigate and keep their ship afloat against a powerful and deadly storm. The talented cast includes George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, William Fichtner, Karen Allen, Bob Gunton, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, John C. Reilly, and many others.

Deep Impact (1998)

Where to watch: Pluto TV for free, Paramount+, available to rent or buy on digital platforms

When a comet is discovered to be hurtling toward Earth, the human race is forced to deal with its fears and prepare for the worst as it faces the potential end of the world. Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Maximilian Schell, and Morgan Freeman star in this sci-fi disaster film.

Geostorm (2017)

Where to watch: Available to rent or buy on digital platforms

In Geostorm, two estranged brothers, a skilled engineer and a high-ranking government official, are tasked with trying to save the world from an impending series of deadly weather events caused by a malfunction in a climate-controlling satellite system. The cast consists of Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Alexandra Maria Lara, Daniel Wu, Eugenio Derbez, Ed Harris, and Andy García.

Pompeii (2014)

Where to watch: Tubi for free, Amazon Prime Video, available to rent or buy on digital platforms

Based on the actual catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD that destroyed Pompeii, this disaster film is set in the ancient Roman city and centers around Milo, a gladiator who races to save his true love as Mount Vesuvius erupts and begins to engulf Pompeii. The cast is made up of Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, Jared Harris, and Kiefer Sutherland.

Here are five more of our favorite disaster movies below:

• Moonfall (2022) - Moonfall is available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
• Sharknado movies (2013-2018) - Sharknado is available to watch on Freevee for free with ads, while Sharknado 2: The Second One, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, Sharknado: The 4th Awakens, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming and The Last Sharknado: It's About Time can be watched on Amazon Prime Video.
• A Quiet Place movies (2018-) - A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II can be watched on Paramount+ right now with A Quiet Place: Day One expected to stream on Paramount+ at a later date.
• Train to Busan (2016) - You can watch Train to Busan on Tubi or Pluto TV for free.
• Titanic (1997) - Titanic is available to stream on Paramount+ and AMC+.

What are some of your favorite disaster films?

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