Disaster movies come in many variations. But whether it's a devastating natural disaster or an impending world-ending meteor on a direct collision course with Earth, they're always gripping and entertaining to watch, at least from the comfort of your home or at a local cinema to enjoy those immersive special effects.

Disaster movies have always been a popular subgenre for their ability to grip an audience. They may be exaggerated or, at times, unbelievable, but there's just something about them that effortlessly keeps people coming back for more. Over the last 25 years, catastrophic features like 's retelling of one of the worst tsunamis on record and the fictionalized that saw up against a colossal California-wide earthquake have become just two examples of disaster films that could be considered some of the most gripping go-to's in the genre. They're not everybody's cup of tea, but for those who like an edge-of-your-seat viewing experience, these ten are some of the best from the last two and a half decades of disastrous cinema.

2012 was the year the world was rumored to end. The planet's apparent impending doom was no secret, and many an exaggerated depiction was made of the year the world was theorized to end as we knew it. One of the most memorable, for reasons good and bad, depictions of the fate that never was came three years before from director .

The appropriately named may have suffered from poor pacing, but as a disaster movie, it's arguably one of the best "throw everything at the viewers all at once" features. A lot happens, and there are times when the death and destruction are nonstop. But from the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano to mega-tsunamis, . It just could have benefitted from a little more focus on something other than the constant impending threat of the end of days.

Disaster movies tend to follow one rule: cause as much destruction as possible and destroy anything in the path of the disaster. Because of this, they aren't widely known for their unique plots or out-of-this-world storytelling capabilities. In circumstances like this, movies rely primarily on their visuals and ability to sell the destruction they're depicting on screen. somewhat falls into this category.

Overall, this 2004 feature starring a young and is not a bad watch from a visual standpoint. In fact, . The film's dialogue and character development may falter in places. However, in regards to being one of the best disaster movies of the last twenty-five years, its cinematography and direction surrounding its visual storytelling are up there as some of the most impressive, and ever since hitting streaming, people can't get enough of it.

. The movie's impressive visuals and special effects effortlessly depict mayhem in the wake of multiple high-magnitude earthquakes, leaving audiences wondering how the ensuing carnage will come to an end.

The movie follows members of a separated family as they attempt to find each other through the destruction, with a side plot thrown into the mix here and there. For some, it may not appear as anything more than just another action-packed feature with . However, as a disaster movie, it does exactly what a film of its kind should: cause chaos with a dramatized natural disaster.

Telling the story of the Andrea Gail fishing vessel that became lost at sea in the Perfect Storm of 1991, this dramatized biopic depicts what happened to the six-man crew aboard the doomed ship, both in the run-up to the cyclone and after things took a nasty turn.

The film, named after the titular 90s storm, stars , , , and many more and takes audiences on a stomach-turning final voyage with the crew of the Andrea Gail. Knowing the story is one thing, but it still manages to keep viewers hoping it'll all work out in the end despite the fateful outcome. , allowing it to stand out as one of the best disaster movies of the last two decades.

is a disaster movie with a meteorite at the center of Earth's imminent threat. It's one of those movies where the world actually ends, and while it could be pre-judged as a stereotypical disaster flick, it's one of the most memorable of its kind for some undeniable strengths.

produces and stars as a member of the Garrity family, one of the lucky few chosen for emergency evacuation and shelter when a planet-killing comet suddenly chooses Earth as its final destination. The movie's out-of-this-world cinematography, solid pacing, and enthralling plot help make it stand out as one of the best in recent years. It sat well with both audiences and critics, who praised its visuals and character development. .

In 1996, a disaster movie by the name of released to mixed reviews from critics. Praised for its visual effects yet backlashed for a poor plot, the film began as nothing more than just another disaster flick. However, fast forward nearly thirty years, and out comes , and no, that extra letter in the title isn't the only thing they added to improve on the original.

This modernized standalone sequel may not have hit the nail on the head for everyone. But it's one of the highest-rated disaster films from the last two decades, with a combined Tomato and Popcornmeter score of 165%, an impressive feat for a film of its kind. and a fitting tribute to what has become a classic 90s blockbuster.

Another of the highest-rated disaster movies in recent years comes with a Norwegian feature from director .is a 2015 foreign disaster film capable of giving anyone who watches it constantly rising anxiety levels from beginning to end.

Clever shots and camera angles make it well worth the watch. Despite just missing out on an Academy Award nomination from Norway, The Wave is more than deserving of the praise and acclaim it received. , even if just rewatching a scene from the film. It effortlessly and terrifyingly showcases the sheer unwavering force Mother Nature is willing to throw at any given moment.

tells the harrowing true story depiction of the worst environmental disaster in United States history. What occurred caused the deaths of eleven people and the injuries of a further seventeen on board the titular oil rig, The Deepwater Horizon. , and the 2016 film captures the turmoil of the incident from every angle.

Fronted by a team of incredible actors, including Mark Wahlberg, , , , and many more, the story of the doomed oil rig was executed with fantastic performances of those affected in real life, gripping storytelling, and the edge of your seat visuals to fully immerse the watcher in what happened on that fateful day in April 2010. It remains a deeply emotional retelling of a deadly disaster that could arguably have been avoided.

is a disaster movie that may hit a little too close to home for some people since the COVID-19 virus struck five years ago. Unsurprisingly, many of those who've seen this deadly infection-based disaster film did so in 2020 when the world was in a real-life lockdown and going through something eerily similar.

This 2011 feature is fronted by an incredibly talented cast, including , , , , , and many more, and it is a recipe for anxiety and fear from the moment a watcher presses play to the moment the credits roll. It centers on the aftermath of a woman who develops an unknown illness and dies as a result and the all too familiar ensuing chaos and panic that follows as more and more cases are reported. .

Starring Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, and a fourteen-year-old Tom Holland in his feature film debut, this 2012 retelling of one family's incredible survival during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami has become one of the most emotionally impactful disaster movies ever made. It's raw, heartbreaking, and effortlessly shows the sheer brutality and devastation that follows the wake of a tsunami.

Centering on the Bennett family, a dramatized version of the Belón family, upon whom the film is based, The Impossible tells the real-life story of how, against all odds, this group of two adults and three young kids survived one of the most deadly natural disasters in history. The visuals have audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish, and some moments can be downright difficult to watch. But for a disaster movie to have that much of an emotional impact on its viewers only proves how well this story was portrayed.

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