Buzz
1. San Andreas (2015)
San Andreas (2015) opens with a terrifying landslide along a massive cliff. Initially, only the city of Nevada is impacted by the earthquake and tsunami, but soon, the entire San Francisco area is reduced to rubble. The disaster is attributed to the shifting of the San Andreas fault, but that hardly matters as towering skyscrapers crumble, and panicked citizens desperately try to escape, even trampling each other in their fight for survival.
Meanwhile, a rescue pilot scours the area in a helicopter, hoping to save his missing daughter before the approaching tsunami strikes. The devastation he witnesses — from collapsing buildings to aftershocks to massive waves — is meticulously designed, giving viewers the feeling of living through a real-life catastrophe.
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Tomatometer Score: 49%
Audience Score: 52%
2. The Wave (2015)
The Wave (2015) is the first disaster film ever made in Norway, and it quickly became the highest-grossing film of the year in this Nordic country. In The Wave, Kristian (Kristoffer Joner) is a geologist working at a disaster monitoring center in the Akneset region. The mountain ranges here have an unstable structure, constantly slipping, and if the collapse is severe enough, it could trigger a tsunami.
After landing a job at a chemical company, Kristian decides to move his family away from their home in the Geiranger Bay to a new residence closer to his workplace. Little do they know, disaster strikes just as they are preparing to leave. A massive landslide occurs, generating a tsunami wave that rises over 80 meters. The residents of Geiranger have only 10 minutes to reach safety before the deadly wave arrives, destroying everything in its path.
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Tomatometer Score: 67%
Audience Score: 61%
3. Noah (2014)
Noah (2014), directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring a stellar cast including Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, and Ray Winstone, presents a breathtaking portrayal of the biblical flood that cleanses Earth. Based on the story from the Bible, it follows Noah as he builds an ark to save the world's creatures from God's great deluge.
As Noah and his family embark on a journey to rescue the animals before the flood wipes out civilization, they face fear, faith, destruction, glory, and the overwhelming challenge of constructing a massive vessel. Along the way, Noah must confront both the good and evil within himself in order to make difficult decisions that will shape the fate of humanity.
IMDb Rating: 5.7
Tomatometer Score: 76%
Audience Rating: 41%
4. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004) tells the story of a climatologist, Professor Adrian, who tries to save the world — and his son, Sam — from a devastating series of natural disasters hitting New York City. The city is battered by torrential rain, struck by a 50-meter tsunami, and faced with abrupt and terrifying climate changes. Adrian, determined to protect his son, is the only one who heads north while everyone else evacuates south to escape the catastrophe.
Amid the catastrophic events threatening humanity, Adrian’s journey to the north and his desire to protect his son highlight the deeply emotional and human story behind the natural disasters. In The Day After Tomorrow, not only are there terrifying weather calamities, but also a poignant narrative about human compassion and the bond between father and son.
IMDb Rating: 6.4
Tomatometer Score: 45%
Audience Rating: 50%
5. The Wandering Earth (2019)
The Wandering Earth (2019) To ensure humanity's survival, nations around the globe unite to form an organization and execute a life-or-death mission: sending top astronauts into space to carry out a groundbreaking project. The goal is to move Earth out of the Sun’s orbit and transport it to a distant galaxy where the planet will be safe, and humankind can continue to thrive. Directed by Frant Gwo and starring Chuxiao Qu, Guangjie Li, and Jing Wu, The Wandering Earth (2019) achieved great success, grossing nearly $700 million at the box office against a production budget of $50 million. It was also ranked as the third highest-grossing foreign film in history. IMDb Rating: 6.0 Tomatometer Score: 71% Audience Rating: 48%
6. Crawl (2019)
Crawl (2019) is a film with a straightforward plot, centered around Haley and her father — both professional swimmers — as they battle dangerous creatures and a rising flood. Most of the story unfolds in Haley’s old house, where the basement becomes flooded with alligators. Yet, it's this very premise that allows Crawl to shine.
The film doesn’t stretch its narrative thin, instead focusing intensely on the survival struggle between humans and nature, making the most of its limited setting. Additionally, the film weaves in a powerful father-daughter relationship, which deepens the emotional impact of the survival ordeal. Crawl leaves a strong impression with its carefully crafted angles and meticulous pacing. The graphic violence and terror are portrayed so authentically that they elevate the tension, ensuring that the audience is on edge from start to finish.
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Tomatometer Score: 84%
Audience Rating: 75%
7. The Quake (2018)
The Quake (2018) is a terrifying disaster film that received highly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The story follows the life of geologist Kristian Eikjord after the tsunami event depicted in The Wave. In the aftermath of that disaster, Kristian's family struggles with various issues, leading to a painful divorce from his wife, Idun. Just when it seemed that the Eikjord family had endured their share of natural catastrophes, misfortune strikes again, thrusting them into yet another battle with nature.
The film begins at a slow pace, focusing on Kristian’s everyday life and the challenges he faces. However, everything changes when he receives a mysterious letter from Lindblom, propelling Kristian into a race against time as he fights both personal turmoil and the impending geological catastrophe. As he struggles with his past neglect of his family in favor of an elusive career, the tension escalates, and even minor tremors keep the audience on edge. The final scenes leave viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly following Kristian's every move.
IMDb Rating: 6.2
Tomatometer Score: 85%
Audience Rating: 54%
