10 Scariest Natural Disaster Movies You Need To See

10. Volcano

Directed by Michael Jackson (not that one), Volcano centres around Mike Roark (Tommy Lee Jones), a seismologist tasked with diverting a lava path in LA.

Volcano is amazing at highlighting how scorching hot volcanic gases and lava can be. For this reason, there's a great sense of danger anytime the characters are remotely close to molten rock. In fact, one of the first scenes depicts a poor soul having half his face melted off simply by being near a volcanic vent.

Even though lava moves slowly, the threat it poses is clearly apparent. One of the most heartbreaking moments is when two firefighters get trapped in their fire engine while lava oozes towards them. With no means of escape, all the pair can do is scream helplessly before being incinerated.

Of course, it's impossible not to talk about Volcano without mentioning that scene. When a train is derailed, a MTA chairman, Stan, tries to carry an unconscious passenger off while the boiling heat sears the soles of his shoes. With magma surrounding the disintegrating vehicle, Stan realises there's no way he can jump to safety. Nevertheless, he leaps into the lava flow, allowing him to toss the passenger to safety while he himself is cooked alive.