12 Best Natural Disaster Movies Of All Time
Damn nature, you scary!
First things first, there is nothing good, fun or engaging about real life natural disasters. This however doesn't mean that natural disasters can't be good, fun and engaging film products. In fact a consistent factor with the majority of disaster films is just how damn entertaining they are.
The films in this list can really be split into two different categories- fiction and non-fiction. The fictional films are those great, big dumb action movies that you can turn your brain off and enjoy the excellent special effects and laugh along with the caricatures gracing the screen. The non fiction variety use their special effects to place you there with the victims, making you empathise with their journey while never cheapening the tragic aftermath.
For this list we are looking at the best films per natural disaster, while taking into account that some natural disasters have never had a good film made about them. (Still waiting for a good drought film.) The 'so bad they're good' films are not excluded from this list, but the film should be based on a real life natural disaster, hence no entries from the Sharknado franchise.
So get your snow jackets on, fire fighting equipment ready and get ready to blow your whistles for help, as we explore the best natural disaster films of all time.
12. Snowstorm - Everest
While not the best non fiction film of our time, this film still has an interesting story to tell, even if the special effects don't quite do the job. This 2015 film is at its most effective in getting the audience to understand the insane lengths people will go to reach the summit, and the significant business and personal implications of this.
The film takes us inside the camps of two very different groups with contrasting philosophies. The first is New Zealand company Adventure Consultants, led by experienced mountaineer and conservative minded guide Rob Hall, who is under pressure after a number of his clients from the previous season failed to reach the summit. This is in contrast to American rival Mountain Madness, led by the more daring Scott Fisher, who only takes on clients who don't need their 'hand held'.
With a logjam of hikers taking too long to get up the mountain and a snowstorm on its way, decisions are made with the heart and hip pocket rather than the head that ultimately lead to tragedy. While issues related to the mountain climbing business and overcrowding of Everest are always interesting, you never quite get the feeling that you are alongside them on the mountain. It's of no fault of the actors though, with the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke and Josh Brolin outstanding throughout.