20 Disaster Movies You Must See Before You Die

20. 2012

While hardly one of the more sophisticated entries into the genre, Roland Emmerich's 2012 thrives on the strength of its absolute, absurd maximalism.

Centered around the prophesised belief that a cataclysmic chain of events were set to occur in 2012, Emmerich's film - oddly released in 2009 - is a 158-minute collage of mayhem that fitfully fleets between characters and set-pieces.

Earthquakes, volcano eruptions, megatsunamis, and global flooding are the order of the day in a film that's excessive and wildly overlong without question, but benefits from its sheer, unbridled commitment to the bit, aided by entertaining performances from the likes of John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Everyone knew what they were getting into with Emmerich by this point, and he absolutely delivered on chaotic expectations.