20 Disaster Movies You Must See Before You Die

Dramatisations of recent real-life tragedies are always tricky - do you opt for artsy restraint or go the whole destructive hog and risk accusations of exploitation?

The Impossible pulls off an impressively nimble feat by refusing to shy away from the carnage of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which claimed over 200,000 lives, but roots it in a prevailing sense of humanity by focusing on one family's efforts to survive.

Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts (who received a Best Actress Oscar nomination) are terrific as the parents, while many will remember the film for Tom Holland's star-making performance as their young son.

It's powerful stuff, aided by phenomenal direction from J.A. Bayona, who would go on to become a blockbuster mega-director with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

It's not always easy to watch, but laudably splits the difference between serving as "entertainment" and rewarding human drama.