20 Disaster Movies You Must See Before You Die

19. Daylight

The Impossible Naomi Watts
Universal

Daylight wasn't critically or commercially successful upon release in 1996, but there's a shameless silliness to Rob Cohen's efficient action-thriller that's really quite charming.

Sylvester Stallone stars as the improbably-named EMS Chief Kit Latura, who ends up trapped inside a New York tunnel after both ends inexplicably collapse.

It's a classically ridiculous high-concept '90s disaster flick with little patience for logic but a lot of time for its cartoonish cast of characters, particularly the over-confident celebrity Roy Nord, played with hilarious relish by the great Viggo Mortensen.

The VFX have aged surprisingly well for the most part, the practical sets look fantastic, and you've got peak action hero Stallone giving it his all. It's not high art, but delivers compelling, fast-paced mayhem for most all of its 109 minutes.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.