With so much going on in the world, a good disaster movie has a wonderful predictability and entertainment value The more exaggerated a disaster seems, the more it pulls us away from the existing trials of life and pushes us to extremes beyond what could possibly happen That is the appeal of disaster films Add to that brilliant special effects and a brave hero who saves a few survivors, and you have a recipe for a great movie-going experience
Netflix has some of the best disaster movies Whether it's a flood, the destruction of the world, or a fire in the world's tallest skyscraper, you can enjoy any disaster movie These movies will keep you on the edge of your seat and at least reassure you that what you see on the screen is not what is happening outside your window
In this disaster film, a team of scientists discovers that the Earth's core is heating up due to a massive solar flare Ultimately, the entire crust becomes severely unstable, causing a massive tsunami that threatens the entire planet In preparation for this apocalyptic event, leaders from around the world work together to build an ark to save a select few
John Cusack stars as author Jackson Curtis, who flees the terrible event with his ex-wife, their two children, and her new husband Chiwetel Ejiofor gives a fine performance as Adrian Helmsley, the scientist who sounds the alarm Oliver Platt contrasts as Karl Anheuser, a cynical government official whose main goal is to save the most important person The film features many familiar faces and enjoys over-the-top special effects
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In the film "Don't Look Up," the entire planet is threatened by a comet that threatens to annihilate the earth Kate DiBiaschi (Jennifer Lawrence) and Dr Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) discover the impending doom and go on a media tour to bring the news to Earth Unfortunately, thanks to other priorities, no one seems to care, including the President of the United States (Meryl Streep) and her Chief of Staff's son (Jonah Hill)
More than its effectiveness, this disaster movie focuses on the message that our society is not paying attention to the pressing issues at hand But the underlying themes are deftly played out, thanks to a blend of comedy and action, and a healthy sense of urgency that is common in disaster movies
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This list of disaster movies would not be complete without including at least one starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson In Skyscraper, Johnson's Will Sawyer is hired to review the security of the world's tallest building in Hong Kong But when a fire breaks out in that building, he is called to account His mission is not only to clear his name, but also to save his family, who are unable to leave the burning building
For lovers of disaster movies, this film has a lot to offer, from the exciting action to the cool downtown scenery to the realistic effects of buildings going up in flames The atmosphere is similar to that of "Die Hard," making it highly entertaining
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A diamond mine in remote Canada collapses and Mike McCann, played by Liam Neeson, is hired to drill wells for the mine Joining him are his brother Gerty McCann (Marcus Thomas) and a native woman named Tantoo (Amber Midthunder) However, all this trucking must be done over the frozen sea, which makes their journey even more intense
Although "Ice Road" is more of an action film, it has the feel of a classic disaster movie as Liam Neeson navigates the treacherous ice road and fulfills his mission to save the miners The film was written and directed by Jonathan Hensley, known for action films such as "Armageddon" and "Die Hard with a Vengeance "
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If you can't get enough of tsunamis, you should check out "The Wave" The film is based on the idea of a Norwegian mountain, Orkneset, collapsing into the Geiranger Fjord (a deep, narrow body of water), causing a massive flood
The main focus is geologist Christian Eikjold (Christopher Jonner), who is caught up in the phenomenon while trying to move out of the area with his family He is separated from his wife Idunn (Ane Dahl Torp) and their children, and she ends up staying at a hotel A wall of water comes crashing down on the small town, adding to the chaos
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"Melancholia" uses the impending impact of a mysterious planet on Earth to present a deeper meaning that will resonate long after it ends Kirsten Dunst plays Michael, played by Alexander Skarsgård, and his new wife Justine But things are complicated in light of the tragic events that are about to take place The film shifts focus to the story of Justine's sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), who struggles with the possibility of the end of life on earth as we know it
The film is not a typical disaster movie, focusing more on the emotions of the characters The cinematography is also excellent in capturing the emotions of the characters Director Lars von Trier is known for his thought-provoking and rather dark films, so this will give you an idea of what to expect from this remarkable but somber disaster movie
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It's always enthralling to see a disaster movie based on a true story The Impossible takes us on a journey experienced by the Belon Alvarez family, who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Marie (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) were on Christmas vacation in Thailand with their two children But before they can relax, a tsunami hits and the family is separated
The film is an excellent depiction of the survivors' real-life experiences Watts was nominated for an Academy Award, which is well deserved considering how skillfully she portrayed the roller coaster of emotions experienced by her character Get your tissues ready, because you will cry throughout this film
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