Disaster movies have long been a staple of Hollywood.
The first disaster film dates back to 1912 with a movie recounting the tragedy of Titanic.
The genre really became popular in the 1970s with movies likeAirportandThe Towering Inferno, with their star-studded ensemble casts.
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The film was released in the same year asits twin movieVolcanostarringTommy Lee Jones.
The visual effects, especially for its time, still hold up.
Even when it gets a bit over-the-top, it still feels thrilling, unlike today’s CGI effects.
Image via Universal Pictures.
It may not redefine the genre, but it wasone of the decade’s most entertaining disaster films.
While it doesnt exactly aim for scientific accuracy, the film delivers a loud, chaotic and jaw-dropping spectacle.
Directed byMichael Bay, the film also starsBen Affleck,Liv Tyler, andBilly Bob Thornton.
Even with the equally entertainingDeep Impactreleased in the same year,Armageddonis the epitome of ’90s disaster spectacle.
It’s over-the-top, emotionally charged, and expectedly loud.
Michael Bay delivers an event that became a blueprint for his subsequent explosive films.
In return, the film helped shape how modern blockbusters mix emotion, absurd premise and sheer cinematic bombast.
6’The Impossible' (2012)
Directed by J.A.
The Impossibleis the only film on this list that’sbased on a real disaster.
The film has a grounded and intimate approach while showing the devastating events.
The tsunami sequence, which was achieved through mostly practical effects, is brutally realistic and technically astonishing.
However, the film stays respectful and never turns into an exploitative spectacle.
Image via 20th Century Fox
Naomi Watts heart-wrenching performance was nominated for an Oscar, whileTom Holland shines in his breakout role.
The tornado sequences still hold up remarkably well and have influenced countless depictions of storms in film and TV.
28 years later, the film is followed up by a sequel,TwistersstarringGlen PowellandDaisy Edgar-Jones.
It’s the only disaster film that everyone on the planet has experienced.
This movie redefined the modern blockbuster disaster flick.
With its jaw-dropping effects, large-scale destruction, and patriotism,Independence Daybecame a pop culture touchstone.
The film’sWhite House explosionis so iconic, blending practical miniatures and CGI.
The film also launched Will Smith into superstardom.
It set the standard foralien invasion filmsand big budget filmmaking as a whole.
The film’s success is undeniable and unreplicable, as the sequelIndependence Day: Resurgenceended up panned.
As the passengers celebrate, a massive undersea earthquake triggers a tsunami that flips the ship completely upside down.
During its grand opening, a small electrical fault ignites a fire on one of the lower floors.
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The Towering Infernohelped definethe genres golden erawhen it was released in the same year asEarthquakeandAirport 1975.
The film earned eight Oscar nominations and won three, including Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
Its thrilling, tragic, and unshakably essential in shaping the disaster movie blueprint.
KEEP READING:The 10 Worst Disaster Movies of the Last 25 Years, Ranked
Image via Columbia Pictures
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Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Image via 20th Century Studios
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Image via 20th Cetury Fox
