Top 10 Disaster Movies Of The 21st Century Ranked

On the surface, you might not realize that there have been so many standout disaster movies in the 21st century. The genre is most famous for its films from the ’90s, like Armageddon, Deep Impact, and Independence Day, so it’s easy to forget the movies that have come after those.

There have been more than 20 years in the 21st century, so there are some great disaster movies from this era, even if they were overlooked. It’s also interesting to see how the genre has evolved. Some of the best from this century are animated, feature political satire, and one even worked as a preview to a real life disaster.

San Andreas (2015)

Considering his status as one of the biggest stars in action movies, it was only a matter of time before Dwayne Johnson entered the world of disaster flicks. He did so with a few movies in the 2010s, including the video game adaptation of Rampage.

However, that was more of a fun monster movie than a disaster film. A few years prior, he led San Andreas, which was more of a traditional disaster movie. In it, an earthquake caused by the San Andreas Fault rocks the West Coast and Johnson’s Ray must save his family from it all.

Reviews were middling for San Andreas but it does feature the disaster flick action that fans of the genre come to see. Johnson is also joined by a strong supporting cast including Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, and Paul Giamatti. Fans have wanted a San Andreas sequel for years but it doesn’t seem likely.

Greenland (2020)

One of the best reviewed disaster movies in recent memory is Greenland. The trailer was intriguing, showing people living their everyday lives when things get upended by the arrival of a comet that could destroy the planet.

While the film delivered on that, the focus was actually quite different when it came to the film itself. There was a lot more time given to the family dynamics involving the protagonist (Gerard Butler), his wife (Morena Baccarin), and their son than to anything relating to the ongoing disaster.

It’s actually that aspect that helped Greenland become a hit with critics, who praised the drama with the family. That said, it does fall behind some other disaster movies since most people come to these films to see the chaos over everything. It’s a better movie than a lot of other disaster films but it lacks the big disaster moments.

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Not all disaster movies are about things like earthquakes, tsunamis, comets, or tornadoes, which is actually a theme of 21st-century films from the genre. Deepwater Horizon is one of those, instead telling the story of the real life oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico.

This is the rare biographical disaster movie as Deepwater Horizon looks at the harrowing day in April of 2010 when the titular drilling rig exploded and caused the worst oil spill in United States history. It’s a different kind of film in the genre, yet it’s one that must be watched.

Reviews for Deepwater Horizon were very strong, currently holding an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is higher than most disaster movies. It was also nominated for two Oscars and features a strong cast including Mark Wahlberg, Keri Russell, Kate Hudson, and Dylan O’Brien.

Contagion (2011)

At the time of its release, Contagion wasn’t considered a disaster movie and is classified as more of a thriller. However, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and it made everyone look back at this Steven Soderbergh film with a new light.

Contagion has an eerily similar premise to what happened with the Coronavirus, as it follows several people after a highly contagious virus is spread throughout the world. From people in hazmat suits to folks wearing facemasks, this is a difficult film to watch after what we all went through in 2020.

The film even introduces a vaccine to help stop the spread of the virus. It goes to show again that a disaster comes in many different forms, especially given how the events of Contagion halted so much around the world. That said, Contagion is a really good movie with a stellar cast.

The Impossible (2012)

Along the same lines as Deepwater Horizon, 2012’s The Impossible takes a look at a disaster that actually happened in the real world. This one centers on the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and is based on the experiences of María Belón and her family.

The Impossible is actually an English language film from Spain. It features a tremendous cast including Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, and the big screen debut of Tom Holland. In fact, Watts was even nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her performance.

While it’s not quite as well known as some other disaster movies, The Impossible was a critical darling. It was said that while the screenplay wasn’t anything special, the spectacle of the disaster scenes and the acting by the cast did more than enough of a carry job to make The Impossible something you need to see.

Don’t Look Up (2021)

It’s rare that a disaster movie finds itself in the conversation for Best Picture at the Academy Awards but that’s just what Don’t Look Up managed to pull off. Part of the reason why is that it’s not at all a traditional disaster film. Don’t Look Up is more of a comedy than anything else.

The film follows two astronomers who learn that a planet-killer comet is on the way, only for people in power to dismiss them and use the opportunity to make power grabs and profit from it. Don’t Look Up is meant to be a satirical look at the global political landscape and is an allegory for things like climate change.

Although it was nominated for Best Picture, Don’t Look Up received mixed reviews. However, that mixed response is part of why it’s a must-see, so you can form your own opinion. You can’t go wrong with Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the rest of this movie’s brilliant cast.

The Wave (2015)

Another international disaster movie that was met with strong critical acclaim is The Wave. Due to it being a Norwegian film, many people likely overlooked it to avoid having to read subtitles but those who gave it a chance found something great.

The premise of The Wave is simple, depicting the collapse of the Åkerneset crevice in Møre og Romsdal, resulting in an avalanche that leads to a tsunami that rises over 250 feet into the air. However, that simple setup is perfect for a disaster movie.

The Wave doesn’t shy away from showing you the harrowing aspects of this tsunami, which is what most people want from a disaster movie. Although it’s not all that well known in the United States, The Wave was in contention for a Best International Feature Oscar nomination and holds an 83% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Suzume (2022)

It’s not often that you get an animated disaster movie. Suzume brings us just that and is actually part of a series of films unofficially known as the Disaster Trilogy. All three are directed by Makoto Shinkai and each is actually a fantastic movie on its own.

Your Name is a masterpiece on its own, while Weathering with You is something of a hidden gem. However, Suzume has the most disaster movie aspects of them all, as it follows a girl and a stranger who work together to stop a supernatural worm that causes earthquakes in their town.

Suzume is a disaster film that doesn’t set itself in realism. The movie uses its animated medium to tell a fantasy story filled with some of the most extravagant effects you could imagine. It’s the kind of thing that is at its best in animation and helped Suzume earn seven Annie Award nominations.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

There is no name more associated with disaster movies than Roland Emmerich. It’s his go-to genre as he’s directed Independence Day, Godzilla, 2012, White House Down, and Moonfall, among others. His best endeavor in the genre of the 21st century is The Day After Tomorrow.

Based on the book The Coming Global Superstorm, the film showcases the effects on the world after the Atlantic Ocean circulation is disrupted, leading to extreme weather events and something of a new ice age.

While there are certainly disaster movies with better reviews, The Day After Tomorrow gives us everything that made the genre special. From a tornado outbreak to a tsunami that rocks New York to the story of family members trying to find and save each other, it’s a quintessential disaster movie.

Twisters (2024)

1996’s Twister is undoubtedly one of the best disaster movies of all time and is a classic of its decade. Still, it was surprising to see a sequel get made nearly three decades later and it was even more surprising that it was just as good, if not better.

A lot of legacy sequels can disappoint, including the disaster movie follow-up Independence Day: Resurgence. However, Twisters took what worked in the first film and gave us more of the same with charismatic characters and wild tornado action.

Twisters is boosted by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell as the leads and features one of the more intense opening scenes in any disaster movie. The film sits at 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and was a blockbuster success while in theaters.