Disaster movies come in many packages – it’s either due to Mother Nature’s ire against man’s mistreatment of her finite resources or due to man’s stupidity and lack of proper care and planning. Either way, when we think of disasters, we think of an unfortunate loss of lives and people scrambling to find a way to survive. It gets our adrenaline rushing, keeping us glued to the screen to figure out whether or not the protagonist and those around them survive the hectic ordeal and come out victorious in the end. It enhances our sense of achievement when something positive happens, giving us something to look forward to as well as giving us hope.
These best disaster movies on Netflix are absolutely thrilling in every frame and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
World War Z
This Brad Pitt film, depicting a sudden zombie apocalypse that takes over the world in the blink of an eye, is both thrilling and extremely disturbing to watch. Pitt plays a former UN investigator who has to go around the world to try and figure out a solution and the source of the viral outbreak, which takes him on a thrilling and dangerous ride, leaving us at the edge of our seats throughout. The zombies are extremely well-made, and their extremely fast-paced narrative keeps things moving from one horrifying reality to another.
As the Light Goes Out
This Hong Kong-Chinese disaster film will threaten your peace of mind as you see a group of firefighters trying to douse an uncontrolled blaze at a warehouse on Christmas Eve that threatens to engulf the entire city into darkness. The movie’s formula works in its favour, especially because it feels quite realistic. Plus, if you’re simply looking for a thrilling ride with friends or family, the movie also works in that aspect. It’s also a surprisingly emotional watch, wherein the characters and the situations that they find themselves in will touch your heart in a way, making this disaster film all the more watchable.
Pandora
This movie will hit many close to home as an innate fear in these particular dangerous times. When an earthquake destroys a nuclear power plant in a small town, the people are exposed to radiation, resulting in horrifying consequences. The movie deftly portrays the horror of these man-made problems and describes in excruciating detail why the nations’ over-dependence on nuclear power can just be humanity’s end. Based on the Fukushima disaster, the movie is eye-opening as it is fear-inducing, and you will find yourself constantly anxious as you see the dreadful consequences of human greed and the need for power.
Don’t Look Up
A satire on the very real and ever-impending climate crisis, this Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence starrer are definitely not for everyone. It divided fans and critics when it came out in 2021, and for good reason! However, considering how impending the effects of climate change are starting to get, the film feels rather scary and immediate, and its oddly relatable situations will make you laugh and uncomfortably scratch your heads!
The Wandering Earth
This Chinese is a spectacular look with a very interesting story, wherein scientists try to shift Earth away from an expanding sun while trying to avoid a collision with Jupiter! The interesting premise and dazzling special effects fill in any gaps that the story might bring forth and will result in a stunning and thrilling watch. Plus, there’s something extremely emotional about humanity taking their future into their own hands and trying to save the Earth from disaster that will make you root for the characters.
Have any other recommendations? Let us know in the comments below.