There has to be a reason why audiences are so fascinated with disaster films. Since decades ago, Hollywood has been keen on giving people what they want with classics that ranged from the Earthquake epic to the reinventions of Godzilla. Because yes, it's not only a Hollywood thing. In all cultures, people go in hordes to theaters in order to evidence cities be eradicated from phenomena that can be real or downright hilarious. With the advancement in technology, special effects got better, and the world was more realistically exterminated.
We've already gone through the best natural disaster films. But given the time of year, we gathered a few picks for the list of best films about hurricanes and storms. Some of these you will recognize, because they're already icons of this very successful subgenre of thriller cinema, but we made sure to include a few that perfectly represented the more serious aspect of the natural phenomena that can't be predicted, and their measurements aren't really relevant to the effect they cause. Let's take a look at what we found.
10 Twister
Jan de Bont's action thriller Twister is actually an entertaining film that critics didn't like so much back in the day. Heavily relying on its special effects seemed to be a cheap trick, but they were so good most of us were struck by the realism on the screen. It tells the story of tornado hunters trying to get as close as possible to the eye of the storm to implant devices that would give them information about tornados, allowing humanity to study them further.
9 Into the Storm
Into the Storm tells the story of a small town that, against all odds, gets struck with not one, but several tornadoes during a horrific natural event that gets registered by home video somehow. Yes, it's found footage and for fans of the genre, it was a blast. You'll probably remember that this is the film with the trailer showing a swarm of airplanes floating like mosquitoes as the mother of all tornadoes swept away civilization.
8 Hurricane
Hurricane, also known as Ouragan, l'odyssée d'un vent, is one of those documentaries that are as hard to find as they are essential. It tells the story of Earth coming to terms with a natural disaster that mutates from a tropical storm to a hurricane, and then it's a source of terror. Back in the day, people called it an immersive experience, but all we remember is the film being a terrifying real look at a devastating act of God, and the calm that comes after.
7 Crawl
In Crawl, a father and daughter and their dog get trapped as a tropical storm hits Florida and the devastation brings to the surface the animals Floridians are terrified of. Crawl starts like a regular thriller with far too many unrealistic threats menacing its characters, but then alligators arrive, and the raises are staked, and the film gets much, much better. Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper star in Alexandre Aja's film.
6 Bodies Bodies Bodies
This one is the most recent film on the list. Bodies Bodies Bodies tells the story of a group of young friends who decide to gather in a house while a tropical storm passes. Trapped in the house, they decide to play a game that turns the film into a whodunit mystery based on a very good screenplay. The big twist, in the end, is risky to the genre rules, but it's awesome, unexpected, and quite effective.
5 Geostorm
It's not very clear why so many critics hate disaster films. Geostorm was panned by critics in 2017 when it wasn't as bad as they painted out to be. Its story is interesting in terms of the disaster film genre. It's about a scientist trying to save humanity when climate-controlling satellites malfunction and Earth becomes the target of every single natural disaster out there. We insist this isn't as bad as everyone says it is.
4 When the Levees Broke
Spike Lee's four-part documentary When the Levees Broke is a staggering look at the effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans when the levees failed to do their job and the flood put the city underwater. Lee doesn't shoot from the outside but goes deep into the population's reaction to survival after the government failed to act properly. This is one of the best documentaries ever made.
3 Adrift
In Adrift, a couple gets stranded in the open sea after a hurricane hits and their boat is severely damaged. They must find a way to find land again as their radio is broken, and the boat's navigation system can't be used due to the damage. As no search parties show up, they decide to sail toward what they believe is Hawaii. This one is based on a true story, and people say it's very faithful to the real events
2 Hours
Hours is one of the last films to feature Paul Walker. It tells the story of a premature newborn's father who decides to do everything possible to keep the baby safe while Hurricane Katrina hits. It's a very tense thriller that fortunately doesn't rely too much on its special effects in its depiction of disaster, but more on the drama of the father trying to save his baby.
1 The Day After Tomorrow
A film that's a direct cousin of Geostorm, The Day After Tomorrow is another disaster film that puts humankind in peril as American scientists try to find a solution for whatever's happening. This time it's a shift in ocean circulation that causes catastrophic climate changes and a modern-day Ice Age. You probably remember this one because its cast includes some familiar faces like Jake Gyllenhall and Dennis Quaid.