There used to be no greater spectacle in cinema than the disaster movie. Often big-budget movies designed with the sole purpose of causing as much destruction as possible, these films found their characters trying to survive increasingly dangerous situations. While some of these movies would feature disasters caused by humans, such as buildings on fire and plane crashes, usually these films would see their stars at the mercy of the elements.

The genre is not as popular as it used to be, as superhero movies and the Transformers series seem to have a monopoly on mass-scale destruction on the big screen. That does not stop disaster movies from being popular, however, and a survey on Letterboxd decided to find the best disaster movies of all time. The top disaster movies that are most mentioned on Letterboxd contain the usual suspects, while also offering a few surprises as its entries cover all manner of catastrophes. Whether it is the world-destroying Deep Impact, or Volcano, which sees L.A. flooded with rivers of lava, there is still an audience keen to see out-of-control weather lay waste to humanity. If the weather outside has got you down, throw on one of these disaster flicks and reassure yourself that things could be worse.

20 'Annihilation' (2018)

Director: Alex Garland

Far from a typical disaster movie, Annihilation is a psychological sci-fi horror film that follows a group of scientists tasked with entering "The Shimmer," a mysterious zone filled with mutating plants and animals. As they travel deeper and deeper into the destructive and unexplainable zone, they come to realize just how much danger surrounds them at every corner, as they draw closer and closer to the powerful force at the center of it all.

While there are plenty of disaster visuals and wildly destructive concepts inside of The Shimmer itself, the greatest strengths of Annihilation come from its character dynamics and overarching themes. The film is dense with philosophical themes and messages that can be interpreted in many different ways, yet it's the inherent terror and nightmarish possibilities of The Shimmer that help tie it all together. It's certainly not the first film people would think of when considering the best disaster movies, but it earns its place with its unique take on a world-destroying disaster. – Robert Lee

19 'Godzilla' (1954)

Director: Ishiro Honda

While Godzilla as a character has become a beloved icon of disaster movies, with many memorable film outings over the years, nothing can truly top the masterfully crafted original film. The original Godzilla follows the 50-meter-tall monster breaking havoc across Japan following his awakening from several shops exploding near Odo Island. The citizens and leaders of Japan are forced to do all that they can to stop the destruction of Godzilla, by any means necessary.

Godzilla is easily one of the most iconic and influential disaster movies of all time, influencing far more than the multitude of sequels, but acting as one of the quintessential beginnings for giant monster movies as a whole. While giant monster disaster movies certainly existed before Godzilla, such as the case with the original King Kong, Godzilla redefined exactly what was possible with the genre, providing thematic depth and powerful emotion to the genre. – Robert Lee

18 'Independence Day' (1996)

Director: Roland Emmerich

When aliens finally arrive at Earth and declare war on humanity, it falls to a group of humans to turn the tide in our favor. Following the exploits of the U.S. President, a scientist, a fighter pilot, and other ragtag survivors, Independence Day showcases humanity's insurmountable willpower in the face of impossible odds. While director Roland Emmerich has made a name for himself as the go-to director for massive-budget disaster films, Independence Day is the film that put him on the map for audiences across the world.

Beloved by a large audience, Independence Day finds its way onto many lists of top ten disaster movies thanks to its sheer scale. It is the quintessential big-budget disaster movie, featuring cutting-edge special effects for the time and stacked with an all-star cast that includes Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith. Even to this day, the powerful shot of the white house being destroyed by the alien ship is one of the most iconic and recognizable disaster movie moments in film history.

17 'Deep Impact' (1998)

Director: Mimi Leder

When a dangerous comet is discovered to be speeding toward Earth, scientists scramble to predict how much damage the asteroid will cause. As it is revealed that the comet will wipe out humanity, the government scrambles to concoct a plan that will save as many people as possible. At the same time, it covers a variety of other stories, including a reporter looking to get the scoop of the century, as it sees how everyday people are reacting and handling the terrifying possibility of a world-ending disaster.

Releasing the same summer as Armageddon, Deep Impact did not achieve that movie's box office success but was classified by professionals as being more scientifically accurate. While it can be a tad melodramatic at times, Deep Impact still offers enough disaster movie thrills for fans to enjoy. Especially compared to a number of disaster movies whose focus is much more on wild, unbelievable disasters, Deep Impact's focus on characters and realism has made it highly commendable over the years.

Watch on Paramount+

16 'Volcano' (1997)

Director: Mick Jackson

After an earthquake strikes Los Angeles, it reveals a dormant volcano underneath the city. As the city officials fail to act in time, the volcano erupts and causes havoc as molten lava flows down the city streets. It falls to a seismologist and other specialists to save the day, having to work together with each other to stop the volcano from completely consuming all of Los Angeles before it's too late.

While Volcano falls into the same cheesy tropes that are common in the disaster genre, it still provides enough thrills to keep things entertaining. The lava effects are poor by today's standards, but the audacity of a volcano erupting in Los Angeles makes this disaster flick worth watching. The film is living proof that a disaster film doesn't have to be realistic or even have timeless effects to be memorable, as it is still full of creative sequences and thrilling moments throughout.

Watch on Starz

15 'San Andreas' (2015)

Director: Brad Peyton

When a series of earthquakes wreak havoc across the West Coast of the United States, it threatens to tear the country apart. With their daughter trapped in the center of the carnage, rescue pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife Emma (Carla Gugino) are forced to reunite to save her. As the disasters continue to pile-up across the state, the danger increases around every corner and the chances of survival are close to zero.

Like plenty of Johnson's movies, San Andreas is big dumb fun. It is one of the top disaster movies of recent years and features plenty of destruction as earthquakes and debris tear buildings and roads to pieces. It's far from what could be considered high art, but its usage of CGI to create massive spectacle as well as its simple yet effective story made it an effective and simple popcorn flick over the years. A sequel has been rumored for years but has yet to enter production.

Watch on Tubi

14 'Melancholia' (2011)

Director: Lars von Trier