There’s something strangely exciting watch heartbreaking scenarios take place from the safety of a movie theater or living room. Filmmakers have made the most of this trend by bringing countless extraordinary doomsday schemes to life on the big screen.

Related: From ‘Independence Day’ to ‘2012’: Why Do We Love Disaster Movies?

Disaster movies continued to bring new interpretations of classic apocalypse tropes. Whether it’s extreme natural disasters, spine-chilling zombies, or sinister technology, there’s an on-screen apocalypse for everyone.

ten Nuclear nightmare – Terminator 2 (1991)

Sarah Connor’s Visceral Nuclear Nightmare was as alarming for his character as it was for viewers of Terminator 2. On a sunny day in Los Angeles, a beautiful scene of children laughing and playing in a playground is abruptly reversed when the blinding light of a nuclear bomb goes out in the distance.

A hellish landscape devours Los Angeles as the people in hiding evaporate in the shockwave, and the city turns to dust and flames. Robert and Denis Skotak of 4-Ward Production studied nuclear test footage to construct this gruesome scene.

9 Planetary collision – Melancholy (2011)

Lars Von from Trier haunting movie Melancholy takes a more poetic approach to the end of the world. A rogue planet is on a slow but steady collision course towards Earth in this scenario. Something about the gradual approach to complete planetary annihilation gives the film a softer tone not seen in most apocalyptic films.

Viewers can expect delicately crafted sequences that inject a warped sense of peace into the sad reality of Melancholy. The final scene is almost unbearable to watch, the visual aesthetic capturing an ending as beautiful as it is horrifying.

8 Rabies virus – 28 days later (2002)

With the countless takes on the zombie apocalypse, it remains a challenge to create a film that stands out from the rest. However, 28 days later captured the chaos and destruction of humanity in a way that will stick with you long after watching.

Related: The 22 Best Zombie Movies Of All TimeThe aggressive virus and the resulting uncontrollable violence among those infected is a disturbing sight of a zombie. Hand-held cameras and grainy visual effects mimic the utter anarchy the survivors go through – not only facing the infected, but also the remaining survivors they encounter.

7 New Ice Age – Two days later (2004)

In Two days later, a series of catastrophic climatic events drags the modern world into a new ice age. Huge hurricanes, massive rogue waves and destructive clusters of tornadoes are just a few of the natural disasters featured, evolving into three massive global super storms that instantly freeze everything – and anyone – in its path. .

New York becomes a frozen landscape and sets the stage for many breathtaking moments. Although scientifically the film carries little precision, its message about the devastating effects of climate change is still valid.

6 Nuclear fallout – When the wind blows (1986)

This hand-drawn animated film directed by Jimmy T. Murakami tells the story of an elderly couple trying to survive the fallout of a nuclear attack. Based on a comic book of the same name, this film is a powerful commentary on the atrocities of war.

Its deceptively innocent art style combined with the innocence of the sweet retired couple makes for a poignant film that cleverly navigates through gruesome subject matter.

5 Hidden Virus – Pontypool (2008)

Pontypool is a hidden gem in the zombie subgenre. The entire film takes place in one location, which makes the atmosphere extremely claustrophobic. Three radio hosts are confronted with a mysterious evil that infects the city of Pontypool with only a radio channel and each other to help them survive.

Without saying too much, the deadly virus spreads in unexpected ways that will leave you dumbfounded. The film does not rely on special effects but exploits a far scarier tactic – the power of the imagination.

4 Mutated Neutrinos – 2012 (2012)

2012 is a thrilling, action-packed disaster movie that features the sun’s “mutated neutrinos” as the new world-ending catastrophe. There are plenty of intense escape sequences – from escaping a life-changing volcanic explosion in an RV to driving through a monstrous earthquake in a limo.

Related: Natural Disasters: 8 Survival Tactics We Learned From The MoviesThe film offers viewers some of the most gloriously exaggerated views of natural disasters to grace screens. Despite being called the most absurd sci-fi movie of all time by NASA, it’s still a thrilling watch nonetheless.

3 Rise of the machines – animator (2003)

If you are a fan of The matrix series, then this anthology-like film is a must-see. animator is an animated film that depicts the story of man versus machine introduced by Jhe Matrix. Divided into nine short stories, it explores the fall of humanity and the rise of intelligent machines.

The film masters the ability to tell a complex story with plenty of detail and punctuation, with the animated style allowing for a more dynamic viewing experience. In the distant year 2090, animator proposes that humanity’s endless need to advance technology will ultimately be its downfall.

2 Asteroid – deep impact (1998)

deep impact is inspired by the true nature of the danger the Earth faces from comets and asteroids. Ever since geologists first theorized that the dinosaur extinction resulted from a colossal asteroid that changed life on Earth, the terrifying possibility of it happening again has crossed the minds of many.

A stellar cast plays out an incredibly realistic scenario in which humanity fights every attempt to prevent the deadly comet called “Wolf-Beiderman” from impact. The pressure gradually builds in an explosive final act that keeps you glued to the screen.

1 Extreme heat waves – The day the earth caught fire (1961)

Val Guest’s The 1961 disaster film deserves more recognition for its artfully original take on an overused trope. In the film, the Earth has moved out of orbit and moved closer to the Sun, causing a jolt of extreme heat waves.

Dread, panic and depression hang over the characters in the sweltering streets of London. The last hope for humanity and the entire planet lies in a last ditch attempt to restore Earth to its original orbit. The day the earth caught fire is a cautionary tale that rewrites the realm of possibilities for disaster films.

Next: The Best Disaster Movies Of The 21st Century (So Far)

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