7 Highest-Rated Disaster Movies on Netflix to Stream in April

From ticking time bombs to inevitable doom, these films highlight the power of nature and the power of human determination. Grab your snacks and take a seat, but prepare to be on the edge.

1. The Ice Road (2021)

IMDb 5.6/10

Liam Neeson takes the lead in an icy and nail-biting rescue mission. Set against the picturesque backdrop of northern Canada, he and his fellow big-rig drivers must race against time across a frozen lake to deliver equipment needed to save a group of trapped miners.

Like any Neeson-centric film, The Ice Road is thrilling, action-packed and wildly entertaining, especially with the revelation that avalanches and thin ice aren’t the only deadly threats present.

2. 2012 (2009)

IMDb 5.8/10

World-ending prophecies and explosive natural disasters come together in this $200 million movie. It's clear that much of the budget went to special effects, as audiences witness tsunamis engulfing mountains, volcanoes spewing balls of fire, and entire cities crumbling.

2012 follows the apocalypse on a global scale, touching on various characters around the world, from different walks of life, all struggling to survive the end. The movie is visually stunning, frightening, and fast-paced, while also showing an emotionally moving, human viewpoint and commenting on the social divide.

3. Skyscraper (2018)

IMDb 5.8/10

In this high-octane thriller, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson must infiltrate a 200+ story skyscraper to locate and rescue his family as the top half of the building is engulfed in flames.

While The Rock's action stunts are far removed from reality (albeit impressive), the idea of being trapped inside a fiery megastructure feels all too real. The temperature continues to rise as the film's menacing villains come into play, intent on covering up the truth behind the building's destruction.

4. The Wave (2015)

IMDb 6.6/10

This criminally underrated Norwegian movie could give a lot of Hollywood blockbusters a run for their money. The disaster drama is set in a small town where an unstable mountain threatens to collapse, sending a tsunami crashing ashore.

Setting the tone from the start, The Wave opens with images of a real-life rock slide in 1905 that resulted in a tsunami and 63 deaths, reminding us that it is more than possible. The realism and history behind the situation makes the story even more intense as the audience follows the geologist in the middle of it all, desperately trying to save the city and his family from the unseen.

5. Don’t Look Up (2021)

IMDb 7.2/10

The newest addition to this list, Don't Look Up easily grabbed our attention with its star-studded cast and outlandish take on the end of the world.

Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo Di Caprio play two low-level scientists who discover a comet on a collision course with Earth, but that's not the scariest part, because no one seems to care. The two embark on a chaotic mission to warn the world of the gravity of the situation, but no one takes them seriously. The absurdity of the situation makes this disaster movie all the more believable and stressful.

6. Melancholia (2011)

IMDb 7.1/10

Drama and disaster meet in the middle, which makes this movie all the more fascinating.

Melancholia is a visual and auditory spectacle as it slowly builds up to a rogue planet that comes closer and closer to Earth. At the center of the story are two sisters with a troubled relationship who try to come together to deal with the impending doom of humanity.

The movie is as dazzling as it is depressing, with a unique and emotionally charged story about the world heading towards its inevitable demise.

7. The Impossible (2012)

IMDb 7.5/10

In December 2004, just one day after Christmas, Thailand was virtually destroyed when it was hit by one of the largest tsunamis in history, ultimately claiming over 23,000 lives in just a few hours.

The Impossible is a true account of one family's experience of the disaster, following the parents and their three sons who were on vacation when the tsunami hit. From before, during and after, the family must fight to survive, and then fight to find each other amid the carnage and chaos around them. The Impossible is harrowing, yet truly inspiring.