disaster film
Cinematic mass destruction
A disaster film is a movie centered on a catastrophic event—earthquake, tornado, flood, asteroid impact, or similar large-scale destruction.
The genre typically follows multiple characters facing the crisis, with spectacular special effects depicting the devastation: The 1970s were the golden age of disaster films like *The Poseidon Adventure* and *Towering Inferno*.
Seismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- volcanoEarth's fiery vent
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
flood · wildfire · avalanche · pandemic · meteorite · explosion · plane crash · shipwreck
Prophesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- end timesProphesied apocalyptic conclusion
- judgment dayFinal divine assessment
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
meteor · asteroid · comet · nuclear · outbreak · contagion · alien invasion · mass destruction
Enormously successful entertainment property
- box officeTicket sales revenue
- CGIDigital movie imagery
- special effectsArtificial cinematic illusions
- explosionsViolent, rapid expansions
visual effects · IMAX · summer release · ensemble cast · big budget · franchise · sequel · Hollywood
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- race against timeUrgent struggle before deadline
- narrow escapeBarely avoiding disaster
- impending doomUnavoidable calamity approaching
warning signs · escalation · chaos · panic · mass exodus · looting · ticking clock · close call
Flight from captivity
- rescueSave from harm
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- shelterProtected place or structure
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
resourcefulness · last-minute save · against the odds · trapped · stranded · endurance · bravery · sacrifice
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
hurricane · flood · wildfire · avalanche · pandemic · meteorite · explosion · plane crash · shipwreck · nuclear meltdown
doomsday
Prophesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- end timesProphesied apocalyptic conclusion
- judgment dayFinal divine assessment
annihilation · meteor · asteroid · comet · nuclear · outbreak · contagion · alien invasion · mass destruction · last survivors
blockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
- box officeTicket sales revenue
- CGIDigital movie imagery
- special effectsArtificial cinematic illusions
explosions · visual effects · IMAX · summer release · ensemble cast · big budget · franchise · sequel · Hollywood · premiere
suspense
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- race against timeUrgent struggle before deadline
- narrow escapeBarely avoiding disaster
impending doom · warning signs · escalation · chaos · panic · mass exodus · looting · ticking clock · close call · near miss
escape
Flight from captivity
- rescueSave from harm
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- shelterProtected place or structure
heroism · resourcefulness · last-minute save · against the odds · trapped · stranded · endurance · bravery · sacrifice · first responders
- action filmschase scene, car chase, explosion, stunt, shootout
- James CameronTitanic, Avatar, Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss
- TV moviesTV movie, TV movies, telefilms, made-for-TV, telefilm
- Hollywood termsbox office, logline, opening weekend, pitch, green light
disaster, film, disasters, disastrous, disastrously, films, filmed, filming, filmy