There are loads of great disaster movies out there, but many of them just aren’t realistic. The careful planning of realistic scenarios that many preppers do just isn’t dramatic enough for a good movie.
Here are six realistic disaster movies; or at least six disaster movies where there are some realistic elements!
Contagion (2011)
A movie with many parallels to Covid-19! A pandemic with a virus called MEV-1 spreading around the world, killing around 25% of those that it infects. The movie tells the story of the spread of the virus using mainly realistic science. Matt Damon stars as a father trying to save his family as the pandemic rages and society breaks down. The chaos as society breaks down, and the panic among the masses is very realistic. Watch Contagion on Amazon Prime.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
In an abrupt climate change event, the earth is plunged into a new ice age almost overnight. While the timeline certainly isn’t realistic, abrupt climate changes over a decade or two are certainly theoretically possible. The movie tells the story of the survival of a group of teens stuck in New York as temperatures plummet. They hide and survive the cold as society collapses around them. One particularly realistic element of this movie is the effect of climate change making areas of the world uninhabitable. Mass exoduses of survivors begin as people travel south to find warmer temperatures. Watch The Day After Tomorrow on Amazon Prime.
Greenland (2020)
A comet is on track to hit the earth and cause extinction level destruction. The movie follows a family trying to survive and flee to a safe haven as society breaks down around them. The increasing panic, disorder, lawlessness of the masses are very realistic. The frequent bad decisions made by the family trying to bug out are great to learn from. Watch Greenland on Amazon Prime.
The Survivalist (2015)
Set after the collapse of civilisation and a dramatic decline in the world’s population, The Survivalist tells the story of a man surviving off-grid. In a kill or be killed world, he is suspicious when a starving mother and daughter come across his home. The movie follows the interactions between these people as they attempt to survive. With three people living together, resources begin to become scarce. A realistic view into a potential post-civilisation future. Watch The Survivalist on Amazon Prime.
The Divide (2011)
After a nuclear attack, nine strangers shelter together in the bunker-like basement of their New York apartment building. As supplies begin to dwindle, and with nowhere else to go, tempers and sanity begin to fray. The movie follows how the survivors try to cope with each other in the confines of the bunker. Watch The Divide on Amazon Prime.
Dante’s Peak (1997)
A US Geological Survey Volcanologist discovers that the volcano above the town of Dante’s Peak is about to erupt. His warnings aren’t taken seriously until it’s too late. The volcano erupts and those in the way of the eruption panic as they try to escape. This movie is realistic in terms of its portrayal of the volcanologists investigation, and the eruption. It is also realistic with the reactions of people firstly ignoring warnings, and then panic ensuing when many people try to escape. Watch Dante’s Peak on Amazon Prime.
Which Are Your Favourite Realistic Disaster Movies?
What do you think of these movies? Do you have other favourites that have some realistic elements of prepping or survival? Let us know in the comments below!
Leave a Reply