Last Updated on October 16, 2023 by Sean Donlevy
Hurricanes make great settings for disaster movies.
Watching a powerful storm on screen can be both exhilarating and captivating.
But the real drama usually comes from how the lives of people and communities are impacted by these natural disasters.
Strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding, and can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. Hurricanes also disrupt travel and communication, creating a sense of isolation and vulnerability for those caught in their path.
But sometimes a hurricane just makes an interesting set up for a movie. There are even comedy films that take place against the backdrop of a hurricane!
Let’s take a look at what’s available for you to watch.
‘The Day After Tomorrow’ directed by Roland Emmerich
“The Day After Tomorrow” is a wild ride of a film that will have you on the edge of your seat!
It features not 1 but 3 hurricane-like storms simultaneously happening around the world. The film depicts the devastating effects of this superstorm, including massive tidal waves, flash floods, and extreme cold, as well as the efforts of the characters to survive the disaster.
When a group of scientists discover that global warming has caused the Earth’s climate to go haywire, they realize they have to act fast to save the world from an impending ice age. Enter: Jack Hall, a brilliant climatologist who embarks on a journey to save the world, with the help of his son and a band of misfits. But the journey won’t be easy, as they face raging storms, freezing temperatures, and an array of wacky and dangerous obstacles. Will they be able to save the day before it’s too late?
‘The Perfect Storm’ directed by Wolfgang Peterson
Turning to something more realistic, “The Perfect Storm” is a 2000 disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Diane Lane. The film is based on the true story of the crew of the fishing boat Andrea Gail.
Hurricane Grace was a tropical cyclone that formed in the Atlantic Ocean in 1991.
The film depicts the crew’s struggle to survive the storm and its aftermath, as well as the impact of the event on their families and loved ones.
If you are interested in hurricanes you might enjoy “The Perfect Storm” because it portrays the destructive power of a major storm in a dramatic and realistic way.
The special effects and visual effects in the film are highly realistic and provide a sense of what it might be like to be in the midst of a powerful storm.
‘The Hurricane Heist’ directed by Rob Cohen
“The Hurricane Heist” is a 2018 disaster heist action film directed by Rob Cohen and starring Maggie Grace, Toby Kebbell, and Ryan Kwanten. The film follows the story of a group of criminals who attempt to rob the U.S. Mint during a category 5 hurricane.
“The Hurricane Heist” is an action-thriller that combines elements of the disaster and heist genres. The film received generally negative reviews from critics and was a commercial failure. It was criticized for its formulaic plot and its weak performances, but was praised for its special effects.
If you just want to see a hurricane portrayed on film then you won’t be disappointed. The special effects and visual effects in the film are highly realistic but you’ll need to suffer through a pretty run-of-the-mill heist plot to get to those dramatic hurricane visuals.
‘The Finest Hours’ directed by Craig Gillespie
Time for another storm at sea.
“The Finest Hours” is a 2016 disaster film directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, and Ben Foster. The film is based on the true story of the Coast Guard’s rescue of the crew of the oil tanker SS Pendleton, which broke in half during a hurricane strength nor’easter in 1952.
A nor’easter is a type of storm that affects the East Coast of the United States. It’s not called a hurricane because it’s not a tropical storm but a nor’easter can be just as damaging.
“The Finest Hours” depicts the efforts of a group of Coast Guard officers to rescue the crew of the Pendleton during the storm, as well as the challenges they face in the face of extreme weather conditions. If you like a dose of heroism along with your storm movie then “The Finest Hours” might be just the ticket. The fact that’s based on a real-life storm makes it all the more compelling.
‘Category 6: Day of Destruction’ directed by Dick Lowry
“Category 6: Day of Destruction” is a 2004 television miniseries directed by Dick Lowry and starring Thomas Gibson, Nancy McKeon, and Sean Patrick Flanery. The miniseries is 4 hours long and in two parts. It follows the story of a massive hurricane that hits Chicago and causes widespread destruction.
A meteorologist, a news anchor, and other characters to survive the storm and its aftermath. It’s a disaster film that focuses on the destructive power of the hurricane and the efforts of the characters to survive its wrath. The film was praised for its special effects and its action sequences, but criticized for its formulaic plot and its wooden performances.
The filmmakers used a combination of real footage of natural disasters and computer-generated effects to create the weather scenes in the film giving the film an increases sense of realism and authenticity.
‘Adrift’ directed by Baltasar Kormákur
Hurricanes are very dangerous out at sea where there’s nowhere to shelter from the storm. Hollywood seems to love true stories about boats being battered by bad weather.
“Adrift” is a 2018 survival drama film directed by Baltasar Kormákur and starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin. The film is based on the true story of Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp, who were caught in a category 4 hurricane while sailing across the Pacific Ocean in 1983.
The film depicts the couple’s struggle to survive the storm and its aftermath, as well as the challenges they face in trying to make it back to land. The film was praised for its performances and its depiction of the challenges of survival at sea.
‘Force of Nature’ directed by Michael Polish
“Force of Nature” is a 2020 action thriller directed by Michael Polish and starring Emile Hirsch, Kate Bosworth, and Mel Gibson. The film is set in Puerto Rico and follows the story of a group of people who are trying to survive a category 5 hurricane and a gang of thieves who are trying to rob an apartment building.
‘GeoStorm’ directed by Dean Devlin
“Geostorm” is a 2017 science fiction disaster film directed by Dean Devlin and starring Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, and Abbie Cornish. The film follows the story of a network of satellites designed to control the weather that is sabotaged and causes a series of natural disasters around the world.
The film depicts the destructive power of the storms and the efforts of a group of characters to survive their wrath and stop the sabotage. “Geostorm” is a science fiction disaster film that explores the potential consequences of tampering with the Earth’s weather systems.
‘Hours’ directed by Eric Heisserer
“Hours” is a 2013 disaster film directed by Eric Heisserer and starring Paul Walker, Genesis Rodriguez, and TJ Hassan. The film is set in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and follows the story of Nolan Hayes, a man who is trying to keep his newborn daughter alive in a hospital that has been abandoned due to the storm.
The film depicts the destructive power of the storm and the challenges that Nolan faces in trying to keep his daughter alive in the aftermath of the disaster.
‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ directed Halina Reijn
“Bodies Bodies Bodies” (2022) is a black comedy horror film that takes place during a hurricane party at a mansion.
The plot involves the guests at the party being involved in a murder game called “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” and then becoming suspects in a series of real murders that take place during the storm. The characters must try to uncover the identity of the killer and survive the storm while also dealing with issues such as drug addiction and strained relationships.
The hurricane serves as a backdrop to the events of the film and adds an element of danger and tension to the story.
‘Crawl’ directed Alexandre Aja
Sometimes in the movies a hurricane is the least of your problems!
In the film “Crawl” (2019), the main character, played by Kaya Scodelario, is pursued by a group of alligators while she is trying to rescue her father from their flooded home during a category 5 hurricane. The alligators are shown to be aggressive and formidable predators, and the main character must use her wits and physical skills to evade them.
Intelligent and adaptable, the alligators are able to navigate the flooded and debris-filled environment in which the film takes place. The alligators are also shown to be able to swim and attack in the water, which adds to the sense of danger and tension in the film.
Directed by Alexandre Aja and starring Kaya Scodelario, Barry Pepper, and Ross Anderson. The film was released in 2019 and received generally positive reviews from critics. It was praised for its intense action and its effective use of tension.
Special Mentions
Forest Gump (1994)
Hurricane’s don’t play a major role in Forest Gump with without the hurricane there would never have been The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
Twister (1996)
While not technically a movie about a hurricane Twister from 1996 deserves a special mention for those people looking for a movie about extreme weather events.
Sharknado (2013)
The film is a disaster film that tells the story of a group of people who are trying to survive a series of shark attacks that are caused by a tornado that has lifted sharks out of the ocean and dropped them onto land.