Best Disaster Movies to Watch High
In the midst of a global pandemic, end-of-the-world movies have become more popular than ever. While disaster movies are mostly linked to big budget, A-list Hollywood, the genre does have a fair few low-budget B movie so-bad-they’re-good offerings too. Naturally, the latter is best enjoyed stoned.
If you’re looking for unintentionally hilarious catastrophe movies in amongst mainstream hits and arthouse contributions, then you’re in the right place. Read on to discover the top 10 best disaster movies to watch high.
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Top 10 Best Disaster Movies to Watch High
Metal Tornado (2011)
Metal Tornado first aired on the infamous Syfy channel, known for their atrociously bad TV movies which continue to be financed despite their dire (yet brilliant) content.
In this Syfy instalment, a green energy solution with a design flaw goes wayward causing a swelling magnetic vortex to be unleashed in North America.
Night of the Twisters (1996)
Night of the Twisters is a family friendly natural disaster movie with some questionable acting and a whole load of corny one-liners. The plot follows a family separated when a series of tornadoes destroys their home, but don’t worry, there is a lot more humour than tragedy.
Disaster Movie (2008)
With a 1.9/10 IMDb rating, this film is a disaster in and of itself. Screenwriters Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer received a certain level of success with Scary Movie in 2000, and have been continually commissioned to create seriously underwhelming parody movies ever since.
Their projects Epic Movie (2007) and Meet the Spartans (2008) are widely considered some of the worst mainstream films of all time. It follows that watching Disaster Movie in its entirety is a kind of torture… But, in the right state of mind, it can enter so-bad-it’s-good territory.
Melancholia (2011)
On a more serious note, the second in Lars Von Trier’s Depression Trilogy (preceded by Antichrist (2009) and followed by Nymphomaniac (2013)), Melancholia centres around two sisters whose terrestrial lives disintegrate as a cosmic disaster looms. The approaching collision of a planet is a symbol of the unavoidable destruction of depression.
Along with the stunning imagery and mythological references, the despondency and impassivity in light of impending doom portrayed by Kirsten Dunst is the perfect representation of severe depression.
This disaster movie is a heavy watch albeit visually spectacular. If you’re looking for a challenging and thought provoking movie to watch high, then this is the one for you.
Contagion (2011)
A very topical film in 2021, Contagion presents a realistic scenario of a terrifying global pandemic. Back in the year of its release, the movie didn’t get a lot of traction. But viewers who watch it today will be impressed by its accuracy and on-point predictions, a good example being the polarity on vaccinations and government imposed restrictions.
As well it’s subject matter, this is one of the best disaster movies of all time due to the masterful cast, featuring Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne and Matt Damon. It’s not often you see such a stellar line-up in a single film.
The Impossible (2012)
In one of the best disaster movies on Netflix Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts team up to tell this harrowing story of a young family caught up in the devastating tsunami in Thailand in 2004. Separated by the catastrophe, the family members desperately try to reunite in the wake of the monumental destruction the natural disaster caused.
Airplane! (1980)
One of the greatest spoof movies of all time, Airplane! is a witty and hilarious pastiche of 70s disaster movies. When a cab driver hops aboard an aircraft in pursuit of his ex-girlfriend, he finds himself having to fly the plane as both pilots fall sick with food poisoning. Beyond that, the film doesn’t try to have much of a plot but believe me, that is no criticism, as this film is 100% wise cracks.
Titanic II (2010)
100 years after the initial Titanic voyage, a remodel called “Titanic 2” sets out on the same transatlantic trail. But — you guessed it — it too gets hit by an iceberg, this time hurled out by a tsunami. The crew and passengers frantically try to prevent themselves suffering the same fate as previous vessel.
Unfortunately James Cameron had nothing to do with this horrendous, minuscule budget B movie. Again, if you find hilarity in truly awful attempts at cinema, then this is one of the best disaster movies to watch high for you.
Sharknado (2013)
Yep, another horrifically incompetent low-budget Syfy movie. Probably one of the most famous of its type, Sharknado will have you in stitches. Everything from the acting to the special effects is truly dismal and you will get copious amounts of enjoyment watching and criticising it all the way through.
NYC: Tornado Terror (2008)
An unforeseen, local (i.e. somehow just in New York??) split in the atmosphere precipitates a serious of violent and destructive tornadoes. Fortunately the tear-away Dr. Lars Liggenhorn has concocted a plan to impede the twisters by launching rockets, but — get this — the party poopers at NASA won’t let him do it.
Watch at your peril.
Bonus Picks
For more of the best disaster movies to watch high (both good and bad), check out the titles below.
No Escape (2015)
Asteroid: final Impact (2015)
Category 6: Day of Destruction (2004)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
Flood! (1976)
Best Movies to Watch High
There you have it, some quality disaster movies to get sucked into at your next 420 sesh. If you’re looking for more great content to watch stoned, make sure you check out Best Surrealist Films to watch High.
