It’s enough to give anyone chills just to think about a 50-foot wave crashing into the shore with no mercy. This was the terrible truth in 2004 when the Sumatran earthquake caused a huge wave that destroyed a lot of land in the Indian Ocean.
So, what does it feel like to be caught in the jaws of these watery beasts? Our imagination might fall short, but fortunately, filmmakers have stepped in to fill the void. Tsunami movies don’t just bring high-octane thrills; they serve as poignant reminders of humanity’s vulnerability. A film with a tsunami transports you to the heart of the action, allowing you to experience the indomitable spirit and the catastrophic despair, all from the safety of your couch.
Here is a carefully chosen list of the 15+ best tsunami movies, a wave of movies that show how terrible this natural event can be and how strong people can be after it.
From heart-wrenching dramas to edge-of-your-seat thrillers, movies about tsunamis have made a splash in the film industry, offering viewers a taste of the ocean’s untamed ferocity.
Get your popcorn ready because each title sounds like it will be a wild ride through the ocean’s power and people’s determination. Are you ready?
13 Best Tsunami Movies
The Impossible (2012)
| Director | Nicolás López |
| Stars | Eli Roth, Ariel Levy, Nicolás Martínez |
| Taglines | Nothing is more powerful than the human spirit. |
| Genres | Drama/History/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for intense, realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images and brief nudity
“The Impossible” is a poignant and transformative entry into the genre of “tsunami movies,” capturing a family’s incredible battle for survival amid the chaos of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Headlined by Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, this film with tsunami backdrop offers a moving testament to human resilience. It delves deep into the power of hope and the human capacity to overcome even the most formidable natural disasters.
The film’s adept use of gripping storytelling and authentic visual effects not only places viewers at the heart of the tsunami’s destruction but also highlights inspiring tales of endurance that arose from the tumult. It’s a cinematic tribute to the undying strength of the human spirit, cementing its place among impactful tsunami movies.
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
| Director | Davis Guggenheim |
| Stars | Al GoreBilly, WestGeorge Bush |
| Taglines | A Global Warning |
| Genres | Documentary |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG for mild thematic elements.
“An Inconvenient Truth,” directed by Davis Guggenheim, isn’t a typical disaster flick swirling with cinematic storms and tidal surges. Instead, it’s a riveting, real-life wake-up call that packs the punch of tsunami movies into a documentary. Helmed by former Vice President Al Gore.
With every frame, Gore meticulously lays out a forecast of our planet’s future, heated by global warming—a narrative that includes the chilling prospect of freak weather events and potentially catastrophic tsunami-like tidal waves. This film might lack the destruction-soaked spectacle of a typical film with tsunami, but it compensates with a deluge of stark truths about our environment.
“An Inconvenient Truth” might just stir your eco-conscience more intensely than any fictional tsunami movie. It’s a profound look at the climate crisis—one that could spur you to reconsider the ecological impact of your daily choices.
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
| Director | Ronald Neame |
| Stars | Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine |
| Taglines | Hell, Upside Down |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Drama/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): /
While reading a book, “The Poseidon Adventure” turned it into a movie extravaganza that won two Oscars and was hailed as the best movie of 1973. Think of it as one of the best tsunami movies. The SS Poseidon, an old but beautiful ocean ship on its last trip, becomes a floating stage for disaster.
The trip from New York to Athens goes badly when the crew doesn’t listen to the captain’s safety instructions. Then comes the huge tsunami wave that crashes the party, flips the Poseidon over, and turns a fancy trip into a fight for life.
The ship itself is the puzzle, and time is running out for the passengers. It’s like being in a huge escape room game. This scary, turned-around marine mayhem was the first disaster movie, before they became the natural force that they are now. “The Poseidon Adventure” is a classic that will never go out of style and will still make you jump for joy.
The Wave(2015)
| Director | Roar Uthaug |
| Stars | Kristoffer Joner, Ane Dahl Torp |
| Taglines | It was only a matter of time. |
| Genres | Action/Drama/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated R for some language and disaster images
The Norwegian movie “The Wave” is a thrilling wave story that really makes a splash. Imagine a quiet mountain town where, all of a sudden, an 80-meter-tall wall of water splashes out and starts pounding houses. It’s like a Hollywood disaster movie in Norway, and it even got nominated for an Oscar.
That’s not all this movie is about, though. It’s a thrill ride with a human touch, directed by Roar Uthaug. If you want to see a movie about a tsunami that feels real, “The Wave” is the one for you. It has powerful action and heart-stopping moments. It’s a good film in the best tsunami movies with a Nordic chill that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Hereafter (2010)
| Director | Clint Eastwood |
| Stars | Matt Damon, Cécile de France |
| Taglines | Touched by death. Changed by life. |
| Genres | Drama/Fantasy/Romance |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing disaster and accident images, and for brief strong language
“Hereafter” weaves together the stories of three individuals, each touched by the notion of life beyond death. Directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood and scripted by Peter Morgan, this film met with commercial applause and a nod to the strong performances of its cast.
Yet, it’s not your typical tsunami movie. While it brushes with the theme—especially through Marie, a journalist whose near-death encounter during the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami leaves her haunted by otherworldly visions—the story delves deeper into the spiritual rather than the disaster itself.
Then there’s George, a medium who has to deal with the scary fact that he can talk to the dead, and young Marcus, who wants to find a way to connect with his dead twin. “Hereafter” isn’t about the disaster show you might expect from a movie about the tsunami. Instead, it’s a quiet, thoughtful look at how such an event can affect people in ways that are philosophical. Some people have said bad things about the movie, but I think it’s a beautiful way to think about the eternal question: What comes next?
The Perfect Storm (2000)
| Director | Wolfgang Petersen |
| Stars | George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg |
| Taglines | The “Andrea Gail” left Gloucester, Mass. |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Drama/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for language and scenes of peril
“The Perfect Storm” is a scary recreation of the tragic story of the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing ship that went missing in 1991 during the fierce storm called the Perfect Storm. The movie, which was directed by Wolfgang Peterson and is based on Sebastian Junger’s interesting book, throws you into the middle of a harsh sea.
Even though the weather reports aren’t good, the team sets sail for one last trip in the hopes of catching something lucky. As luck would have it, they are stuck between two weather fronts that are coming together, and Hurricane Grace is getting stronger.
This isn’t just a tale of a struggle against towering waves and brutal streams—it’s a human story about the courage and desperation of those aboard the Andrea Gail as overwhelming forces of nature bear down upon them. While not specifically a tsunami movie, the cinematic conjuration of the vessel’s battle against mountainous tidal waves and relentless gales echoes the intensity of the most heart-wrenching film with a tsunami.
Kayal (2014)
| Director | Prabu Solomon |
| Stars | Chandran, Anandhi, Vincen |
| Taglines | A guy falls in love with a girl at first sight. |
| Genres | Romance |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): /
“Kayal” is a moving Tamil movie about a love story that is tangled with the terrifying reality of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Introducing a new cast, the movie starts with a carefree story about two friends who go on an adventure through India’s interesting towns.
When they help a couple in love escape their controlling families by accident, their trip takes a turn they didn’t expect. Following this, they were trapped and faced with threats from the lovers’ family members who were keen to find information about the missing couple.
Set against the catastrophic backdrop of one of history’s most devastating natural disasters, “Kayal” isn’t your standard entry in tsunami movies—it’s a film with tsunami as a powerful backdrop that intertwines personal stories with the enormity of nature’s fury. It’s a poignant depiction of how immense tragedies can intertwine with the threads of individual lives, creating a rich tapestry of love, loss, and the enduring human spirit. As an appreciation, “Kayal” stands out as a heartfelt and beautifully crafted nod to romance and resilience amidst chaos.
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
| Director | Roland EmmerichJeffrey Nachmanoff |
| Stars | Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum |
| Taglines | This year, a sweater won’t do. |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Sci-FiThriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for intense situations of peril
It was a movie roller coaster ride called “The Day After Tomorrow” that made it to the top of the 2004 box office charts. From Roland Emmerich comes this scary sci-fi disaster movie that doesn’t just hint at climate change and melting ice caps.
In the movie, Jack Hall, a committed paleoclimatologist, finds disturbing proof that weather patterns are about to change drastically, indicating that an ice age is coming soon. When currents in the Atlantic Ocean get messed up, they set off a chain reaction of terrible events that destroy the Northern United States and plunge the country into an icy end of the world.
While it’s more Hollywood than a science textbook, “The Day After Tomorrow” delivers what you seek in movies about the tsunami and punts you into the eye of the storm. The film masterfully intertwines the awe-inspiring spectacles of nature gone berserk with a human narrative of survival and resilience. As far as tsunami movies go, this one leaves you frozen to your seat—not just from the ice age it portrays, but from the sheer force of its spectacle.
Deep Impact(1998)
| Director | Mimi Leder |
| Stars | Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood |
| Taglines | Heaven and Earth are about to collide. |
| Genres | Action/Drama/Sci-FiThriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for intense disaster related elements and brief language
“Deep Impact” takes you on a space race against time with a juicy sci-fi twist. The science folks gave this one a nod for keeping it real-ish while the popcorn crowd was busy crushing on “Armageddon,” its flashier big-screen cousin.
This movie’s all about that doomsday clock ticking as humanity throws some nukes into space (because why not?), trying to blast the unwelcome cosmic guest to smithereens.
Spoiler: things don’t go quite as planned. We’re talking a mega chunk of comet playing whack-a-mole in the Atlantic, spawning megatsunamis that pretty much give the East Coast a bath you wouldn’t believe.
Adding to the tsunami movies hall of fame, “Deep Impact” might not be the king of the blockbusters, but it goes deep. If you’re down for a dramatic tidal wave of feels and some serious splash zones, this one’s got you covered. Just make sure you’re not watching it on a cruise ship, OK?
San Andreas(2015)
| Director | Brad Peyton |
| Stars | Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino |
| Taglines | Ever have one of THOSE days…? Pray you don’t. |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for intense disaster action and mayhem throughout, and brief strong language
“San Andreas” is that classic rock ’em sock ’em disaster movie with The Rock himself, Dwayne Johnson, flexing his action muscles alongside Carla Gugino. Both stars snagged some serious high-fives for their performances and those over-the-top special effects. Totally on point for a film with tsunamis and earthquakes tearing up the screen.
Sure, the storyline might be as shaky as the fault line the movie’s named after, and some of the characters kind of made me go, “Huh?” But if you’re in for a ride with epic destruction, this is your jam. It’s a wild roller-coaster through the United States’ most notorious tremble-zone with a side of mega-tsunamis, making “San Andreas” a standout in the tsunami movies genre. Holy smokes, watching the West Coast get all shaken up really gets the heart pumping. Grab the popcorn for this one – it’s a big, loud funfest, as long as you don’t think too hard!
2012 (2009)
| Director | Roland Emmerich |
| Stars | John Cusack, Thandiwe Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor |
| Taglines | We Were Warned. |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language
Roland Emmerich’s “2012” is a tremendous work that turns the end-of-the-world predictions about the year 2012 into a full-on sci-fi journey. The film is a huge hit, making it the fifth highest-grossing movie of 2009. It stars an all-star group and deals with chaos.
When scientists find a new particle that’s heating up the Earth’s core, it sets off a chain of disasters that will affect people all over the world. As the end of the world approaches, countries work together to build huge arks in Tibet that will protect people during the end of the world.
As the planet is besieged by earthquakes, towering megatsunamis, and eruptive volcanoes, the scramble for ark tickets is as fierce as the disasters themselves. For fans of tsunami movies and flicks about colossal natural disasters, “2012” packs a wallop, offering not just a visual feast of CGI destruction, but also an edge-of-your-seat sense of urgency.
In my view, “2012” is a non-stop spectacle that holds back no punches when it comes to action and special effects. It’s a thrill ride that captures the essence of disaster cinema—complete with jaw-dropping tsunamis transforming familiar landscapes into ocean floors.
Poseidon(2006)
| Director | Wolfgang Petersen |
| Stars | Richard Dreyfuss, Kurt Russell, Emmy Rossum |
| Taglines | Mayday |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of disaster and peril
“Poseidon” (2006) breathes new life into the legendary ’70s disaster saga “The Poseidon Adventure,” revving up the genre of tsunami movies for modern audiences. Picture yourself chilling on a ritzy cruise liner when suddenly, colossal rogue waves decide it’s time to flip the script—and the ship.
The film snagged an Oscar nom for its jaw-dropping visual effects, yet it made less of a splash at the box office than hoped. Amidst the chaos of a capsizing vessel, passengers scramble to survive in a nightmarish, waterlogged world turned topsy-turvy.
“Poseidon” may not ride the crest of fame as its predecessor did, but as tsunami movies go, it delivers a tidal wave of heart-pumping action. It’s a downpour of drama and suspense that’s sure to crank up your pulse rate—if you’re up for a thrill ride on the high seas, that is.
Other Tsunami Movies Rate lower than 5.5
Geostorm (2017)
| Director | Dean Devlin |
| Stars | Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish |
| Taglines | Brave The Storm. |
| Genres | Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated PG-13 for destruction, action and violence
“Geostorm” is a disaster flick where Earth’s climate crisis leads to a super-satellite system, Dutch Boy, aiming to prevent natural disasters. As the system malfunctions, two brothers race against time to prevent a catastrophic Geostorm. The movie delivers thrilling action but falls short in the narrative. For fans of tsunami movies and grand disaster spectacles, it’s a visually impressive yet plot-challenged ride.
Aftershock(2012)
| Director | Nicolás López |
| Stars | Eli Roth, Ariel Levy, Nicolás Martínez |
| Taglines | The only thing more terrifying than Nature is human nature. |
| Genres | Action/Adventure/Horror/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated R for strong bloody violence including rape, language, drug content and some nudity
In the movie “Aftershock,” tourists in Chile face dual horrors: an earthquake and its aftermath unleash both natural destruction and criminals from a leveled prison. This movie about the tsunami merges disaster suspense with human peril, offering a gripping, if unnerving, addition to tsunami movies and tales of survival.
Bait(2012)
| Director | Kimble Rendall |
| Stars | Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Adrian Pang |
| Taglines | A tsunami just flipped the food chain. |
| Genres | Action/Fantasy/Horror |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
Rated R for bloody violence, some grisly images and language
“Bait” sets a gripping scene where survivors are marooned in a flooded supermarket following a tsunami in Queensland, Australia, only to face a new, sharp-toothed threat—starving sharks. Bait, as one of the tsunami movies, blends the intensity of tsunami disasters with the terror of shark attacks, delivering a tense, bite-sized thrill.
Earthquake(1974)
| Director | Mark Robson |
| Stars | Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner |
| Taglines | / |
| Genres | Action/Drama/Thriller |
“Earthquake” presents a tangled web of personal dramas that collide when a massive earthquake shatters Los Angeles. As a classic in the disaster genre, though not among tsunami movies, this film thrills with its raw depiction of chaos and the human spirit’s resilience in the face of nature’s might.
How It Ends(2018)
| Director | David M. Rosenthal |
| Stars | Theo James, Kat Graham, Nancy Sorel |
| Taglines | No One Survives Alone |
| Genres | Action/Drama/Horror/Mystery/Sci-Fi/Thriller |
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA):
TV-MA
“How It Ends” is a gripping tale of a man’s desperate journey to reunite with his pregnant fiancée during an apocalyptic event. While it diverges from the tsunami movies genre, the film captures the intensity of survival amidst mysterious and catastrophic circumstances, showcasing the lengths one will go to for loved ones.
