The Poseidon Adventure starring the late Gene Hackman, set the gold standard for disaster films—thrilling, emotional, and packed with unforgettable moments of survival against the odds.
Los Angeles, California - The 1970s was the golden age of disaster movies, a decade where Hollywood went all-in on larger-than-life catastrophes, ensemble casts, and spectacular destruction. Audiences couldn't get enough of planes crashing, ships flipping, earthquakes leveling cities, and towering infernos engulfing the screen. With practical effects, over-the-top acting, and some of the best panic performances ever put on film, these movies became instant classics of pure, unapologetic entertainment.
Airport 1975 delivers high-altitude chaos, featuring one of the most intense mid-air collision sequences in disaster movie history.
But why did disaster movies explode in popularity during this era? The answer lies in a mix of real-world anxieties, shifting Hollywood trends, and a hunger for spectacle. The Cold War, oil crisis, environmental disasters, and political scandals left people feeling uneasy. Hollywood tapped into those fears, wrapping them in thrilling, effects-driven stories about survival and heroism.
So grab your popcorn, fasten your seatbelt, and prepare for chaos as we rank the Top 10 Disaster Movies of the 1970s!
10. METEOR (1979)
The Disaster: A massive asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, and only Sean Connery can stop it.
Why It’s Great: One of the earliest asteroid-impact disaster films, Meteor mixed Cold War politics with global catastrophe. Featuring Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, and Henry Fonda, it delivered tense action and some wildly ambitious special effects.
Best Panic Moment: A massive tidal wave wipes out New York City in spectacular fashion.
9. WHEN TIME RAN OUT (1980)
The Disaster: A volcano erupts on a tropical island, forcing people to escape before they’re burned alive.
Why It’s Great: A spiritual sequel to The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, this one starred Paul Newman, William Holden, and Ernest Borgnine. Though not as iconic as its predecessors, it brought plenty of tension and 70s disaster charm.
Best Panic Moment: Lava pouring down the mountain, swallowing everything in its path.
8. AIRPORT '77 (1977)
The Disaster: A luxury jetliner crashes into the ocean and sinks to the bottom.
Why It’s Great: The Airport franchise kept upping the stakes, and this time, the challenge was surviving underwater while trying to escape a sinking plane.
Best Panic Moment: The moment passengers realize the fuselage is filling with water.
7. AIRPORT 1975 (1974)
The Disaster: A small plane collides with a jumbo jet, killing the pilots and forcing a stewardess to fly the plane.
Why It’s Great: This film gave us one of the greatest mid-air collision sequences ever filmed, with Karen Black, Charlton Heston, and George Kennedy delivering peak 70s panic acting.
Best Panic Moment: Sid Caesar’s hilarious over-the-top freakout when the collision shakes the cabin
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Victoria Principal steals scenes in Earthquake (1974) as the wide-eyed survivor caught in the chaos, rocking both disaster and 70s fashion with equal intensity.
6. EARTHQUAKE (1974)
The Disaster: A massive earthquake devastates Los Angeles.
Why It’s Great: Featuring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and George Kennedy, Earthquake pioneered "Sensurround", a theater sound system that shook seats to simulate earthquakes—making it a truly immersive disaster film.
Best Panic Moment: A dam bursts, unleashing a deadly flood across the city.
Karen Black delivers a gripping performance in Airport 1975, portraying a terrified but determined stewardess forced to take the controls of a crippled jumbo jet.
5. AIRPORT (1970)
The Disaster: A terrorist with a bomb threatens a packed commercial airliner.
Why It’s Great: The granddaddy of all disaster movies, Airport kickstarted the trend and created the blueprint for every disaster film that followed.
Best Panic Moment: The bomb explodes mid-flight, forcing a desperate emergency landing.
4. THE CASSANDRA CROSSING (1976)
The Disaster: A deadly virus spreads on a speeding train.
Why It’s Great: An underrated gem, blending disaster, thriller, and sci-fi elements with Richard Harris and Sophia Loren.
Best Panic Moment: The horrifying realization that authorities plan to quarantine the entire train—permanently.
3. THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)
The Disaster: A rogue wave flips a cruise ship upside-down, trapping survivors inside.
Why It’s Great: A masterclass in disaster filmmaking, The Poseidon Adventure featured Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelley Winters battling their way through a capsized ship.
Best Panic Moment: The entire ballroom losing its mind as the ship flips.
2. THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974)
The Disaster: A skyscraper catches fire, trapping hundreds inside.
Why It’s Great: The ultimate 70s disaster blockbuster, with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman leading a desperate rescue. The effects, stunts, and tension made this one of the greatest disaster films ever.
Best Panic Moment: The elevator scene, where fire traps people mid-air.
Before becoming a comedy icon, Leslie Nielsen played it straight as the doomed captain of the Poseidon, delivering a brief but memorable performance in The Poseidon Adventure.
1. THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)
Why It’s #1:No disaster movie before or after has matched its sheer entertainment, suspense, and drama. This film set the gold standard for capsizing-ship panic acting.
Why the 70s Were the Disaster Movie Decade
Disaster movies flourished in the 70s because they reflected the decade’s anxieties. The world felt unstable, and audiences craved high-stakes drama where survival was uncertain. Here’s why the genre took off:
Real-World Chaos: The Cold War, the oil crisis, Watergate, and environmental disasters made people feel on edge. Hollywood turned those fears into thrilling, high-stakes entertainment.
Hollywood’s Need for Spectacle: With blockbusters like Jaws and Star Wars still on the horizon, the disaster genre was the big-budget event movie of its time.
The Star-Powered Casts: Studios packed these films with major stars like Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Charlton Heston—giving them instant credibility.
Practical Effects Mastery: CGI didn’t exist yet, so filmmakers relied on miniatures, pyrotechnics, and real stunt work, making everything look and feel real.
Why We Still Love 70s Disaster Movies
These films weren’t just about mass destruction—they were about human survival. They gave us heroic sacrifices, epic set pieces, and unforgettable overacting. Even today, they remain pure, unapologetic entertainment—a reminder of a time when Hollywood dared to go big, bold, and completely over-the-top.
So next time you’re in the mood for chaos, drama, and spectacular destruction, revisit one of these 70s disaster classics—and enjoy every ridiculous, suspense-filled moment!
