10. The Burning Dead (2015)
The Burning Dead(a play on the better-knownThe Walking Dead) is a delightful B-movie that blends the disaster genre with the zombie genre, resulting in a cocktail of suspense, special effects, and more.
When a family gets lost on a mountain, Sheriff Denton (Thomas Downey) must go and rescue them. Easy, right? Unfortunately, being lost on the mountain isn’t the dangerous part.
In fact, a volcano is about to erupt—and, for some reason, there are lava-filled zombies who are hungry for brains.
Look,The Burning Deadis not a good movie. It has abysmal ratings and it doesn’t even have any certified reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. However, if you like Danny Trejo (who stars as Night Wolf) and you like crazy films that are so bad they’re good, you’ll enjoy this one.
9. Destruction Los Angeles (2017)
Destruction Los Angelesis a disaster movie that doesn’t just feature a volcano, but also an earthquake caused by the volcano.
The film centers on John Benson (Craig Sheffer), a journalist who’s looking to catch the perfect bit of news that will catapult his career.
One day, that opportunity finally shows up but leaves him in a tough spot: when an earthquake shakes Los Angeles, he must decide whether to pursue the story or bring his family to safety. The earthquake is, of course, connected to the eruption of a nearby volcano.
Destruction Los Angelesis the definition of a brainless popcorn flick, but if you’re in search of a fun movie about volcanoes and earthquakes, this one is a great way to kill an hour and a half.
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8. Samsara (2011)
Samsarais an ambitious documentary that was filmed over five years across 25 different countries. Its mission? To explore the corners of the planet in search of sacred grounds, disaster zones, and other such interesting landscapes and locations.
Even for a documentary,Samsarais a unique film to behold—because it’s more than just a documentary. It’s a hybrid that blends the usual nature documentary with experimental filmmaking.
There’s no narrative. It’s not even a travelogue.Samsaraputs a sensory experience at its center, balancing visuals and sounds with a love for the world and its natural landscapes.
So why am I including it? BecauseSamsaradoes feature volcanoes, and they’re a majestic sight to see in this meditative film.
7. Dante’s Peak (1997)
Harry Dalton is a volcanologist who makes a tragic discovery: a nearby volcano is on the verge of erupting, which would destroy his town and kill everyone in it.
Now it’s up to him to convince everyone that they need to evacuate, but it won’t be easy because nobody believes him. After all, the volcano has been dormant for many years—plus, he’s an outsider.
Dante’s Peakis one of the best disaster movies about volcanoes, if only because it’s a stark depiction of what happens when we live in denial and refuse to accept a harsh truth.
6. The Northman (2022)
The latest film by Robert Eggers as of this writing,The Northmanis an epic historical film about a Viking who’s on a path of revenge.
One day, while Prince Amleth is growing up and preparing to become the leader of his clan, his uncle kills his father and kidnaps his mother. Amleth manages to escape, then spends the next two decades avoiding home, where revenge awaits.
The Northmanmight’ve received mixed reviews, but I’m featuring it on this list because of the absolutely epic final scene, which takes place on a volcano.
Related:The Best Movies About the Medieval Times, Ranked
5. 2012 (2009)
Remember when people around the globe actually thought the world was going to end in 2012? If you want to jump back to that time,2012is the perfect disaster movie for doing that.
In2012, while the planet edges closer to its apocalyptic end, world leaders prepare to get through the armageddon on their own, happy to leave everyone else behind if it means their own survival.
One such person who’s left behind is Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), a wannabe writer who never quite succeeded. Well, now he has other things to prioritize, like saving his family from extinction.
Related:The Best Movies That Take Place After the End of the World
4. Into the Inferno (2016)
Into the Infernois the volcano movie by acclaimed documentarian Werner Herzog. In it, he explores active volcanoes all around the world, with a special focus on the people who live near them.
Together with volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer, Herzog puts an anthropological lens on one of the most fascinating and deadly natural phenomena—volcanoes—and in doing so, he sheds light on their majesty as well as our fascination with them.
Into the Infernoisn’t just an outstanding work or a unique piece of cinema; it’s one of the best educational movies about volcanoes that you can watch right now.
Related:The Greatest Documentary Filmmakers (And Their Best Films)
3. Volcano (1997)
We already mentionedDante’s Peakearlier in this list, but that very same year, we got another volcano disaster movie—with a suspiciously similar premise—calledVolcano.
Also set in Los Angeles,Volcanostarts with a minor earthquake and a nearby volcanic eruption, at which point a seismologist tries the impossible: to stop the eruption from reaching the city.
BothDante’s PeakandVolcanowill forever be remembered as twin films, a phenomenon where two very similar movies come out in the same year. (Another iconic example:Olympus Has FallenandWhite House Down, which both released in 2013.)
Between the two,Dante’s Peakmight’ve been more successful, but my preference actually goes toVolcano!
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2. The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari (2022)
Back in 2019, a sudden volcanic eruption off the coast of New Zealand resulted in 47 tourists being trapped and needing rescue.
The entire ordeal was captured and recreated inThe Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari, featuring minute-by-minute footage and personal accounts of the tragedy.
This is a very real and very tragic documentary that isn’t easy to watch. Viewer discretion is advised because it can be unsettling.
But I do recommend that you watch it because it’s an important work of remembrance, a reminder of nature’s dangers, a tribute to the solidarity of mankind, and a powerful example of how real footage of a disaster can be so impactful.
While different from the other movies on this list,The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaariis one of the greatest movies about volcanoes ever made and a must-watch if you want to see a real eruption.
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1. Fire of Love (2022)
Fire of Loveis an independent documentary film about two volcanologists—Katia and Maurice Krafft—who died back in 1991 during the eruption of Mount Unzen on the Japanese island of Kyushu.
This film uses archival footage to celebrate their lives and careers, all while tracking their shared tragic ending.
From disaster movies to documentaries, this list has provided all kinds of movies about volcanoes, which we find so fascinating—but the truth is that volcanoes are dangerous and destructive.
Director Sara Dosa createdFire of Loveto not only make sense of our fascination with volcanoes, but to ultimately celebrate it.
Read next:The Best Movies Where Nature Is Itself a Character
