20 gripping documentaries about devastating natural disasters

Spike Lee’s masterful four-part series is a searing, heartbreaking look at how Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the painful aftermath that followed. It’s an essential piece of filmmaking that focuses on the human stories and the systemic failures that made a natural disaster so much worse.

This documentary uses incredible firsthand footage from tourists to piece together a minute-by-minute account of the deadly 2019 volcanic eruption on New Zealand's White Island. It's a truly harrowing and unforgettable story of survival, told by the people who were actually there.

Using raw cell phone videos and emergency calls, this film puts you on the ground during the 2018 Camp Fire, which became the deadliest wildfire in California's history. It’s a terrifying and deeply moving account of a community that was almost completely wiped off the map in a matter of hours.

From the directors of Free Solo, this documentary chronicles the breathtaking 2018 rescue of a Thai boys' soccer team trapped deep inside a flooded cave. It’s a nail-biting story that shows how an international team of divers pulled off what seemed like an impossible mission against a ticking clock.

This stunningly beautiful film tells the story of Katia and Maurice Krafft, two French volcanologists who dedicated their lives to chasing volcanic eruptions. Using their own incredible archival footage, it’s a poignant and visually spectacular look at their passion for nature's most destructive and creative force.

This gripping account chronicles the harrowing days during and after Hurricane Katrina's landfall, focusing on the incredible stories of survival against all odds. It’s a powerful look at a city fighting to stay alive when faced with the devastating power of a historic storm and the floodwaters that followed.

Filmed by a resident of the Ninth Ward, this documentary offers an incredibly intimate and personal perspective on Hurricane Katrina. It begins as a home movie before transforming into a gripping survival story, revealing the disaster from the inside out in a way the national news never could.

This moving film recounts the story of a massive avalanche that hit a California ski resort and the ski patrol team that launched a desperate, five-day search for survivors. It's a tense and emotional story that highlights the incredible dangers faced by people who live and work in the mountains.

Legendary director Werner Herzog travels the globe to get dangerously close to some of the world's most active volcanoes. More of a philosophical journey than a straight disaster film, it explores the powerful and often spiritual connection that humans have with these fiery mountains.

Focusing on the devastating 2019-2020 "Black Summer" bushfires in Australia, this documentary examines the catastrophe from a political and climate change perspective. It's an infuriating and eye-opening look at the inaction that contributed to a historic disaster.

This three-part series documents the deadly 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal and triggered a massive avalanche on Mount Everest. It weaves together survivor stories from the bustling city of Kathmandu to the treacherous slopes of the world's highest peak.

This documentary tells the story of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami entirely through the lens of people who experienced it. Using a stunning collection of personal videos, it pieces together a timeline of the disaster that is both awe-inspiring and heartbreaking.

Ken Burns’ definitive series tells the story of the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history. Through powerful archival photos and interviews with the last survivors, it’s a moving account of the decade-long drought that turned the Southern Plains to dust.

Produced by Wild Weather, this documentary offers a comprehensive examination of the immense scale of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It explains the unique meteorological forces that made the storm so massive and destructive to the Northeastern United States.

Using intense storm-chaser footage and firsthand accounts, this documentary puts you directly in the path of a catastrophic tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Through the eyes of those who survived, it explores the terrifying, split-second decisions that mean the difference between life and death when you're caught in the storm.

This thought-provoking film revisits the 1995 Chicago heatwave that claimed the lives of over 700 residents in a single week. It brilliantly exposes how the disaster wasn't just about the weather, but about poverty, race, and the deadly consequences of social inequality.

This episode of the science series NOVA gives an eye-opening look at the new and terrifying reality of megafires in California. It follows firefighters and scientists as they attempt to understand and combat the increasingly large and destructive blazes that have become more prevalent than ever before.

Another powerful episode from NOVA, this documentary breaks down the science behind the catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. It uses incredible visuals and expert interviews to explain how and why the disaster was so powerful.

Directed by Ron Howard, this film follows the community of Paradise, California, in the year after the catastrophic Camp Fire. It’s a deeply human and ultimately hopeful look at what it takes for a town to come together and rebuild from almost nothing.

From the series American Experience, this documentary tells the story of the shocking 1889 dam collapse that unleashed a tidal wave on Johnstown, Pennsylvania, killing over 2,000 people. It's a gripping historical account of a disaster caused by a combination of immense wealth, negligence, and a powerful storm.