When it comes to disaster films, the setting can be just as crucial as the plot. Pools, with their serene surfaces and hidden depths, offer a unique backdrop for chaos and calamity. Here's a curated list of 10 disaster films where pools are not just a setting but an integral part of the narrative, providing both tension and spectacle. Whether it's a tsunami, a shark attack, or a mysterious force, these films will make you think twice about taking that next swim.

Deep Impact (1998)
Description: While not directly involving pools, the film features scenes where characters take refuge in underground bunkers with pool-like water reserves, symbolizing the last bastion of human survival.
Fact: The film was released in the same year as "Armageddon," leading to comparisons between the two asteroid disaster films.


The Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Description: This film takes the concept of a disaster in a pool to the next level with genetically enhanced sharks in an underwater research facility. The pool here is not just a setting but a character in itself, with the sharks using it to hunt down the human characters.
Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life incident of the USS Indianapolis, where sailors were attacked by sharks after their ship was sunk.


The Perfect Storm (2000)
Description: Although primarily a sea disaster film, the opening scenes feature a pool where the crew members are seen relaxing before their fateful journey. The pool here symbolizes the calm before the storm.
Fact: The film is based on the real-life events of the Andrea Gail fishing vessel, which was lost at sea during the 1991 Perfect Storm.


The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Description: While not exclusively about pools, the film features scenes where characters take refuge in a library with a pool, which becomes a life-saving resource during a sudden freeze. The pool here symbolizes survival.
Fact: The film's depiction of a sudden climate shift was inspired by real scientific theories about abrupt climate change.


The Finest Hours (2016)
Description: This film, based on a true story, includes scenes where the crew of a sinking ship uses a makeshift pool to survive the cold waters. The pool here represents ingenuity in the face of disaster.
Fact: The film was shot in Massachusetts, where the real-life events took place, with the crew building a replica of the Pendleton tanker.


The Wave (2015)
Description: This Norwegian film features a tsunami that engulfs a town, turning streets and buildings into pools of chaos. The pools here are a result of the disaster, not the cause.
Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life geological event known as the Tafjord landslide, which caused a destructive tsunami in Norway in


The Shallows (2016)
Description: While not a traditional pool, the film's setting of a secluded beach with a rock pool becomes the stage for a terrifying game of cat and mouse between a surfer and a great white shark. The pool here represents a false sense of safety.
Fact: The film was shot in a single location, with the entire crew and cast living on the beach for the duration of the shoot.


The Abyss (1989)
Description: While not directly involving a pool, the film's setting in an underwater oil rig has pool-like environments where the crew faces both human and alien threats. The water here is both a barrier and a medium for communication.
Fact: James Cameron, the director, spent months underwater to prepare for the film, and many scenes were shot in a specially constructed underwater set.


DeepStar Six (1989)
Description: Set in an underwater military base, this film features a pool-like environment where the crew encounters an ancient sea creature. The pool setting adds to the claustrophobic tension.
Fact: The film was one of several underwater-themed horror films released around the same time, including "Leviathan" and "The Abyss."


Hard Rain (1998)
Description: In this film, a massive flood turns a small town into a series of interconnected pools, where criminals and law enforcement engage in a cat-and-mouse chase. The pools here are both a setting and a weapon.
Fact: The film was shot in a specially constructed set that could hold over 12 million gallons of water.
