Top 10 Urban Disaster Action Films

Description: When an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, a team of drillers is sent into space to destroy it. The film features scenes of urban destruction as the asteroid's fragments rain down on cities.

Fact: The film's budget was a staggering $140 million, making it one of the most expensive films of its time. Bruce Willis' character was originally written for Sylvester Stallone.

Description: Another comet disaster film, this one focuses on the human stories as the world prepares for the impact, including scenes of urban evacuation and the aftermath of the comet's strike.

Fact: The film was released the same year as "Armageddon," leading to comparisons between the two. The tsunami scene was inspired by the real-life 1960 tsunami in Hilo, Hawaii.

Description: While focusing on a fishing boat caught in a storm, the film also shows the impact of the storm on the coastal city of Gloucester, Massachusetts, with scenes of urban flooding and destruction.

Fact: The film is based on the book by Sebastian Junger, which recounts the real-life events of the 1991 Halloween Nor'easter. The storm was recreated using a combination of real footage and CGI.

Description: This film takes the concept of climate change to an extreme, showing how a sudden shift in weather patterns leads to a new ice age, devastating cities like New York. It's a thrilling ride through a frozen urban landscape, highlighting human survival against all odds.

Fact: The film was inspired by the book "The Coming Global Superstorm" by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber. The iconic scene where the Statue of Liberty is covered in ice was created using a combination of practical effects and CGI.

Description: This film imagines the end of the world as predicted by the Mayan calendar, with catastrophic events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis ravaging cities worldwide.

Fact: The film's production required the creation of over 1,300 visual effects shots. The scene where the White House is destroyed was one of the most expensive in the movie.

Description: In this sci-fi thriller, a network of satellites designed to control the global climate goes haywire, causing extreme weather events that devastate cities around the world.

Fact: The film's concept was inspired by the idea of geoengineering and climate control. The film's director, Dean Devlin, is known for his work on disaster films like "Independence Day."

Description: While not strictly an urban disaster, this film showcases the Coast Guard's heroic efforts to rescue the crew of a tanker split in two by a storm off the coast of Massachusetts, with scenes of urban chaos as the storm hits the mainland.

Fact: The film is based on a true story from 1952, and the rescue mission was one of the most daring in Coast Guard history. The storm scenes were shot in a massive water tank to simulate the harsh conditions.

Description: A group of storm chasers and residents of a small town face multiple tornadoes, with scenes of urban destruction as the storms tear through the city.

Fact: The film used real tornado footage to enhance the realism of the CGI tornadoes. The tornado scenes were shot in Detroit, Michigan, to give an authentic urban feel.

Description: When a massive earthquake hits California, a rescue-chopper pilot and his estranged wife must navigate through the destruction to save their daughter. The film captures the raw power of nature against the backdrop of urban chaos.

Fact: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson performed many of his own stunts, including a scene where he jumps from a helicopter onto a building. The film used real footage of the 1994 Northridge earthquake for authenticity.

Description: A heist film set during a Category 5 hurricane, showcasing the chaos of a hurricane hitting a small town, with scenes of urban destruction and survival.

Fact: The film was shot in Bulgaria, where they built a massive set to simulate the hurricane's effects on a town. The storm scenes were enhanced with CGI to create the hurricane's fury.