Disaster Films Set in Theme Parks

Description: A futuristic theme park where guests can live out their Wild West fantasies with robots turns deadly when the androids malfunction and start killing the visitors.

Fact: This film was one of the first to explore the concept of artificial intelligence in a theme park setting, a theme later revisited in the HBO series of the same name.

Description: Although not strictly a theme park film, it features a naval theme park where time travel and a nuclear disaster intertwine, creating a unique disaster scenario.

Fact: The film was originally conceived as a TV movie but was expanded into a feature film due to its ambitious scope.

Description: A group of teenagers get trapped in a carnival funhouse, where they encounter a deranged killer, turning their night of fun into a night of terror.

Fact: The film was directed by Tobe Hooper, known for "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," bringing a horror edge to the theme park setting.

Description: While not a traditional theme park disaster, this film involves a Vietnam vet taking over Central Park, creating a different kind of chaos in an urban "park" setting.

Fact: The film was shot on location in Central Park, adding to its gritty realism.

Description: This iconic film kicks off our list with a theme park gone horribly wrong. Dinosaurs, meant to be the main attraction, break free, turning a day of wonder into a fight for survival.

Fact: The animatronic dinosaurs were so realistic that they reportedly scared some of the actors. Also, the film's famous T-Rex scene was shot in one continuous take.

Description: A sequel where the theme park idea is revisited, this time with a team sent to study the dinosaurs on a second island, only for things to go awry once again.

Fact: The film was the first to use digital compositing to create a scene where a T-Rex chases a trailer over a cliff, a technique that was groundbreaking at the time.

Description: Another venture into the world of dinosaurs, this time with a group of adventurers landing on Isla Sorna, where they face not just dinosaurs but also the park's remnants.

Fact: The film features the first appearance of the Spinosaurus, which was intended to be the new apex predator, overshadowing even the T-Rex.

Description: A mad bomber targets theme parks across the country, threatening to blow up rollercoasters unless his demands are met, creating a tense atmosphere of suspense and terror.

Fact: The film was one of the first to use Sensurround, a special sound system designed to simulate the physical sensations of a rollercoaster ride.

Description: Shot guerrilla-style in Disney parks, this film follows a man whose last day at the park turns into a surreal and nightmarish journey, blending reality with fantasy.

Fact: The film was shot without permission from Disney, leading to legal concerns and adding to its underground cult status.

Description: A group of tourists on a theme park ride are transported back in time to the Roman Empire, where they must navigate historical disasters to return home.

Fact: This film was one of the first to combine time travel with the theme park concept, offering a unique twist on the disaster genre.