10 Best shows on natural disasters 

The primal forces that shape our planet, Fire, water, wind, and earth, can also bring chaos, ruin, and sometimes, awe-inspiring spectacles. From raging tsunamis to ground-rippling earthquakes, television has captured nature’s wrath in ways that leave us clutching the edge of our seats. Whether it's the raw, undulating realism of documentaries or the high-stakes drama of scripted series, these shows bring the terror and resilience of humanity to life.

As the storm chaser in Storm Chasers (2007) famously says, “You can’t outrun a tornado, but you can outthink it.” And that’s exactly what these shows do: unpack the science, the survival, and the sheer spectacle of nature’s wrath. And who can forget Chernobyl? Not exactly a natural disaster, but the eerily quiet, radiation-drenched aftermath had all the hallmarks of one.

Let’s count down our top 10 picks for the best shows on natural disasters that mystified and shocked audiences worldwide.

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Chernobyl

“Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later, that debt is paid.” The phenomenal Jared Harris stars in the role of Valery Legasov; his thought-provoking words set the stage for HBO’s masterpiece Chernobyl. It is a compelling miniseries recounting the 1986 nuclear disaster of Chernobyl. The show takes the audience on a journey, beginning the story with Legasov’s suicide and then going on to expose the catastrophic horrors of Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which led to such an end to the narrator’s life.

The explosion was only a fraction compared to the horrors that followed. Directed by Johan Renck and written by Craig Mazin, the show doesn’t rely on dramatic exaggeration, instead thriving on realism and effective perspective. The radiation burns, the sickening political cover-ups, and the heroism of the miners and liquidators feel too close for comfort. The cinematography, drenched in eerie greens and muted greys, mirrors the silent, creeping nightmare of radiation. The now-famous sequence of three divers voluntarily stepping into the radioactive underbelly of the reactor remains one of television’s most harrowing moments.

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The Days

Fast forward 25 years, when history repeats itself in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster, in Japan. The 2023 drama, The Days, takes us through the disorienting perspectives of the 2011 disaster, unfolding over eight excruciatingly intense episodes. Directed by Masaki Nishiura and starring Koji Yakusho as the narrator, Masao Yoshida, the plant manager who fought desperately to prevent a second Chernobyl.

“The worst-case scenario has begun.” The show reiterates the chaos of one of Japan’s most devastating nuclear catastrophes, the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that led to the reactor’s failure, depicted with cruel realism, but the show’s true strength lies in its moments of humanity and the subsequent flaws of being human. The flow of the show remains more intimate, as we feel the weight of every choice and every lost second. It’s a harrowing but deeply heartfelt tribute to the unsung heroes of Fukushima.

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In the Eye of the Storm

In this newly released docudrama series, In the Eye of the Storm blends gripping storytelling with real-life footage of some of the deadliest hurricanes in history. Each episode focuses on a different natural disaster, mostly Hurricanes and storms. The show captures the sheer force of nature and the resilience of those caught in its wake. Narrated by Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, the series seamlessly weaves firsthand survivor accounts with breathtaking shots of hurricanes swallowing entire cities.

In one particularly harrowing scene, a survivor recalls the moment their house was lifted into the air: “I was holding onto my baby, and the next thing I knew, we weren’t in our house anymore.” The show’s brilliance lies in its ability to humanize a large group of people. We don’t just see 1,800 dead from Katrina—we see a mother wading through floodwaters with her children. We hear the desperation in a 911 call made by a trapped family. It’s more than just a documentary, it’s a sobering reminder of nature’s fury and humanity’s determination for survival.

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High Water

This Polish drama, based on the true events of the 1997 Central European flood, is a slow-burn masterstroke entwining natural destruction and political unrest. High Water follows Jaśmina Tremer, played by Agnieszka Żulewska, a hydrogeologist who warns the government of an impending catastrophe, only to be ignored until the damage is too great.

As the Odra River swells and the dikes begin to crack, the show transforms from a political drama into a gripping survival thriller. One of the most powerful moments comes when a desperate local, standing in his now-submerged home, shouts, “They knew! They knew this would happen, and they did nothing!” The tension between science and politics plays out in devastating ways, making High Water a must-watch for audiences inclined towards the disaster drama genre.

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Earthstorm

Not all disasters come in the form of tsunamis and nuclear meltdowns, sometimes, catastrophe strikes on a smaller scale but with no lighter devastating effects. Earthstorm is a documentary on Netflix that will give you literal goosebumps. From floods and fires to crashes and volcanic eruptions, this show delves into nature’s retaliation against humans, chronicling accidents that could have been prevented.

The show offers you a firsthand perspective from those on the front lines like storm chasers, survivors, and first responders. Through their encounters with Earth’s most relentless natural forces, we get a glimpse of how tough living can be. The series comprises four eye-opening episodes, each focusing on a different natural phenomenon.

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Deadly Disasters

In a realistic natural horror documentary series that leaves out no gory details, Deadly Disasters takes audiences into the most catastrophic events in human history, dissecting the science and human failure behind them. Nothing from category-five hurricanes to extremely destructive volcanic eruptions is too much, as this series expertly blends logical analysis with tense cinematography in order to simulate an immersive experience.

Every episode presents a new disaster, featuring real-life witnesses and specialists who share their experiences as the complexities of these brutal events unravel. Standing out for its petrifying depictions and self-reflective monologues, in one of the most intense episodes, covering the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, a survivor reiterates the moment the water receded: "I thought it was a miracle, a strange phenomenon. Then, in an instant, the ocean roared back, like a monstrous beast unleashed." Deadly Disasters will leave viewers both enlightened and unnerved as the raw unpredictability of nature wields its terrifying power.

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Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake

The 2022 Netflix documentary reconstructs the cataclysmic earthquake of 2015 that shook Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and triggering a lethal avalanche on Mount Everest. The series successfully builds up the tension while also relying on firsthand accounts of various witnesses to the calamity. "One moment, we were celebrating reaching base camp; the next, the mountain was crumbling around us", one of the climbers recounts their ordeal as the footage of the avalanche rushing toward helpless mountaineers inspires both awe and terror in the audience. Directors Olly Lambert and Jerry Rothwell craft a sentimental narrative, highlighting the resilience of the Nepalese people and the global rescue efforts that followed the catastrophe. The human stories are at the heart of this show, making it more than just a recollection of the disaster, and more a testament to survival and solidarity.

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Meltdown: Three Mile Island

Even though natural disasters arise, well, from nature, more often than not, it's human negligence that adds to their severity in the long term. Meltdown: Three Mile Island is a new reality-based Netflix documentary, revisiting the partial meltdown of the Pennsylvania nuclear reactor in 1979, America’s worst nuclear accident. The episodes are a masterful blend of archival recordings, dramatic reenactments, and firsthand accounts from whistleblower Rick Parks, played with haunting conviction by actor Joshua Jackson.

Parks, a nuclear engineer, warns everyone about the plant’s safety issues, stating, "If we don’t fix this, we’re sitting on a time bomb." The show masterfully builds tension, making viewers feel the creeping dread of an invisible, radioactive threat, and delves into government cover-ups, corporate greed, and the chilling consequences of human error. It’s a stark reminder of the widespread fatality that occurs as a result of ignorance and political greed.

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Rogue Earth

Capturing the raw power of catastrophic natural disasters and immersing audiences in their intensity and magnitude, Rogue Earth presents a stark view of both the devastation and the heroism that takes over when nature turns violent. This 2017 documentary series portrays the overwhelming power of natural disasters, entrancing audiences in a dreadful trance.

One of the episodes from the show, tributes the 2016 wildfire that wiped out Fort McMurray. The episode vividly portrays the hellish fire that drove over 88,000 residents to flee, leaving behind their homes, as flames consumed their city. Several voices are featured on the show, one such is that of the firefighter, Joseph Wiecha, who recalls his frantic moments on the front lines. “We were surrounded by fire on all sides,” his words heavy with the weight of the experience and the guilt of survival. Instead of merely dwelling on the disaster part of the situation, the series upholds the importance of courage, empathy, determination, and an undying spirit in the face of calamities, transporting viewers right into the thick of things. It encapsulates the suffocating reality of survival and the cost one must pay for it.

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Tsunami: Race Against Time

The tsunami that impacted the Indian Ocean in the year 2004 was one of the most severe fatal natural disasters in recorded human history. Directed by Daniel Bogado, Tsunami: Race Against Time is a stunning series that offers a closer look at the personal narratives and depicts the tragedy of the disaster in all its brutal glory. Structured into four gripping episodes, each focuses on a different aspect of the catastrophe, combining archival footage, along with fantastic visuals, the show is set to historic perfection. A survivor in Phuket by the name of Chris Xaver was visiting as a tourist. She recalls the exact moment the waves hit.

"Before we could comprehend what was happening, a towering wave was upon us." This deeply intimate recollection is just one of the many sorrowful scenes in the series, brilliantly showcasing the transcedental human experience, which stands as a testament to endurance and the will to live. The series' dedication to uncovering stories that are rarely represented in mainstream media, from regions like Sri Lanka and Banda Aceh, is what makes watching it a universally felt experience. The psychological depth of the show is further magnified by its haunting tone and eerie implications, which together evoke a deep sense of empathy and change.