Disaster Porn is my favourite movie genre.  Disaster Porn is a movie that, well, features a disaster, man-made or natural as a major plot point. The special effects must look realistic and there should be as many as possible.  Not necessarily to advance the plot but because it looks cool when things are destroyed in imaginative ways.  Logic is not necessary in order to explain the impending disaster. These movies do not have to be grounded in reality, in fact, the entertainment value is increased when they are not.  A lesson must be learned and someone has to come through all the perils unscathed but wiser for the experience.  

In order to qualify as Disaster Porn, certain criteria must be met.  There must be Lovers in Peril (LIP), Kids in Peril (KIP), Buildings in Peril (BIP), Earth in Peril (EIP), Dogs in Peril (DIP),  or Cats in Peril (CIP).  At least two of these elements are necessary for the movie to be included as Disaster Porn.

The Airport movies are a sub-genre of disaster movies unto themselves so they are not listed here. 

Of course, there are many other Disaster Porn movies but these ones are my favourites.  When they appear on TV, they are always worth watching again and again. In order to truly enjoy a Disaster Porn movie, you cannot rent it.  It must be found late at night or on a weekend afternoon while channel surfing.  Disaster Porn is a found gift and must be savoured when it is discovered.  Thus, you may go for years without watching Earthquake and then stumble across it three times in two days.  Watch every showing. 

Towering Inferno qualifies with four of these; LIP, KIP, BIP and CIP, the rarest of peril.  The cat is question is rescued by O.J. Simpson(!).  Since cats are smart enough to get out of Dodge when peril approaches, this rates a special mention. 

Deep Impact has LIP, KIP, EIP but no DIP. It’s special effects are too few and far between.  It gets points though for taking an intelligent approach to its disaster; comets hitting Earth and destroying life as we know it. 

Earthquake has LIP, KIP, BIP but no DIP unless you include the puppy that George Kennedy gives to Victoria Principal.  He was probably trying to distract her from her unfortunate Afro.

Poseidon Adventure, (the original) features LIP, KIP, and is only one that has Ship in Peril (SIP).  It only makes the list because of the SIP, a unique disaster setting. And for showing us that Shelley Winters can still swim after all these years.

Volcano has KIP, and BIP; it only makes the list because we learn subways are only good for directing lava flows and not moving people.  Stick with your cars, folks.

Independence Day has LIP, KIP, DIP, BIP and EIP.  The special effects are great but the story lacks logic.  What are the odds that a crashed spaceship would still work years later?  And that Will Smith would know how to fly it?  

The Day After Tomorrow has LIP, KIP, EIP, and DIP.  Unfortunately, the ending is a letdown,  Earth begins to heal itself without the help of Will Smith and his alien aircraft.

War of the Worlds had KIP, EIP, but unfortunately no DIP.  That would have been a welcome distraction from the irritating kids.  I was rooting for the aliens to get the KIP.  Anyone who shrieked and whined as much as these kids, did not deserve to escape the alien clutches. Eat them and put me out of their misery.

Armaggedon has EIP, LIP, DIP and Bruce Willis in Peril.  Fortunately, he redeems the movie by sacrificing himself to save Earth.  Thank you very much.  The opening special effects are spectacular but the rest are few and far in between.

So, find your own personal Disaster Porn, mine will always be Towering Inferno.  I saw it in a theatre when it was first released and the lesson that I took away from it was to never party in tall office buildings.  But if you did, Steve McQueen would show up and rescue you.