There is something strangely thrilling about watching life-shattering scenarios unfold from the safety of a movie theater or living room. Filmmakers have made the most of this tendency by bringing countless extraordinary world-ending schemas to life on the big screen.

Related: From 'Independence Day' To '2012': Why Do We Like Disaster Movies?

Disaster films have continued to bring fresh takes on classic doomsday tropes. Whether extreme natural disasters, blood-curdling zombies, or sinister technology, there is an onscreen apocalypse for everyone.

Nuclear Nightmare - Terminator 2 (1991)

Sarah Connor's visceral nuclear nightmare was as alarming for her character as it is for viewers of Terminator 2. On a sunny day in Los Angeles, a beautiful scene of children laughing and playing in a playground is abruptly turned on its head when the blinding light of a nuclear bomb goes off in the distance.

A hellish landscape devours Los Angeles as people ducking for cover evaporate under the shockwave, and the city turns to dust and flames. Robert and Denis Skotak of 4-Ward Production studied footage of nuclear tests to construct this horrific scene.

Planetary Collision - Melancholia (2011)

Lars Von Trier's haunting film Melancholia takes a more poetic approach to the world's end. A rogue planet is on a slow but steady collision course to Earth in this scenario. Something about the gradual nearing of complete planetary annihilation gives the film a more gentle tone not seen in most apocalyptic films.

Viewers can expect delicately crafted sequences that inject a distorted sense of peace into the depressing reality of Melancholia. The final scene is almost unbearable to watch, with the visual aesthetics capturing an ending that is equally beautiful and horrifying.

The Rage Virus - 28 Days Later (2002)

With the countless takes on the zombie apocalypse, it remains a challenge to create a film that stands out from the rest. However, 28 Days Later captured the chaos and destruction of humanity in such a way that sticks with you long after viewing.

Related:The 22 Best Zombie Movies Of All TimeThe aggressive virus and subsequent uncontrollable violence of those infected is an unsettling take on a zombie. Hand-held cameras and grainy visual effects mimic the absolute anarchy that the survivors go through – not only as they face the infected, but also the remaining survivors they encounter.

New Ice Age - The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

In The Day After Tomorrow, a series of catastrophic climate events sees the modern world swept into a new ice age. Enormous hurricanes, massive rogue waves, and destructive clusters of tornadoes are just some natural disasters shown, evolving into three massive global superstorms that instantly freeze anything – and anyone – that comes in its path.

New York becomes a frozen landscape and sets the stage for many nail-biting moments. Although scientifically, the film bears little accuracy, its message about the devastating impacts of climate change still stands.

Nuclear Fallout - When The Wind Blows (1986)

This hand-drawn animated film directed by Jimmy T. Murakami tells the story of an elderly couple who attempts to survive a nuclear attack's fallout. Based on a comic book of the same name, this movie is a powerful commentary on the atrocities of war.

Its deceptively innocent art style combined with the innocence of the sweet retired couple works to create a poignant film that intelligently navigates through horrific subject matter.

Hidden Virus - Pontypool (2008)

Pontypool is a hidden gem in the zombie subgenre. The entire film is set in a single location, making the atmosphere intensely claustrophobic. Three radio hosts are faced with a mysterious affliction that is infecting the town of Pontypool with only a radio channel and each other to help them survive.

Without giving too much away, the deadly virus is transmitted in an unexpected way that will leave you stunned. The film doesn't rely on special effects but exploits a much scarier tactic – the power of the imagination.

Mutated Neutrinos - 2012 (2012)

2012 is an exciting, action-packed disaster movie that presents 'mutated neutrinos' from the sun as the new world-ending catastrophe. There are plenty of intense getaway sequences – from escaping an earth-shattering volcanic blast in an RV to outdriving a monstrous earthquake in a limousine.

Related:Natural Disasters: 8 Survival Tactics We Learned From The MoviesThe film gives viewers some of the most gloriously exaggerated sights of natural disasters to grace the screens. Despite being labeled as the most absurd-science fiction film of all time by NASA, it is a thrilling watch nonetheless.

Rise of Machines - Animatrix (2003)

If you're a fan of The Matrix series, then this anthology-style film is an absolute must-see. Animatrix is an animated film that outlines the backstory of man vs. machine introduced by The Matrix. Broken up into nine short stories, it explores the downfall of humanity and the rise of intelligent machines.

The film masters the ability to tell a complex story with great detail and punctuation, with the animated style allowing for a more dynamic visual experience. In the far-off year of 2090, Animatrix proposes that humanity's endless need to advance technology will ultimately be its ruin.

Asteroid - Deep Impact (1998)

Deep Impact draws on the true nature of danger the Earth faces against comets and asteroids. Ever since geologists first theorized that the extinction of dinosaurs resulted from a colossal asteroid that changed life on Earth, the terrifying possibility of this reoccurring has passed through the mind of many.

A stellar cast plays out an unnervingly realistic scenario in which humanity battles every attempt to stop the life-ending comet called 'Wolf-Beiderman' from impact. Pressure gradually builds into an explosive final act that keeps you glued to the screen.

Extreme Heat Waves - The Day The Earth Caught Fire (1961)

Val Guest's 1961 disaster film deserves more recognition for its cleverly original take on an overused trope. In the movie, the Earth has spun out of orbit and is pulled closer to the sun, resulting in a jolt of extreme heat waves.

Dread, panic, and depression loom over the characters in the sweltering streets of London. The last hope for humankind and the entire planet rest in one final attempt to restore the Earth to its original orbit. The Day The Earth Caught Fire is a cautionary tale that rewrites the realm of possibilities for disaster films.

Next: The Best Disaster Movies Of The 21st Century (So Far)