La Palmahas been dominating the Netflix charts shortly following its release in December 2024. While it can be a quick binge for some, leaving them wanting more, the good news is that many other shows and movies like it exist. The Norwegian disaster drama miniseries, created by Martin Sundland, Lars Gudmestad, and Harald Rosenløw Eeg and directed by Kasper Barfoed,chronicles an imminent volcanic eruption that results in a tsunami, headed straight toward the island of La Palma,a part of Spain’s Canary Islands.La Palma’s charactersinclude a Norwegian family on vacation and researchers who first discover the impending threat.
La Palma
Cast
A Norwegian family vacationing in La Palma faces chaos when a young researcher uncovers disturbing evidence of potential volcanic activity. As fears escalate, the possibility of a catastrophic eruption and tsunami looms, threatening the idyllic setting and testing the family’s resilience amidst a looming natural disaster.
The events of the Netflix disaster miniseries take place over the course of four episodes, withthe ending ofLa Palmarevealing who survives the tsunami. Since it is a limited series though, episode 4 is its final one. The story is finished and will likely not continue in the future. However,fans who want more after finishingLa Palmacan check out other TV shows and moviesthat fall under the disaster genre and have similar themes.
10The Impossible
Directed By: J. A. Bayona
Just likeLa Palma,The Impossibletells the storyof a family trying to survive a tsunami. The 2012 biographical disaster drama film is based on the experiences of María Belón,a woman who was on vacation with her family in Thailand during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.Naomi Watts stars as Maria Bennett (the character inspired by Belón), while Ewan McGregor plays her husband, Henry, and Tom Holland (in his feature film debut) portrays her son, Lucas, inThe Impossible.
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Aside from both revolving around tsunamis,La PalmaandHolland and McGregor’s 12-year-old disaster movie are both based on true stories. However, both take creative liberties when crafting their respective characters and plots.The Impossibleis slightly more factual and better represents its disaster,though, whileLa Palmais more theoretical and depicts what could happen in the future.
9Geostorm
Directed By: Dean Devlin
Geostormis often an overlooked film in the disaster genre. However, itcontains a unique plot, a fantastic cast, and high-stakes entertainment,making it a worthy watch after finishing Netflix’sLa Palma. The 2017 sci-fiaction movie stars Gerard Butleras Jake Lawson, a satellite designer tasked with saving the world when climate-controlling satellites start malfunctioning, causing devastating storms around the globe.
Daniel Wu
Cheng Long
Critics weren’t the biggest fans ofGeostormasButler’s disaster movie received an 18 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. But just because most critics didn’t likeGeostormdoesn’t mean people shouldn’t watch it. They should just know thatthe 2017 sci-fi movie is more of an unserious, entertaining filmrather than one that wins Oscars. The whole trick is to have expectations that are on par with a movie’s quality — that way, viewers can actually enjoyGeostormfor what it is.
8High Water
Created By: Jan Holoubek
Although there are certainly more movies in the disaster genre than TV shows, a few, likeLa Palma, exist and are just as exciting and entertaining.High Wateris one of them. The 2022 Netflix Polish historical drama depictsthe 1997 Central European flood and how it affects the people of Wrocław, Poland, but its story is mostly fictional.Scientists and government officials must come together inHigh Waterto deal with the rising water levelsand keep the citizens of Wrocław safe.
Similar toLa Palma, each episode ofHigh Waterwill leave the audience wanting more, making it hard for them not to watch all six episodes in one sitting.
PerhapsHigh Waterisn’t as big or flashy as other disaster projects. However, the series is quite enthralling and contains complex characters (who are fictional and not based on real people who were affected by the 1997 flood).High Waterwill keep viewers on the edge of their seats.Similar toLa Palma, each episode ofHigh Waterwill leave the audience wanting more, making it hard for them not to watch all six episodes in one sitting.
7The Wave
Directed By: Roar Uthaug
For more tsunami stories after watchingLa Palmaon Netflix, fans should check outThe Wave. However, unlike the Netflix TV show,the tsunami inThe Waveis caused by an avalanche.The Åkerneset crevice collapses in Møre og Romsdal (a county in Western Norway) in the 2015 Norwegian disaster film. After the crevice collapses, an avalanche follows, resulting in a large, destructive tsunami that hits Geiranger (a small tourist village in Møre og Romsdal).
The Wavereceived positive reviews from critics and audiences alike at the time of its release — it has an 83 percent score onRotten Tomatoesand was Norway’s official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars in 2016.
Of course,bothLa PalmaandThe Waveare Norwegian productions,but that’s not where their similarities stop. As mentioned above,the Netflix miniseriesand the movie both depict tsunamis, take place at a tourist destination, and center around a family. If one enjoyedLa Palmaand is craving more,The Waveshould be the first movie on their to-watch list.
6Katla
Created By: Baltasar Kormákur & Sigurjón Kjartansson
Katlais another foreign TV series that chronicles a disaster. However, unlike most others in the genre,the Icelandic mystery drama is set one year after the disaster and contains some supernatural elements.Katlatakes place one year after the sub-glacial volcano Katla in southern Iceland erupted, which devastated the town of Vik. Strange occurrences start happening, like those previously assumed dead showing up in town and a volcanologist discovering something quite peculiar in the glacier.
For those who lovedLa Palmaand just so happen to have an affinity for supernatural shows,Katlais the perfect series. It received rave reviews after its premiere in 2021 on Netflix, withcritics praising its thrills, unpredictable twists, and emotional themes.Viewers should expect to cry much more while watchingKatlathan they did duringLa Palma.
5Greenland
Directed By: Ric Roman Waugh
Greenland, directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Chris Sparling, is one of the most recent big disaster films, but it just so happens to also be one of the best. The 2020 apocalyptic survivaldisaster moviecenters around Gerard Butler as John Garrity, a man attempting to save his family whena planet-destroying comet heads towards Earth.John, his wife (Allison, played by Morena Baccarin), and son (Nathan, portrayed by Roger Dale Floyd) are one of the few families in the world chosen for emergency sheltering.
Following the success of the firstGreenlandmovie, the studio ordereda sequel titledGreenland: Migrationfeaturing the returns of Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin as John Garrity and Allison Garrity, respectively. Ric Roman Waugh will also return to direct, while Chris Sparling will be joined by Mitchell LaFortune to write the script.Greenland: Migrationis expected to premiere in 2025.
Unfortunately, many things go wrong inGreenlandfor the main characters. The whole world erupts in chaos, desperately trying to save themselves and their own families. The disaster movie is truly a rollercoaster from beginning to end.Greenlandeasily captures the audience’s undying attentionas they watch Butler’s character try to get him and his family to safety during what appears to be the end of te world.
4Volcano
Directed By: Mick Jackson
Not manydisaster movies chronicle volcano eruptions, butVolcanois certainly one of the most memorable. AlthoughVolcanodoesn’t feature a destructive tsunami, its central natural disaster ties it toLa Palmaon Netflix. In the 1997 film,an earthquake in Los Angeles opens a fissure in a fault line, resulting in the formation of a volcanounderneath the city. Tommy Lee Jones plays Mike Roark, the director of Los Angeles' Office of Emergency Management who is the story’s hero.
AlthoughVolcanois not based on a true story, it was inspired by the 1943 formation of the Parícutin volcano in Mexico.
Aside from Jones,other notable cast members inVolcanoare Anne Heche,Gaby Hoffmann, Don Cheadle, Keith David, John Corbett, and Richard Schiff. Like many other disaster movies, they undoubtedly elevate the story. However,Volcanois entertaining in its own right, despite the fact that it is severely underrated.
3Dante’s Peak
Directed By: Roger Donaldson
Dante’s Peakis a classic volcanodisaster film that is a must-watchafterLa Palma. The 1997 movie stars Pierce Brosnan as Harry Dalton, a USGS (United States Geological Survey) volcanologist ordered to investigatestrange seismic activity in Dante’s Peak, a fictional town in Washington that borders a stratovolcano.Of course, the volcano erupts, putting all the people of Dante’s Peak, including Harry, in danger.
Kirk Trutner
Terry
Similar to most disaster films from the 1990s,Dante’s Peakreceived mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. However, like other movies on this list,Dante’s Peakis still worth watching.It’s underrated as it’s entertaining, full of thrills, features a compelling story, and contains impressive special effects for the time; everything a disaster film should be.
2Lost
Created By: Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, & Damon Lindelof
PerhapsLostisn’t the first TV showthat comes to mind when thinking about ones similar toLa Palma. However, under the surface,Lostshares many similarities with the Netflix miniseries.The sci-fi adventure drama begins with a plane crashing on an island in the South Pacific Oceanand follows the survivors, who are trying to return home (like how the central family inLa Palmais trying to leave the island before the tsunami hits). Over the course of the six-season series, the story takes many twists and turns, consistently surprising viewers.
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Lostis often credited as one ofthe best TV shows of all time, and for good reason. It ran for six seasons and 121 episodes, winning various awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005 and a couple of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series awards (for Terry O’Quinn as John Locke in 2005 and Michael Emerson as Ben Linus in 2007). Some argue over the quality of its later seasons (and whetherthe series finale was the best or worst one of all time). Regardless,Lostis a must-watch for everyone.
1The Poseidon Adventure
Directed By: Ronald Neame
The last movieLa Palmafans should check out isThe Poseidon Adventure, one of the most renowned disaster films of all time. The 1972 movie is based on Paul Gallico’s 1969 novel of the same name. It follows the SSPoseidon, a cruise ocean liner that sets out on its final journey from New York City to Athens before it gets decommissioned. Unfortunately,the ship gets overturned when it gets stuck in a tsunami.
Warner Bros. Pictures released a remake ofThe Poseidon Adventure,Poseidon, starring Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, and Richard Dreyfuss in 2006. Unfortunately,Poseidonwas a box office bomb and received negative reviews.
The Poseidon Adventurewas a box office success and won two Oscars— Best Original Song and Best Visual Effects. Critics and audiences alike loved its talented ensemble cast (including Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters, and Red Buttons), high-stakes story, tension, and more.The Poseidon Adventureis simplythe pinnacle tsunami disaster film, making it a necessity forLa Palmalovers to watch.
The Poseidon Adventure
The Poseidon Adventure is a disaster film directed by Ronald Neame. It follows a group of passengers as they struggle for survival after their luxury cruise ship capsizes in the open sea. Starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelley Winters, the film showcases their desperate journey to safety amidst perilous conditions. The Poseidon Adventure is based on Paul Gallico’s novel and emphasizes themes of bravery and human resilience.
