There's something uniquely thrilling about watching a hotel collapse on screen. These films not only provide edge-of-your-seat suspense but also delve into human resilience, survival, and sometimes, the supernatural. Here's a curated list of 10 films where the hotel setting becomes a character in its own right, offering viewers a mix of drama, horror, and action.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
Description: This British science fiction film features a scenario where nuclear tests cause the Earth's axis to tilt, leading to catastrophic weather changes and scenes of buildings, including hotels, collapsing.
Fact: The film was notable for its innovative use of newsreel footage to create a documentary-like feel, enhancing the realism of the disaster.


The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Description: While set on a ship, the premise of a luxury vessel capsizing and the subsequent struggle for survival mirrors the chaos of a hotel collapse, making it a fitting inclusion.
Fact: The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won for Best Song and Best Visual Effects.


The Towering Inferno (1974)
Description: This classic disaster film features a towering skyscraper hotel that catches fire, leading to a dramatic rescue operation. It's a quintessential example of the hotel collapse theme, showcasing the chaos and heroism in the face of disaster.
Fact: The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three, including Best Cinematography. It was also one of the first films to be released as a "blockbuster" with a simultaneous wide release.


The Abyss (1989)
Description: While primarily an underwater adventure, the film includes a scene where a hotel-like structure on an oil rig collapses into the ocean, creating a tense survival scenario.
Fact: James Cameron used real underwater filming techniques, making the movie one of the most expensive films of its time due to the extensive underwater shooting.


Deep Impact (1998)
Description: In this apocalyptic film, a comet strike leads to massive destruction, including scenes where hotels and buildings crumble, showcasing the aftermath of such a disaster.
Fact: The film was released the same year as "Armageddon," leading to comparisons between the two comet/asteroid disaster movies.


The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
Description: Although primarily a climate change disaster movie, it includes a scene where a hotel in New York City collapses due to extreme weather conditions, trapping survivors inside.
Fact: The film's depiction of a sudden ice age was based on the theory of abrupt climate change, which was controversial among scientists at the time.


2012 (2009)
Description: Roland Emmerich's epic disaster film includes numerous scenes of buildings, including hotels, collapsing due to cataclysmic events, providing a visual feast of destruction.
Fact: The film's special effects were so extensive that it took over 1,400 visual effects shots to complete.


The Finest Hours (2016)
Description: This film, based on a true story, involves a Coast Guard rescue mission where a tanker ship splits in half, akin to a hotel collapse, with crew members trapped inside.
Fact: The film was shot in Massachusetts, where the real events took place, and the filmmakers recreated the ship using CGI and practical effects.


San Andreas (2015)
Description: This film focuses on the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, with scenes of buildings, including hotels, collapsing, showcasing the human struggle for survival.
Fact: Dwayne Johnson performed many of his own stunts, including a scene where he rescues people from a collapsing building.


Skyscraper (2018)
Description: While not strictly about a hotel, this film involves a high-rise building that becomes engulfed in flames, with scenes reminiscent of a hotel collapse. Dwayne Johnson's character must save his family trapped inside, making it a thrilling watch.
Fact: The film's climax was inspired by the real-life event of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, where a security guard heroically saved many lives.
