Underground stations, with their labyrinthine tunnels and confined spaces, provide a unique setting for disaster films. These movies not only offer thrilling narratives of survival and chaos but also delve into the psychological aspects of being trapped underground. Here's a curated list of 10 films where the underground becomes a stage for disaster, showcasing human resilience, fear, and the fight for survival.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Description: This classic thriller involves a group of hijackers taking control of a New York City subway train, leading to a tense standoff with authorities. The film's setting in the subway system adds to the claustrophobic tension.
Fact: The film was remade in 2009 with Denzel Washington and John Travolta. The original film's title refers to the train's departure time, 1:23 PM.


Subway (1985)
Description: A French film where a fugitive hides out in the Paris Metro, turning the underground into a setting for a cat-and-mouse game with the police.
Fact: The film was directed by Luc Besson, known for his visually distinctive style, which is evident in the underground scenes.


Daylight (1996)
Description: After an explosion causes a tunnel collapse in New York, survivors must find a way out of the Holland Tunnel. The film showcases the struggle for survival in an underground environment.
Fact: Sylvester Stallone, who stars in the film, also produced it, and the movie was one of the first to use CGI for realistic disaster effects.


The Descent (2005)
Description: While primarily set in caves, the film's theme of being trapped underground and facing unknown horrors resonates with the disaster theme in underground settings.
Fact: The film was shot in real caves, enhancing the realism of the claustrophobic environment.


The Commuter (2018)
Description: Liam Neeson plays an ex-cop caught in a conspiracy on his daily commute, turning his routine train ride into a high-stakes thriller set in the New York subway system.
Fact: The film was shot in real subway stations in New York, providing an authentic backdrop for the action.


The Incident (1967)
Description: While not strictly a disaster film, this movie features a tense situation in a New York subway car where two thugs terrorize passengers, showcasing the claustrophobic nature of underground travel.
Fact: The film was shot entirely in one subway car, emphasizing the confined setting.


The Tunnel (2001)
Description: A German film about a group of East Berliners digging a tunnel to escape to West Berlin, highlighting the underground as a place of both danger and hope.
Fact: The film is based on true events, and the tunnel depicted was one of the longest escape tunnels dug under the Berlin Wall.


Creep (2004)
Description: A British horror film where a group of people are trapped in an underground station with a mysterious killer. The setting amplifies the horror as they navigate through the dark, abandoned tunnels.
Fact: The film was shot in the abandoned Charing Cross tube station in London, adding authenticity to the setting.


The Tunnel (2011)
Description: An Australian found footage horror film where a journalist and her crew investigate disappearances in Sydney's underground network, only to encounter something sinister.
Fact: The film was released for free online, making it one of the first major movies to use this distribution method.


The Underground Railroad (2019)
Description: Although not a traditional disaster movie, this film uses the metaphor of an underground railroad to explore themes of escape and survival, set in the context of slavery.
Fact: The film was adapted from Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
