For this list, we've chosen the most epic, most explosive, and most destructive scenes in film that have reduced our favourite cities–both real and fictional – to rubble.

#10: Metropolis
“Man of Steel” (2013)

The latest stream of Hollywood blockbusters are basically just vehicles for third-act destruction frenzies, and this is no exception: the big blue Boy Scout faces a faction of evildoers from his native Krypton who’re out to conquer Earth. The best way to do this seems to be by leveling every inch of habitable city and restarting from scratch, with help from some fancy alien machine. Sure, that machine would’ve destroyed everything in its path, but Supe’s skyscraper-destroying duel against Zod beat it to the punch.

#9: Las Vegas Strip
“Mars Attacks!” (1996)

Aliens are at it again in this B-movie-style flick. What do they want? To exterminate all humans, of course. They attempt this by systematically destroying every famous landmark in spectacular fashion. One such casualty is the Las Vegas Strip. The destruction here is both impressive and purposely schlocky, in an effort to emulate alien invasion movies from the ‘50s and ‘60s.

#8: Hong Kong
“Pacific Rim” (2013)

In a shocking twist, aliens are now coming from underneath our oceans as opposed to from the blackness beyond. The baddies aren’t the brainy type and instead content themselves with destroying all of civilization by basically stepping on it. The Hong Kong battle concludes exactly how you’d expect a fight between giant monsters and giant robots to end: not too well for Hong Kong.

#7: New York
“Cloverfield” (2008)

The found footage format is considered by a lot of filmmakers to be an easy work-around, but it is nonetheless effective in this film about a giant monster coming from the ocean depths to wreak havoc on New York. The scenes are that much more intense and dramatic because the footage is shaky and real. New York takes quite a beating and, not for the first time, the Statue of Liberty becomes collateral damage.

#6: San Francisco
“Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013)

Even in a Utopian future, Earth’s major cities still aren’t safe from outer-space incursions. This time, the crew of the Enterprise and a familiar foe they picked up on their travels accidentally crash an enormous warship into the heart of San Francisco. Collateral damage ensues, but the crew only has eyes for Khan, which leads to even more destruction.

#5: Tokyo
“Godzilla” (1954)

This big green baddy is an early adopter in the area of citywide carnage. Almost exclusively attacking Tokyo, the King of Monsters has a penchant for spewing jets of radiation and knocking down skyscrapers with a single swipe. The effects are low budget, but remain nonetheless charming and iconic to this day.

#4: All Cities
“Deep Impact” (1998)

Never to be outdone by ocean-dwelling monsters or colonizing alien overlords, the universe’s own drifting mountains of space-garbage also take their toll on planet Earth. The worldwide chaos in “Deep Impact” is effective and frightening because there isn’t any alien consciousness behind it: it’s just complete happenstance that a comet enters our orbit and leads to the destruction of our cities. Also, expect another guest appearance by Lady Liberty.

#3: New York
“The Day After Tomorrow” (2004)

When it was popular to blame climate change for our eventual destruction, this movie was right there at the forefront. Shifting weather patterns are responsible for a whole bucketful of city-leveling cataclysms. New York is impressively flooded by a monumental tsunami, which washes away everything in its path. And no city destruction scene is complete without… Well, you guessed it.

#2: Los Angeles
“2012” (2009)

What is it with nature trying to one-up itself? In this scene, all of Los Angeles is cracked and shaken by a monstrous earthquake that is literally swallowing most of the city. Fortunately, with a little skill and a ridiculous amount of luck, John Cusack and his limo are able to avoid most of the destruction.

Honorable Mentions
- New York “The Avengers” (2012)
- New York “Watchmen” (2009)
- Los Angeles “This Is the End” (2013)
- Chicago “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011)

#1: Washington, D.C.
“Independence Day” (1996)

Aliens again, who’d have thought? But this time they’re out to send a little message. The White House, along with most of Washington D.C., is taken out with the liberal use of Dr. Evil-style lasers. Fire floods impressively through the streets as people scramble away in terror. Luckily, the American spirit is just too strong to beat.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite city destruction scene?

SOURCE: http://www.watchmojo.com/video/id/12274/

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Kindly allow me to add my own choice...
POMPEI...

They are all so scary.
esp. 'the day after tomorrow'.


Apocalypse!

Another one that scared me was 'A.I'. Though it wasn't about whole city destruction but the idea of human extinction 2000years after is so creepy.
And imagine some androids who never even met us.
damn!

'Transformers-dark of the moon' was superb mehn! When driller-bot was drilling the city roads and the sky scrapper,it felt so real!. The movie's a blockbuster..

'2012' was something else..

'Man of steel' the film was some how. The city was like a wrestling ring.

'Pompeii' was so so great. The movie was unpredictable,the end was fabulous. The destruction scene was leggit..

'Pacific rim' the destruction scene wasn't that bad. They were just inside water when they came out they didnt really destroy much stuffs. Pompeii should take it's place..

'Star trek' was good..

'Independence day' alien invasion. It was a killer!

My opinion: 'Pompeii' should be amongst the list cos the entire city was wiped out with all its inhabitants,even the outskirts of the city wasnt a place to hide from death.. No one survived not even 'celt' the main character [ryan kwanten] & hes lover..

Fweshdude: 'Transformers-dark of the moon' was superb mehn! When driller-bot was drilling the city roads and the sky scrapper,it felt so real!. The movie's a blockbuster..

'2012' was something else..

'Man of steel' the film was some how. The city was like a wrestling ring.

'Pompeii' was so so great. The movie was unpredictable,the end was fabulous. The destruction scene was leggit..

'Pacific rim' the destruction scene wasn't that bad. They were just inside water when they came out they didnt really destroy much stuffs. Pompeii should take it's place..

'Star trek' was good..

'Independence day' alien invasion. It was a killer!

My opinion: 'Pompeii' should be amongst the list cos the entire city was wiped out with all its inhabitants,even the outskirts of the city wasnt a place to hide from death.. No one survived not even 'celt' the main character [ryan kwanten] & hes lover..

GBAM!!!

Ceasar1: 2012 should take certain stage. I've never seen a movie that potray destruction as It did.

I agree with u.

I think I'll go with POMPEII