Two Movies About Paradise Wildfire Streaming Now, One Stands Out

The Lost Bus and Faith in the Flames offer different takes on the 2018 Camp Fire tragedy.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 5:31pm

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Two movies about the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California have recently been released on streaming platforms. The Lost Bus, available on Apple TV, is a big-budget thriller starring Matthew McConaughey as a bus driver who rescues a group of schoolchildren during the fire. Faith in the Flames, on Netflix, is a Lifetime movie focused on nurse Nichole Jolly's heroic efforts to save her patients as the fire destroyed the town. While the films share some similarities, The Lost Bus is the superior production with its impressive special effects and dramatic sequences.

Why it matters

The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history, destroying the town of Paradise and killing 85 people. These two movies offer different perspectives on the tragedy and highlight the bravery of those who risked their lives to save others during the disaster.

The details

The Lost Bus features high-octane action sequences and impressive visual effects as it follows bus driver Kevin McKay's harrowing efforts to escape the flames with a bus full of students. In contrast, Faith in the Flames takes a more intimate, character-driven approach, centering on nurse Nichole Jolly's experiences working to evacuate her hospital patients as the fire engulfed the town. Both films explore themes of family, heroism, and the human toll of the disaster.

  • The 2018 Camp Fire occurred in November 2018, destroying the town of Paradise, California.
  • The Lost Bus was released on Apple TV in January 2025.
  • Faith in the Flames premiered on Netflix in December 2025.

The players

The Lost Bus

A big-budget thriller film about the Camp Fire, available to stream on Apple TV.

Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story

A Lifetime movie focused on a nurse's heroic efforts during the Camp Fire, streaming on Netflix.

Matthew McConaughey

The star of The Lost Bus, playing a bus driver who rescues schoolchildren during the Camp Fire.

Chrissy Metz

The star of Faith in the Flames, portraying real-life nurse Nichole Jolly.

Nichole Jolly

A nurse who worked tirelessly to evacuate patients during the Camp Fire, the subject of the Faith in the Flames movie.

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What they’re saying

“The scenes of the fire are insane, and I'm still not sure how they did all of them, as it's a mix of practical effects and CGI. Combined with director Paul Greengrass' typical fast cuts and handheld camera work, the movie is a true spectacle to watch.”

— Hugh Scott

“Faith In The Flames is a much smaller movie. Though there are limited effects, it's really more about hospital personnel, especially Nichole, and how they navigated the fire as it took out the town and their hospital. It's far less flashy, as clearly reflected in the budget.”

— Hugh Scott

The takeaway

While both movies offer compelling perspectives on the tragic 2018 Camp Fire, The Lost Bus emerges as the superior production with its impressive visual effects and dramatic storytelling. However, Faith in the Flames provides a more intimate look at the heroism of those on the ground during the disaster, highlighting the bravery of first responders like nurse Nichole Jolly.