Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- catastrophic
- tense
- melodramatic
- classic disaster movie night
- 1970s film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the destruction effects and Sensurround presentation impressive, while considering the story and performances perfunctory.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Los Angeles skyscrapers, streets, parking structures, fires, flooding, and collapsing buildings provide the central visual attraction.
Stewart Graff, Remy Royce-Graff, Lew Slade, Denise Marshall, Sam Royce, and Miles Quade occupy interwoven survival threads.
The production was promoted through Sensurround vibrations, making the earthquake physically felt as well as seen and heard.
Marital conflict, professional tensions, rescue obligations, and personal danger continue amid the destruction of Los Angeles.
Films like Earthquake, and why
The Towering Inferno
Shared disaster-film spectacle, interconnected survivors, large-scale destruction, and heightened thriller tension.
The Poseidon Adventure
Shared ensemble survival structure, catastrophic emergency, rescue-driven action, and 1970s disaster-movie tone.
San Andreas
Shared earthquake catastrophe, urban destruction, family peril, and survival-focused suspense.
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Robson
- Release Date
- 1974-11-15
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (384)
Cast
- Charlton Heston
- Ava Gardner
- George Kennedy
- Lorne Greene
- Geneviève Bujold
- Richard Roundtree
- Marjoe Gortner
- Barry Sullivan
- Lloyd Nolan
- Victoria Principal
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Earthquake about?
- A sprawling 1970s disaster thriller turns Los Angeles into a collapsing maze of fires, floods, fractured relationships, and desperate rescues.
- What is Earthquake like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Earthquake as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Earthquake violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Earthquake as moderate.
- What did critics think of Earthquake?
- Critics broadly found the destruction effects and Sensurround presentation impressive, while considering the story and performances perfunctory.
- Which films are like Earthquake?
- Films with a similar feel include The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, and San Andreas.
- How long is Earthquake?
- Earthquake runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Earthquake?
- In United States, Earthquake is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home.
