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Earthquake

1974 · Movie · PG · 123 min · ★ 6.1 · 51% critics

ActionDramaThriller

Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles. As the city is damaged and displaced by the disaster and its aftermath, their separate problems collide with a fight to stay alive.

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Details
Years
1974
Release date
1974-11-15
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
123 min
Critic score
51/100
TMDB rating
6.1/10 (364 votes)
Box office
$79,666,653
Budget
$7,000,000
About

You’ll likely enjoy Earthquake if you want big 1970s disaster action and survival tension, especially with Sensurround-style theater thrills; Not for you if you need nonstop plot early on or dislike dated special effects.

Pros: shocking disaster spectacle; strong star cast; effects still impressive | Cons: slow character build; uneven subplots; some staged moments

Themes

  • fire
  • supermarket
  • skyscraper
  • architect
  • natural disaster
  • earthquake
  • flooding
  • parking garage
  • national guard
  • child in peril
  • billiard hall
  • disaster
  • +10 more

Awards & recognition

  • Academy AwardBest Sound · 1975
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography · 1975 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Film Editing · 1975 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Sound · 1975 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Production Design · 1975 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Mark Robson