Earthquake

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Earthquake

PG,

1974,

2h 2m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Action/

Drama

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Watchlist

39%

33 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

39%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

36%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When a major earthquake hits Los Angeles, the various residents of the city cope with the chaos and destruction. Successful architect Stewart Graff (Charlton Heston) argues with his demanding wife, Remy Royce-Graff (Ava Gardner), as the disaster hits. Later, when he checks in on his flirtatious friend Denise Marshall (Geneviève Bujold), they begin an affair. As the personal dramas continue, the city is threatened by aftershocks and possibly even greater quakes.

Critics Consensus

The destruction of Los Angeles is always a welcome sight, but Earthquake offers little besides big actors slumming through crumbling sets.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 27, 2023

Earthquake is a marathon of destruction effects, with stock characters spinning through.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Mark Robson's Earthquake is an excellent dramatic exploitation extravaganza, combining brilliant special effects with a multi-character plot line which is surprisingly above average for this type film.

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David Parkinson

Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

The special effects are of a high order as Los Angeles is razed, so it is unfortunate that the same intelligent attention is not extended to either script or direction.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

3 days ago

2/5

…Mark Robson's Earthquake is cheesy, shop-worn stuff compared to its betters in the disaster movie cycle, and best enjoyed as a good bad movie rather than anything that might make the earth move for cineastes...

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Ed Hayman

Flint Journal

Apr 6, 2026

Earthquake has a grainy, uneven texture and is the sloppiest job of editing I have ever seen in a major movie.

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David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Apr 6, 2026

Some of Earthquake is startling and realistic, but most is hokey and trite.

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Feb 1, 2019

The best thrilling movie ever made!

Kylo W

Sep 17, 2018

Although it is not the best movie that Universal Pictures has ever done, it's a movie worth watching. The only problem of the film, is the story that practically does not exist, but the film deserves merit, due to the fantastic special effects; This is undoubtedly one of the best productions of Universal Studios, because it has the best special effects ever, but a terrible story. Worth seeing, only for the special effects.

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Luke R

Sep 17, 2018

Not bad lah for a 1974 calamity picture but needs more direction lo

George W

Apr 22, 2017

Sure, the effects don't hold up so well these days, but this is still an excellent disaster flick. Some great characters and interplay between them.

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Albus S

Feb 15, 2017

Get ready to be shaken, stirred and possibly even tickled as Los Angeles is destroyed by a major earthquake (hence the title) made over 40 years ago, Earthquake still has the magnitude to entertain even if some will find the first 50 mins a little slow but don't be discouraged once the knee trembler strikes it should offer enough to keep you entertained. The characters are a little clichéd we have Ava Gardner and Charlton Heston in a troubled marriage, it seems that its not just L.A. that is falling apart, there is George Kennedy as a disgruntled cop, Genevieve Bujold as a single mom, Victoria Principle as a young woman who attracts the men and whole host of other actors who were famous during the 70's. The special effects range from good to laughable, just remember this was before cgi and the scenes where we see the skyline wibble and wobble are still quite impressive to this day as is the post quake action. So if you don't mind your action, flared, bell bottomed and campy this 1970s blockbuster one of the best, biggest and least disastrous disaster movies of its time, could be the film for you.

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Draco S

Jan 13, 2017

Even the first ever massive disaster movie is a disaster.

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Mark Robson

Director

Charlton Heston

Stewart Graff

Ava Gardner

Remy Graff

George Kennedy

Lew Slade

Geneviève Bujold

Denise Marshall

Richard Roundtree

Miles Quade

Movieclips: John Williams: 11 Incredible Themes

27:14

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Earthquake: Official Clip - The Dam Bursts

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Earthquake: Official Clip - Pantyhose Drop

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Earthquake: Official Clip - The Tunnel Flood

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Earthquake: Official Clip - Livewires and Rushing Water

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Earthquake: Official Clip - Hanging on by a Thread

3:11

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Earthquake: Official Clip - Destroying Los Angeles

4:46

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Earthquake: Official Clip - The Earthquake Strikes

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Earthquake: Official Clip - Psycho Soldier

2:52

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Earthquake: Official Clip - Cop vs. Soldier

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Synopsis

When a major earthquake hits Los Angeles, the various residents of the city cope with the chaos and destruction. Successful architect Stewart Graff (Charlton Heston) argues with his demanding wife, Remy Royce-Graff (Ava Gardner), as the disaster hits. Later, when he checks in on his flirtatious friend Denise Marshall (Geneviève Bujold), they begin an affair. As the personal dramas continue, the city is threatened by aftershocks and possibly even greater quakes.

Director: Mark Robson
Producer: Bernard Donnenfeld
Screenwriter: George Fox, Mario Puzo
Production Co: Universal Pictures, The Filmakers Group
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 2h 2m

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