The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1990, The Great Los Angeles Earthquake is an action, drama and tv movie film directed by Larry Elikann, running about 180 minutes. “There is no safe harbor, there is no escape... L.A.'s worst fear has just become a reality.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. After a series of small tremors in Los Angeles, Dr. Clare Winslow, a local seismologist, pinpoints the exact location and time of when the long awaited earthquake--"The Big One"--will strike southern California. With this information, she must battle city officials to release this information to the general public. Also, she hopes that her family is out of harms way when the quake strikes. Subplots show how other families and people cope with the the tremors that strike before the impending "Big One."

Who’s in it. The Great Los Angeles Earthquake stars Joanna Kerns as Dr. Clare Winslow, Dan Lauria as Steve Winslow, Bonnie Bartlett as Anita Parker and Lindsay Frost as Laurie Parker, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, The Great Los Angeles Earthquake has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Great Los Angeles Earthquake page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Great Los Angeles Earthquake tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.