San Andreas (2015)

San Andreas (2015) Movie Details

Plot

San Andreas is a disaster movie set around the concept of a massive earthquake caused by the shifting of the San Andreas Fault in California. The film opens with seismic activity in Nevada that quickly triggers a catastrophic earthquake in Los Angeles. The film centers around Raymond "Ray" Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter-rescue pilot, who must save his family during the chaos. Ray and his estranged wife, Emma (Carla Gugino), are thrown together as they fight to rescue their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario) in San Francisco, which is now being torn apart by the earthquake. Blake, meanwhile, is stranded with two brothers she befriends, Ben and Ollie (Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Art Parkinson). The group must navigate collapsing buildings, fires, and treacherous aftershocks to survive. Dr. Lawrence Hayes (Paul Giamatti), a seismologist, tries to warn the public through media appearances, predicting that the worst is yet to come. His early-warning system becomes crucial for saving lives. In the final act, Ray uses a boat to rescue Blake from a drowning skyscraper as a tsunami strikes the city. The film ends with Ray, Emma, and Blake reunited, as the destroyed West Coast is shown with a hint of recovery.

Cast

Dwayne Johnson as Raymond "Ray" Gaines

Carla Gugino as Emma Gaines

Alexandra Daddario as Blake Gaines

Paul Giamatti as Dr. Lawrence Hayes

Ioan Gruffudd as Daniel Riddick

Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Ben Taylor

Art Parkinson as Ollie Taylor

Kylie Minogue as Susan Riddick

Will Yun Lee as Dr. Kim Park

Colton Haynes as Joby O'Leary

Production

Development: The project was announced in 2011 with Brad Peyton directing. The script went through several revisions before Carlton Cuse's draft was approved.

Filming: Principal photography began in April 2014 in Australia. Extensive visual effects were used to recreate the destruction in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Special Effects: Practical stunts and CGI were heavily used, with Dwayne Johnson performing many of his own stunts. The earthquake sequences relied on motion-capture technology for realism.

Release

San Andreas was released on May 29, 2015, in 2D and 3D by Warner Bros. Pictures. It grossed over $474 million worldwide, becoming a box office success. The movie performed especially well in international markets like China and Brazil.

Reception

Critical Reception: The film received mixed reviews, holding a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the special effects and action sequences but criticized the story.

Audience Response: Audiences enjoyed the action and emotional storylines. The film grossed $155 million domestically and $318 million internationally, making it a financial success.

Future

A sequel focusing on the Ring of Fire has been discussed since 2016. However, as of 2024, no official release date or further development has been announced.

See Also

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

2012 (2009)

Earthquake (1974)

Skyscraper (2018)

References

IMDb: "San Andreas" cast and crew details.

Rotten Tomatoes: Reviews and ratings.

Box Office Mojo: Box office performance.

Collider: Interview with Brad Peyton.

Scientific American: Analysis of earthquake science in the film.