Volcano (1997)

A volcano tears through the heart of Los Angeles in this high-octane 1997 disaster thriller starring Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche.

Volcano - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Volcano
  • Release Year: 1997
  • Directed by: Mick Jackson
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Thriller
  • Age Rating (US): PG-13
  • Runtime: 1h 44m
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: German, Spanish, English
  • Release Date (Theatrical): April 25, 1997 (United States - PG-13), October 3, 1997 (United Kingdom - 12), October 2, 1997 (Germany - 12), August 27, 1997 (France - U), June 19, 1997 (Australia - M)
  • Alternative Titles: آتشفشان (IR), ボルケーノ (JP), Tűzhányó (HU), Volcan (CA), 活火熔城 (HK), Volcán (MX), The Volcano (1997) (US)
  • Production Companies: 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Shuler Donner / Donner & Moritz Original Productions
  • Production Countries: United States of America

Volcano - Plot

An earthquake shatters a peaceful Los Angeles morning and opens a fissure deep into the earth, causing lava to start bubbling up. As a volcano begins forming in the La Brea Tar Pits, the director of the city's emergency management service, working with a geologist, must then use every resource in the city to try and stop the volcano from consuming LA.

Volcano - Trailer

Watch the official trailer and see the molten chaos unfold beneath the streets of Los Angeles.

The coast is toast.

Where to Watch Volcano

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Volcano - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Mick Jackson

Main Cast

  • Tommy Lee Jones
  • Anne Heche
  • Gaby Hoffmann
  • Don Cheadle
  • Jacqueline Kim
  • Keith David
  • John Corbett
  • Michael Rispoli
  • John Carroll Lynch
  • Marcello Thedford

Writers

  • Billy Ray
  • Jerome Armstrong

Producers

  • Neal H. Moritz
  • Andrew Z. Davis

Volcano - FAQs

Could a volcano really erupt under Los Angeles?

While Volcano takes dramatic liberties, the La Brea Tar Pits area does sit in a geologically active region. Real scientists note that a full volcanic eruption beneath central Los Angeles is highly unlikely, but the film cleverly exploits genuine public curiosity about California's seismic and volcanic history to fuel its premise.

Where can you stream Volcano (1997)?

You can watch Volcano on fuboTV with a subscription, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's widely available across major digital platforms, so finding a way to watch is pretty straightforward.

Who are the main actors in Volcano?

Tommy Lee Jones leads the cast as emergency director Mike Roark, alongside Anne Heche as geologist Dr. Amy Barnes. Don Cheadle, Gaby Hoffmann, Keith David, John Corbett, Jacqueline Kim, Michael Rispoli, John Carroll Lynch, and Marcello Thedford round out the ensemble.

What is Volcano (1997) about?

A massive earthquake cracks open the earth beneath Los Angeles, sending lava surging up through the La Brea Tar Pits. Emergency management director Mike Roark teams up with geologist Dr. Amy Barnes in a desperate race to redirect the molten flow and save the city from total destruction.

How does Volcano end?

Roark and Barnes devise a plan to redirect the lava flow into the ocean by demolishing buildings to create a channel. The strategy works, halting the eruption and saving the city. The film closes on a hopeful note, with survivors emerging from the ash-covered streets of a battered but intact Los Angeles.

What is the age rating for Volcano?

Volcano is rated PG-13 in the United States, meaning it's suitable for viewers 13 and older. The film contains intense disaster sequences, some peril, and scenes of destruction, but avoids graphic content, making it accessible to a broad family audience looking for action-packed entertainment.

How long is Volcano (1997)?

Volcano runs for 1 hour and 44 minutes (104 minutes). It moves at a brisk pace, wasting little time before the disaster kicks into gear, which makes it a lean and energetic watch for fans of 1990s blockbuster action and disaster cinema.

What movies are similar to Volcano?

If you enjoyed Volcano, you might also like Poseidon (2006), Speed (1994), War of the Worlds (2005), and The Poseidon Adventure (1972). For more LA-set thrillers, Chinatown (1974) offers a different but equally gripping take on the city under threat.

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