An earthquake shakes Los Angeles, and the first signs suggest that a volcano is forming beneath the city. Mike Roark, the newly appointed director of the city's emergency management office, must keep panic in check while seismologist Amy Barnes tries to prove the danger is real. The crisis forces the characters to act against the clock and make decisions with incomplete information.

How it was made

The story draws on the 1943 birth of the Parícutin volcano in Mexico. Jerome Armstrong and Billy Ray share credit for the screenplay, Mick Jackson directed, and Alan Silvestri composed the score. Filming took place almost entirely on location in Los Angeles, at places such as MacArthur Park, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the La Brea Tar Pits. The effects, especially the lava, were divided among ten digital effects companies, and an 80 percent scale replica of Wilshire Boulevard was built in Torrance. During preproduction the project competed with Dante's Peak, another volcano film being shot at the same time, and some actors were reportedly offered large sums to appear in either one.

Reception and legacy

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Twentieth Century Fox released it in the United States on April 25, 1997, and postponed its opening to give the rival production room in theaters. It grossed about 122.8 million dollars worldwide against a 90 million dollar budget, a result that is read in different ways depending on whether one looks at box office or expectations.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

Parallel shoot

Volcano was filmed at the same time as Dante's Peak, and the two productions competed for some of the same actors with large financial offers.

Wilshire at scale

For the street scenes, an 80 percent full-size replica of Wilshire Boulevard was assembled in Torrance, one of the largest sets built in the United States.

More films by Mick Jackson

The Bodyguard1992

L.A. Story1991

Denial2016

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.