The Great Los Angeles Earthquake 1990
"There is no safe harbor, there is no escape... L.A.'s worst fear has just become a reality."
Directed by Larry Elikann, this 1990 drama-action TV movie leans into one of Los Angeles' most pervasive collective fears: the catastrophic "Big One" earthquake that scientists have long warned could strike the region at any time.
Director: Larry Elikann
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) about?
The film follows Dr. Clare Winslow, a Los Angeles seismologist who identifies the precise timing and location of a long-predicted catastrophic earthquake set to hit Southern California. She faces pushback from city officials who refuse to release her findings to the public to avoid panic, while also trying to ensure her own family is safe when the disaster strikes. Parallel storylines follow other Angelenos coping with the small tremors that precede the massive quake.
Who directed The Great Los Angeles Earthquake?
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) was directed by Larry Elikann, who specialized in made-for-television drama and disaster films throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Who stars in The Great Los Angeles Earthquake?
The film stars Joanna Kerns as lead character Dr. Clare Winslow, alongside Dan Lauria, Bonnie Bartlett, Lindsay Frost, Alan Autry and Joe Spano in supporting roles.
Is The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) worth watching?
As an unrated 1990 TV disaster drama, it delivers tense, grounded stakes for fans of 90s made-for-television disaster fare, with strong emotional core from its lead cast. While it leans into some of the dated dramatic tropes of its era, its focus on real, widespread seismic anxiety that still resonates for West Coast viewers makes it a compelling watch for genre fans.
How long is The Great Los Angeles Earthquake?
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990) has a runtime of 180 minutes, or 3 hours total.
🎥 Trailer
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990): 90s Disaster Drama Full Info
Directed by Larry Elikann, this 1990 drama-action TV movie leans into one of Los Angeles' most pervasive collective fears: the catastrophic "Big One" earthquake that scientists have long warned could strike the region at any time. When a string of small, unsettling tremors rattle the city, local seismologist Dr. Clare Winslow, played by Joanna Kerns, uses her expertise to pin down the exact location and timing of the massive quake that has been predicted for Southern California for decades. City officials are hesitant to release her findings to the public, fearing mass panic, even as Clare scrambles to get her own family to safety before the disaster hits. Dan Lauria, Bonnie Bartlett, Lindsay Frost, Alan Autry and Joe Spano round out the core cast, weaving together parallel storylines of other Angelenos navigating the lead-up to the disaster, from working-class families to emergency response teams.
The film balances high-stakes disaster tension with grounded, human drama, exploring themes of institutional accountability, community resilience, and the quiet, unspoken fear that lingers in earthquake-prone regions long before the ground starts shaking. As an extended 180-minute TV movie, it builds slow, mounting dread as the predicted quake draws closer, leaning into the very real anxiety many West Coast residents feel about seismic risk, while delivering the explosive, chaotic destruction fans of 90s disaster fare expect.