Volcano (1997)

44% of critics liked it
(39 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(163,337 ratings)

Disaster visits jaded L.A. in the form of an underground volcano, not the big earthquake all the citizens expect. Shot on the largest set ever constructed in the U.S., in nearby Torrance, California, Volcano is a big-budget, special-effects-laden disaster movie with a standard plot. Tommy Lee Jones… More Disaster visits jaded L.A. in the form of an underground volcano, not the big earthquake all the citizens expect. Shot on the largest set ever constructed in the U.S., in nearby Torrance, California, Volcano is a big-budget, special-effects-laden disaster movie with a standard plot. Tommy Lee Jones plays Mike Roark, a by-the-book emergency management director who is spending the weekend with his daughter, Kelly (Gaby Hoffmann), when the previously-unknown volcano blows. Sassy, brainy scientist Dr. Amy Barnes (Ann Heche) is the first to warn of the threat, which begins by sucking one of her co-workers into a steaming fissure. As the lava starts to spurt in red-hot fireballs, Kelly is injured, and Mike sends her to the hospital in order to attend to his duties, rescue citizens, and run the city's emergency response. Eventually, Roark and Barnes team up to battle the eruption while sparks of romantic attraction fly. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Mick Jackson
Written By: Jerome Armstrong, Billy Ray
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Apr 25, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Dec 18, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy, Variety
Never generates a head of true excitement, partly because the characters remain constructs designed to perform defined functions, and partly due to the time-worn hokiness of the whole disaster-film format.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A host of characters is introduced in the opening scenes, but Volcano doesn't know what to do with them. It can't make us care.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
The coast may be toast, but it's the lava, covering everything like a malevolent tide of melted butter, that makes this a disaster picture that's tastier than usual.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Like the substantially better Twister, this film insists on a thunderous, exhausting pace that inevitably becomes deflating.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
This is one of the best pure disaster movies ever made (not that it has much competition). Congratulations to director Mick Jackson for a job well done.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Volcano is an absolutely standard, assembly-line undertaking; no wonder one of the extras is reading a paperback titled "Screenwriting Made Easy."
Rob Nelson, Boston Phoenix
Pre-millennium tension is still the best explanation for the recent tidal wave of disaster movies--which hasn't made it any less boring.
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
not mean to be taken seriously
, Time Out
Jones and Heche work hard to dig up an emotional rapport from next to nothing, while the slow but inexorable progress of the lava makes for more suspense than the usual slam bang firework display.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
[The characters] aren't people; they're mere objects to stick in front of the flowing lava.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
The star is, of course, the volcano effects. Seeing the coast become toast may be the biggest draw for audiences to this routine F/X extravaganza.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Movie bombs L.A. with lava, audience with stupidity
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The special effects are impressive and the acting by Jones and Heche is good, although their roles didn't require much skill or inspiration.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The film, about a volcano erupting in downtown Los Angeles, is helped immeasurably by veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones, who has enough charm and charisma to rescue just about any movie. He needs it all to save this one.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
On its own escapist terms, Volcano dishes up a textbook serving of low-I.Q., high-energy entertainment.
Christine James, Boxoffice Magazine
The action, the effects and tough-as-nails Tommy Lee provide a worthwhile thrill ride -- even if the last drop wasn't as big as you thought it would be.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
gives us the bare minimums needed for a story and then lets the lava flow

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Volcano is a decent disaster film with a good cast. Continuing the trend of epic disaster films, Volcano though engaging and somewhat entertaining and fun. However the film could have been much better than this and the film relies on clichés from the genre to establish its story.… More
Volcano is a decent disaster film with a good cast. Continuing the trend of epic disaster films, Volcano though engaging and somewhat entertaining and fun. However the film could have been much better than this and the film relies on clichés from the genre to establish its story. Volcano is entertaining, and is a decent disaster film; however it fails to do anything new or exciting with the genre. I mean the film is basically Dante's Peak in Los Angeles. There's a good cast here, and they manage to keep Volcano from being a total dud. I enjoyed the film, but the film could have been much better and the film does lack a bit, and leaves a lot to be improved on. Volcano can be viewed as a popcorn flick and nothing more. There's enough thrills here to be entertained, but the film could have been done much better. There are some cool special effects, but the film does lack in substance and effective story buildup. Some disaster films work well, but other scrape by, and this is one that almost becomes a dud. However there are enough good elements to make the film watchable and it's a decent action/disaster film for what it is. However if you want the better volcano disaster film, watch Dante's Peak instead. Volcano is a decent, entertaining film, but it could have been a much better film as well. I think that the plot was good, but needed to be a bit more developed; luckily the cast saves it from a total mess. A decent film to watch, but nothing ever great.
Dead A

The idea of volcano destroying the city was great. But representing the idea wasn't that great. Some of the scenes seemed a bit weird to me: Why was Kelly Roark (Gaby Hoffmann) was still standing when the lava was coming straight towards her? I mean any person who have common… More
The idea of volcano destroying the city was great. But representing the idea wasn't that great. Some of the scenes seemed a bit weird to me: Why was Kelly Roark (Gaby Hoffmann) was still standing when the lava was coming straight towards her? I mean any person who have common sense would try to run away from it, right? Okay I do get it that the story line tells us that she will have to be in that place where the lava will attack in the end. But they should have think of some other ideas to get her injured instead of that. Another scene that caught my eyes was: How could Dr. Amy Barnes (Anne Heche) saw Mike Roark (Tommy Lee) from being so far? No matter how serious it seemed, I laughed at that part. It's like her eyes were working as binocular. I think this movie was okay. Watchable.
Tim S

Pretty forgettable.
Lenny M

Retarded. Sexy Lava.
Anthony L

I love it in the underground scene when a guy is standing in the lava and he throws a person to safety just before he melts. Brilliant. This film review is in memory of him! God bless you melting man!
Sanjaya &

For the type of a disaster movie, this movie was pretty good... The lava effects thing was definitely great, that one looks like it really happen.. Just felt like Los Angeles really roasted by the lava from a volcano... But I must admit that this great effects not well supported by a… More
For the type of a disaster movie, this movie was pretty good... The lava effects thing was definitely great, that one looks like it really happen.. Just felt like Los Angeles really roasted by the lava from a volcano... But I must admit that this great effects not well supported by a good story.. The story wasn't bad, but just felt like a little weird to me.. Even they have Tommy Lee Jones as the hero of this disaster movie, but they let too many characters in this movie... So the movie didn't focus on one character... Too 'typical' for a type of disaster movie... Just great in effects, but not a bad choice to watch...
Film C

loved it i love this sort of films it action packed and gr8 volcanoes bits
Candy R

Excellent disaster movie about a volanco eruption. Great cast and perfromances by Tommy.
Lafe F

A rather dull disaster film about a Volcano erupting under the earth of Los Angeles. I'm not a big Tommy Lee Jones fan (apart from Batman Forever). Anne Heche is cool, but not enough to keep this movie sizzling. The scene with the Subway driver rescuing people and then perishing… More
A rather dull disaster film about a Volcano erupting under the earth of Los Angeles. I'm not a big Tommy Lee Jones fan (apart from Batman Forever). Anne Heche is cool, but not enough to keep this movie sizzling. The scene with the Subway driver rescuing people and then perishing in hot lava I found very upsetting. Finally, I found it a weak contender against "Dante's Peak", which was released the same year.
Dean !

An average disaster film but has its moments and a strong cast.
jay n

the coast my be toast but only because they like everybody else who paid to see this movie got burned.
Dean M

Fantastic disaster film with the idea where the spouting molten lava begins in Los Angeles. More exciting and risking adventure with disaster-agency manager Tommy Lee Jones and spunky seismologist Anne Heche manage to save the day.
xGary X

Unbelievably dim-witted disaster movie in the spirit of the most absurd examples of the 70s. If you like this, check out Swarm. You'll love it...
Jason S

Not that good.
Roy G

VOLCANO is sharply edited for maximum mayhem, played at top volume, and filled with every imaginable volcano-related effect this side of the lava lamp.
Aaron N

Maybe if the movie was all about Don Cheadle's character.
Bradley W

Volcano is a cheesy disaster movie with some decent acting from Tommy Lee Jones and some memorable moments, but is so filled with cliches that is just simply a bad film.
Todd S

The story is ridiculous, a volcano in the middle of L.A.? It's hard to believe and kind of hard to follow. The story starts out very strong, but descends into chaos as everything happens at once. A lot is going on and it's a jumble of impossible acts, which include stopping… More
The story is ridiculous, a volcano in the middle of L.A.? It's hard to believe and kind of hard to follow. The story starts out very strong, but descends into chaos as everything happens at once. A lot is going on and it's a jumble of impossible acts, which include stopping lava with a bus, a blown up building, and finally the sewers. At points it's more than just impossible, it's ridiculous! The only reason I liked this movie is Tommy Lee Jones, I love Jones and he once again shows that he can carry a film on his back. He's done it before, he'll do it again, and he did it here. Without Jones, this movie stinks, it's his distinctive, energetic, and authoritative personality which makes this film interesting. The movie is utterly ridiculous, yet Jones keeps you interested. Volcano may not be a movie you run out and buy, but if it's on cable, Jones will definitely keep your attention and get you to watch it.
Steven V

The acting and concept and the special effect were all good.
Yinalí R

Awesome movie.