I’m a strong believer that even if a movie is considered bad, it can still be entertaining. I’ve seen my fair share of truly atrocious movies, ones that aren’t even salvageable, but I’ve also seen some low-ranking flicks that manage to deliver adrenaline-pumping fun despite a lackluster plot and thinly-sketched characters.
One such case is “San Andreas,” which recently landed on U.S. Netflix and has already climbed to the No. 1 spot (as of September 24), surpassing movies like “28 Years Later” and Liam Neeson’s “Ice Road: Vengeance.”
“San Andreas” is perhaps one of the most insanely chaotic disaster movies of the past decade. It stars Dwayne Johnson, who is naturally charming, and it grossed over $450 million at the worldwide box office back in 2015. Despite its commercial success, critics really weren’t that impressed, with the movie scoring a miserable 48% on Rotten Tomatoes.
That said, just because a movie has a green splat (often the case with big-budget disaster flicks) doesn’t mean it’s unwatchable. “San Andreas” still entertains for almost two hours, with Johnson battling mother nature to rescue his daughter. Pair that with some intense action sequences and you have a thrill ride that keeps you hooked.
Now that it’s streaming on Netflix, it’s clear audiences are responding, and its position at No. 1 proves it’s a must-watch for anyone craving chaotic, popcorn-fueled fun. Here’s why I think you should stream it.
What is ‘San Andreas’ about?
“San Andreas” follows Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), a Los Angeles Fire Department rescue pilot, as he navigates a series of catastrophic events triggered by a massive earthquake along the San Andreas Fault.
The disaster begins when a previously unknown fault ruptures near Hoover Dam, causing a 7.1 magnitude quake. Seismologist Dr. Lawrence Hayes (Paul Giamatti) discovers that the entire San Andreas Fault is shifting, leading to a chain reaction of massive earthquakes threatening cities along the West Coast.
Meanwhile, Ray is called into work and later saves his ex-wife Emma (Carla Gugino), and together they head to San Francisco to rescue their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario), who is trapped amidst the chaos.
‘San Andreas’ is a heart-pounding disaster spectacle
By no means am I saying “San Andreas” is a good disaster movie. On my rewatch, I probably noticed at least two major flaws every ten minutes and was quickly reminded how unrealistic and unrelatable the characters are. It’s a movie that demands massive suspension of disbelief, but if you’re watching a disaster flick purely for popcorn entertainment, this one makes it easy to just switch your brain off.
“San Andreas” takes every hallmark of the disaster genre and turns it up to eleven. Everything about this movie screams unrealistic, but this genre is not always meant to be realistic. That is partly why “San Andreas” is a guilty pleasure for me. With stunning action sequences and high stakes, there is barely a moment to be bored.
The opening scene throws you straight into the action and sets the tone for the rest of the movie. A teenage girl is driving along a mountain road in the San Fernando Valley. At first, it seems like she might crash when she reaches behind her for water, and, frustratingly, she’s also on her phone while driving. But it’s actually a landslide caused by a small earthquake that knocks her car off the road, leaving it precariously hanging over the edge of a cliff.
What follows is a montage of tense shots as we’re introduced to Johnson’s character, Ray, who arrives in a helicopter to rescue her. This scene is widely considered unrealistic because the way he maneuvers into a narrow, zigzagging canyon defies real-world aviation. If you are fine with spectacle over realism, you will probably enjoy the rest of the movie.
“San Andreas” clearly does not aim for realism, and that is part of its charm. The movie is a visually stunning treat with effects that feel more like 2025 than 2015. Combine that with dramatic earthquake sequences and glimpses behind the scenes with a seismologist, and it makes for a surprisingly intriguing watch.
Then there are moments so dramatic that all you can do is laugh, which oddly helps diffuse some of the tension from the explosive scenes. I should warn you, though, the dialogue is so cheesy it belongs on a pizza, not a script. Somehow, “San Andreas” turns this cheese into pure comedy gold.
Even with a talented cast, the movie’s lighter, less intense tone is established right away by Johnson. Even when he delivers a cringe-worthy sentimental line, he’s still completely enjoyable to watch. With him at the helm, audiences instantly know what they’re in for.
His charm is so magnetic that the questionable moments barely matter, because you also know that when the action hits, you’re in expert hands.
‘San Andreas’ didn’t deserve the low ratings
Despite what the critics say, “San Andreas” delivers exactly what it promises: dramatic action, intense disaster sequences, and a charismatic lead in Dwayne Johnson. Sure, it’s far from subtle or realistic, but judging it by traditional standards misses the point. This is a movie meant to entertain, and on that front, it more than succeeds.
The critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is something I agree with, though, and the expectations you should have before going in: “San Andreas has a great cast and outstanding special effects, but amidst all the senses-shattering destruction, the movie's characters and plot prove less than structurally sound.”
In terms of reviews, Dwight Brown from National Newspaper Publishers Association said: “This adrenaline-pumping movie turns a nightmare into big screen reality as it takes the disaster film genre to a whole new level.”
Detroit News’ Adam Graham stated it “never pretends to be any less subtle than the Rock's physique. It's a hulking mass of wanton destruction, and a stupid-fun carnival of carnage.”
Meanwhile, Alex Abad-Santos from Vox had a mixed opinion, but still reiterates the fact that the movie is pure popcorn entertainment: “San Andreas is nowhere near the best movie made this year [2015]. Indeed, it might be one of the worst. But it is, without a doubt, one of the most unapologetic, self-aware, and entertaining romps of 2015. And that counts for something.”
You can stream ‘San Andreas’ on Netflix now
“San Andreas” is a pretty ridiculous movie, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time. Anyone looking for a tense disaster thriller will probably find something to enjoy, and you only need to watch a few seconds of the trailer to see just how packed it is with non-stop action.
The dialogue in “San Andreas” is hardly groundbreaking, full of dramatic declarations and urgent proclamations. It’s not the kind of writing that will win awards or impress picky critics, but it fits the movie perfectly.
Put simply, “San Andreas” is pure green-screen madness that asks you to switch off your brain and forget your phone exists, making it the perfect popcorn-fueled thrill ride on Netflix.
Stream "San Andreas" on Netflix now.
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