Dwayne Johnson’s latest film, The Smashing Machine, hits theaters next week and it’s already getting Oscar buzz for his performance as UFC fighter Mark Kerr. But while it’s the upcoming biopic that is getting major critical attention, it’s not the only one of Johnson’s films that people are taking an interest in. The entertainer has an extensive number of films to his credit, but right now it’s a decade-old action blockbuster that has fans locked in — and it’s surging on Netflix right now.
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While Johnson is no stranger to action films, the film that currently has audiences captivated is none other than 2015’s San Andreas. The disaster thriller is directed by Brad Peyton and, in addition to Johnson, also stars Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Ioan Gruffudd, Archie Panjabi and Paul Giamatti. The film centers around a massive earthquake on the San Andreas Fault (hence the movie’s name) that devastates the American West Coast and sees Raymond “Ray” Gaines (Johnson), a rescue helicopter pilot, navigating the destruction between Los Angeles and San Francisco in order to save not only his estranged wife (Gugino) but their only daughter (Daddario) to safety. The film has been surging on the charts, currently sitting at number 2 in the U.S.
The film received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release but was praised for its visual effects as well as Johnson’s performance in the film. Audiences, however, were hooked, with the film bringing in a massive $474 million at the worldwide box office, making it among the highest grossing live-action Hollywood original films.
San Andreas Is Nonstop, Ridiculous Destruction With a Remarkably Serious Story
While disaster films can often be over the top, what largely sets San Andreas apart is that it manages to balance ridiculous, nonstop destruction and action with a story and performances that are both serious and human, performances that give what would otherwise be another action romp something that has real emotional stakes. At the heart of that is Johnson’s performance. He pulls off some wild stunts and feats in the film that feel larger than life, but keeps his performance tight, reminding viewers that at the heart of any disaster are the human characters, their plight, and the driving need to save those you love. It’s a powerful film in that regard.
San Andreas is also a destruction film that holds up, even a decade after it was release. Central to the story and the massive devastation California endures is that they’re hit not only with the massive earthquake, but a tsunami following it. To achieve that, the film relies on a lot of special effects, but while technology has vastly improved in the decade since the film was released, it still looks fantastic and, at times, eerily realistic. The result is a film that satisfies both a need for the visual feast disaster action films delivers and the emotional resonance of a survival drama with family at its core. It’s a must watch — and not a surprise that with Johnson getting major critical acclaim for his latest film, fans are flocking to San Andreas on Netflix.
San Andreas is currently streaming on Netflix.
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Image courtesy of Focus Features.
