Earthquake

The film opens with Stewart Graff jogging underneath the Hollywood sign. Upon returning home, he has a heated argument with his wife Remy, questioning the state of their marriage amidst their conflicts.

After their argument, Stewart discovers Remy unconscious in their bedroom with a bottle of pills nearby. Familiar with her past suicide attempts, he prepares to help her, but is interrupted by a violent earthquake.

Following the tremor, two workers at the Mulholland Dam conduct a routine inspection. Tragically, one worker is drowned when the elevator shaft they are in fills with water due to the seismic activity.

In downtown Los Angeles, Sgt. Lou Slade and partner Emilio Chavez are chasing a suspect. Their pursuit leads them to crash into Zsa Zsa Gabor's house, resulting in Lou's temporary suspension after confronting a sheriff.

Stewart visits actress Denise Marshall, the widow of his late colleague, to drop off an autographed football for her son. He also assists her in rehearsing lines for her upcoming scene.

Walter Russell at the California Seismological Institute realizes a major earthquake is imminent. Despite his urgency, his superior Dr. Frank Adams is trapped beneath rubble after an earthquake hits while they inspect seismic equipment.

In a grocery store, Rosa Amici struggles to pay for her items and is offered a line of credit by the manager, Jody Joad. Later, he learns the National Guard reserves are being called up, indicating impending danger.

As Stewart contemplates a promotion at work, a massive earthquake strikes, rupturing the San Andreas Fault. Buildings collapse, causing chaos and destruction across Southern California, and marking a significant turning point in the film.

After the earthquake, Sam and the office employees find themselves stranded on the upper floors of their building as the elevators plummet. Sam devises a makeshift rescue, but he suffers a heart attack after aiding everyone.

Amidst the ruins, Denise spots her unconscious son on a freeway overpass and climbs down to rescue him. They are later aided by Miles and Sal who help them escape the aftermath of the quake.

Rosa is arrested by the National Guard for looting after the earthquake. Jody Joad, who is now a sergeant, struggles with his past as he encounters Rosa among the prisoners from the chaos of the day.

As Stewart and Lou search for survivors, they encounter Jody and his regiment. A confrontation erupts when Jody reveals his dark side, leading to Lou shooting him in self-defense to save Rosa.

Stewart and Lou hear survivors trapped in an underground garage and decide to rescue them. They crawl through the sewer and rubble, ultimately finding Denise amidst the chaos.

As they rescue others from the flooding garage, Remy is accidentally pushed into the water. Stewart, facing a critical choice between his wife and Denise, sacrifices himself by diving in to save Remy, leading to a tragic outcome.

The film closes with Lou and Rosa amidst the ruins of Los Angeles, reflecting on the catastrophic events they experienced. The city lays in shambles, and Lou holds Rosa as they come to terms with their loss.