Dante's Peak

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Dante's Peak

PG-13

1997

1h 48m

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

39%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Volcanologist Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) and Mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton), finally convince the unbelieving populace that the big one is about to hit and that they need to evacuate immediately, only to discover her two children have gone up the mountain to get their grandmother. With Earth's clock racing against them, they must rescue the kids and grandma before the volcano explodes in a fury of flame and ash a million times more powerful than an atomic bomb.

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Critics Consensus

The movie works when things are on fire, but everything else - from dialogue to characters - is scathingly bad.

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Matt Crenson

Associated Press

The new movie Dante's Peak displays all the elements of the classic Hollywood disaster flick, circa 1975 Irwin Allen (with stomach-turning dialogue to match).

Jan 18, 2018

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Can I recommend half of a movie?

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 16, 2017

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Leslie Bohem's script is almost self-parody, but director Roger Donaldson keeps a straight face throughout.

Mar 31, 2008

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Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

It's refreshing to see Pierce Brosnan out of the tuxedo and spy universe and still carry a blockbuster.

Sep 20, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Dante's Peak might take some liberties with the science but the film remains an edge-of-your-seat thriller 25 years after its release.

Feb 7, 2022

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Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Volcano erupts violently and destroys town; intense peril.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 22, 2019

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Daphne C.

A character driven thriller with scientific accuracy. A rare treat in film. Add to that a great cast.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

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Nando M.

Just a classic full of nostalgia.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/10/25

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Luke T

A classic 90’s themed movie with a great story line!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

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Benjamin G

Classic 90s blockbuster with classic scoring and classic cinematography. There’s definitely a noticeable improvement of film-making between each decade, the scenes of this disaster film still hold up even almost 30 years later. Pleasant enough acting and script to keep you surfacely entertained while the film builds up nicely into the main plot. I was pleasantly surprised how well the film holds up after not seeing it since the 90s when it first released. It has always been one of those films that I never fully forgot about it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/07/25

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Ralph R

Dante's Peak (1997) stands out as a disaster film that really shines when the action kicks in. The direction keeps the tension building at a steady pace, and the payoff is worth it once the volcano finally erupts. The practical effects look fantastic even today, paired with strong special effects that sell the destruction in a way that feels raw and grounded. The supporting cast does a great job too, especially in the panic-driven moments, where their reactions feel authentic and convincing. The film also benefits from solid editing and a score that keeps the mood intense without going overboard. What works best is how the team dynamic feels lived-in, like these characters have been doing this job for years together. That chemistry pulls you in and makes the buildup engaging rather than slow. The character development is better than what most disaster flicks aim for, giving weight to the big set pieces. While it’s not perfect in terms of dialogue or story depth, it knows what it is and delivers on spectacle, suspense, and tension.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

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Eric J.

Predictable. But I love when the town gets their “we should’ve listened” moment.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

Full Review

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Roger Donaldson

Director

Pierce Brosnan

Harry Dalton

Linda Hamilton

Rachel Wando

Charles Hallahan

Paul Dreyfus

Grant Heslov

Greg

Elizabeth Hoffman

Ruth

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - The Bridge is Destroyed

2:05

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - Getting Out of Town

2:29

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - Please Stay Calm

2:57

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - Crossing the Lava River

2:05

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - The Dam Breaks

1:24

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - Row Your Boat

3:17

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - The Volcano Explodes

2:23

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - Going for Grandma

2:54

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - Losing Marianne

1:40

Dante's Peak: Official Clip - The Hot Springs

1:34

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Synopsis

Volcanologist Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) and Mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton), finally convince the unbelieving populace that the big one is about to hit and that they need to evacuate immediately, only to discover her two children have gone up the mountain to get their grandmother. With Earth's clock racing against them, they must rescue the kids and grandma before the volcano explodes in a fury of flame and ash a million times more powerful than an atomic bomb.

Director: Roger Donaldson
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd, Joseph Singer
Screenwriter: Leslie Bohem
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Pacific Western, Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Gore|Disaster Related Peril)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 7, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.2M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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