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Action thriller

The Quake (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

The Quake (2018) movie poster

The Quake is a 2018 action thriller directed by John Andreas Andersen, starring Kristoffer Joner as Kristian Eikjord, Ane Dahl Torp and Jonas Hoff Oftebro. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes and earned $13.8 million worldwide on a $6.3 million budget. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Rotten Tomatoes
85%
worldwide gross
$13.8M
Echo Score
75
Metascore
70
The Quake (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller
Original language
Norwegian
Budget
$6.3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Quake About?

The premise of The Quake without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Beneath the Norwegian capital of Oslo lies the Oslo Rift, a seismic fault line that has caused daily tremors since 1904. The growing population and infrastructure have made the city increasingly vulnerable to a potentially devastating earthquake. As the frequency of these tremors continues, a sense of dread hangs over Oslo, raising the question of when a major earthquake will strike and threaten the lives of millions.

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Quake

Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Quake Cast & Characters

Kristoffer Joner leads the cast as Kristian Eikjord, with Ane Dahl Torp as Idun Karlsen and Jonas Hoff Oftebro as Sondre Eikjord. Directed by John Andreas Andersen; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Quake

· 6 more
Ratings

The Quake Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Quake 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in character & emotion (55).

75 /100

The Quake Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Quake stands out for its technical proficiency while showing uneven narrative depth. The film’s visual craftsmanship and tightly paced disaster sequences earn consistent praise, even as the storyline leans on familiar genre tropes and occasional coherence issues. Performances are generally credible, though some characters suffer from repetitive emotional beats and limited development. The sound design and effects heighten suspense effectively, but logical gaps in the script may reduce full engagement. Ultimately, the film offers a solid spectacle tempered by mixed dramatic resonance.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, The Quake excels in its visual presentation. Reviewers note the precise framing, awe-inspiring special effects, and polished editing that sustain momentum throughout the disaster sequences. The cinematography captures both intimate character moments and large-scale destruction with equal clarity. Despite minor reliance on genre conventions, the film’s technical execution remains consistently striking and immersive.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    In terms of character and emotion, the film delivers solid performances but falters in sustaining deeper engagement. The lead’s portrayal evokes credible distress, yet some supporting roles lack sufficient nuance, occasionally slipping into repetitive or exasperating patterns. While moments of genuine empathy emerge during crisis scenes, uneven character arcs and overused emotional beats hinder full resonance. Overall, the emotional investment is mixed, balancing effective acting against script limitations.

  • Story & Flow 60

    When it comes to story and flow, the film offers dynamic pacing and suspenseful build-up to the central disaster. Viewers appreciate the measured intensification and occasional inventive set-pieces, but the narrative relies heavily on familiar disaster clichés and logical inconsistencies. Certain subplots and character decisions stretch credibility, undermining cohesion at times. Consequently, the plot strikes a balance between thrilling momentum and uneven storytelling.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    In terms of sensory experience, The Quake capitalizes on robust sound design and impactful visual style to immerse the audience. The score’s rhythmic pulses complement layers of environmental sound, enhancing tension during collapse sequences. Visually, the austere color palette and carefully staged destruction scenes convey both scale and intimacy. Together, these elements create a visceral atmosphere, though occasional technical over-polish can distance the raw immediacy of the premise.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Regarding rewatch factor, The Quake offers intermittent appeal for repeat viewings, primarily through its technical craftsmanship and select suspenseful scenes. The clarity of effects and certain dramatic moments can endure, but the reliance on standard genre beats and uneven character development may diminish lasting fascination. Enthusiasts of disaster spectacles will find value in the film’s execution, yet broader replay intention is tempered by narrative familiarity.

Plot

The Quake Plot Summary

What happens in The Quake from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Geologist Kristian Eikjord is hailed as a hero for his actions during the tsunami that devastated Geiranger. In the aftermath, three years pass and his personal life unravels: his wife Idun Karlsen is divorcing him, and he remains estranged from their children, Sondre Eikjord and Julia Eikjord. Kristian keeps his distance in a rebuilt Geiranger, while Idun builds a new life in Oslo, working at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel. The rift within the family grows as Kristian carries a private burden—a secret room in his home devoted to the tragedy and its victims—creating tension at every turn.

Full summary

The whole story of The Quake, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Quake Box Office & Budget

The Quake grossed $13.8 million worldwide on a $6.3 million budget, 2.2 times what it cost. $6,235 came from the US and Canada and $13.8 million (100%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$13.8M

2.2× its budget

US & Canada
$6.2K
International
$13.8M
Budget
$6.3M
US & Canada 0% Rest of the world 100%
Videos

The Quake Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Quake.

Official Trailer
Details

The Quake Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “Séisme” and “Jordbävningen”.

Also known as
  • Séisme
  • Jordbävningen
  • Terremoto
  • Gran Terremoto 9 Grados
  • Terremoto 2018
  • 더 퀘이크
  • Le tremblement de terre
  • Deprem
  • The Quake - Das grosse Beben
  • The Quake - Das große Beben
  • Skælvet
  • Разлом
+21 more
  • 八級大地震:命懸一劫
  • Trzęsienie ziemi
  • Земетресението
  • 大地震
  • 芮氏9.6
  • Ο Σεισμός
  • 더 퀘이크: 오슬로 대지진
  • Skalvet
  • The Quake - Il terremoto del secolo
  • Землетрус
  • THE QUAKE/ザ・クエイク
  • زمین لرزه
  • A rengés
  • El gran terremoto
  • Земљотрес
  • มหาวิบัติแผ่นดินถล่มโลก
  • O Terramoto, მიწისძვრა
  • Địa Chấn
  • Potres
  • האדמה רועדת
  • Terratrémol

Seen The Quake?

FAQ

The Quake FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Quake, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Quake?

The Quake runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was The Quake released?

The Quake was released on December 14, 2018.

Who directed The Quake?

The Quake was directed by John Andreas Andersen.

More films by John Andreas Andersen

Who is in the cast of The Quake?

The Quake stars Kristoffer Joner as Kristian Eikjord, Ane Dahl Torp as Idun Karlsen and Jonas Hoff Oftebro as Sondre Eikjord, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Quake?

In the US, The Quake is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home Free and fuboTV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did The Quake make at the box office?

The Quake grossed $13.8 million worldwide ($6,235 domestic, $13.8 million international) on a budget of $6.3 million.

How is The Quake rated?

The Quake has 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic, 67% on TMDB and 3.0/5 on Movie Insider.

Does The Quake have a post-credit scene?

No. The Quake has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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