LOL: U.S. Geological Survey Seismologist Reacts To ‘San Andreas’

There are certain aspects ofSan Andreasthat ring true. The fault, for example, is real, as is the idea that California is long overdue for “the Big One.” But it probably won’t surprise you to learn that much of the rest of it is Hollywood fantasy.

U.S. Geological Survey seismologistLucy Jonestook to Twitter to help separate fact from fiction, pointing out the myriad ways in which this movie makes absolutely no sense — and also highlighting a few instances in which it’s dead on. Read about San Andreas fact or fiction after the jump.

InSan Andreas, directed byBrad Peyton,Dwayne Johnsonplays a Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter pilot who must travel to San Francisco to rescue his daughter (Alexandra Daddario) when a massive earthquake hits the San Andreas fault. Skyscrapers crumble and burn, a giant chasm opens up in Central California, and a massive tsunami slams the Bay Area.

To your average moviegoer, it all feels plausible enough in the moment. (Or at least not any moreimplausible than the dozens of other disaster movies we’ve seen.) Jones, however, isn’t your average moviegoer. She’s in a position to actually tell what could happen and what couldn’t, and she’s sharing her scientific wisdom with the rest of us.

All of Jones’s tweets can be foundhere(viaLA Observed). Here she is first hitting the red carpet at theSan Andreaspremiere last night in Los Angeles:

My first experience of a red carpet at to the premiere of San Andreapic.twitter.com/eHcL4NdPvL

— Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones)June 05, 2025

But the real fun began once the movie did. Here are a few of her tweets takingSan Andreasto task:

First big howler. San Andreas the movie pretends that California has a subduction zone. We can only have a M8.2

If seismologists could actually predict EQs, we’d all be much richer. Too bad that part of San Andreas isn’t real…

First big safety message- if the shaking is bad enough to damage a dam you won’t be able to run

OMG! A chasm? If the fault could open up, there’d be no friction. With no friction, there’d be no earthquake

Recognizing water draw down as sign of tsunami is good. However tsunami from San Andreas is impossible. Now we are in fantasy territory

For allSan Andreasgot wrong, though, Jones also pointed out a few things it did right:

The predictions aren’t real but EQ triggering is real. A California EQ M7.3 in 1992 triggered a M5.7 in Nevada the next day

Yes! Drop, cover& hold on. The right thing to do in an earthquake

(Honestly, one of my problems with the movie is how rarely people do this in the movie. Any elementary school child in California could tell you you’re supposed to take cover under something sturdy until the shaking stops. Anyway, moving on…)

I like that the aftershocks keep on hitting and cause more damage. That’s the reality of Big EQs

Another good tidbit. Landlines work when cellphones are out because of no electricity

The competent young woman understands vertical evacuation. One way to escape tsunami is going up a building

Competence makes the girl sexy! That’s a new message i can applaud!

In conclusion:

Bottom line: don’t learn seismology from#SanAndreasbut maybe it will inspire people to take Community Emergency Response Training

San Andreasopens in 3D and 2D this Friday,May 29.