The film, which stars DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON, hit the top spot at the box office on both sides of the Atlantic following its release last month (May15).

It has now emerged that the storyline, about a quake which devastates California, has inspired locals to see advice from experts about what to do in case of a real life disaster, and the movie has won praise from authorities for encouraging those living in danger zones to take precautions.

Glenn Pomeroy, the chief executive of insurance firm The California Earthquake Authority, tells Britain's The Guardian newspaper, "The movie is getting people talking. And just to get them talking about earthquakes is a good thing."

Mike Christensen, the president of EarthquakeStore.com, an online shop which sells preparation supplies for natural disasters, adds, "It started about three weeks ago when the trailers and billboards came out. Our business has tripled."