When San Andreas recently surged to the #1 movie on Netflix, overtaking the momentarily dominant 28 Years Later, many viewers were surprised by how quickly a film from 2015 reclaimed the top streaming spot. What’s less surprising, but more meaningful for fans and industry watchers, is how Alexandra Daddario is now being recognized as one of the keys behind that renewed success. As the film enjoys a second life on streaming platforms, Daddario’s presence is being reevaluated—and her career might just be on the verge of a new peak.

Why San Andreas Climbed Back to #1 on Netflix

Many expected 28 Years Later, added to Netflix on September 20, to hold its ground for a while in the charts. However, by September 23, San Andreas — which joined the service on September 22 — had claimed the top spot in the United States, according to Flix Patrol. This turnaround speaks to the power of wide appeal, nostalgia, and mass spectacle over critical opinion.

Despite a 48% Rotten Tomatoes rating, San Andreas has proven irresistible to streaming audiences with its high-stakes disaster sequences and star-driven cast. The resurgence underscores how streaming can rewrite a film’s legacy and reposition its actors in the public mind.

Alexandra Daddario: A Critical Piece in the San Andreas Comeback

While Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson dominates headlines as the film’s marquee name, Alexandra Daddario plays an indispensable role as Blake Gaines, the daughter caught in the aftermath of California’s catastrophic quake. Her emotional journey anchors the film’s narrative. In scenes of chaos, she embodies determination, vulnerability, and familial loyalty—qualities that help turn destruction into compelling cinema.

Seen through today’s lens, her performance contributes significantly to why San Andreas resonates again. Viewers new and old don’t just witness catastrophe—they feel it through the lens of Daddario’s character, making the stakes more personal.

Career Arc: From Television to Blockbuster Impact

Alexandra Daddario’s career has been marked by genre diversity and gradual escalation. She first broke into public attention through roles like Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson films. Over time, she showed she could own more complex and dramatic terrain, like her standout performance in The White Lotus, which earned her award recognition.

But in many ways, San Andreas remains one of her most far-reaching mainstream roles. Grossing $474 million worldwide against a $110 million budget, it proved she could hold her own in big-budget blockbusters. Now that the film is trending again, audiences have the chance to rediscover not just the spectacle, but her contribution to it.

Streaming Resurgence: A Second Lifeline for Legacy Films

In the digital age, a blockbuster’s life doesn’t end at the box office. Streaming platforms like Netflix have the power to elevate a film years later, thanks to renewed visibility and diverse audience reach. That San Andreas could overtake a contemporary horror sequel on Netflix illustrates that strong cast, spectacle, and emotional arcs still carry weight.

For Alexandra Daddario, that resurgence means her name is reintroduced in conversations among younger viewers who may not have seen the film in theaters. The streaming era allows such actors to gain fresh traction and renewed respect in ways not possible before.

Fan Response: Rediscovering Daddario’s Performance

Many fans on social media and streaming forums have commented on how Alexandra Daddario’s performance holds up in 2025. While the film’s action sequences grab attention, many viewers pause and reflect on her scenes—where she confronts loss, danger, and uncertainty. She is no mere “disaster movie daughter”—she becomes a compelling survival figure in her own right.

Those who might’ve dismissed San Andreas as mindless spectacle are now pointing to her as proof that even disaster films can carry emotional resonance when cast wisely.

Critical vs. Popular Perception: Daddario’s Beneficial Position

One of the weird ironies in entertainment is when critical reception doesn’t align with popular success. San Andreas had its flaws—plot holes, over-the-top heroics, and occasionally thin motivations. But those weaknesses have softened in public memory, and Alexandra Daddario’s performance has aged more favorably than many of the film’s narrative elements.

Often, she is viewed as the stabilizing element in a film of extremes. Because she brings nuance, she benefits from the renewed exposure more than many of the names in the cast.

Behind the Scenes: Daddario’s Dedication to the Role

What many don’t know is how seriously Alexandra Daddario approached her role in San Andreas. In interviews at the time, she revealed the intense physical preparation she underwent, including water rescue training and learning how to act in simulated earthquake conditions. Her commitment to realism and physicality paid off in key scenes, especially the underwater sequences that many fans cite as among the most emotionally gripping. Crew members recalled how she often refused body doubles and preferred to do her own stunts to connect more authentically with her character. This behind-the-scenes discipline contributes to why her performance resonates so strongly years later.

What This Wave Means for Alexandra Daddario’s Future

This reemergence of San Andreas as a streaming hit can serve as a launchpad for Alexandra Daddario. As audiences search “San Andreas Netflix” and get pulled into her performance, there’s a renewed opportunity for her to land bigger roles in high-visibility films. Her mix of genre work, prestige television, and mainstream appeal positions her uniquely: understood by critics, beloved by fans, and now revived in streaming charts.

It’s possible studios and casting directors will look at her differently, seeing not only someone who can survive in blockbusters, but someone who elevates them.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in Daddario’s Journey

The headline may be San Andreas overtaking 28 Years Later as Netflix’s #1 film, but the deeper story is about Alexandra Daddario rising again in public view. In a film dominated by spectacle, her role is part of what allows viewers to feel invested. This streaming resurgence gives her a second wind—a moment to remind the industry and audience alike that she is more than a supporting face.

As San Andreas tops charts in 2025, it’s clear: Alexandra Daddario is not just part of the wave—she’s one of the key reasons it’s happening.