A James Bond star’s beloved cult disaster film from the 1990s is available to watch for free on TV today

An iconic disaster thriller from the 1990s will be airing totally free of charge this evening on Film4.

Movie buffs will be able to revisit the nostalgic action film, which stars an iconic actor who portrayed James Bond, from 6:55pm.

Starring Pierce Brosnan and The Terminator’s Linda Hamilton, who is now starring in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, Dante’s Peak is a must-watch for film buffs looking for a dose of nostalgia this week.

Brosnan stars as volcanologist Harry Dalton who is sent to monitor seismic activity in a small town in Washington that borders a stratovolcano.

Along with mayor Rachel Wando (played by Hamilton) and her two children, they eventually discover the volcano is on the verge of a huge eruption and attempt to prepare the town’s residents for disaster.

Although Dante’s Peak wasn’t particularly well-received at the time, currently holding a 28 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, it has developed a cult following over the years since its release in 1997.

Empire said at the time: “This is yet another one of those mindlessly enjoyable outings which eschews such unimportant details as plot or characterisation in favour of the biggest, flashiest special effects money can buy. Twister with lava, if you will.”

Plenty of online reviewers have also given it a positive write-up, including one IMDb user who gave it 10/10 and wrote: “Dante’s Peak is a fun movie to watch I love every minute of it. The action is so much fun, never understood why people bash this movie what a blast from start to finish.”

Someone else held it in high regard compared to more recent disaster blockbusters: “This film is favorite of mine. Simple story line with likeable characters and possibly some of the best practical visual effects Hollywood has ever done.

“It was only a few years later until nearly every movie was overflowing with CGI. Compare this film to one like 2012 and you’ll agree that cgi is no substitute.”

Another fan who considers Dante’s Peak to be underrated declared: “This Movie Rocks.

“Why the hell has this movie only gotten a 5.5 rating? It is one of the best action movies to come out of the 90’s.

“Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are dead on in their roles. The movie has action, love, despair and redemption. I gave this movie a 10 and I’m sticking with it!”

Praise continued on Letterboxd, where a five-star review said: “Outstanding special effects in an old-school disaster movie. The plot is simple and the volcano is the star of the show, filmed at ground level with the actors so the situation feels real.

“One of the better disaster movies from their golden age in the 1990’s.”

And another positive write-up agreed: “Disaster movies with a relative lack of CGI are the best. When the volcano goes boom boom in Dante’s Peak, it’s a feast of miniatures and other analog trickery. It’s quite a spectacle.

“The bellowing clouds of ash in particular. It takes a decent length of time to get there, but the characters are serviceable in the meantime, and the tone is relatively serious, which is a plus. Basically Jaws but with a volcano. Good stuff.”

Dante’s Peak is airing at 6:55pm on Film4.