Objective To investigate the effect of Erastin on the growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa1-6 cells in vitro. Methods Hepa1-6 cells were treated with Erastin at different concentrations. The proliferation and activity of Hepa1-6 cells were assessed using cell proliferation-cytotoxicity assays, specifically the MTT assay and the CCK-8 assay. The proliferative capacity of the cells was evaluated through the plate colony formation assay. Additionally, the invasive and migratory abilities of the cells were investigated using the Transwell assay, with the migratory ability further examined through the scratch assay. Results As the concentration of Erastin increased, the inhibition rate of proliferation in Hepa1-6 cells progressively rose, while the survival rate and proliferative capacity declined correspondingly. Additionally, there was a reduction in both the number of migrating and invading cells, leading to decreased cellular mobility. Conclusion Erastin significantly inhibits the proliferation of Hepa1-6 cells and also reduces their invasion and migration in a dose-dependent manner.