2012
As the planet's crust tears itself apart, a conflicted writer races across a collapsing world to reunite and save his family.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- breathless
- spectacular
- melodramatic
- blockbuster night
- disaster movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that the film delivers extravagant destruction effects and blockbuster spectacle but is undermined by excessive length, implausible science, and a thin script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot escalates through earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, crustal upheaval, and other worldwide disasters rather than one isolated threat.
The film foregrounds city-scale devastation, collapsing infrastructure, erupting volcanoes, and worldwide apocalyptic imagery.
World leaders construct arks for a limited population while Jackson Curtis tries to protect his family amid unequal access to rescue.
Adrian Helmsley identifies the planetary crisis and must persuade President Thomas Wilson and other officials to prepare for extinction.
Films like 2012, and why
The Day After Tomorrow
shares large-scale natural catastrophes, global survival stakes, spectacular destruction, and a race against time
Deep Impact
shares apocalyptic science fiction, family survival, government crisis management, and escalating planetary disaster
Independence Day
shares Roland Emmerich's maximalist destruction spectacle, worldwide catastrophe, and ordinary people confronting extinction
Armageddon
shares disaster-movie ensemble storytelling, political leadership under pressure, and emotionally direct survival drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Roland Emmerich
- Release Date
- 2009-10-10
- Runtime
- 158 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (13067)
Cast
- John Cusack
- Amanda Peet
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Thandiwe Newton
- Oliver Platt
- Tom McCarthy
- Woody Harrelson
- Danny Glover
- Liam James
- Morgan Lily
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, YouTube TV, Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is 2012 about?
- As the planet's crust tears itself apart, a conflicted writer races across a collapsing world to reunite and save his family.
- What is 2012 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 2012 as breakneck, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is 2012 violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in 2012 as moderate.
- What did critics think of 2012?
- Critics broadly agreed that the film delivers extravagant destruction effects and blockbuster spectacle but is undermined by excessive length, implausible science, and a thin script.
- Which films are like 2012?
- Films with a similar feel include The Day After Tomorrow, Deep Impact, Independence Day, and Armageddon.
- How long is 2012?
- 2012 runs 158 minutes.
- Where can I watch 2012?
- In United States, 2012 streams on Hulu, YouTube TV, Starz Apple TV channel.
