2012 (2009)
We were warned.
Dr. Adrian Helmsley, part of a worldwide geophysical team investigating the effect on the earth of radiation from unprecedented solar storms, learns that the earth's core is heating up. He warns U.S. President Thomas Wilson that the crust of the earth is becoming unstable and that without proper preparations for saving a fraction of the world's population, the entire race is doomed. Meanwhile, writer Jackson Curtis stumbles on the same information. While the world's leaders race to build "arks" to escape the impending cataclysm, Curtis struggles to find a way to save his family. Meanwhile, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc around the world.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 10 October 2009 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Science Fiction |
| Director | Roland Emmerich |
| Starring | John Cusack, Amanda Peet and Chiwetel Ejiofor |
| Runtime | 158 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 5.2/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 39% · Metacritic 49/100 · TMDB users 5.9/10 |
| Budget | $280 million |
| Box office | $791 million worldwide |
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You can rent 2012 on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Spectrum On Demand. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
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What kind of watch this is
Roland Emmerich’s 2012 is a 158-minute disaster film where the Earth’s core heats up until the crust becomes unstable. Dr. Adrian Helmsley warns President Thomas Wilson that without building arks to save a fraction of the population, humanity is doomed. Writer Jackson Curtis stumbles on the same intelligence and tries to save his family while volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc globally. The tagline is simply "We were warned.
What the critics said
Critics were divided on whether the spectacle justified the scale. Rotten Tomatoes lists a 39% approval rating as of March 2024, while Metacritic assigns a 49 Metascore, categorizing the reception as mixed or average. Roger Ebert gave it 3.5 stars, noting it delivers exactly what its audience expects. Dan Kois of The Washington Post called it "the crowning achievement in Emmerich's long, profitable career as a destroyer of worlds." Others were less charitable. Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph found it "dim, dim, dim, and so absurdly overscaled that we're not supposed to mind." It is a movie that works perfectly for the people who bought tickets specifically to watch the world end.
How it did with audiences
The production budget sat at $200 million, while the worldwide total climbed to $791 million. That gap makes it the first film to cross $700 million globally without hitting $200 million domestically. Audiences on TMDB rate it 5.9.
What came next for the cast
Chiwetel Ejiofor moved from Children of Men to 12 Years a Slave. Thandiwe Newton followed Mission: Impossible II with Westworld. John Cusack and Amanda Peet navigated a quieter stretch, trading early breakout roles for steady ensemble work in films like Hot Tub Time Machine and Identity Thief. The timeline suggests momentum, but correlation is not causation. The film did not build these careers; it simply sat in the middle of them.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched 2012.
Read more: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Sources
- 2012 on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q184605 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “2012 (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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