2012

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1:09

2012

PG-13

Released Nov 13, 2009

2h 38m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

242 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Earth's billions of inhabitants are unaware that the planet has an expiration date. With the warnings of an American scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor), world leaders begin secret preparations for the survival of select members of society. When the global cataclysm finally occurs, failed writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) tries to lead his family to safety as the world starts falling apart.

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Critics Consensus

Roland Emmerich's 2012 provides plenty of visual thrills, but lacks a strong enough script to support its massive scope and inflated length.

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Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 1/5

Nov 18, 2011

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Cusack, with his one-of-the-guys face and his nice way with child actors, does creditable work as an Average American Dad trying to put things right.

Rated: B

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Everything you’re expecting from 2012 is exactly what you’re going to get…Utterly impossible by any stretch of the imagination, the movie is a cheesy, one-dimensional, epic-sized spectacle that does exactly what it promises to—destroy the Earth.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 5, 2023

Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

If you put your brain in neutral, you can enjoy an unprecedented scale of beautifully rendered destruction and learn that science isn't an exact science.

Rated: 3/5

May 24, 2023

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

A good disaster thriller must contain both thrills and massive destruction--2012 has both in great quantity.

Jan 26, 2022

Full Review

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Ella D

For some reason I love disaster movies. This one is BY FAR the ABSOLUTE BEST DISASTER MOVE OF ALL TIME. John Cusack is an unexpectedly inspiring hero. Chwetely shines as a scientist, and Woody Harrelson plays a memorable eccentric at Yellow Stone. What more could you want ? It will have you at the edge of your seat from start to finish. They don't make em like they used to ... .but I wish they did. I want MORE of THIS.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

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Fil S

So hype, so marketing, all for this..

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Brad S. R

Woody Harrelson is the only remotely likeable thing about this turkey.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Jason W

What you would expect from a doomsday film. Great one to just shut down and relax with popcorn, but it is a bit too long. The cgi is ok, not the best but if you can look past it, it's a decent movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

Full Review

Joseph S

A movie filled with great special effects. It has some fun moments and the acting is well done but it's too long and repetitive. You can only see so much mass destruction before it becomes tedious. Which is unfortunate because it is really well made.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

Full Review

Topher S

Run of the mill disaster movie up until the final act. If you like seeing things destroyed, then this is the type of movie for you. Nothing special, but still fun.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

Full Review

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Roland Emmerich

Director

John Cusack

Jackson Curtis

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Adrian Helmsley

Amanda Peet

Kate

Oliver Platt

Carl Anheuser

Thandiwe Newton

Laura Wilson

2012: Official Clip - Something Pulling Us Apart

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2012: Official Clip - Cruise Ship Tsunami

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2012: Official Clip - The Ark Launch

3:14

2012: Official Clip - The Arks

2:58

2012: Official Clip - Get to the Plane

2:54

2012: Official Clip - Rough Landing in Tibet

3:40

2012: Official Clip - Do Not Panic

2:58

2012: Official Clip - Trust in Prayer

2:59

2012: Official Clip - The Sinking of Los Angeles

2:09

2012: Official Clip - Yellowstone Erupts

3:38

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2012: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Earth's billions of inhabitants are unaware that the planet has an expiration date. With the warnings of an American scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor), world leaders begin secret preparations for the survival of select members of society. When the global cataclysm finally occurs, failed writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) tries to lead his family to safety as the world starts falling apart.

Director: Roland Emmerich
Producer: Harald Kloser, Mark Gordon, Larry J. Franco
Screenwriter: Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Centropolis Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Disaster Sequences)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $166.1M
Runtime: 2h 38m

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