2012

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1:09

2012

PG-13

2009

2h 38m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

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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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

Laremy Legel

Film.com

2012 is the rare case of a bad film that I'm nevertheless obliged to recommend you see.

Rated: B-

May 6, 2011

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Sara Vilkomerson

Observer

2012 is reminiscent of yesteryear '80s shlock-tastic blockbusters -- total popcorn entertainment with ridiculous dialogue and impossible situations and special effects that will boggle the brain for a good two-plus hours.

Dec 7, 2009

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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Alexander C.

I love this film, if I have the opportunity to watch it I do it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

Full Review

Scott E

If the Earth's crust is going to be destroyed, where exactly are they evacuating to?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/19/25

Full Review

Lesley M

I wish I could recover the hours of my life I wasted watching this film. Its so bad that you actually start wanting everyone to die so the film ends. Switch off after 10 minutes if you prefer not to waste your life.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

Full Review

Jen F.

I love John Cusack in the movie and it was funny and fun and it was just better than I thought it was going to be one of my favorites.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

Full Review

Ben D.

Solid movie. Love disaster movies

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

Full Review

Rochelle A

I’ve watched this movie probably three or four times and each time I’m amazed by the special effects. I’m super surprised it didn’t get decent reviews from the critics and audience. I absolutely love this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

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

2:25

2012: Official Clip - Cruise Ship Tsunami

2:41

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

1:09

2012: Trailer 1

2:47

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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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