2012

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1:09

2012

PG-13

Released Nov 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

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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

Full Review

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

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Gareth v

Big, loud, and empty. 2012 is all apocalypse, no story.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

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Lia P

This movie has a place in my Heart, if you love Apocalypse movies with all things happening at once this is for you I’ve rewatched this movie multiple Times. Fun plot, Good and bad acting can’t complain this movie scared me as a kid. Good movie fun and rewatchable this has some Comedy to this movie too. Good cast this brought back memories of all those prophecies going around in 2012 about the clock and the world ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Jace T

There was big hype for the end of the world in the year 2012. Heck, I even asked off work on the "day the worlds was supposed to end" just in case it actually did. However, we all knew that wasn't going to happen. Especially this movie, which took the time to capitalize on the hype. This film is honestly silly and not amazing, but there is just something about it that is charming and fun. The action is insane, and honestly, no one should survive.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Sharyn B.

I enjoyed every aspect

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

Nathaniel P

A very emotional thrilling film with phenomenal cgi and a ton of fun worth a watch with friends and some drinks. Do some elements not make sense? Yes but the entertainment will carry you through!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Owen W

Big, exciting, with grand theatrics, but a horrible storyline and script to hold any flavor at all.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

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

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2012: Official Clip - The Arks

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2012: Official Clip - Get to the Plane

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2012: Official Clip - Rough Landing in Tibet

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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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