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IMDbPro

2012

  • 20092009
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
374K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,195
79
Osric Chau in 2012 (2009)
An academic researcher leads a group of people in a fight to counteract the apocalyptic events that were predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar.
Play trailer2:53
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
A frustrated writer struggles to keep his family alive when a series of global catastrophes threatens to annihilate mankind.A frustrated writer struggles to keep his family alive when a series of global catastrophes threatens to annihilate mankind.A frustrated writer struggles to keep his family alive when a series of global catastrophes threatens to annihilate mankind.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
374K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,195
79
  • Director
    • Roland Emmerich
  • Writers
    • Roland Emmerich
    • Harald Kloser
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Thandiwe Newton
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roland Emmerich
  • Writers
    • Roland Emmerich
    • Harald Kloser
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Thandiwe Newton
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.3KUser reviews
    • 247Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 21 nominations

    Videos7

    2012: Final Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:53
    2012: Final Theatrical Trailer
    2012: 2nd Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    2012: 2nd Teaser Trailer
    2012: Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:19
    2012: Teaser Trailer
    2012: Deleted Scene - "Jackson Underwater"
    Clip 1:07
    2012: Deleted Scene - "Jackson Underwater"
    2012: L.A. Earthquake Featurette
    Featurette 2:55
    2012: L.A. Earthquake Featurette
    2012 -- Roland Emmerich Soundbites from Comic-Con
    Interview 0:32
    2012 -- Roland Emmerich Soundbites from Comic-Con
    2012 Comic-Con Panel
    Interview 0:55
    2012 Comic-Con Panel

    Photos201

    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2012 (2009)
    Woody Harrelson in 2012 (2009)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2012 (2009)
    Roland Emmerich in 2012 (2009)
    Roland Emmerich in 2012 (2009)
    Danny Glover and Thandiwe Newton in 2012 (2009)
    Amanda Peet and Lisa Lu in 2012 (2009)
    Danny Glover in 2012 (2009)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton in 2012 (2009)
    Oliver Platt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Stephen McHattie in 2012 (2009)
    John Cusack in 2012 (2009)
    John Cusack and Woody Harrelson in 2012 (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Jackson Curtisas Jackson Curtis
    Thandiwe Newton
    Thandiwe Newton
    • Laura Wilsonas Laura Wilson
    • (as Thandie Newton)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Adrian Helmsleyas Adrian Helmsley
    Amanda Peet
    Amanda Peet
    • Kate Curtisas Kate Curtis
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Carl Anheuseras Carl Anheuser
    Tom McCarthy
    Tom McCarthy
    • Gordon Silbermanas Gordon Silberman
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Charlie Frostas Charlie Frost
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • President Thomas Wilsonas President Thomas Wilson
    Liam James
    Liam James
    • Noah Curtisas Noah Curtis
    Morgan Lily
    Morgan Lily
    • Lilly Curtisas Lilly Curtis
    Zlatko Buric
    Zlatko Buric
    • Yuri Karpovas Yuri Karpov
    Beatrice Rosen
    Beatrice Rosen
    • Tamaraas Tamara
    Alexandre Haussmann
    • Alecas Alec
    Philippe Haussmann
    • Olegas Oleg
    Johann Urb
    Johann Urb
    • Sashaas Sasha
    John Billingsley
    John Billingsley
    • Professor Westas Professor West
    Chin Han
    Chin Han
    • Tenzinas Tenzin
    Osric Chau
    Osric Chau
    • Nimaas Nima
    • Director
      • Roland Emmerich
    • Writers
      • Roland Emmerich
      • Harald Kloser
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The doomsday theory arose from a non-Maya Western idea, not a Mayan one. Mayas insisted that the world would not end in 2012. The Mayas had a talent for astronomy, and enthusiasts found a series of astronomical alignments they said coincided in 2012. Once every six hundred forty thousand 640,000 years, the sun lines up with the center of the Milky Way galaxy on the winter solstice, the sun's lowest point in the horizon. The last time that happened was on December 21, 2012, the same day the Maya calendar expired. The modern doomsday myth was bolstered by several ostensibly scientific reasons for a disaster, including a pole shift, the "return" of Planet X or the Sun's sinister counterpart Nemesis, a galactic, planetary, or other celestial alignment, global warming, global cooling, a massive solar flare, or a new ice age. None had any basis in real science. For example, the "galactic alignment" between the sun, Earth, and galactic center happens every December. The best alignment was reached in the 1990s, and was accompanied by its own set of doomsday theories. Alignments since then have been increasingly poor.
    • Goofs
      The scientific paper on crustal shifting is said to have been published in 1958, and Albert Einstein supported it. Einstein died in 1955.
    • Quotes

      Adrian Helmsley: The moment we stop fighting for each other, that's the moment we lose our humanity.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits at all, except the Columbia Pictures logo and the movie title "2012".
    • Alternate versions
      There was an alternate ending that was featured on the DVD. After Captain Michaels announces that they are heading to the Cape of Good Hope, he tells Dr. Helmsley that he has a phone call waiting for him. Dr. Helmsley discovers that his dad Harry is still alive. Harry tells his son that he, Tony (whose arm is in a sling) and some of the passengers and crew survived the mega-tsunami that struck the Genesis. Captain Michaels states that they should have a visual on the ocean-liner shortly. After Kate thanks Laura for taking care of Lily, Laura tells Jackson that she liked his book. Lily then announces that she sees an island. The Arks arrive at the shipwrecked Genesis and the survivors on the beach.
    • Connections
      Edited into Live Free or Die Hard (Project 12, 8/12) (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Afreen Afreen
      Written by Javed Akhtar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

      Performed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

      Courtesy of Saregama India Ltd.

      By Arrangement with The Royalty Network, Inc.

    User reviews1.3K

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    It's the end of the world, not anybody's career
    Anybody going to this movie to learn about the Mayan prophecies for 2012 or for any true science, is going to be sadly disappointed. But, that is not why we go to movies anyway, is it? That is like going to see Godzilla expecting to learn something about giant lizards that vomit radioactive spray. Emmerich has taken a fictitious subject he knew would be controversial and woven some drama into it. People who tend to be slightly paranoid will no doubt be even more so after seeing the world destroyed according to interpretations of prophecy. The people who sell the books promoting the fear make money, just like the movie producers. So what? I didn't see this movie to pick up any information I haven't learned from the History Channel, nor do I believe any more than I did before, that anything bad is going to happen on December 21, 2012. Did I go expecting to be highly entertained by great CGI and action? Yes! And I wasn't disappointed! One thing many reviewers haven't been picking up on while watching this movie is the very slight tongue-in-cheekiness of the subject that Emmerich cleverly wove into the plot. He obviously doesn't believe any of the prophecy any more than most of the rest of us do. You can see it in the actors' performances too: Woody Harrelson, to wit. It is the same as a weatherman who can deliver his forecast each night without laughing because he truly doesn't know with certainty what is going to happen, but he tries to make us believe nonetheless.

    See this movie if you love cinema. Enjoy the things about cinema that make it great. Take a small pillow for your butt cheeks because almost 3 hours of sitting in an uncomfortable theater seat will make you wish you had. But fear not. There is so much non-stop action you won't notice the discomfort too much.

    The film has obvious flaws, trite clichés, and phony science, but if you are a fan of 50's sci-fi, you will love this movie. And remember, don't take it too seriously folks, just enjoy it. The end of the world isn't going to happen in 2012, there really aren't any giant grasshoppers, ants, or lizards roaming the Earth, and no one's career is going to end because of their role in this movie. It is Hollywood having a good time with a controversial subject. Nothing new there.

    Enjoy the show!
    helpful•424
    243
    • polombob
    • Nov 15, 2009

    FAQ9

    • What is the significance of the year 2012?
    • Is this movie a serious take or a campy film?
    • If the end of the world takes place on December 21st, 2012, then where's the snow?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Tibetan
      • Mandarin
      • Russian
      • Hindi
      • Portuguese
      • Latin
      • Italian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Farewell Atlantis
    • Filming locations
      • Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Centropolis Entertainment
      • Farewell Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $200,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $166,112,167
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $65,237,614
      • Nov 15, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $791,217,826
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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