Moviegoers have always had a deep fascination with the end of the world. From things coming to an end thanks to a zombie apocalypse, or from a giant asteroid slamming into our planet, there’s just something about imagining yourself surviving such a catastrophe that makes these types of movies a thrill to watch. Perhaps no other director is more famous for exploring Earth’s destruction than Roland Emmerich, the filmmaker behind the likes of Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, Moonfall, and, of course, the 2009 apocalyptic action thriller, 2012. Panned by critics at the time it was released, the film is now once again all the rage on streaming thanks to Peacock.
Featuring an ensemble cast made up of such heavy hitters as John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandiwe Newton, Danny Glover, and Woody Harrelson, 2012 played into our fears that the world would end on Dec. 21 of that year thanks to widespread conspiracy theories surrounding the Mayan calendar. It seems silly now, but at the time it was akin to the Y2K phenomenon, and left many people to feel uneasy about what the future held. Emmerich, for better or worse, was able to capitalize on that, and the results were a box office sensation.
Hitting theaters on Nov. 13, 2009, 2012 grossed $65 million during its opening weekend, which was enough for it to reign supreme at the box office. By the time it was all said and done, the film took in a whopping $791.2 million, making it Emmerich’s second highest-grossing movie ever behind Independence Day. The combination of a stellar cast mixed with thrilling destruction was clearly a hit with moviegoers, even if it didn’t get the best reviews. Now, 2012 is once again a hit thanks to Peacock, where it currently sits at #9 on their list of Top 10 movies as per Flix Patrol. Check out the full synopsis below:
“Earth’s billions of inhabitants are unaware that the planet has an expiration date. With the warnings of an American scientist (Ejiofor), world leaders begin secret preparations for the survival of select members of society. When the global cataclysm finally occurs, failed writer Jackson Curtis (Cusack) tries to lead his family to safety as the world starts falling apart.”
Is ‘2012’ as Bad as People Say It Is?
Holding just a 40% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 47% rating from fans, 2012 – in many ways – felt like a hollow spectacle with a disjointed plot that could never really decide what kind of movie it wanted to be. It was all over the place in terms of tone, themes, and pacing, which isn’t exactly ideal for a movie that runs over two and a half hours. It felt long, which you don’t want in a disaster movie of this ilk.
That being said, Emmerich knows how to destroy the world. The effects in 2012 were absolutely fantastic. From L.A. sliding into the ocean to huge waves slamming ships into mountains, Earth’s demise has never looked better on the big screen. It was true escapism that gave those who were in fear of the pivotal year something else to be worried about, and for those of us who weren’t, 2012 was a fun popcorn flick that definitely falls into the “so bad it’s good” category.
