I Know This 2009 Disaster Movie Isn’t Good, But I Like It Anyway (And It’s Streaming For Free)

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It’s getting colder here, and I’m really looking forward to cozying up indoors. There’s nothing better than being under a blanket with a book or watching a movie when the weather turns chilly. Honestly, even a delightfully bad movie hits the spot!

Honestly, I’m not going to try and claim that Roland Emmerich’s 2009 film, 2012, is a masterpiece. It’s packed with characters, the plot is complicated, and it’s really long – over two and a half hours! The critics don’t love it (it has a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), and audiences aren’t much more enthusiastic. I know it doesn’t get great reviews, but I still enjoy watching it.

Every couple of years, I suddenly feel the urge to watch this movie, just like with some other guilty-pleasure disaster films. When I saw 2012 was available to stream for free, I figured I’d probably bought it digitally before. Turns out I had, so I’m good to go. But if you’re looking to rewatch it and don’t own a copy, you can currently watch it for free with ads on Tubi.

What 2012 Is About

Like most disaster films, this one features a world-ending scenario. In this case, the Earth’s core is overheating – the science behind it is a bit complex, but the movie explains it well with an animated sequence narrated by Woody Harrelson’s character. Essentially, the world is facing an apocalypse. For the majority of the film, we witness massive disasters – earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other terrifying events – as a result of these global catastrophes.

I don’t want to give too much away, especially if you haven’t seen it, but this movie is about a global disaster and a hidden, secure location. Only a select few know about it, and it’s meant to protect people when the world ends. The story follows a group of people – some good, some not – as they try to reach this safe haven.

Oh Yeah, And The Cast Is Fire

This movie has a fantastic cast. John Cusack stars as Jackson Curtis, a writer and father determined to keep his family safe – including his children and ex-wife, Amanda Peet. Oliver Platt plays the White House Chief of Staff, and Danny Glover is the President, also the father of Thandiwe Newton’s character, Laura Wilson. Woody Harrelson appears as a somewhat-correct conspiracy theorist, and Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the scientist who advises the President.

2012 Isn’t Perfect, But It Also Never Lets Me Down

Roland Emmerich definitely tried to elevate this film beyond a typical disaster movie, and I appreciate that he both directed and co-wrote it. However, the movie throws a lot at you with numerous characters appearing and disappearing alongside the main plot. This makes it difficult to truly connect with anyone or anything as much as I expected. I usually wish I felt a stronger emotional connection to the characters and story, but it’s not a bad movie overall – I didn’t regret watching it, and I wouldn’t rule out watching it again sometime.

I absolutely love how Roland Emmerich takes disaster movies to the next level, and 2012 is no exception! It’s packed with those incredible, over-the-top visuals he’s famous for – think crumbling cities and even lava falling from the sky. I was completely hooked watching John Cusack and his family desperately try to survive, bouncing between a limo, a camper, and even a couple of planes! The action never stops, and it’s a thrilling ride. If you haven’t added this one to your collection yet, you’re in luck – there are a few different ways to watch it!

  • Watch 2012 on Tubi.
  • Stream 2012 on Starz
  • Buy 2012 on Amazon.

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2025-11-15 23:10