"2012", Doomsday and Big Gains from Worldwide Box Offices

The global disaster tale "2012" created a spell about doomsday to open at No.1 with $65 million domestically and $225 million worldwide.

With a very talented crew includes a cast led by John Cusack, Danny Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor; doomsday specialist director Roland Emmerich ("Independent Day", "The Day After Tomorrow"). Sony Pictures succeeded in making another action disaster film based on the 2012 phenomenon and earning million.

The film begins in 2009, when there is a huge explosion on the surface of the Sun. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a scientist, then travels to India to meet his friend, who discovered that the Earth's temperature is increasing rapidly. He returns to Washington D.C. and submits a report to his supervisor, who immediately takes him to see US President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover). One year later, in 2010, Wilson tells other heads of state and government the current situation at the 38^th G8 summit and the creation of a number of arks (Noah's Ark) to prepare for the world's ending. To fund the venture, billionaires are allowed a ticket for a large sum of money.

The story jumps to 2012; Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is a divorced father who works as a limousine driver and writer. When Jackson takes his children, Noah and Lily, on a camping trip to Yellowstone, they met Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), a radio show host and conspiracy theorist who believes in the Mayans' prediction of the world's ending in 2012. Charlie mentions a map where special ships are, but Jackson assumes he is a ramble drunk and then leaves him. The family returns home cracks begin to develop along the San Andreas Fault in California and earthquakes occur in San Francisco Bay area. Despite government assurances that all is fine, Jackson grows suspicious and hires a private plane rescue his family. As the Earth's crust displacement begins, Jackson collects his family and escape Los Angeles on time as it collapses into the Pacific Ocean.

The film continues with many unpredictable contents and climax and even the ending, but in general, it satisfies audiences' expectation.

Domestically, "2012" came in just shy of the $68.7 million opening weekend for "The Day After Tomorrow." But Sony reported that its global total was the best ever for an original movie not based on an established franchise, brand or best-selling novel.

In general, the movie is "an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors", and it really worth watching.

Source
imdb.com