2020 • STX Films
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1 hr 59min
Action ~ Adventure ~ Thriller
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Writer: Chris Sparling
Actors: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd, Scott Glenn, David Denman, and Hope Davis.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
Official Trailer
Greenland (2020) – Review
John Garrity (Gerard Butler) is a Structural Engineer building skyscrapers in Atlanta, Georgia. He lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with his wife Allison (Morena Baccarin) and their diabetic son Nathan (Roger Dale Floyd). John and Allison have been having marital problems and are trying to work through them and stay together for Nathan. An interstellar comet nicknamed “Clark” was detected by Nasa a few weeks ago, and is headed into Earth’s atmosphere. It is expected to pass close enough to be visible in the sky. The Garrity’s have invited their neighbor’s over to have a “Clark” watch party as it enters the atmosphere.
John starts to get concerned about Clark and it’s impact when he notices military aircraft flooding the sky, apparently on the move. He also receives a Presidential alert on his phone informing him that he, Allison and Nathan have been selected for a relocation program. They are to leave immediately for a nearby Air Force Base. Clark’s trajectory changes as it gets close enough for the sun to heat up it’s gases, and fragments are suddenly expected to hit the earth, although Nasa is still saying that everything should be ok.
As they watch a live news feed of Clark’s impact, a fragment expected to hit water near Bermuda, it hits Tampa, Florida instead and decimates Central Florida with a shock wave felt for thousands of miles. Panic ensues just as John gets the same Presidential alert again on his phone and the tv. The neighbor’s do not get a text or an alert, which causes some major drama. John and Allison decide they must heed the alert and pack up to hit the road. Clark’s path and the warnings being issued change by the minute for the worse. It now looks like planet killer Clark may make a bullseye for Earth.
Why did John and his family get chosen? Was it because of his structural engineering background? The rumor is they are relocating essential humans who can help rebuild after the disaster to secret underground bunkers in Greenland. Things do not go well for the Garrity’s as they try to make it to the base and then on to Greenland. It is a very intense action filled journey full of drama as society collapses around them. Will they make it to Greenland? Will Clark destroy the planet? Will humanity survive?
Honestly Greenland reminded me of 2012, with a few key differences. While 2012 was also a natural disaster movie, it was also heavy on the CGI. Greenland is not, it focuses heavily on The Garrity’s and their struggle to survive the journey. 2012 was also a little over the top plot wise, whereas Greenland was more of a family drama played out against the backdrop of a natural disaster. I thought it was well done, it felt real, the Garrity’s struggle felt real. You felt like you were right there with them every dramatic step of the way.
Gerard Butler did an excellent job as John Garrity trying to hold his family together and get them safely to Greenland. Morena Baccarin was incredible in this and I have to point out, yes I am a big fan. But she really outdid herself with this role, the range of emotions she portrayed as Nathan’s mom, Dale’s daughter and John’s wife were heartfelt and earnest. I have seen Greenland a couple of times since it came out, and watched it again last night before Greenland 2: Migration‘s premiere on HBO MAX tonight.
Greenland is a tense, grounded disaster action thriller with strong performances from Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, well worth a watch!
Greenland (2020) – Review by Bobby @ Streaming Movie Night.
Movie Stills
Greenland (2020) – Review © 2026 Streaming Movie Night
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