FAQ for
2012 (2009/I) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for 2012 can be found here.

No. 2012 is based on a specscript (speculative script) co-written by director Roland Emmerich and co-producer Harald Kloser.

December 2012 marks the ending of the current baktun cycle of the Mesoamerican (Mayan) Long Count calendar. The Mayan calendar ends 21 or 23 December 2012. The 2012 doomsday belief suggests that the Mayans foretold the end of the world at this time and, since the world is ending, there is no need to continue counting days or making calendars past that point. While that date would have had significance to the Mayans, there is no proof they actually believed the world would cease to exist. The ending of one calendar would start a new calendar, similar to how the current year ends on December 31st, but a new year is made at the same time.

Not certain yet, but Roland Emmerich is famous for his disaster films full of comical reliefs. The character of Charlie Frost is an almost sure comic relief himself, from what can be understood from the viral campaign.

After seeing the film, 2012 is a serious take on the end of the world. Like Woody Harrellson's character, Charlie Frost, it does have a bit of comedy in it, but the majority of the movie is serious and sometimes even sad.

Yes, this movie is officially 158 minutes long. It is Roland Emmerich's second longest movie.

No, director Roland Emmerich has confirmed that there will be a happy ending. Since this movie is about the end of the world, there will be a lot of people (not all of them but most of the people around the world) die in this movie however the ones with the main character will not die.

Yes, but it's not Arnold playing himself. It's Arnold impersonator Lyndall Grant playing the part of Governor Schwarzenegger.

Yes. President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover) decides to stay behind while his staff boards Air Force One to escape the upcoming natural disasters. When a large earthquake strikes the nation's capital, President Wilson, along with many others, is helping wounded citizens on the front lawn of the White House. Everyone is knocked to the ground. After President Wilson picks himself up, he notices a large tsunami carrying an aircraft carrier hurdling towards him. We then see the wave and the carrier crash into the White House. The scene then cuts out.