Greenland (2020) Movie Review: Plot, Cast, and Where to Watch

Q: What is the Movie Greenland About?

The 2020 disaster thriller, Greenland, centers on the Garrity family: structural engineer John (Gerard Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their diabetic son, Nathan. Their lives are upended when scientists confirm a catastrophic comet, 'Clarke,' is on a collision course with Earth. John's essential skills get his family selected for emergency shelter, but their journey to an evacuation point descends into chaos, separating the family. The film follows their perilous efforts to reunite and reach a network of underground bunkers in Greenland before the extinction-level impact. Key themes explored include survival, societal breakdown, family reconciliation, and hope.

Q: Is Greenland a good movie?

Yes, Greenland is widely considered a good movie and a refreshing entry in the disaster genre. It prioritizes a raw, human experience over pure spectacle, grounding the story in a family's fight for survival. The film is praised for its emotional weight, sustained tension, and a realistic portrayal of societal breakdown. The performances, particularly Gerard Butler's nuanced role as a desperate father rather than a typical action hero, are a key strength. It's often described as a compelling drama that uses the disaster setting to explore themes of family, sacrifice, and resilience.

The 2020 film ‘Greenland’ is a disaster thriller starring Gerard Butler. It follows a family’s desperate fight for survival as a planet-killing comet races towards Earth. The movie centers on their perilous journey to reach a supposed safe haven in Greenland before the final impact.

In a world full of disaster movies, it’s hard for one to stand out. The 2020 film Greenland does just that. Instead of focusing on huge special effects, it tells an intensely personal and thrilling survival story. Starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, this isn’t just another asteroid movie. It’s a gripping look at a family’s fight to survive as the world ends, which makes the greenland movie a unique film in its genre.

If you’re wondering whether the greenland movie is worth your time, you’ve come to the right place. Our detailed greenland movie review covers everything, from the compelling plot and performances by the greenland movie cast to its great direction and visual effects. We’ll also break down the film’s main themes and give you the latest updates on the upcoming sequel, Greenland: Migration.

Ready to uncover the full story behind humanity’s last stand? Let’s begin by exploring exactly what the movie Greenland is about.

What is the Movie Greenland About?

Synopsis and Plot Summary

The 2020 disaster thriller, Greenland, tells the story of a family’s desperate fight to survive. The story follows structural engineer John Garrity (Gerard Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their diabetic son, Nathan (Roger Dale Floyd). Their lives take a terrifying turn when scientists announce a massive comet, “Clarke,” is going to hit Earth ^[1].

At first, the threat isn’t taken seriously. However, people panic when a piece of the comet hits Florida and destroys a city. This disaster confirms that the world is in great danger.

John receives an urgent alert from the government. He and his family have been chosen for a secret emergency shelter. John was selected because of his skills as a structural engineer. Their trip to a military airfield, however, quickly becomes chaotic. Desperate to survive, other people fight to get access. This creates a terrifying and unpredictable situation.

During the chaotic evacuation, Nathan’s insulin gets left behind. This forces John and Allison to split up. Allison and Nathan look for medical supplies, while John tries to reach a different meeting spot. The movie shows their difficult and dangerous journey to find each other again. They face many life-threatening problems, including:

Desperate crowds fighting over limited supplies.
Looting and chaos across the country.
The constant danger from falling comet fragments.
The difficult choices of who gets to live and who dies.

Their final goal is to get to underground bunkers in Greenland. These shelters are meant to protect a few people from the disaster. The film ends with a tense race against time. The Garritys try to get to safety before the largest piece of Comet Clarke hits, which threatens to cause a worldwide catastrophe.

Exploring the Core Themes

Greenland is more than just a disaster film; it’s an emotional look at basic human experiences. The main themes connect with viewers and offer a lot to think about.

One main theme is survival and the instinct to protect loved ones. John Garrity’s powerful drive to keep his family safe moves the whole story forward. His actions show the basic human instinct to survive. This focus on one family’s survival is a key part of discussions in any Greenland movie review.

The film also explores societal breakdown and the fragility of civilization. As the comet gets closer, society quickly falls apart. We see widespread panic, looting, and desperate acts. This shows how easily order can break down under extreme stress. The government’s actions are also questioned. The film raises moral questions about who deserves to be saved and why.

Another powerful theme is family bonds and reconciliation. John and Allison’s marriage is in trouble at the start of the film. But the coming disaster forces them to face their problems. Going through this together makes their bond stronger. It shows the lasting power of love and commitment. This part of the story gives the film a strong emotional core amid all the destruction.

Finally, the Greenland movie subtly explores hope and resilience. Even with everything against them, the characters hold on to the hope of a future. The journey to the Greenland bunkers shows their desperate hope that humanity can survive. It suggests that even when facing total destruction, the human spirit will fight for life. In the end, the film offers a small sign of hope for rebuilding and a new beginning ^[2].

Is Greenland a good movie?

An In-Depth Greenland Movie Review

The Greenland movie is a refreshing new film in the disaster genre. Unlike other movies of its kind, it focuses on the human experience more than just special effects. Director Ric Roman Waugh creates a tense and personal story about a family’s fight to survive. This approach makes the movie much more emotional.

From the start, the movie shows a clear and coming threat. A large comet, “Clarke,” is heading for Earth. At first, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. But events quickly get serious, forcing the Garrity family into a desperate race against time. The story moves quickly, keeping you on the edge of your seat the whole time.

Key strengths of this Greenland movie review include:

Focus on People: The movie is grounded in the human struggle. It shows how ordinary people react when something terrible happens.
Realistic Story: It avoids the usual over-the-top Hollywood action. Instead, it offers a raw, believable look at how society could fall apart ^[3].
Constant Tension: The suspense builds naturally. Every challenge the family faces feels real and important.
Emotional Depth: The stakes always feel personal. This makes every decision the characters make more powerful.

While the film uses some common disaster movie ideas, its strong focus on its characters makes it better. It explores themes of family, sacrifice, and strength. This makes the Greenland movie more than just an action movie; it’s a powerful drama.

Analyzing the Greenland Movie Cast Performances

The success of the Greenland movie depends a lot on its great cast. Their acting provides the emotional heart of the story. Gerard Butler, in particular, gives a deep and powerful performance.

Gerard Butler as John Garrity:

Butler is not the typical action hero in this role. He plays a flawed, desperate father.
His performance shows both great weakness and determination.
He plays a man dealing with past mistakes whose only goal is to protect his family.
Critics praised his “grounded and authentic” performance as John ^[4].

Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity:

Baccarin gives a strong, relatable performance as John’s separated wife.
Her character goes through intense emotional pain, including the fear of losing her child.
The connection between Butler and Baccarin feels real and highlights their complex relationship.
She provides a key emotional focus, especially when the family is separated.

Roger Dale Floyd as Nathan Garrity:

The young actor gives a very mature performance for his age.
His character’s medical condition adds more urgency and danger to the story.
Floyd convincingly shows the fear and confusion of a child in a crisis.

The entire Greenland movie cast works together perfectly. They create a believable family facing an unthinkable disaster. Their combined efforts make the film feel very raw and real.

Direction and Visual Effects

Ric Roman Waugh’s directing is a standout part of the Greenland movie. He worked with Butler before on films like Angel Has Fallen. In this film, however, he uses a very different style. His focus is always on the people in the story.

Key parts of Waugh’s directing include:

Close-Up Camera Work: The camera often stays close to the characters, which pulls viewers into their frantic journey.
Pacing: The film moves at a fast pace but also balances intense action with quiet, emotional moments.
Atmosphere: Waugh creates a strong feeling of fear and desperation that you can feel in every scene.
Realism: He takes a grounded approach, which makes the unbelievable events feel much more scary and real.

The visual effects (VFX) in the Greenland movie are also impressive. They support the story instead of taking it over. The scenes of destruction are amazing but never feel like too much. VFX company Scanline VFX handled much of the complex effects work ^[5].

Notable visual effect elements:

Comet Impacts: The meteor showers and larger impacts are shown with shocking realism.
Destruction: The scenes of collapsing buildings and chaos are very believable.
Scale: The movie does a great job of showing just how huge the disaster is, making Earth’s fate feel truly in danger.

The directing and visual effects work together perfectly. They create a believable and terrifying vision of a world-ending event, and they improve the story without overshadowing the family at its center.

Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?

After this in-depth Greenland movie review, the question is: should you watch it? If you like thrillers that focus on characters and disaster movies, the answer is a definite yes. It offers a new spin on a familiar genre.

Reasons to watch the Greenland movie:

You enjoy intense and suspenseful stories.
You like disaster films that have a strong focus on people.
You are looking for a realistic movie about an apocalyptic event.
You want to see one of Gerard Butler’s best recent dramatic performances.
You want a film that is about family, survival, and sacrifice.

However, if you prefer huge action movies with lots of explosions and less emotion, this might not be for you. The film focuses on tension and character instead of non-stop action. Its budget was about $35 million, which is small for this type of movie and shows its focus was on the story ^[6].

Ultimately, the Greenland movie is an exciting, well-made thriller. It has both nail-biting suspense and real emotion. It is highly recommended for anyone looking for a smarter disaster film.

Is there a part 2 to the movie Greenland?

Sequel Confirmed: ‘Greenland: Migration’

Good news for fans of the intense survival thriller, the greenland movie! A sequel is officially coming. The new film is called ‘Greenland: Migration’ ^[7]. Many are excited about this, especially those who liked the first movie’s realistic take on a global disaster.

Reviews for the first `greenland movie` praised its exciting story. The film was also a success at the box office, which helped make this sequel possible. The new movie will continue the Garrity family’s dangerous journey.

This new film will have more high-stakes drama. It will also show how people survive in tough situations. It will be exciting to see what happens next to the Garrity family.

What We Know About the Story and Cast

More details are coming out about ‘Greenland: Migration’. Here’s what we know so far:

Story Focus: The story starts where the first movie ended. The Garrity family survived the comet strike. Now, they must travel across a frozen Europe to find a new place to live ^[8]. This journey will be even more challenging.
New Threats: The world is still a dangerous place. The family will face new natural disasters and unfriendly groups of people. The story will likely be about the struggle to find resources as society falls apart.
Returning Cast: The main `greenland movie cast` is set to return.
- Gerard Butler is back as John Garrity. Butler is also a producer, so he has a say in the film’s direction.
- Morena Baccarin returns as Allison Garrity. She played a key role in the first film as the strong, protective mother.
- Roger Dale Floyd is also back as their son, Nathan. Seeing this dangerous world through a child’s eyes is a key part of the story.
Director: Ric Roman Waugh is returning to direct the sequel ^[7]. His directing style made the first film feel very real. Having the same director is a good sign for the new movie.
Production Status: Filming for ‘Greenland: Migration’ has already started. Some scenes are being shot in the NEOM region of Saudi Arabia ^[8]. These locations suggest the movie will have some new and interesting scenery.

The sequel looks to be just as good as the first `greenland movie`. It will add another exciting chapter to the family’s story.

Where Can You Stream Greenland?

Is Greenland Available on Netflix?

Many people check Netflix first when they want to watch a popular movie. For the disaster film Greenland, its availability on Netflix is different depending on where you live. For example, the movie first streamed on HBO Max in the U.S. for a while [source: The Hollywood Reporter]. It later appeared on Netflix in several other countries.

Currently, Greenland is not on Netflix for subscribers in the United States. Of course, this could change because streaming deals are updated all the time [source: JustWatch.com]. So, if you’re in the U.S., searching for the Greenland movie on Netflix probably won’t work.

However, viewers in countries like Canada or the UK might find Greenland on their local Netflix. It’s always best to check Netflix in your own country, as streaming rights change often and vary by region.

Other Platforms for Streaming or Rental

If you can’t find it on Netflix, don’t worry. There are plenty of other places to watch the Greenland movie. The film is available on many different platforms online.

You can usually rent or buy Greenland online. Renting lets you watch it once, while buying lets you own a digital copy forever. Prices can change depending on the platform, video quality (like HD vs. UHD), and special offers.

Here are the common platforms where you can stream, rent, or buy the Greenland movie:

Amazon Prime Video: This is a popular place to rent or buy movies. You can often find it in HD or UHD quality.
Apple TV (iTunes): Apple’s service also has many new and older movies to rent or buy. It’s a popular choice for people who use Apple devices.
Google Play Store: Android users can find Greenland on Google Play. You can typically rent or buy the movie here as well.
Vudu: Vudu has a huge library of movies and is another great place to buy or rent the film. It often offers movies in 4K UHD.
YouTube Movies & TV: You can also rent or buy Greenland from the movies section on YouTube.
Microsoft Store: If you use a Windows device or an Xbox, you can find digital movies like Greenland on the Microsoft Store.

In the past, Greenland has also been available on subscription services like Max (formerly HBO Max) in the U.S. and through add-ons like Starz via Hulu [source: Decider.com]. However, where it’s streaming can change. Be sure to check these platforms directly for the latest info on how to watch the Greenland movie.

Frequently Asked Questions About Greenland

What was the point of the movie Greenland?

The main point of the Greenland movie is to show what people go through during a huge global disaster. It explores themes of survival, family, and the instinct to protect the people you love.

The film also looks at how easily society can fall apart during a major crisis. It shows both the best and worst sides of people under extreme stress. You see the desperate things normal people do to get to safety.

Ultimately, the movie is a powerful story about resilience. It shows a family’s fight for the future, even when things look hopeless.

What city was Greenland filmed in?

Most of the Greenland movie was filmed in the United States. The main filming locations were in and around:

Atlanta, Georgia: Many scenes were filmed in the Atlanta area, using its different locations and studios ^[9].
Other parts of Georgia: The movie also used smaller towns and country areas in Georgia as backdrops.

Even though the story is about a trip to Greenland, very little was actually filmed there. Some scenery shots may have used landscapes from Iceland or the Arctic, but most of the movie’s action was filmed in Georgia.

Is the Greenland movie worth watching?

Yes, the Greenland movie is worth watching, especially if you like exciting disaster movies that also have a lot of heart. Our Greenland movie review found it to be a very powerful film.

Here are several reasons why:

Intense Suspense: The movie is very suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Strong Performances: The Greenland movie cast gives great performances. Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin are especially good as parents trying to save their child.
Grounded Storytelling: Unlike other disaster movies, “Greenland” focuses more on the people than on big special effects.
Emotional Depth: The story gives a realistic look at how a family deals with extreme stress, making the characters easy to connect with.

It’s different from other movies in the genre because it feels more realistic. If you want a film that is both thrilling and makes you think, “Greenland” is a great choice.