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Action thriller

Greenland (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Greenland (2020) movie poster

Greenland is a 2020 action thriller directed by Ric Roman Waugh, starring Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin and Roger Dale Floyd. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes and earned $52.3 million worldwide on a $35 million budget. Critics gave it 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
77%
worldwide gross
$52.3M
Echo Score
76
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Greenland (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 59m (119 min)
Director
Ric Roman Waugh
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$35M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Greenland About?

The premise of Greenland without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A comet is on a collision course with Earth, triggering widespread panic and devastation. John Garrity, his wife Allison, and their son Nathan must fight to survive as society collapses around them. They embark on a perilous journey to Greenland, believing it to be one of the few safe havens, encountering danger and difficult choices along the way as they struggle to reach safety.

Greenland Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • natural disaster
  • disaster film
  • husband wife relationship
  • apocalypse
  • looting
  • greenland
  • comet
  • diabetes
  • military
  • killer comet
  • bunker
  • father in law son in law relationship
+38 more
  • race against time
  • rescue
  • panic
  • insulin
  • airplane
  • kidnapping
  • mother searches for son
  • no cell phone service
  • suspense
  • death
  • hostage
  • desperation
  • soldier
  • nurse
  • end of the world
  • explosion
  • fire
  • search for son
  • cell phone
  • text message
  • helicopter
  • cargo plane
  • airplane accident
  • pickup truck
  • helicopter crash
  • upstate new york
  • lexington kentucky
  • kentucky
  • atlanta georgia
  • husband wife estrangement
  • fight to the death
  • military base
  • no cell phone signal
  • news report
  • media coverage
  • chaos
  • emergency broadcast system
  • end of civilization
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Cast & crew

Greenland Cast & Characters

Gerard Butler leads the cast as John Garrity, with Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity and Roger Dale Floyd as Nathan Garrity. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ric Roman Waugh

More films directed by Ric Roman Waugh, best-rated first: Shot Caller, Shelter, Felon and National Champions.

Full filmography
Ratings

Greenland Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Greenland 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 64 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in character & emotion (82) and weakest in rewatch factor (64).

76 /100

Greenland Echo Score Breakdown

Greenland’s reception reflects a generally favorable but not uncritical response. Viewers and critics often commend its grounded performances and effective escapism, even as some note predictability and occasional narrative contrivances. The emotional stakes of a family’s journey resonate for many, while some question structural depth and logic. Overall, Greenland achieves an engaging balance of thrills and sincerity, delivering enough novelty within a familiar disaster template to merit positive recognition.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 72

    In terms of art and craft, Greenland displays competent direction and solid production values despite occasional lapses. Several viewers praised the film’s use of practical and digital effects to convey imminent disaster, while a few critics found certain sequences contrived or underdeveloped. Cinematography often captures both intimate character moments and large-scale destruction with clarity. As a result, the film offers predominantly satisfying visual construction, even if it stops short of exemplary artistry.

  • Character & Emotion 82

    When it comes to character and emotion, Greenland earns strong marks for grounded performances and relational depth. Many reactions highlight Gerard Butler’s nuanced portrayal and the believable familial bond at its core. Emotional resonance emerges through the father-son storyline and the depiction of personal sacrifice amid chaos. Although a minority mention underutilized supporting elements, most agree the characters maintain authenticity and sustain audience investment. These qualities give the film notable emotional impact.

  • Story & Flow 68

    Regarding story and flow, Greenland offers an engaging narrative tempered by occasional formulaic beats. Viewers appreciate its steady pacing and the tension of a perilous journey, but some point out predictable plot turns and unresolved logistical details. The film intersperses surprising choices that deviate from standard disaster conventions, though at times these experiments feel uneven. Overall, the storyline remains engaging enough to satisfy genre expectations even if it lacks total originality.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, Greenland delivers a compelling blend of sound design and visual coherence. Many note the effective use of ambient soundscapes during suspenseful moments and punchy sound effects in action sequences. The musical score underlines emotional highs without overwhelming scenes, and the visual style maintains consistency across diverse settings. While not groundbreaking in sound or imagery, the film provides a reliably immersive atmosphere that supports its dramatic stakes.

  • Rewatch Factor 64

    When considering rewatch factor, Greenland offers moderate replay value for fans of grounded disaster drama. Its familial focus and specific sequence of tense escapes hold appeal for repeat viewings, particularly for those who enjoyed character dynamics. However, reliance on familiar genre tropes and some narrative conveniences may limit deeper discoveries on subsequent watches. As a result, Greenland stands as a generally enjoyable one-time experience that may reward select viewers with another viewing but falls short of becoming essential viewing.

Plot

Greenland Plot Summary

What happens in Greenland from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

John Garrity, portrayed by Gerard Butler, is a Scottish structural engineer residing in Atlanta, Georgia, with his estranged wife, Allison and their diabetic son, Nathan. On a pivotal day, John returns home from work with hopes of reconciling with his family as they prepare to host a gathering to watch the passage of the recently discovered interstellar comet named Clarke.

Full summary

The whole story of Greenland, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Greenland Box Office & Budget

Greenland grossed $52.3 million worldwide on a $35 million budget, 1.5 times what it cost.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$52.3M

1.5× its budget

International
$52.3M
Budget
$35M
Videos

Greenland Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Greenland | Official Trailer [HD] | Coming Soon to Theaters
  • Trailer Greenland | Trailer 2 | On Demand Everywhere December 18th
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Greenland?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the profession of John Garrity?

Cars

Cars in Greenland

90 cars on screen, including the 2019 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 and the 1998 Dodge Durango.

All 90 cars
  • 2019 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 in Greenland 2019 Ram Heavy Duty 3500 Main role
  • 1998 Dodge Durango in Greenland 1998 Dodge Durango Important role
  • 1992 Ford F-350 in Greenland 1992 Ford F-350 Important role
  • 2014 Infiniti QX80 in Greenland 2014 Infiniti QX80 Important role
Details

Greenland Also Known As

31 alternative titles, including “นาทีระทึก..วันสิ้นโลก” and “Гренландия”.

Also known as
  • นาทีระทึก..วันสิ้นโลก
  • Гренландия
  • El día del fin del mundo
  • Ґренландія
  • Grenland – Posljednje utočište
  • Groenlanda
  • Greenland : Le Dernier Refuge
  • Greenland: Poslední úkryt
  • Greenland: El último refugio
  • 末日逃生
  • Destruição Final: O Último Refúgio
  • Greenland - Az utolsó menedék
+19 more
  • Greenland: Posledný úkryt
  • Гренландія
  • 그린랜드
  • Greenland - O Último Refúgio
  • 末世綠洲
  • Гренландия: Последно убежище
  • 天劫倒數
  • Greenland: Thảm Họa Thiên Thạch
  • Greenland: Το Τελευταίο Καταφύγιο
  • Greenland: Son Sığınak
  • גרינלנד
  • Grenlandija: išlikimas
  • Groenland
  • جرينلاند
  • Гренланд: Последње уточиште
  • Grenlande
  • گرینلند
  • Grenlandija: Poslednje zatočišče
  • グリーンランド -地球最後の2日間-, გრენლანდია

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FAQ

Greenland FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Greenland, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Greenland?

Greenland runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).

When was Greenland released?

Greenland was released on December 18, 2020.

Who directed Greenland?

Greenland was directed by Ric Roman Waugh.

More films by Ric Roman Waugh

Who is in the cast of Greenland?

Greenland stars Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity and Roger Dale Floyd as Nathan Garrity, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Greenland make at the box office?

Greenland grossed $52.3 million worldwide on a budget of $35 million.

How is Greenland rated?

Greenland has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Does Greenland have a post-credit scene?

No. Greenland has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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