Beyond 2016

Robbery at the local shop

The armed robber demands all the money from the shop's cash register. Michael empties the register and insists there is no safe in the shop, escalating the tension. Cole intervenes, taunting the thief as a coward and daring him to shoot, until the robber fires and Michael is wounded; an ambulance is called to the scene.

Ambulance aftermath and invitation

As emergency crews take control of the scene, Cole receives a phone call from a friend inviting him to drinks. He agrees on the condition that it isn't a house party. The moment pulls him toward social interaction amid the chaos of the earlier incident.

Meeting Maya at the house party

Cole learns the party is at a house, so he retreats downstairs to drink alone. There he meets Maya, the host, and they begin an exchange about an approaching asteroid. They dance to Maya's favorite song and soon begin dating.

Early relationship and asteroid talk

A series of conversations reveals their views on meaning in the face of doom as the asteroid looms. Cole argues that few things would matter if extinction were imminent, while Maya offers a counterpoint about choosing hope. Their bond grows amid the tension of an impending catastrophe.

Flashforwards to post-apocalyptic Scotland

The story flashes forward to a devastated Scotland where Cole and Maya hide from alien ships and scavenge for food and shelter. The bleak future scenes parallel their present relationship and foreshadow how survival will test their bond.

Confronting the idea of children

They debate whether to have children, with Cole insisting he does not want them. Maya reveals she is unable to bear children, adding a new layer of complication to their plans. The discussion marks a widening rift as the crisis approaches.

Maya’s pregnancy and resolve

Maya becomes pregnant, which unsettles Cole as the threat of disaster looms. He argues that it’s cruel to bring a child into such a doomed world, while Maya calls it a miracle and chooses to keep the baby. Their disagreement makes their commitment to each other more precarious.

Rising anxiety and failed deflection efforts

Scientists grow increasingly worried about a potential asteroid collision, and multiple missions to divert it end in failure. The global mood tightens as the threat remains unresolved. Cole and Maya’s relationship strains under fear, scarcity, and grief.

Pregnancy amid hardship

Maya’s pregnancy deepens the stakes as the couple faces hunger and shelter challenges. Cole remains reluctant to accept responsibility, while Maya strives to protect their future and support him. The pressures of survival intensify their personal conflict.

Flashforwards show a fractured relationship

In the flashforwards, Cole and Maya’s relationship deteriorates as they struggle for food and shelter while their baby is cared for by Maya's parents. Accusations fly as they blame each other for the hardships, even as a faint thread of hope persists. The two timelines emphasize the costs of their choices.

Hospital confrontation and shooting

In the present, Michael confronts Cole with a pistol, accusing him of betraying his beliefs. He shoots Cole, and Novac, a doctor, rushes in and shoots Michael, saving Cole’s life. The hospital becomes a battleground where fate and responsibility collide.

Delirium and glimpses of impossible futures

As Cole lies wounded, he drifts between delirium and flashes of the futures seen in the flashforwards. The line between memory and possibility blurs, underscoring the film’s themes of meaning and choice. The hospital room becomes a liminal space where realities intersect.

Missed asteroid and newborn daughter

Maya calls to tell Cole that the asteroid has missed Earth and that she has given birth to a baby girl. The news injects a fragile hope into Cole’s recovery and reframes his struggle as survivable. Love and family become a new anchor for their fragile future.