Greenland (2020) follows the Garrity family—John, Allison, and their young son Nathan—as they confront the unthinkable: a planet-killing comet named Clarke hurtling toward Earth. What begins as widespread fascination quickly transforms into panic when fragments of the comet unexpectedly obliterate cities across the globe. As chaos spreads, John receives a government alert stating that he and his family have been selected for emergency evacuation to a classified shelter—one of humanity’s last attempts at survival.
Within minutes, their quiet suburban life collapses into a nightmare of gridlocked highways, panicked neighbors, and a society unraveling under the weight of impending extinction. Forced to make impossible decisions, John and Allison try to reach the military airbase designated in their evacuation notice, but bureaucratic mishaps and the disorder around them tear the family apart. Their separation becomes one of the film’s emotional cores: surviving the comet becomes secondary to reuniting before it’s too late.
As John struggles to track down Allison and Nathan, he witnesses firsthand how desperation transforms ordinary people. Violence spills into the streets, looting becomes rampant, and even those who try to help often do so from fear rather than compassion. The comet fragments grow larger and more destructive, leaving blazing trails across the sky and turning entire regions into burning wastelands. Each strike is a reminder that time is running out.
Allison, meanwhile, must protect Nathan without John’s help. When a dangerous encounter forces them off the main evacuation routes, she turns to her estranged father, seeking shelter and safety. Their reunion is emotional but tense, as old conflicts resurface under the pressure of global catastrophe. Despite the bitterness between them, Allison’s father helps guide them toward the rumored Greenland bunker network—the only place said to withstand the comet’s final impact.
When the family finally reunites, their path forward is even more treacherous. They must navigate illegal flights, military checkpoints, and desperate survivors all trying to reach the same salvation. Every step is a gamble, but their determination to stay together gives them the strength to continue despite overwhelming odds.
As Clarke’s largest fragment—the extinction-level strike—races toward Earth, the Garritys board a final transport with seconds to spare. The shelters seal just as the sky turns white. Silence follows, then darkness. When the doors eventually open, the world outside is unrecognizable but still alive. Greenland ends on a somber yet hopeful note, reminding viewers that survival is not just about escaping destruction, but about rebuilding a life from the ashes.
