‘Greenland 2: Migration’ Review: A Sequel That Takes a Promising Disaster Series and Almost Craters It

The 2020 disaster film Greenland, about a comet poised to wipe out life on Earth, was surprisingly effective because it focused on the people rather than just big visual effects. While not as bleak as Lynne Littman’s 1983 film Testament, the script by Chris Sparling was better than expected for its budget. Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin played a convincing couple who flee Atlanta with their son, hoping to reach safety in Greenland before the world ends.

Director Ric Roman Waugh clearly understood what made the first Greenland successful, but Greenland 2: Migration feels different. While the original focused on compelling characters, the sequel seems more interested in showing off its bigger budget with impressive visual effects. The Icelandic landscapes and CGI depictions of a devastated Earth – including ruined cities and dust storms – will appeal to fans of post-apocalyptic films. However, the story, written by the returning screenwriter and a new collaborator, feels slow and doesn’t always make sense. It introduces some intriguing ideas but doesn’t develop them fully. Even acknowledging that a sequel isn’t always necessary, Greenland 2: Migration doesn’t live up to the potential of the first film, remaining a merely passable and unmemorable experience.

As a fan of the first Greenland, I remember how the original came out at a tough time, right when the pandemic was really hitting. It felt like everyone was already stressed, and then the movie got delayed a bunch before ending up mostly on streaming. So, I was really glad to see Greenland 2: Migration actually get a proper theatrical release – it looks amazing on the big screen, but honestly, the story itself doesn’t quite measure up. The first movie did a great job of letting you connect with the Garrity family before everything went crazy, but this sequel jumps right into the action. We find John, Allison, and Nathan five years after the events of the first film, living in an underground bunker in Greenland with a bunch of other survivors – they jokingly call it ‘Hand-Me-Down Nation.’ They’re trying to build a normal life down there – yoga, school, cheesy music – but it feels a little forced. It’s funny that there are twice as many therapists as doctors in the bunker, which made me wish the director had taken a little more time to develop the characters instead of rushing into a typical action-packed road movie.

This version of the story doesn’t focus as much on criticizing people’s selfishness, unlike the original. The plot really takes off when an earthquake destroys the family’s shelter, forcing the Garritys to escape in a lifeboat. They surprisingly manage to bring a large supply of insulin for their son, Nathan, who has diabetes – even though the shelter wouldn’t let anyone with a medical condition inside. With North America and Iceland uninhabitable, John decides to head for England and then to a rumored safe zone in southern France near an old meteor impact site, where breathable air and water are said to exist. It’s strange they don’t try to confirm this rumor, considering they meet many people during their 2,000-mile journey from Greenland to France. Instead, the family travels around the world relying on hope, facing both peaceful moments and dangerous challenges in a somewhat predictable, but generally entertaining, way.

Gerard Butler consistently delivers solid performances in these films, especially considering the roles require more depth than his typical action hero persona. In Greenland 2, he uses his expressive eyes and Scottish accent to make the film’s brief but touching relationship with Morena Baccarin truly resonate. However, the director seems more focused on creating increasingly outlandish challenges for the family to face, leading to a somewhat absurd action sequence where they desperately cross a flimsy bridge over a deep canyon. The scene is so over-the-top that even the main character, John Garrity, can’t help but exclaim his disbelief – a rare moment of witty banter that feels like a nod to classic action heroes like Bruce Willis.

Though the movie still has some exciting moments, the sincerity that worked well in the first film doesn’t quite land as powerfully, and occasionally feels overly sentimental. It sometimes feels a bit contrived. As the family nears their destination, they meet another convenient helper – a Frenchman (William Abadie) who works at a post office. His daughter, Camille (Nelia Valery Da Costa), feels like a stereotypical character, and is likely intended to become Nathan’s love interest in any potential sequels.

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The success of the Greenland series is partly due to lucky timing. The first film resonated with audiences because it tapped into the anxieties surrounding the COVID pandemic. Greenland 2: Migration – a title that clearly reflects current global issues – includes scenes of leaders debating whether to accept refugees into safety shelters. While it’s unfair to expect the director to predict the future, this sequel doesn’t live up to the quality of the original, and the series deserved a stronger continuation.

Greenland 2, from Lionsgate, opens in theaters Jan. 9

2026-01-09 00:33

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