Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by the team of Mitchell LaFortune and Chris Sparling, "Greenland 2: Migration" arrives in theaters as a direct continuation of the 2020 disaster hit. Produced by a collective including STXfilms, Anton, and Gerard Butler's G-BASE, the film carries a weight of expectation after its predecessor subverted genre tropes by focusing on a family's emotional journey rather than just global destruction. The story picks up five years after the Clarke comet decimated the planet, finding the Garrity family John, Allison, and their son Nathan emerging from the safety of their Greenland bunker.
The cast sees the return of Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, though the role of Nathan has been recast with Roman Griffin Davis, taking over for Roger Dale Floyd. Distributed by Lionsgate, the film first debuted in Germany and Hungary on January 8, 2026, followed by its United States release on January 9. At this early stage of its theatrical run, box office figures are still being tallied, though it remains a high-profile release for the early year. This sequel matters because it shifts the focus from the immediate terror of an impact to the long-term, grueling reality of rebuilding a shattered civilization, making it more of a survivalist odyssey than a traditional disaster flick.
Story and Screenplay: A Sprawling Odyssey Through a Drained and Desolate World
The narrative structure of "Migration" takes a sharp turn from the "race against the clock" format of the first film. Instead of fleeing toward a bunker, the Garrity family is now fleeing from one, as the Greenland facility begins to fail due to structural instability and radiation concerns. Their goal is a rumored sanctuary known as "the Crater," a supposed oasis located in what was once Europe. This transition changes the pacing and rhythm of the story significantly. While the first film was a tight, localized thriller, the sequel is a picaresque journey that feels broader but less urgent.
The script explores themes of migration and refugee status, effectively turning the protagonists into the very people they were once trying to avoid becoming in the first film. There is an attempt at a serious social statement here, suggesting that even after the world ends, humanity’s penchant for tribalism and conflict remains. However, the screenplay's greatest weakness lies in its repetitiveness. The family frequently finds themselves in a cycle of driving, encountering marauders, and narrowly escaping a natural disaster, which can lead to a sense of narrative fatigue. While the writing aims for a "Death Stranding" style of quiet, atmospheric travel, it occasionally drifts into being a "dystopian dud" where the characters simply plod onward without enough narrative momentum to justify the running time.
Acting and Characters: Domestic Intimacy Amidst Global Ruin
Gerard Butler remains the emotional anchor of the franchise, though his performance here is notably more morose and weary than in the first installment. As John Garrity, he portrays a man carrying the physical and psychological scars of half a decade of bunker living. While Butler has sometimes been criticized in this role for lacking his usual onscreen force, his restrained performance reflects a character who is simply trying to keep his family alive in a world that has no place for them. Morena Baccarin’s Allison is given more room to breathe as a character, often serving as the pragmatic backbone of the group. Her development from a terrified mother into a capable, battle-hardened survivor is one of the film's more successful arcs.
The most significant change is the introduction of Roman Griffin Davis as a teenage Nathan. While Davis is a talented actor, some critics felt the character of Nathan was somewhat bland in this iteration, serving more as a plot device or a source of worry for the parents rather than a fully realized person. The chemistry between the three remains palpable, however, and the decision to keep the family together for the majority of the film provides a warmth that contrasts with the cold, dead world they inhabit. Supporting turns by actors like Amber Rose Revah and William Abadie add texture to the various factions the family encounters, but few of these characters stay on screen long enough to leave a lasting impression.
Direction and Technical Aspects: The Visceral Reality of a Broken Earth
Director Ric Roman Waugh continues to employ the grounded, "stuntman's eye" style he brought to the first film, favoring practical-looking action over glossy CGI. His vision for the post-comet world is one of extreme weather and geological upheaval. One of the most effective sequences in the film involves a treacherous walk across a canyon on a rope bridge, a scene that many critics cited as a rare moment of genuine, heart-stopping tension. Waugh’s direction is at its best when he focuses on the physical toll of survival, such as the cramped, claustrophobic nature of the early scenes in the bunker.
Cinematographer Martin Ahlgren creates a distinct visual composition for the film, moving from the drab, grayish-blue tones of the Greenland bunker to a more varied, if still desolate, palette once the family reaches Europe. There is a striking sequence involving the drained English Channel, which resembles a desert landscape out of "Dune," highlighting the sheer scale of the environmental catastrophe. However, the film's visual storytelling is hindered by an over-reliance on "shaky cam" and rapid-fire editing during action sequences. This can make it difficult for the audience to maintain their orientation during chaotic moments, such as a comet shower over the woods or the initial collapse of the bunker. The production design by Vincent Reynaud is commendable, particularly in creating lived-in, decaying environments that feel authentically ruined.
Trailer Greenland 2: Migration (2026)
Music and Atmosphere: A Melancholy Dirge for the Surface World
The score by David Buckley is a departures from the standard, bombastic music found in many disaster films. It is often described as having a "funeral dirge" quality, emphasizing the loss of civilization rather than the excitement of the struggle. This audio approach significantly enhances the somber mood of the film, reminding the viewer that this is a world where millions have died and the survivors are merely "the lucky ones". The soundtrack avoids catchy motifs, opting instead for atmospheric drones and mournful strings that mirror the family's arduous trek.
Sound design plays a crucial role in establishing the film’s atmosphere. The constant, low-frequency rumble of distant geological shifts and the howling of winds through ruined cities create a persistent sense of unease. In the quieter moments, the film uses audio to highlight the isolation of the Garritys, where every footstep in a silent, abandoned apartment building feels amplified and dangerous. While the overall tone is relentlessly bleak, the audio work successfully draws the audience into the physical experience of the characters, making the world feel tangible and heavy.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- The transition of Allison Garrity from a survivor into a proactive leader and protector.
- The high-tension rope bridge sequence which provides a much-needed jolt of adrenaline.
- The visual design of the post-impact world, especially the surreal, desert-like appearance of the former English Channel.
- The emotional core of the family unit, which remains the strongest link to the audience.
- A grounded, realistic approach to the aftermath of a disaster that avoids typical Hollywood spectacle.
What doesn't work:
- A repetitive narrative structure that follows a predictable "travel, encounter danger, escape" loop.
- The recasting of Nathan, which some viewers felt led to a less compelling version of the character.
- Excessive use of handheld camera work and fast-cutting that can make action scenes confusing.
- A pacing that feels too slow for its 98-minute runtime, with several stretches that feel like a slog.
- Occasional logic gaps, such as characters losing weapons or navigating magically appearing obstacles without explanation.
Final Verdict: A Serious Statement That Sometimes Forgets to Entertain
Rating: 3/5 stars
"Greenland 2: Migration" is a film that clearly wants to be more than just a sequel to a disaster movie. It strives to be a serious social statement about the nature of survival and the plight of the displaced. While its ambitions are noble, it often buckles under the weight of its own somberness. The result is a film that is technically impressive and emotionally honest but can be undeniably dull in its middle act. It is a movie that respects its audience's intelligence but perhaps tests their patience a bit too much with its plodding rhythm.
Fans of the first film who appreciated its grounded, family-first approach will likely find enough to enjoy here, as will enthusiasts of "hard" science fiction and post-apocalyptic survival stories. Those who are looking for a high-energy, spectacle-driven action film in the vein of "2012" or "Independence Day" will almost certainly be disappointed by the film’s meditative pace and lack of showy climaxes. Ultimately, "Migration" is a worthy, if flawed, expansion of the story that proves there is still life in the Garrity family's journey, even if the road ahead is a long and weary one. If you enjoyed the first "Greenland" for its heart rather than its explosions, this sequel is worth a watch, but be prepared for a journey that is as much of a test for the viewer as it is for the characters.
Lionsgate will release “Greenland: Migration” in theaters on Friday, January 9.
 Movie Review: A Gritty Exploration of Survival That Swaps Tight Suspense for a Sprawling but Sometimes Repetitive World){kind=link}
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