Maps of Movies

2012 (2009)

Where 2012 says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A film about the end of the world, and almost none of its places were filmed where the story puts them

Scenes and places

The neutrino warning in India

Adrian visits a fellow scientist and learns that something from the sun is heating the Earth's core. The finding sets the whole story in motion.

Set in Jharkhand, India — Geologist Adrian Helmsley learns of a solar neutrino heating the Earth's core. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The coordinate is the Indian state's centre, not a specific site; the sources name no exact place.

Adrian warns the White House

Adrian takes his findings to the people who can act on them. Their decision leads to a secret global project.

Set in White House, Washington, D.C. — Adrian carries the warning to the White House Chief of Staff and the President. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The residence and office of the US president since 1800.

Nine arks rise in Tibet

A year on, governments are quietly building huge arks. A monk, Nima, is evacuated with his grandparents while his brother Tenzin joins the project.

Set in Tibet — Over forty-six nations begin building nine arks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The coordinate is a central point of the region; the sources give no exact ark site.

Jackson's chauffeur job in Los Angeles

Jackson, a struggling writer, drives a rich client around town. His family lives apart from him with another man.

Set in Los Angeles — Struggling writer Jackson Curtis drives a Russian billionaire. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The coordinate is the city centre. According to Wikipedia, production moved from Los Angeles to British Columbia.

Filmed at Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver — Wikipedia says filming moved from Los Angeles to British Columbia; the Italian edition names this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Camping at Yellowstone

On a camping trip Jackson sees something wrong with the lake and is taken to Adrian. There he first hears a conspiracy theorist's warning.

Set in Yellowstone National Park — Jackson takes his children camping and finds the lake dried up and fenced off. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The first national park in the world.

Santa Monica Airport

Warnings pile up, so Jackson rents a small plane and sets out for his family.

Set in Santa Monica Airport — Jackson drops off the billionaire's sons and rents a small plane. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A small general aviation airport in Los Angeles County.

A bigger plane in Las Vegas

The small plane cannot cross the ocean, so the family must find something bigger.

Set in McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas — The group lands to find a larger plane. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Now called Harry Reid International Airport.

Landing on a Himalayan glacier

Out of fuel, the group must get down on the ice and reach the arks on their own.

Set in Himalayas — The big plane comes down on a glacier and the survivors push on to the arks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The coordinate is Mount Everest, used for the range; the sources do not name the glacier.

The Cape of Good Hope

Twenty-seven days on, the waters start to recede and the arks head for a new coast.

Set in Cape of Good Hope — The arks approach the southern tip of Africa. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The coordinate is the real cape; the film's ending is not described here.

Filmed at Kamloops, British Columbia — Scene not specified in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Savona, British Columbia — Scene not specified in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Cache Creek, British Columbia — Scene not specified in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Ashcroft, British Columbia — Scene not specified in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver — Scene not specified in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Jackson Curtis — A struggling science-fiction writer who works as a chauffeur in Los Angeles.
• Adrian Helmsley — An American geologist who first learns what is happening to the Earth's core.

Questions answered on the map

• Where does the 2012 plot travel, and where was it really filmed?