The story revolves around a cataclysmic event where the Earth's core starts to overheat, causing natural disasters and devastation. A young geologist, Adrian, discovers this and warns the US President, who tries to save himself and the wealthy by building arks.
Meanwhile, a writer named Jackson learns about the impending disaster from a conspiracy theorist and tries to save his family. They meet Adrian, who helps them, and together they board one of the arks. However, the ark's system gets jammed, and Jackson must perform a heroic act to save everyone on board.
In the end, Jackson and his son successfully fix the system, and the ark sails to Africa, the only place left unflooded. The survivors, including Jackson and his family, head there to start anew, marking the beginning of humanity's future.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The story begins with a mention of the year 2020 being good, and a theory that the Mayan who wrote 2012 was dyslexic and meant to write 2021.
2. A young geologist named Adrián visits an old friend in India who reveals a discovery that the Earth's core is overheating.
3. Adrián travels to the White House to inform the President about the impending disaster.
4. The President calls a conference with governors of several countries to inform them about the end of the Earth.
5. A writer named Jackson, who works as a driver for a Russian millionaire, goes camping with his children.
6. Jackson's children are with his ex-partner Kate and her new husband.
7. Jackson meets a crazy man who broadcasts live on his radio program and has a conspiracy theory about the Earth's end.
8. The crazy man has a map that supposedly leads to ships that will save the rich and powerful.
9. Jackson confirms the conspiracy theory and decides to escape with his family.
10. The family rents a small plane, but the pilot is dead, and Kate's new husband has to fly the plane.
11. They witness the apocalypse and manage to escape, but not without difficulties.
12. Adrián enters one of the salvation ships, but is outraged when he finds out that only a limited number of people can enter.
13. Adrián demands that more people be allowed to enter, but the officials refuse.
14. The Russian millionaire and his children are trapped outside the ship, but one of the children manages to climb in.
15. The doors of the ship are jammed, and a tsunami is approaching.
16. Jackson and his son manage to unclog the hydraulic system, and the ship is saved.
17. The survivors sail to Africa, which is the only place on Earth that is not flooded.
18. The film ends with the survivors heading to Africa to begin a new future for humanity.