Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is a divorced man. His former wife, Kate Curtis (Amanda Peet) and children live together with another man. In Guatemala there is a rumor that several of people have committed suicide as they believed that the world will cease to exist in 2012. Accordingly, a forum named ``Institute for Human Continuity`` (IHC) is formed. It starts constructing gigantic protective ships/ vessels under the Himalayas to face the dooms day. However, they discover that a global disaster caused by the dislocation of the Earth's outer layer will take place earlier than anticipated. Many cities and civilizations are completely destroyed. As the floods get worse, the US government announces the end of the world. Jackson Curtis and his family and some other survivors struggle their way to China to board the protective ship and save themselves.