

Dr. Adrian Helmsley, part of a worldwide geophysical team investigating the effect on the earth of radiation from unprecedented solar storms, learns that the earth's core is heating up. He warns U.S. President Thomas Wilson that the crust of the earth is becoming unstable and that without proper preparations for saving a fraction of the world's population, the entire race is doomed. Meanwhile, writer Jackson Curtis stumbles on the same information. While the world's leaders race to build "arks" to escape the impending cataclysm, Curtis struggles to find a way to save his family. Meanwhile, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc around the world.
Practical Effects
That limo escape through LA actually used real cars
Visual Effects
Yellowstone eruption still holds up, unfortunately
Score
Harald Kloser hammering those disaster horns

Director
Roland Emmerich
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Emmerich destroyed the White House in Independence Day and again here, because apparently once wasn't enough.
The 2012 Mayan prophecy panic was so real that NASA had to publish an actual debunking page.