Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers for Greenland 2: Migration ahead!
Gerard Butler is the king of B-grade action movies, and on first glance, Greenland 2: Migration might seem another run-of-the-mill Butler-led action outing, but this isn’t the case. Like its predecessor, the sequel takes itself way too seriously, and like the first movie, which ends with the entire world perishing from the comet strike, the sequel also concludes on a bold note.
The story picks up roughly five years after the events of the first movie, and the tone is similar to that of The Last of Us universe, minus the zombies. It follows the Garrity family’s journey through the decimated wasteland of Europe in search of the rumored safe haven, a large crater in France that offers pockets of breathable and non-toxic air with potential for rebuilding society.
However, in the most surprising moments of the movie, Butler’s John Garrity, in the movie’s closing moments, sacrifices himself to ensure the rest of his family, Allison and Nathan, safely make it to the promised land.
How Greenland 2‘s Ending Sets Up the Third Movie?
The decision to kill off Butler’s John, who has served as the anchor for both the first movie and its follow-up, genuinely subverts expectations and contributes to the most poignant moment in the entire movie.
Although killing off Butler was a bold choice, it doesn’t close the door on the story at all. The rest of the Garrity family reaching the promised land alludes to the risk of being invaded by insurgent soldiers. Producer Sébastien Raybaud previously weighed in on the possibility of the threequel and the sequel’s impact on its prospects, adding (via Deadline):
We’re thinking about what could happen afterwards. There’s something that happens in 2 that could be tricky, but I’m sure we can find a way.
With Butler no longer at the center of this disaster franchise, potential follow-ups could also start focusing on new characters within the same world, instead of strictly sticking to the Garrity family. But there’s one major caveat beyond the story that could pose a major challenge for the threequel’s prospects.
Will Greenland 2‘s Box Office Warrant a Threequel?
Although Greenland was a major streaming and digital hit during the pandemic, the sequel, which is headed to theaters, will be facing an uphill battle due to its enormous budget. Compared to the original’s $35 million, Migration was made on a budget of $90 million (via Deadline), and going by the unspoken box office rule, the movie would need to gross 2-2.5X of its production budget.
A still from Greenland 2: Migration | Credit: Lionsgate
With the movie currently eying a soft opening of $8-$10 million following Avatar 3’s dominance, which is expected to remain unmatched at this weekend’s box office, it’s unlikely the movie will turn a profit theatrically.
On the flip side, Gerard Butler movies are notable for their VOD and streaming numbers, and on that front, the movie could be a major hit. However, considering Butler has been the major draw for these movies, it’s unlikely a potential threequel would bank major figures without him at the forefront. It’ll be interesting to see how director Ric Roman Waugh will approach future entries if they get greenlight.
Have you seen Greenland 2: Migration? Share your thoughts on the ending below!
Greenland 2: Migration is currently running in theaters (USA).
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