Geostorm
Geostorm is a 2017 American science fiction disaster film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Dean Devlin.[1] The movie stars Gerard Butler as Jake Lawson, an engineer who designed the "Dutch Boy" satellite network intended to prevent climate catastrophes by controlling global weather patterns.[2] When the system malfunctions due to sabotage, it unleashes devastating storms worldwide, forcing Jake and his brother Max (played by Jim Sturgess) to race against time to avert a total "geostorm" that could engulf the planet.[3] The film features a supporting cast including Abbie Cornish as Sarah Wilson, Ed Harris as U.S. Secretary of State Leonard Dekkom, and Andy García as U.S. President Andrew Palma.[2] Produced by Skydance Media and Warner Bros. Pictures, with late-stage involvement from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer for reshoots, Geostorm was originally scheduled for release in 2016 but faced delays due to production issues and test audience feedback.[2] It ultimately premiered theatrically on October 20, 2017, running 109 minutes and blending action, thriller, and sci-fi elements with visual effects depicting extreme weather events like massive hailstorms and flash floods.[3] Budgeted at approximately $120 million, the film grossed $221.6 million worldwide, though it received mixed-to-negative critical reception, earning a 18% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 96 reviews.[3] Despite initial box office underperformance relative to costs, Geostorm has gained renewed popularity as a streaming hit on platforms like Netflix in recent years.[1]Content
Plot
In 2019, amid escalating climate crises caused by global warming, an international coalition led by the United States and China develops the Dutch Boy satellite network to control and stabilize the Earth's weather, preventing natural disasters such as a massive hurricane threatening Shanghai.[4] The system's architect, Jake Lawson, successfully activates it without authorization during a crisis, but faces scrutiny in a U.S. Senate hearing led by Senator Thomas Cross, resulting in his dismissal by his brother Max Lawson, who takes over operations for the government.[5] Three years later, in 2022, anomalies begin: a Dutch Boy satellite flash-freezes a remote village in Afghanistan, killing hundreds, followed by a catastrophic heatwave and earthquake in Hong Kong that causes explosions and flooding, and a devastating hailstorm in Tokyo that destroys infrastructure.[4] President Andrew Palma recalls the estranged Jake from his satellite decommissioning project in Florida to investigate the malfunctions at the International Climate Space Station (ICSS), overriding objections from Secretary of State Leonard Dekkom.[6] Accompanied by Secret Service agent Sarah Wilson, Max's girlfriend, and Max, the brothers travel to the ICSS, where commander Ute Fassbinder and her crew, including engineers Makmoud Habib and Al Hernandez, assist in examining the affected satellite.[4] Jake discovers evidence of sabotage, including a virus uploaded to the system by crew member Duncan Taylor acting on orders from Dekkom, and retrieves a critical hard drive before the satellite self-destructs, killing part of the crew.[5] Meanwhile, on Earth, cybersecurity expert Dana identifies hacking attempts, and Hong Kong official Cheng Long uncovers a covert program called Project Zeus before being assassinated by mercenaries.[6] As global weather anomalies intensify—a freezing tsunami engulfs Dubai, a lightning storm ravages warehouses, and other cities like Mumbai suffer extreme heat and Rio a sudden cold snap—the brothers reconcile amid the crisis, with Jake mentoring Max on the technology's intricacies.[4] Jake confronts Duncan Taylor on the ICSS, who dies during the altercation as he attempts to stop Jake. On Earth, Max and Sarah uncover Dekkom's plot to weaponize Dutch Boy under Project Zeus, targeting political enemies worldwide to consolidate U.S. power and trigger a "geostorm"—a planet-wide cataclysmic event.[6] Dekkom, revealed as the mastermind, activates the full virus during the Democratic National Convention, unleashing deadly storms on the capital, but Max and Sarah thwart his attempt to assassinate the President and secure the kill code.[5] In space, Jake and Ute race to manually reboot the Dutch Boy satellites as the ICSS begins self-destructing due to the virus, coordinating with the President to input the kill code and neutralize the threat, averting the geostorm despite the station's destruction.[4] Jake and Ute escape in an evacuation pod and are rescued by Hernandez, who survived.[6] Six months later, with Dutch Boy under international control to prevent future abuses, Jake resumes leadership of the program, reconciled with Max and spending time with his daughter Hannah, underscoring themes of technological hubris in addressing climate change, the perils of weaponizing innovation for geopolitical gain, and familial redemption through shared purpose.[5]Cast
The principal cast of Geostorm features an ensemble led by Gerard Butler in the lead role of Jake Lawson, a brilliant but disgraced satellite designer tasked with averting a global catastrophe.[2] His on-screen brother, Max Lawson, a NASA administrator, is portrayed by Jim Sturgess, while Abbie Cornish plays Sarah Wilson, Max's fiancée and a Secret Service agent.[2] Ed Harris stars as Leonard Dekkom, the U.S. Secretary of State with ulterior motives central to the film's conspiracy plot, and Andy García appears as President Andrew Palma, the leader navigating the ensuing crisis.[2][7] Supporting roles include Alexandra Maria Lara as Ute Fassbinder, a key member of the space station crew, and Zazie Beetz as Dana, a cybersecurity analyst aiding the investigation.[2] Robert Sheehan plays Duncan Taylor, a British software engineer on the International Climate Space Station (ICSS) whose actions contribute to the tension aboard the station.[2] Other notable supporting performers are Daniel Wu as Cheng Long, the Hong Kong-based supervisor for the Dutch Boy Program, and Eugenio Derbez as Al Hernandez, a NASA colleague.[7]| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gerard Butler | Jake Lawson | Disgraced satellite designer leading the mission to fix the Dutch Boy network.[2] |
| Jim Sturgess | Max Lawson | NASA administrator and Jake's brother coordinating Earth-based efforts.[2] |
| Abbie Cornish | Sarah Wilson | Max's fiancée and Secret Service agent assisting in the crisis response.[2] |
| Ed Harris | Leonard Dekkom | U.S. Secretary of State orchestrating a hidden agenda.[2] |
| Andy García | President Andrew Palma | The President of the United States overseeing the global response.[2] |
| Alexandra Maria Lara | Ute Fassbinder | German astronaut on the ICSS crew handling space operations.[2] |
| Zazie Beetz | Dana | Cybersecurity expert analyzing network anomalies.[2] |
| Robert Sheehan | Duncan Taylor | UK software engineer on the ICSS involved in system maintenance.[2] |