Geostorm Movie Review: A Storm of Potential, But Not Enough Disaster

Geostorm—the title alone makes you think of epic, world-ending catastrophes, and honestly, the concept had me hooked from the start. A high-stakes, climate-controlling satellite system goes haywire, triggering devastating weather events that threaten the planet. Throw in some space action, global disaster, and Gerard Butler, and you’ve got the makings of a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat blockbuster.

But while the movie certainly has its moments, it feels like it never quite lives up to its potential.

A Great Concept… Just Not Enough of It

Let’s start with the good stuff. The premise is fantastic. A rogue weather-controlling satellite? Count me in. The space scenes are solid, with the satellite operations and space-based tech feeling both futuristic and realistic (at least for a sci-fi movie). The visuals are strong, especially when it comes to showing the large-scale destruction of various cities around the world. The concept of using technology to control the weather is an exciting one, and I was really excited to see how they’d play it out.

Unfortunately, that excitement wasn’t sustained throughout the film. The disaster elements, which should have been the movie’s heart and soul, are surprisingly few and far between. Sure, there are a few dramatic weather events—tornadoes, tsunamis, ice storms—but they don’t quite pack the punch you’d expect from a movie called Geostorm. They almost feel like a backdrop to fixing the satellite than fully immersing us in a global crisis.

A Lack of Emotional Connection

Another issue I had was the lack of emotional connection to the characters. Gerard Butler’s character, Jake Lawson, has some potential as the lead, but the connections between him and other characters feel shallow. There’s a strained relationship with his brother (played by Jim Sturgess), but it never feels like it’s building to something more substantial. They don’t spend enough time building up these emotional arcs, so when things start falling apart, the stakes feel… a little flat.

For a disaster movie, the emotional payoff should be tied to both the catastrophe and the relationships that drive the story. Geostorm tries to do this, but because the character development is so minimal, the emotional moments don’t land as hard as they should.

Missing the Mark on the Disaster

Now, I get it—this movie isn’t meant to be a heart-wrenching drama. It’s supposed to be a fun, ridiculous, non-stop thrill ride. But if you’re going to make a disaster movie, you need to go all in. The movie feels restrained. The action isn’t as over-the-top as you’d expect, and the “biggest disaster of all time” never feels as huge as the premise suggests. Instead of a non-stop barrage of escalating disasters, we get a few scattered moments of action that feel more like set pieces than integral parts of the plot.

Final Thoughts

Geostorm isn’t a bad movie by any means. It’s a decent watch if you’re in the mood for a fun, if somewhat flawed, disaster film. The concept is great, the space scenes are enjoyable, and the visual effects are strong. But in the end, it falls short of its potential. With more emotional depth and a more consistent barrage of chaotic, world-shaking disasters, it could have been the epic ride it promised to be. Instead, it feels like it missed a few opportunities to really let loose. So, I say, one beer is enough to have fun with Geostorm.

Here’s the trailer: