Ferrara began shooting the film in April 2011 with his longtime cinematographer Ken Kelsch . '' 4:44 '' is Willem Dafoe 's third collaboration with Ferrara after 1998 's '' New Rose Hotel '' and his last feature film , 2007 's '' Go Go Tales '' . During Montclair State University 's film forum event in February 2011 , Ferrara revealed that Ethan Hawke was slated to star originally . The film was shot in one location , an apartment , set during the course of the last 24 hours before the scripted end of life on Earth due to the ozone layer . This demise was so-attributed in the film without explanation , except for vague references to " Al Gore was right " and stock film footage featuring the former vice president as he claims that Greenland 's and West Antarctica 's ice cap melt-off would raise the ocean 's levels between " four and 12 meters . " The film showed in competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in September 2011 . It had a limited theatrical release on March 25 , 2012
68th Venice International Film Festival
68th Venice International Film Festival
4:44 Last Day on Earth