The Impossible
The Impossible

The Impossible

2012Movie113 minEnglish

In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes81%
Metacritic72/100
Google Users89%
Director: J. A. BayonaGenres: Drama, Disaster

Plot Summary

Based on the true story of a family vacationing in Thailand, the film chronicles their harrowing experience when the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami strikes. Separated in the chaos, mother Maria, father Henry, and their three sons must fight for survival amidst the destruction and uncertainty. The narrative follows their individual journeys as they attempt to reunite and find safety in the aftermath of the catastrophic natural disaster.

Critical Reception

The Impossible received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its stunning visual effects, intense emotional impact, and powerful performances from the lead actors, especially Naomi Watts and Tom Holland. While some critics noted the narrative's focus on a specific family might overshadow the broader tragedy, the film was largely praised for its respectful and gripping portrayal of survival and human resilience.

What Reviewers Say

  • A powerful and emotionally resonant survival story.
  • Visually stunning and incredibly intense.
  • Praised for strong performances, particularly from Naomi Watts and Tom Holland.

Google audience: Audiences were deeply moved by the film's realistic portrayal of the tsunami and the incredible survival story. Many praised the emotional depth and the believable performances of the cast, with particular admiration for the young actors.

Awards & Accolades

Naomi Watts received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. The film also received numerous other nominations and awards for its direction, sound design, and visual effects.

Fun Fact

The role of Lucas Bennett was originally offered to actor Miles Teller, but he turned it down to star in 'Project X'. The role ultimately went to Tom Holland, marking one of his first major film roles.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
Dr_Nostromo

Dr_Nostromo

64/100 A biographical, survive-against-the-odds film about a family who were at the Orchid Resort in Thailand when the Boxing Day Tsunami hit. This is a great film for its type with fantastic acting, especially a teenage Tom Holland who ...
Felicity

Felicity

Movies like this make me very sad. 😭😭😭 They also frighten me. The acting is superb.
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

After a bit of a bumpy flight to Thailand, a family arrive in Phuket for what ought to have been a dream holiday. Well mother nature had other plans and a earthquake far out at sea generated a series of tsunamis that we now know killed almo...
badelf

badelf

Another amazing story based in truth. I think it's called The Impossible because those sets must have been near impossible.
Andres Gomez

Andres Gomez

Incredible story with remarkable performances by Naomi Watts and Tom Holland and amazing staging. However, Bayona repeats the same mistakes from other movies like "The Orphanage" when he creates an uneasy situation through some unexplain...