The Impossible

Play trailer

The Impossible

PG-13

Released Dec 21, 2012

1h 54m

Drama

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

201 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A couple and their three sons encounter terror, courage and compassion following the December 2004 tsunami that devastated Thailand.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

The screenplay isn't quite as powerful as the direction or the acting, but with such an astonishing real-life story at its center, The Impossible is never less than compelling.

Read Critics Reviews

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

[The Impossible] shows us devastation, yes, unbelievable havoc, yes, horrific human loss, yes. But also, exemplary courage and love and compassion, all done with freshness and feeling.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 21, 2019

Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

A heart-wrenchingly tense survival drama based on 'an incredible true story' of a far more 'homely' looking Spanish family, this is a cut above 1990s eco-disaster movies such as Dante's Peak.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2017

Full Review

David Denby

New Yorker

Alas, the movie tells a rather commonplace story.

Jan 28, 2013

Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

... A moving, shocking, and visceral film. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 10/10

Jan 2, 2024

Full Review

Anushka Halve

Film Companion

This isn't a narrative of a larger-than-life hero swooping in to save the day; rather, it's a testament to the combined efforts of ordinary individuals, bound by humanity, who become heroes in the crucible of disaster.

Dec 11, 2023

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

What one single movie can do is give at least one true story profound respect and realism. Most importantly, what the beauty of any movie can do is remind us all of the hope and survival that rises from the depths of tragedy and loss.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 4, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Sherrilee B

This movie will open all your senses to being terrified, repulsed, shocked, heartbroken and so much more, the actors are brilliant especially the two main characters (mother and son) Naomi Watts & a very young Tom Holland, I would recommend this movie to anyone, do yourself a favour….

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

Full Review

Blue_Ink _

Devastating- this movie will wreck your nerves and make you super anxious because you so quickly care for these characters. Realistic gore, horror of a natural disaster, and also the relief that comes when finding your loved ones. This film's practical effects are also crazy impressive- immediately during the tsunami scene my partner and I wondered how they did it, and we thought a massive wave pool with a green screen on a huge scale, and although that is accurate the images of the set are insane. I cannot believe how much of this film is practical effects. Its truly incredible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/24

Full Review

Jack F

29:51 I didnt watch the movie but how the fuck were they in that tree

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Yasmin H

devastating raw performance. felt well informed about natural disasters great cast also

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Larry K

The tsunami scene was epic. Everybody played a great part in this

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

Ri

This movie was incredibly filmed and looked as if you were there experiencing this natural disaster! This movie is something I will watch over and over again and not get tired of it! I would recommend this to people who want to watch true stories! Again, so good! Incredible!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

J. A. Bayona

Director

Naomi Watts

Maria

Ewan McGregor

Henry

Tom Holland

Lucas

Samuel Joslin

Thomas

Oaklee Pendergast

Simon

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Walking Out

90%

56%

Walking Out

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Walking Out

Kon-Tiki

83%

77%

Kon-Tiki

Watchlist

Tracks

82%

77%

Tracks

Watchlist

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

22%

52%

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

Only the Brave

87%

91%

Only the Brave

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Only the Brave

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

It Follows, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and More Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and FandangoNOW

Definitive Naomi Watts Performances

5 Survival Movies You Need to See Before The 33

View more photos

Synopsis

A couple and their three sons encounter terror, courage and compassion following the December 2004 tsunami that devastated Thailand.

Director: J. A. Bayona
Producer: Belén Atienza, Álvaro Augustin, Ghislain Barrois, Enrique López Lavigne
Screenwriter: Sergio G. Sánchez
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA), Mediaset España, Institut Valencià de Cinematografia, Telecinco Cinema, VS Service, Apaches Entertainment, Summit Entertainment, Canal+ España
Rating: PG-13 (Disturbing Injury Images|Brief Nudity|Intense Realistic Disaster Seq)
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.0M
Runtime: 1h 54m

Most Popular at Home Now