Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Impossible

Play trailer Poster for 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 Peacock Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Impossible

The Impossible

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View All (201) 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 The 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

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Andrew M I LOVED THIS movie. Watching "The Impossible" was an intense, heart-pounding experience that left me utterly breathless. From the very first moment the tsunami hit, I was plunged into the chaos alongside the characters, feeling every ounce of their fear and desperation. Juan Antonio Bayona's direction is so raw and unfiltered that it feels like you're witnessing a real-life disaster, not just a movie. Naomi Watts absolutely blew me away with her performance. She portrays a mother fighting to reunite with her family with such emotional depth that it’s impossible not to be moved. In a less competitive year, she would have been a shoo-in for an Oscar. Her portrayal is both mesmerizing and emotionally devastating, capturing the sheer willpower and love driving her character. What struck me most about "The Impossible" is how it focuses on the collective bravery of ordinary people rather than a single hero. This isn't about someone swooping in to save the day; it's about real people rising to the occasion amidst unimaginable adversity. The script, co-written by Sergio G. Sánchez with input from real-life survivor Maria Belon, beautifully balances harrowing tension with moments of human resilience and hope. It never veers into melodrama, keeping everything grounded in a stark reality. The film's unflinching approach can be punishing at times, almost too much to bear. Yet, it’s this relentless honesty that makes "The Impossible" so powerful. The lack of digital effects in the tsunami scenes adds a layer of authenticity that’s rare in disaster films. I felt like I was right there, experiencing every terrifying moment alongside the characters. Despite a few moments of heavy-handed sentimentality, the movie is a potent reminder of the hope and survival that can emerge from tragedy. It’s not just a disaster movie; it’s a deeply affecting story of love, courage, and resilience. Watching it left me with a lump in my throat and a renewed appreciation for the strength of the human spirit. "The Impossible" is a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, a testament to the extraordinary power of ordinary people in the face of disaster. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/05/25 Full Review Yimelania Is a disturbing movie film but also a very good explanation for schools and children to always love their brother sisters, mother, father Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/25 Full Review Taehee K this flim really makes me cry i saw this 4 times and i cried 4 times, its so heart touching at last when they all meet each other, i was so thankful that they all survived, and as its based on true story so its more impressive (baybies were sooooo cute tough Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Chris F Hard felt, true story. How devastating what happened. One to experience for sure. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/25 Full Review Katherine C After 20 years, the film remains vivid and haunting. I’m grateful the family has survived, serving as a testament to preserving the memories of those who lost their lives. It’s no small feat. However, I can’t help but wonder about the stories of the poor and powerless. This film focuses on the privileged few who could afford to transfer to Singapore's top hospitals, but what about the countless others who had no such resources or support? Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/28/24 Full Review Kassem Z This movie is a masterpiece, amazing cast, great acting, sad, emotional, heroic, devastating, happy, every type of emotions. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/04/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Impossible

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

The Impossible

The Impossible: Official Clip - Thank You The Impossible: Official Clip - Thank You 2:27 The Impossible: Official Clip - Is it Over? The Impossible: Official Clip - Is it Over? 2:59 The Impossible: Official Clip - What's Your Name? The Impossible: Official Clip - What's Your Name? 2:35 The Impossible: Official Clip - You Came Back The Impossible: Official Clip - You Came Back 2:40 The Impossible: Official Clip - Calling Home The Impossible: Official Clip - Calling Home 2:45 The Impossible: Official Clip - The Tsunami The Impossible: Official Clip - The Tsunami 2:38 The Impossible: Official Clip - Maria's Ordeal The Impossible: Official Clip - Maria's Ordeal 2:55 The Impossible: Official Clip - It's Going to Be Okay The Impossible: Official Clip - It's Going to Be Okay 2:45 The Impossible: Official Clip - A Beautiful Mystery The Impossible: Official Clip - A Beautiful Mystery 2:19 The Impossible: Official Clip - Reunited The Impossible: Official Clip - Reunited 2:12 View more videos
Walking Out 92% 56% Walking Out Watchlist TRAILER for Walking Out Kon-Tiki 83% 77% Kon-Tiki Watchlist Tracks 83% 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

Movie Info

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
Institut Valencià de Cinematografia, Apaches Entertainment, Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA), Summit Entertainment, VS Service, Canal+ España, Telecinco Cinema, Mediaset 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