The Impossible

Name: The Impossible
Genre: Action, Drama, History, Thriller
Released: December 21, 2012
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Oaklee Pendergast, Tom Holland

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 338 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 338 Ratings

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THE IMPOSSIBLE

Movie Details & Credits

Summit Entertainment | Release Date: December 21, 2012

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Oaklee Pendergast, Tom Holland

Summary: An account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time.

Director: Juan Antonio Bayona

Genre(s): Action, Drama, History, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 114 min

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Awards & Rankings

88	#88 Best Movie of 2012
50	#50 Most Discussed Movie of 2012
14	#14 Most Shared Movie of 2012

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Critic Reviews

100

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Joe Williams

Jan 3, 2013

Perilous incidents have riveted audiences since Pauline was tied to the railroad tracks, but in the hundred-year history of cinema, few thrillers have been as emotionally compelling as The Impossible. Read full review

Portland Oregonian - Marc Mohan

Jan 3, 2013

An extraordinarily gut-wrenching, intense story of survival against all odds. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

Dec 20, 2012

Watts is extraordinary - she manages both the physical and emotional demands of the role, with soul-deep conviction. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Kimberley Jones

Jan 4, 2013

First, to dispel the two talking points attending The Impossible, Juan Antonio Bayona's dramatization of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: No, it's not racist, and no, you don't have to be a parent to feel the film in your bones. Read full review

ReelViews - James Berardinelli

Dec 12, 2012

The film's adult leads, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, give powerful, natural performances. Read full review

Movieline - Alison Willmore

Dec 6, 2012

The latter half of The Impossible is so disappointingly movie-ish, tying a bow on the events after portraying them too vividly to allow them to be wrapped so neatly. It wrings out tears with an industrious efficiency that leaves you feeling manhandled after the exhilarating, terrifying footage that's unfolded before. Read full review

Slant Magazine - Ed Gonzalez

Nov 22, 2012

A sham realist's disaster movie, tackily insulting the deaths of 300,000 people by reducing the horrors of the Indian Ocean tsunami to a series of genre titillations. Read full review

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User Reviews

xang

Jan 9, 2013

WOW! 10/10 Such an emotionally evocative film.. I love all the actors! by watching this movie you can feel that your lucky that your in safe now and you should value every moment in your life..perfect for me 10/10...

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

JohnnyStephens

Aug 31, 2013

WOW!! Awesome!!! It's one of the best films I have ever seen!! I was ready to cry in the end. I enjoyed it!!! Bravo!! Excellent!!! Epic and stunning!!!!!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

hacmiu36

Jan 6, 2013

Best movie i have ever seen. It's has a lot of heart touching moment that can make you cry . it's was so real that can make you believe in that movie

7 of 13 users found this helpful76

inaneswine

Nov 14, 2017

Ewan McGregor and young Tom Holland were both more deserving of the Oscar nod than Naomi Watts, good as she was. Other than that, there's not much to complain about with this one. Unusually for a true story tragedy movie of its kind, it shows you the disaster from every angle it can think ofEwan McGregor and young Tom Holland were both more deserving of the Oscar nod than Naomi Watts, good as she was. Other than that, there's not much to complain about with this one. Unusually for a true story tragedy movie of its kind, it shows you the disaster from every angle it can think of with very impressive visuals. Overall, it's a white knuckle ride from start to finish, and there won't be a dry eye in the house by the time the credits roll.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sanyrub

Jan 17, 2013

Great film. It´s not a masterpiece by any means, but the acting from all the cast and the way they recreated the tsunami alone deserve the 8 I´m giving it. Naomi Watts is really into the character and gives one of her best if not her best performance to date. The kid is alsoGreat film. It´s not a masterpiece by any means, but the acting from all the cast and the way they recreated the tsunami alone deserve the 8 I´m giving it. Naomi Watts is really into the character and gives one of her best if not her best performance to date. The kid is also great for his age and the few scenes in which Ewan McGregor takes the lead are also really well made, very realistic. After the big tsunami happens I thought I was going to be a little bit bored but it managed to keep my attention. Its flaws: it´s not original, it´s a little bit cheesy at moments and bases it´s strength in playing with the audience. It´s predictable but you don´t mind. The tsunami scenes are so realistic. 8/10… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Seriosity

Jan 12, 2013

Naomi Watts' moving performance is only surprising because she spends much of the film very weak and comatose. The story is life-affirming, but it is hurt by the pounding orchestra that accompanies most if not all of the more emotional scenes. The direction is incredible. A visceralNaomi Watts' moving performance is only surprising because she spends much of the film very weak and comatose. The story is life-affirming, but it is hurt by the pounding orchestra that accompanies most if not all of the more emotional scenes. The direction is incredible. A visceral experience, never more so than during the impressive tsunami which is more impressive than anything out of a disaster film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

alessandrovergn

Jan 23, 2017

One start because the tsunami scene is technically realistic. That's all, you can change channel or change movie just after that, the movie is so unbearably and annoyingly predictable that is a real waste of time to watch. The lucky family survives and everybody else dies...what a shame andOne start because the tsunami scene is technically realistic. That's all, you can change channel or change movie just after that, the movie is so unbearably and annoyingly predictable that is a real waste of time to watch. The lucky family survives and everybody else dies...what a shame and an insult for the people who really suffered in this event.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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