Based on 176 votes and 53 reviews
Hard to believe that these events will see their 20th anniversary this year. I’m wondering how they are all doing now… an excellent movie with great and believable performances, Sönke Möhring and Geraldine Chaplin with small but important supporting roles, the kids are great!
A real-life story in a disastrous setting, with excellent performances!
Great movie, seen it a dozen times by now and it never lost its power, especially since it’s very authentic and feels really real. For those complaining that the cast is rather British than Spanish, it might not have received the attention as a local Spanish production that it got with aiming for a more international audience. For me at least, having Obi Wan Kenobi and Billy Elliot in the cast certainly was a factor watching it. The kids are great, chilling to see Lucas and Thomas grow up in a split second when they had to. It’s graphic at times, ok, but that’s part of being true to what happened.
A great family movie everyone should watch. A little movie that gets across the trials and tribulations and helplessness when Mother Nature comes calling. Least when you expect it and unprepared....what would YOU do? Makes you think real hard. The eldest boy's acting is a star in the making, most definitely.
Great and interesting movie.
Overwhelming, and emotional, but definitely worth it.
Kept me on the edge till the end !
This is a movie that can make you cry, very amazing acting by those kids, though do not see a oscar nomination in Naomi Watts performance.
Very well-made, touching film about life and how it can be so drastically changed in an instant. Shows the true struggles and joys of life. Very emotional film. Would recommend for sure because of stunning filmography and great acting.
Very realistic depiction of the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand. The story of one family's struggle to survive the tsunami and re-unite.
great visuals -
Very emotional movie, great choice of actors, amazing play. Very touching and felt like i was in the movie. For sure will watch it again.
Riveting movie. Loved how all the actors played their roles. The writers were able to show the compassion everyone had in looking out for one another while dealing with their own pain.Great movie about survival against all odds and about strength and love in a family.
This movie has you in tears almost right away and it doesn't quit until the end...it's terribly sad and eye-opening to the traumatic event that happened that day. Amazing movie! Great actors especially the kids.
This was a very good movie made all the more captivating by the fact that it was based on a true story. It held my attention all the way through. The acting was great especially Naomi Watts.
Another movie that tell a story based on the tsunami in Thailand. Sensitive, and sad at times. The ending felt somewhat strained and unreal. But was still a good watch.
We saw the screening in Vancouver and the crowd response was positive. Good performances from the cast involved, and the film showed the sheer force and devastation brought about by natural disasters. So very devastating.
Amazing cinematography as able to "experience" what it is like to be engulfed by water & debris. A real sense of helplessness and loss during and after the catastrophe. It was sad that the family were only slightly scarred and were able to leave but locals were left with insurmountable devastation.
A touching movie with a lot of drama & suspense.
It is impossible to be as realistic as this film! It is impossible that this film does not touch our hearts!
Great film. If you cry easily while watching films, prepare the whole box of Kleenex for yourself. Very emotional and acting was fantastic in this film.
A story about surviving a catastrophe and beating the odds, The Impossible justifies its title in every way. There are no glossed-over effects or melodramatic exchanges here. This is the true story of a family torn apart by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and brought back together by love and determination. Watts and McGregor shine in every scene, particularly Watts, who journeys through the physical and emotional ringer. Tom Holland is also fantastic as the eldest son. A film to watch if you are looking for courage and inspiration.
Wow, an amazing movie...My husband and I had shivers and watery eyes...
This movie is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching tale of human survival. Break out the Kleenex and prepare to be inspired!
academy award material
What a movie. Love seeing movies based on true stories. Amazing how they survived and all the near misses of finding each other. The strength of a family love striving to be together once again through a devastating disaster.
An incredible story presented well!
I don't think I've ever felt so much distress or cry so much while watching a movie. The Impossible is painfully good. One of the best movie I've seen this year.
I thought it seemed realistic as I've seen numerous movies on this subject.
Very Emotional,keeps your attention throughout the movie.
A film that is completely carried by it's outstanding cast and their emotional and beautiful portrayal of this real life amazing story. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts are in top form, as are their onscreen children.
This movie was gripping. I was crying and scared at several different moments in the film. Excellent watch.
Great movie
When I went to see this at the local theatre, everyone in the theatre was moved to tears. Your heart reaches out not only to this family who actually lived this, but the many who suffered. Tom Holland did an outstanding job in portraying the real boy. And so did Naomi Watts, and Ewan McGregor. I will be buying the blue-ray as one to show friends. Can only say this was really underrated, but will be an unforgettable classic.
Most underrated movie of 2012
How did this get an oscar nomination? Bad acting dialogue and far too much of a hollywood feel. I went to see this with my wife last night, and even she didn't cry at all.
let down. emotions in the movie were too forced, it didnt do justice to the true story this is based on. still gave it a 2nd star for the story it was based on, which is still touching.
This movie was dissapointing. Considering the bad acting on the part of the male lead, the lack of showing many of the other survivors (instead seemingly having tunnel vision on the main couple), and the way they really tried to polish everything up dissapointed me greatly. No surprise here that it didn't get more than one oscar nomination, and that that one was for Naomi Watts.
I am trying to become an professional actor like Tom Holland,as Tom has given me hope and made it more believable for me to become a actor like him, I aspire to achieve greatness and star in awesome movies like THE IMPOSSIBLE good luck to you Tom as I will be trying to be like you in a few years time! :D Thank You!
This movie is absolutely brilliant a master piece,especially the actor Tom Holland,he is a fantastic actor who I one day aspire to like,I just wish him the best of luck in his high potential future as a professional actor.I idolise Tom Holland as he has shown the true potential of a young teenager (like my self) and the great things you can achieve with hard work and belief.I one day wish I could have the opportunity to achieve greatness like Tom, as I know he will be awesome in his future movies, Good Luck! :D
to the person justifying only white folks in a disaster where they're a minority. imagine a movie about 9/11: an American (colored family; say Chinese or whatever else is invisible in America) featured but none of the locals (whites?) have much of a speaking part at all. maybe a few extras here and there [same scenario] except you might object that Asian (Chinese?) Americans can only be found in 'chinatown' (or they aren't important; or no one wants to see 'them colored' Americans, etc. seriously one sided. Red Dawn/Olympus Has Fallen 'anti-slant'
To the person asking if there is only white folks. Ummmm we all no it was not just white folks. However the movie does surround the events of that one family's story so I think it's fair to say there is only so many other people they could tell a story about in a just under 2 hour movie. We all know there was a lot more people that lost lives and were effected by this event.
It could it be better since was based on a true story,good effects but terrible acting of the boy, they missed to show more survivors when in the water, it looked as if they had been the only ones which took away veracity :(
Loved this One,kept me hoping for a Happy Ending!
This was a wonderful, moving picture with amazing special effects. It should have been nominated for Best Picture!
Amazing film, I love Naomi Watts!! it was so sad and the acting was great !
An incredible survival story. Beautifully acted and directed. Definitely my favorite 2012 movie. Naomi Watts in my mind deserves the oscar for her performance. Gut & heart-wrenching to watch this tremendous loss of life. A must see!
Very emotional tense movie - awesome cast and acting was wonderful - hope this one is up for a nominee.
Fantastic movie! Very emotional!
One of the best emotional movies i've seen in a long time ... definatly reccommend this one ... great movie for an older couple to go to together ... way to good not to get great reviews