The Impossible
Nothing is more powerful than the human spirit.
2012 • 113 min • Drama · Thriller · History
Synopsis
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.
Our family guide
Best from age 13- 100 Reviewers · 5 · 65%
- 74 Audience · 6775 · 35%
A family on vacation in Thailand is tragically separated and caught in the devastating 2004 tsunami. The film follows their harrowing struggle for survival and their desperate search to reunite amidst the widespread destruction and chaos.
- Violence & peril
- 7/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 8/10
Heads up
- Graphic injury detail shown
- Intense and prolonged peril
- Emotional distress and grief
- Brief, mild profanity
What it models well
- Family bonds and resilience
- Courage in the face of disaster
- Compassion for strangers
- Hope and perseverance
Talk about it after
- The power of nature and natural disasters
- The importance of helping others in crisis
- Processing loss and trauma
- Gratitude for life and loved ones
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Impossible. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
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Top billed cast
Director: J. A. Bayona • Crew: María Belón, Sergio G. Sánchez
Trailers & clips
Trailer
Reviewer notes
Recommended64/100 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 supplied his role with far more depth than you'd expect. I don't normally like survival films and watched this one because of my curiosity over the event.…
RecommendedMovies like this make me very sad. 😭😭😭 They also frighten me. The acting is superb.
RecommendedAfter 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 almost a quarter of a million people.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersAnother amazing story based in truth. I think it's called The Impossible because those sets must have been near impossible.
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersIncredible 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 unexplained weird behavior.
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.4/10 (6,775)
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $45,000,000
- Box office
- $198,100,000
- IMDb
- tt1649419
