The Impossible (2012): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
The Impossible is a 2012 action thriller directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes and earned $198.1 million worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Stream it on Angel Studios and Lionsgate+, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 54m (114 min)
- Director
- Juan Antonio Bayona
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Summit Entertainment
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Impossible About?
The premise of The Impossible without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During a Christmas vacation in Thailand, a family is separated and struggles to survive when a devastating tsunami hits. Amidst the chaos and destruction, a mother's fierce determination to find her sons is tested as they fight for survival. The experience highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the power of family in the face of unimaginable tragedy, showcasing both the terror of the disaster and unexpected acts of kindness.
The Impossible Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 2004 indian ocean earthquake and tsunami
- year 2004
- tsunami
- christmas
- disaster film
- disaster
- tidal wave
- vacation gone wrong
- disaster drama
- christmas eve
- 7 year old
- 9 year old
+38 more Show fewer
- based on true story
- american
- watching tv
- thailand
- aerial camera shot
- 2000s
- female protagonist
- child in jeopardy
- barefoot
- overhead camera shot
- barefoot woman
- reference to joseph conrad
- reference to heart of darkness the novel
- female full frontal nudity
- resort
- tourist
- beach resort
- destruction
- beach
- vacation
- khao lak thailand
- injury
- ocean
- motivational
- strong female lead
- strong female character
- close up of eyes
- shipwreck
- suspense
- englishwoman abroad
- reading a book
- race against time
- fear of flying
- frenchman
- presumed dead
- earthquake
- scar
- water
Where to Watch The Impossible
Stream it on Angel Studios and Lionsgate+, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Angel Studios 
Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel 
Netflix 
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The Impossible Cast
Naomi Watts leads the cast, with Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona; 4 actors are credited in all.
- Director Juan Antonio Bayona
The Impossible Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Impossible 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
-
IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 82% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 84%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 73 Metascore
User score 7.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
1.4K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Impossible Plot Summary
What happens in The Impossible from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Maria Bennett, portrayed by Naomi Watts, along with her husband Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons—Lucas (Tom Holland), Tomas, and Simon—embark on a Christmas holiday at a picturesque resort in Khao Lak, Thailand. However, their dream vacation turns into a nightmare when the catastrophic tsunami of December 26, 2004, wreaks havoc on the coastal area, sweeping them into the chaos. In a heart-wrenching scene, Maria is seen searching for a lost page of a book against a glass window, while the rest of her family is nearby by the pool.
Full summary
The whole story of The Impossible, scene by scene
The Impossible Box Office
The Impossible grossed $198.1 million worldwide. $19 million came from the US and Canada and $179.1 million (90%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$198.1M
- US & Canada
- $19M
- International
- $179.1M
The Impossible Awards & Nominations
The Impossible was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 5 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the Critics' Choice 2013.
5 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2013 2 nominations- Nominated Best Actress – Naomi Watts
- Nominated Best Young Actor/Actress – Tom Holland
-
Actor Awards (SAG) 2013 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Naomi Watts
-
Golden Globes 2013 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama – Naomi Watts
-
Oscars 2013 1 nomination- Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Naomi Watts
The Impossible Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Impossible.
How Well Do You Know The Impossible?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Where does the Bennett family go for their Christmas getaway?
Cars in The Impossible
15 cars on screen, including the 1980 Datsun 720 and the Isuzu Elf.
-
1980 Datsun 720 Minor role -
Isuzu Elf Minor role -
Mercedes-Benz MB 140 Minor role -
1986 Nissan Big M Minor role
The Impossible Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “Lo imposible” and “2004 สึนามิ ภูเก็ต”.
- Also known as
-
- Lo imposible
- 2004 สึนามิ ภูเก็ต
- L'impossible
- インポッシブル
- O Impossível
- The Impossible - Überleben ist alles
- 惊天巨啸
- 浩劫奇迹
- 海啸魔魇
- Невозможное
- A lehetetlen
- Nic nás nerozdělí
+16 more Show fewer
- Selviytyminen
- Kıyamet Günü
- Niemożliwe
- 海啸奇迹
- הבלתי אפשרי
- Paradisul spulberat
- 더 임파서블
- Невъзможното
- Nemogoče
- Неможливе
- Neiespējamais
- 浩劫奇蹟
- 海嘯奇蹟
- Nič nás nerozdelí
- Thảm Họa Sóng Thần
- Nemoguće
Seen The Impossible?
Movies Like The Impossible
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Tsunami, Tidal Wave and 2018.
The Impossible FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of The Impossible, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Impossible?
The Impossible runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).
When was The Impossible released?
The Impossible was released on December 21, 2012.
Who directed The Impossible?
The Impossible was directed by Juan Antonio Bayona.
More films by Juan Antonio Bayona Who is in the cast of The Impossible?
The Impossible stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland, among 4 credited actors.
Where can I watch The Impossible?
In the US, The Impossible is streaming on Angel Studios, Lionsgate+ and Netflix and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did The Impossible make at the box office?
The Impossible grossed $198.1 million worldwide ($19 million domestic, $179.1 million international).
How is The Impossible rated?
The Impossible has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
Was The Impossible nominated for any awards?
The Impossible received 5 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
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