[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Impossible

Original title: Lo imposible
  • 2012
  • Tous publics avec avertissement
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
258K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,782
79
Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Oaklee Pendergast, and Samuel Joslin in The Impossible (2012)
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.
Play trailer2:18
18 Videos
99+ Photos
DisasterTragedyDramaHistoryThriller

The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

  • Director
    • J.A. Bayona
  • Writers
    • Sergio G. Sánchez
    • María Belón
  • Stars
    • Naomi Watts
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Tom Holland
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    258K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,782
    79
    • Director
      • J.A. Bayona
    • Writers
      • Sergio G. Sánchez
      • María Belón
    • Stars
      • Naomi Watts
      • Ewan McGregor
      • Tom Holland
    • 570User reviews
    • 383Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 28 wins & 70 nominations total

    Videos18

    International Version
    Trailer 2:18
    International Version
    U.S. Version -- #1
    Trailer 2:31
    U.S. Version -- #1
    U.S. Version -- #1
    Trailer 2:31
    U.S. Version -- #1
    The Impossible
    Trailer 2:16
    The Impossible
    The Wave - Exclusive
    Clip 2:13
    The Wave - Exclusive
    "Henry Calls Home"
    Clip 1:14
    "Henry Calls Home"
    "I'm Scared Too"
    Clip 0:35
    "I'm Scared Too"

    Photos218

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 212
    View Poster

    Top cast71

    Edit
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Maria
    Ewan McGregor
    Ewan McGregor
    • Henry
    Tom Holland
    Tom Holland
    • Lucas
    Oaklee Pendergast
    Oaklee Pendergast
    • Simon
    Samuel Joslin
    Samuel Joslin
    • Thomas
    Marta Etura
    Marta Etura
    • Simone
    Sönke Möhring
    Sönke Möhring
    • Karl
    Geraldine Chaplin
    Geraldine Chaplin
    • Old Woman
    Ploy Jindachote
    • Caregiver
    Jomjaoi Sae-Limh
    • Red Cross Nurse
    Johan Sundberg
    • Daniel
    Jan Roland Sundberg
    • Daniel's Father
    La-Orng Thongruang
    • Old Thai Man
    Tor Klathaley
    • Young Thai Man
    Douglas Johansson
    Douglas Johansson
    • Mr. Benstrom
    Emilio Riccardi
    Emilio Riccardi
    • Morten Benstrom
    Vorarat Jutakeo
    • Doctor in Stockroom
    Karun Konsaman
    • Young Nurse in Stockroom
    • Director
      • J.A. Bayona
    • Writers
      • Sergio G. Sánchez
      • María Belón
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews570

    7.5258K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8SnoopyStyle

    Naomi Watts superior performance

    Maria (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) are on vacation with their three young kids in Thailand. It's a picture perfect trip at a coastal hotel. Suddenly a tsunami hits and the family is scattered.

    Naomi Watts gives a harrowing performance. It's a true life story of a family dealing with the 2004 Christmas Indian Ocean tsunami. The action scenes are unbelievable. The scale of it all and the danger it depicts is truly realistic. The performance that Naomi gives is absolutely Oscar worthy. She is truly believable as a mother fighting for her life as she loses track of her family. There are a lot of tear jerking moments here. Some of them pushes a little too far. But it never gets completely fake. Ewan McGregor plays the father who has an incredible scene with a cell phone. Highly recommended.
    8ClaytonDavis

    Watts and Holland own it...One of the Best Pictures of the Year!

    A film that captures real life the way J.A. Bayona captures it in his newest film The Impossible is a rare occurrence in filmmaking. Not only does he pay respect to the countless victims that were lost in the devastating tragedy, he makes artistic choices and liberties only the most seasoned directors can take. Starring Academy Award Nominee Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, the film tells the TRUE story about a family vacationing in Thailand when one of the worst natural disasters of our time separates them.

    In the opening credits of the film, Bayona tells the audience that the story is true, but what may bother viewers and critics is how coincidental and inflated the story can seem. If it weren't in fact true, the film would fail within the first few moments. It's the notion that this did occur that demonstrates and heightens the execution of Bayona and writer Sergio G. Sanchez so brilliantly. The Impossible is the most emotional and devastating picture seen since Paul Greengrass' United 93 (2006). In the first several minutes, I was already in tears. Letting up only for short breaths, I feel like I didn't stop crying the entire time. I was invested, full body and soul, riding among the victims in a frightening state of mind. I could only imagine myself there, terrifyingly so and with appreciation now that I wasn't. The brave and committed performance by Naomi Watts is the miracle of the film and possibly the entire year. Watts falls into the role of "Maria" with perfect precision and accuracy. As a person who's only been a father for a year-and-a-half, Watts puts me right in the moment of unimaginable fear and pain. An Oscar-caliber turn as I've ever witnessed. The entire first half of the film is shared with Tom Holland, a child actor that can only be described as well beyond his years. Holland is motivated and equally as afflicting as Watts. A performance like his can only lead to more roles for him in the future. Ewan McGregor, who unbeknownst to me as gone this long without receiving any type of Oscar attention is pure magic. He shows an effortless approach as Henry, a father desperate to find his family. If there's one poor criticism about the film it's the first half of the film, where Holland and Watts dominate, is so gut-wrenching and brilliant that when McGregor and his story enter the screen, it unfortunately just pales by comparison. McGregor isn't given the most of character development to chew through but it's still an admirable work.

    Cinematographer Oscar Faura's orange and yellow camera work demands the utmost attention from the viewer, gaining a near first-person view of what could have been. It's a technical achievement of the highest levels. Fernando Velasquez's somber score will only build the tears even more as your catapulted through this reenactment of terror. J.A. Bayona's direction is simplistic but delivered with reverence. A fine directorial turn.

    This is a film that must be experienced by all. As you lay in your cozy beds tonight, take your loved ones for granted as they walk by you, and breath the air you so blindly feel entitled to, think about if at one moment, one single moment, from now, it was all gone. The Impossible dared me to be a better human being, a notion not many films will or attempt to convey. I'll try to listen.

    It's one of the best pictures of the year!

    Read more reviews @ The Awards Circuit (http://www.awardscircuit.com)
    10parallel_projection

    Harrowing, emotional portrayal of a devastating event

    It would be impossible to try and capture the widespread loss and destruction of this horrible, devastating event. The scope was so large and far too many people lost their lives to even attempt to portray on film. Instead, director Juan Antonio Bayona and screenwriter Sergio G. Sánchez focused smartly on the true story of one family's struggle for survival amongst all that had happened on December 26th, 2004.

    This allows the film to be much more intimate, and the audience is quickly able to connect with the Bennett family, starting simply with their arrival to Thailand. While the audience was filled with dread in anticipation of what was to come, the Bennetts were blissfully unaware and enjoying themselves over vacation. However, everything soon takes a terrifying turn as the tsunami hits their resort in a horrifyingly realistic manner, sweeping up people as they attempt to flee before it or protect themselves from its awesome power.

    At this point, I, too, felt like I was drowning. The camera bobs in and out of darkness, in and out of the water, as the family's matriarch, Maria, struggles for breath. Then, clinging hopelessly onto a palm tree, she screams all too realistically for anyone who could possibly help her in a desperate, surprisingly shocking moment. It is at this point where she spots her son, Lucas, floating in the fierce waves, and I held my breath as the struggled for what seemed like an eternity to reunite in the water.

    In a way, Lucas, brilliantly portrayed by newcomer Tom Holland, carries the film from this point forward. He takes on the role of protecting his stubborn yet badly injured mother, and in the process he's forced to mature far too quickly. During every moment, his emotions and facial expressions convey more than any words ever could, as she shies away from and is frightened by his mother's injuries and nudity, all the while attempting to deal with the scope of the pain and devastation.

    However, it is his mother, Maria, whom the film truly centers around. Naomi Watts gives quite possibly her finest performances to date, portraying harrowing desperation, stubborn determination in the face of incredible pain and agony, and, ultimately, a sense of love and care despite her deteriorating state. True, she is bedridden for about half the film, but it is during this time where there are these small moments of tenderness and humility which undoubtedly makes Watts's performance one of the best of the year.

    In fact, the entire cast was exceptional, including Ewan McGregor, the father desperately trying to put together his family again, and the two littlest sons, Thomas, played by Samuel Joslin, and Simon, played by Oaklee Pendergast, both of whose innocence prevented them from thoroughly capturing the extent of this tragic event. The story of these three is intertwined with that of Maria and Lucas, as they all struggle for survive amidst the destruction and reunite amidst the chaos.

    Ultimately, this is a touching and heartwarming film, as the true kindness of humanity can be seen in this time of great loss. Yes, the tsunami is terrifying, the injuries gruesome and shockingly realistic, and the pain and suffering visible on just about everyone's faces. However, the Bennetts' story is a remarkable one of love, determination, and hope, and it simply cannot be missed.
    7andrewtilling-586-256157

    emotional roller-coaster - but average script

    I watched The Impossible with a clear intention to remain a little emotionally detached. I knew from the trailer that a disaster was imminent from the word go, so I braced myself for impact and kept my fingers crossed that Ewan Mcgregor was going to give more than the lack luster performance that i feel like I've been growing accustomed to. Okay, so i was crying from about 10 minutes into the film. While McGregor is credible, although still not a return to form, the real performance here is from Naomi Watts. She is gripping to watch, and lends credibility to the rest of the cast as she watches the world fall apart around her. I winced, squirmed and spent many minutes forgetting to breathe. An emotional roller-coaster which, while somewhat lacking in depth in storyline, more than makes up for it with a strong edit. Great job with an average script.
    9mrlmann1

    A Must See Movie

    At first I did not think this movie was something I would like to see. I felt it would be one of those movies that once the disaster happened it would become dis-interesting and would be boring the second half of the movie. I am very happy I had the opportunity to see it. The only reason I did not give it a 10 was I thought the character build up was a little shallow. I would have liked to get know the family a little better before the disaster. Other than that I feel that the movie was fantastic. Once the inevitable happened the film kept my interest and was very compelling throughout. The special effects were realistic and not over done. I wish foreign movies like this would make a bigger release in the United States to show Hollywood how to make a movie especially a true story movie. I felt when I was watching this film that I was seeing it actually happening with no to very little exaggerations. That is where I feel Hollywood falls short and puts allot of drama in a film that really did not occur in the true event. If there were exaggerations in this movie they were seamless and not over done. If you have a chance to see this movie I feel it is "a must see movie" you will not be disappointed.

    More like this

    Le Jour d'après
    6.5
    Le Jour d'après
    Le garçon au pyjama rayé
    7.7
    Le garçon au pyjama rayé
    Deepwater
    7.1
    Deepwater
    2012
    5.8
    2012
    Greenland - Le dernier refuge
    6.4
    Greenland - Le dernier refuge
    Le Cercle des neiges
    7.8
    Le Cercle des neiges
    San Andreas
    6.1
    San Andreas
    Contagion
    6.8
    Contagion
    Everest
    7.1
    Everest
    Chiliheads, fous de piments forts
    7.8
    Chiliheads, fous de piments forts
    Moments
    6.4
    Moments
    127 Heures
    7.5
    127 Heures

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene where the tsunami hits the resort could only be filmed once. It would have cost too much money to rebuild the set.
    • Goofs
      When Daniel meets with his father, he says in Swedish - "vad tung du är Johan (how heavy you are, Johan)" instead of the character's name Daniel. This is because the real name of the character Daniel, is Johan, and it's his real father Jan.
    • Quotes

      Bellhop: And you, you don't work?

      Maria Bennett: I'm a doctor. I'm not practicing right now. Just taking care of the kids.

      Bellhop: I see, you got promoted.

    • Crazy credits
      The title and the rest of the credits do not appear until the end of the film. The only credits that appear at the beginning are the production companies' logos and an explanation of how the Tsunami came about.
    • Alternate versions
      There are two versions, the general theatrical release, and a slightly edited cut released in China. The different runtimes are, respectively, "1h 54m (114 min)" and "1h 53m (113 min) (China)".
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.55 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Iylm
      Composed and Performed by For Fiesta

      Voice by Lluís Segura (as Lluís Segura)

      Guitar by Marc Prades

      Solo Guitar by Marc Gómez del Moral

      Bass by David Gallart

      Drums by Bernat Vilaplana

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ21

    • How long is The Impossible?Powered by Alexa
    • Why were Maria and Lucas hit by a second wave coming from the opposite direction to the first wave?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 2012 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Thailand
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Thai
      • German
      • Swedish
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Lo imposible
    • Filming locations
      • Khao Lak Orchid Beach Resort, Phang Nga, Thailand
    • Production companies
      • Mediaset España
      • Summit Entertainment
      • Apaches Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $45,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,019,882
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $143,818
      • Dec 23, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $198,087,212
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 54m(114 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.