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IMDbPro

The Impossible

Original title: Lo imposible
  • 20122012
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
227K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
854
201
Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Oaklee Pendergast, Tom Holland, 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
7 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaHistory
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.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
227K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
854
201
    • J.A. Bayona
    • Sergio G. Sánchez
    • María Belón(story)
  • Stars
    • Naomi Watts
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Tom Holland
    • J.A. Bayona
    • Sergio G. Sánchez
    • María Belón(story)
  • Stars
    • Naomi Watts
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Tom Holland
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 531User reviews
    • 386Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Videos7

    International Version
    Trailer 2:18
    Watch International Version
    U.S. Version -- #1
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch U.S. Version -- #1
    The Impossible
    Trailer 2:16
    Watch The Impossible
    The Wave - Exclusive
    Clip 2:13
    Watch The Wave - Exclusive
    "Henry Calls Home"
    Clip 1:14
    Watch "Henry Calls Home"
    "I'm Scared Too"
    Clip 0:35
    Watch "I'm Scared Too"
    True Story
    Featurette 2:42
    Watch True Story

    Photos169

    Naomi Watts and Tom Holland in The Impossible (2012)
    Naomi Watts in The Impossible (2012)
    Naomi Watts in The Impossible (2012)
    Ewan McGregor in The Impossible (2012)
    Ewan McGregor in The Impossible (2012)
    Samuel Joslin in The Impossible (2012)
    Oaklee Pendergast in The Impossible (2012)
    Ewan McGregor and Oaklee Pendergast in The Impossible (2012)
    Ewan McGregor in The Impossible (2012)
    Naomi Watts in The Impossible (2012)
    Naomi Watts in The Impossible (2012)
    Ewan McGregor, Oaklee Pendergast, and Samuel Joslin in The Impossible (2012)

    Top cast

    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
    • 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
      • J.A. Bayona
      • Sergio G. Sánchez
      • María Belón(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many of the extras were actual survivors of the tsunami.
    • 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

      [first lines]

      Title Card: On December 26th, 2004, the deadliest tsunami on record hit the South East Coast of Asia. The lives of countless families all over the world changed forever. This is the true story of one of those families.

    • 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.
    • 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

    User reviews531

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Realistic, bleak, but ultimately life-affirming.
    Disaster films have an odd reputation, often merely dismissed as popcorn fodder, so it's strange to have a film billed as such but to put character and drama over spectacle. Then again, as it's based on a true story, it's probably unfair to label 'The Impossible' as such a movie because the plight of the characters is at its heart throughout the entire duration. Perhaps this film is best described as a family drama with elements of disaster, then.

    The Boxing Day tsunami was one of those events that put our lives into perspective, and the film achieves the same feat. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts play the parents of three children who decide to spend an exotic Christmas in Thailand. Suitcases are unpacked, presents are exchanged, but the sense of impending disaster is overwhelmingly unsettling. When the inevitable does happen, the following 15 minutes are intense, realistic and terrifying; an onslaught of terrific practical effects and incredible sound design. However, after that concentrated outburst, the drama shifts down a gear to a more intimate, personal level, which is no less frightful.

    That is why this film shines; it's about the smaller picture. By focusing on the survival of this one family rather than the scale of the event itself, a better, and more human, representation of the disaster is displayed. The performances from the central cast are nothing short of spectacular, especially Tom Holland, who carries the film for a hefty chunk of the running time with a gravitas that many older actors would fail to achieve.

    Many criticisms have been made in the press about the anglicisation of the story; in reality, the family was Spanish. To me, that seemed to be a decision to globalise this story to the maximum amount of people, a decision that was warranted in my eyes. Thus, the main issue with the film was the score to be unnecessarily overriding in certain scenes, adding an unwanted sentimentality to the film. The scenes which worked best were confrontational, uncompromising and, you guessed it, without a swelling orchestra. Nevertheless, this is a minor gripe considering that this is a film where tears are wholeheartedly justified.

    My Blog - Celluloid Ramblings . blogspot. co . uk
    helpful•85
    30
    • CelluloidRamblings
    • Jan 5, 2013

    FAQ2

    • Why were Maria and Lucas hit by a second wave coming from the opposite direction to the first wave?
    • What's the long, stringy thing Maria pulls out of her mouth when she's vomiting?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 4, 2013 (United States)
      • Spain
      • Thailand
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
      • Thai
      • German
      • Swedish
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 54 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS

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