Deep Impact is an American science fiction disaster film released in 1998. Directed by Mimi Leder and written by Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin, the movie presents a speculative scenario about the aftermath of a comet on a collision course with Earth.
The story revolves around several key characters:
The narrative follows the discovery of the comet named Comet Wolf-Biederman, the subsequent government cover-up, and the global response to the impending disaster. The film depicts the U.S. government's plan to use nuclear weapons to alter the comet's trajectory, the public's reaction to the news, and the personal stories of individuals preparing for the potential impact.
The film was produced by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. It had a budget of approximately $80 million and was released on May 8, 1998. It was one of two major films about asteroid/comet impacts released in 1998, the other being Armageddon.
Deep Impact received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its realistic approach to the disaster scenario, the emotional depth, and the performances, especially by Morgan Freeman, who played the President of the United States. However, others found the pacing slow and criticized the film for being overly sentimental. Despite mixed reviews, it was a commercial success, grossing over $349 million worldwide.
While Deep Impact takes liberties for dramatic effect, it does attempt to portray some aspects of asteroid/comet impacts and space travel realistically. For instance:
Deep Impact has been discussed in the context of asteroid deflection strategies and has inspired discussions about space policy and planetary defense: