The Impossible (2012)

All Critics (178) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (147) | Rotten (33) | DVD (2)

Alas, the movie tells a rather commonplace story.

January 28, 2013 Full Review

David Denby

New Yorker

Top Critic

The tsunami sequence is amazing, right up there with the one Clint Eastwood staged in Hereafter.

January 18, 2013 Full Review

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

This is an unforgettable tribute to the determination of a very special family.

January 17, 2013 Full Review

Richard Roeper

Richard Roeper.com

Top Critic

Naomi Watts gives one of her finest, most physically commanding turns.

January 4, 2013 Full Review

Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Top Critic

Although it's ostensibly based on true events, The Impossible is not so much an inspiring tale of survival as it is an action flick.

January 4, 2013 Full Review

Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine

Top Critic

While it may have been changed for the screen, this story of a family's ordeal is one from which any parent - any person, really - can't turn away.

January 4, 2013 Full Review

Connie Ogle

Miami Herald

Top Critic

Juan Antonio Bayona's The Impossible is an emotional tale of hope and survival, shot with an unafraid eye for disaster and tragedy.

May 7, 2013 Full Review

Jeremy Lebens

We Got This Covered

A disaster flick chronicling a dream, exotic getaway that turned into a never-ending nightmare in the blink of an eye!

April 28, 2013 Full Review

Kam Williams

NewsBlaze

... a terrific horror movie, one that genuinely grips and shocks its audience and forces empathy with the would-be victims.

April 27, 2013 Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

This may well be the best awards bait movie from 2012 that you never got around to seeing.

April 23, 2013 Full Review

Phil Villarreal

COEDMagazine.com

Inexcusable is a better word to describe the fact this amazing film was not given a Best Picture Oscar nomination.

April 23, 2013 Full Review

Bruce Bennett

Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

A tale that largely tells itself... with a little essential help from Hollywood's best special effects guys, that is.

April 17, 2013 Full Review

Christopher Null

Film Racket

...come for the drama, just be ready to leave your nagging questions outside the theater.

March 18, 2013 Full Review

Dave White

Movies.com

Technically impeccable, The Impossible gives the brutal caprice of nature its due, never romanticizing it or demonizing it.

March 13, 2013 Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

The true stand-out performance comes from 16-year-old Holland, whose cinematic debut is nothing short of extraordinary.

March 2, 2013 Full Review

Nour Habib

Tulsa World

The aim appears to be audience immersion, as if The Impossible really wants to almost drown you along with its stars - albeit in your own tears.

February 21, 2013 Full Review

Matt Neal

The Standard

There's nothing much to this fact-based film, storywise...It's in the sheer resilience of the characters that the film finds its drive.

February 15, 2013 Full Review

Jim Schembri

3AW

Perhaps the biggest problem is its labelling as a 'Disaster Movie', as this is in fact intended as a study of the power - and the stubbornness - of the human spirit.

February 4, 2013 Full Review

David 'Mad Dog' Bradley

Rip It Up

The Impossible doesn't turn a blind eye to the physical and emotional devastation, but the comparatively uncomplicated path it follows to arrive at a reassuring conclusion minimizes the impact.

February 4, 2013 Full Review

Mark Pfeiffer

Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema

If you're familiar with the true story on which 'The Impossible' is based, you'll know a little about the finale. In case you don't, I'm not going to spoil this real-life disaster movie about the effects of the 2004 Pacific tsunami on a family of five.

February 3, 2013 Full Review

Linda Cook

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Unlike a lot of movies that have the "based on a true story" tagline, 'The Impossible' doesn't have to do much to remind us that its harrowing tale is genuine

February 2, 2013 Full Review

Dan Lybarger

KC Active

Director Juan Antonio Bayona spins the focus in on a single family caught up in the disaster, personalising the horror and bringing it home in unashamedly melodramatic fashion on its very own tidal wave of emotion.

February 2, 2013 Full Review

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

There's some cringe-worthy stuff in this... and I say that to the film's credit. It's tough to watch at times.

January 24, 2013 Full Review

Matthew Toomey

ABC Radio Brisbane

The Impossible reminds that no matter the odds, human kind has the potential to rise above adversity no matter how great, for the human spirit knows no bounds.

January 24, 2013 Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

South East Asian tsunami survival saga is a test of endurance

January 22, 2013 Full Review

Don Groves

sbs.com.au

• 1. Maria: We have to help that little boy. Even if it's the last thing that we could do.
  – Submitted by Glyncel Joy A (48 days ago)
• 1. Maria: : Lucas, look at this place. They're so busy in here. You get to go and do something. Go help people. You're good at it.
  – Submitted by Lucas M (2 months ago)
• 1. Maria: Am I dead?
  – Submitted by Erick T (3 months ago)
• 1. Maria: Close your eyes, think of something nice.
  – Submitted by Teong Kai L (4 months ago)
• 1. Lucas: Mum, I found Daniele, he was happy.
  – Submitted by Adam M (4 months ago)
• 1. Henry: [reading note] We are at the beach...
  – Submitted by Sarah L (4 months ago)