The Impossible poster

The Impossible

Nothing is more powerful than the human spirit.

7.4(6,908)20121h 53m12

In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.

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Status
Released
Budget
$45M
Box office
$198.1M
Language
English
  • human vs nature
  • natural disaster
  • thailand
  • based on true story
  • tsunami
  • historical fiction
  • family vacation
  • struggle for survival
  • survival horror
  • tidal wave
  • catastrophe
  • swept away

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

J. A. Bayona

Produced in

Spain, United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • IndiaIN

    • Theatrical4 Jan 2013
  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereAFI Fest4 Nov 2012
    • Theatrical (limited)Los Angeles, California & New York City, New York21 Dec 2012
    • TheatricalPG-134 Jan 2013
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical12A2 Jan 2013
    • Physical1212 Mar 2013
  • United Arab EmiratesAE

    • Theatrical20 Dec 2012
  • AustraliaAU

    • TheatricalM24 Jan 2013
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereToronto International Film Festival9 Sept 2012
    • Digital / OTT9 Sept 2012
    • Theatrical (limited)Toronto21 Dec 2012
  • ArgentinaAR

    • Theatrical3 Jan 2013
    • PhysicalDVD2 May 2013
  • AustriaAT

    • Theatrical1 Feb 2013
  • BahrainBH

    • Theatrical20 Dec 2012
  • BelgiumBE

    • Theatrical1626 Dec 2012
  • BoliviaBO

    • Theatrical (limited)20 Dec 2012
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical1221 Dec 2012

Frequently asked questions

The Impossible was released on 9 September 2012.

Audience reviews

5
  • A

    Andres Gomez

    9/30/2014

    8/10

    Incredible story with remarkable performances by Naomi Watts and Tom Holland and amazing staging. However, Bayona repeats the same mistakes from other movies like "The Orphanage" when he creates an uneasy situation through some unexplained weird behavior.

  • B

    badelf

    2/4/2024

    8/10

    Another amazing story based in truth. I think it's called The Impossible because those sets must have been near impossible.

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    3/9/2024

    7/10

    After a bit of a bumpy flight to Thailand, a family arrive in Phuket for what ought to have been a dream holiday. Well mother nature had other plans and a earthquake far out at sea generated a series of tsunamis that we now know killed almost a quarter of a million people. That could well have included "Henry" (Ewan McGregor), "Maria" (Naomi Watts) and their children "Lucas" (Tom Holland), "Simon" (Oaklee Pendergast)…

  • F

    Felicity

    6/9/2025

    8/10

    Movies like this make me very sad. 😭😭😭 They also frighten me. The acting is superb.

  • D

    Dr Nostromo

    2/13/2026

    6/10

    64/100 A biographical, survive-against-the-odds film about a family who were at the Orchid Resort in Thailand when the Boxing Day Tsunami hit. This is a great film for its type with fantastic acting, especially a teenage Tom Holland who supplied his role with far more depth than you'd expect. I don't normally like survival films and watched this one because of my curiosity over the event. Said event was short and …

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