Elijah Wood stars in the apocalyptic sci-fi thriller Deep Impact, which is leaving streaming services soon. The film, available on Netflix until January 1, presents a more grounded approach to the asteroid-impact genre, emphasizing realistic human responses to global disaster.
Directed by Mimi Leder, Deep Impact follows Wood’s character, Leo Beiderman, a teenage astronomy enthusiast who discovers a comet heading toward Earth. The story interweaves multiple perspectives, including Tea Leoni’s investigative reporter Jenny Lerner and Robert Duvall’s mission leader, showing efforts to prevent or survive the catastrophe.
Unlike many disaster blockbusters, Deep Impact realistically depicts the catastrophic moment of impact and explores its aftermath. This approach has helped it maintain relevance years after release, highlighting themes of unity and resilience in the face of a global threat.
Critics have generally praised Deep Impact for its thoughtful narrative, despite some noting uneven pacing and the challenge of balancing multiple storylines. It holds a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, slightly outperforming contemporaneous film Armageddon, which scored 43%.
At the box office, Deep Impact grossed $349 million worldwide against a $75 million budget, a significant success that made Mimi Leder the director of the highest-grossing film helmed by a woman at the time. Meanwhile, Armageddon grossed $553 million globally, dominating that year’s box office.
Key facts about Deep Impact include:
- Director: Mimi Leder
- Writers: Michael Tolkin and Bruce Joel Rubin
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Initial release date: May 8
Deep Impact offers a compelling alternative to spectacle-heavy disaster films by focusing on character-driven stories and collective human experience. Fans of apocalyptic thrillers will find it worthwhile while it remains accessible on streaming platforms.
Viewers interested in seeing a realistic portrayal of how humanity copes with existential dangers should prioritize watching Deep Impact before it departs Netflix this January.
Read more at: collider.com
