Deep Impact
Movie, 1998, Present Day, Set in Present day
Deep Impact is #5 of 18 in release order and #5 of 18 in chronological order in the Space Movies.
The story
A seven-mile-wide space rock is hurtling toward Earth, threatening to obliterate the planet. Now, it's up to the president of the United States to save the world. He appoints a tough-as-nails veteran astronaut to lead a joint American-Russian crew into space to destroy the comet before impact. Meanwhile, an enterprising reporter uses her smarts to uncover the scoop of the century.
Deep Impact recap
A teenage amateur astronomer, Leo Biederman, spots a new comet. A year later reporter Jenny Lerner, chasing a story she thinks is a sex scandal, uncovers the government's secret: the comet, Wolf-Biederman, will hit Earth and could end most life. President Beck announces it, along with the joint mission of the ship Messiah, led by the veteran astronaut Spurgeon Tanner, to blow it apart with nuclear bombs. The bombs only split it in two, and the President declares martial law and a lottery for places in underground caves. Leo marries his girlfriend Sarah so her family can join his, but they are left behind. Jenny's estranged father faces the end, and Jenny gives up her helicopter seat to a colleague and her daughter.
Deep Impact ending explained
The smaller fragment hits the Atlantic and a huge tsunami floods the East Coast; Jenny reunites with her father on the beach as the wave arrives. Leo carries Sarah to high ground on a motorbike. The Messiah crew fly into the larger fragment with their remaining bombs, blowing it to pieces and saving the planet. The President speaks to the survivors at the rebuilding of the Capitol.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Deep Impact
Deep Impact is streaming on Kanopy and Hoopla in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 45%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Event Horizon, before Armageddon.
- Chronological order: after Contact, before Armageddon.
Cast
- Robert Duvall as Capt. Spurgeon 'Fish' Tanner
- Téa Leoni as Jenny Lerner
- Elijah Wood as Leo Biederman
- Vanessa Redgrave as Robin Lerner
- Morgan Freeman as President Tom Beck
- Maximilian Schell as Jason Lerner
- James Cromwell as Alan Rittenhouse
- Ron Eldard as Oren Monash
- Jon Favreau as Gus Partenza
- Laura Innes as Beth Stanley
- Mary McCormack as Andrea Baker
- Richard Schiff as Don Biederman
Directed by Mimi Leder.