Deep Impact Movie Review

Twenty-five years ago–1998–Earth was pummeled by disasters. There was the Matthew Broderick-starring Godzilla, the Michael Bay-directed Armageddon, and the other, more oft-forgotten asteroid disaster movie Deep Impact.

Now on 4K for the first time, Deep Impact continues to prove it was the best of the bunch–even if Armageddon remains the pop culture favorite.

I have nothing against Armageddon. It’s still fun, packed with zany characters and plenty of life-ending destruction. But it’s also a bit more a relic of its time, where Deep Impact was, even upon its release, ahead of its time.

While not without some compelling disaster sequels, Deep Impact is the more patient, grounded, and deeper film. It places weight on its characters and the drama posed by the likelihood of the end of the world. It’s dramatic, it’s touching, and is in many ways believable. Directed by Mimi Leder and starring the likes of Elijah Wood, Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Vanessa Redgrave, Leelee Sobieski, and of course Morgan Freeman as the President of the United States of America–because of course–Deep Impact confidently rests on its stellar cast to deliver the goods.

The funny thing about the movie is that despite Armageddon’s reputation for more action and destruction, Deep Impact actually lives up to its title and delivers a climax that is in many ways more epic, breathtaking, and heartfelt than anything Mr. Bay could conjure up. 

Visually, the movie holds up pretty well, though of course we’re talking about a movie that’s 25 years old. The 4K restoration doesn’t hurt.

Deep Impact holds up incredibly well and deserves a second (or first) viewing if it’s been a few decades since you last saw it. It’ll leave a mark.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.