Deep Impact

Earth faces an extinction level threat when a seven mile wide asteroid is on a collision course. In response, the U.S. president chooses a seasoned, no-nonsense astronaut to lead an international team into space with one clear aim: land a mission to break apart the rock before it reaches Earth. The plan calls for cooperation with Russian allies, pooling tech and grit to launch a dangerous strike against the incoming threat. Back on the home front, a tenacious reporter follows the crisis, chasing clues and scooping the story as the clock ticks. The film tracks both the tense political calculus and the high stakes space operation as humanity tries to avert catastrophe. The film balances grand spectacle with intimate stakes.

Directed by Mimi Leder and released in 1998, Deep Impact stems from a screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin, bringing a grounded science fiction drama about a coordinated planetary response that tests politics, science, and personal resilience too.

The film grossed about 349.5 million worldwide against a 75 million budget, signaling strong commercial performance for late 1990s disaster cinema and suggesting broad audience appeal to a story that blends spectacle with human drama globally reaching audiences worldwide today.

Deep Impact helped shape the late 90s disaster movie landscape by pairing intimate personal stories with a global crisis. Its portrayal of cross national cooperation and the ethical choices of leaders resonated with audiences and fed discussions about science and media ethics. That influence echoes in later disaster films worldwide.

Critics praised the performances of Duvall and Leoni and the film's focus on duty under pressure. It centers on decision making, teamwork, and the tension between scientific risk and political caution, framing humanity as capable of uniting under threat. Film invites viewers to consider how science and courage shape society.