In 1998, two science fiction disaster movies – Armageddon and Deep Impact – were released within weeks of each other, both featuring Earth threatened by an approaching space object. Armageddon is known as a wildly entertaining, though somewhat flawed, blockbuster. Deep Impact, on the other hand, is remembered as a more emotionally resonant and realistic portrayal of a global disaster. Currently, Deep Impact is available to stream on Netflix, while Armageddon isn’t available for streaming at this time.
Starring Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, Maximilian Schell, and Morgan Freeman as the President of the United States, Deep Impact hit theaters on May 8, 1998, nearly two months before Armageddon. While it wasn’t as financially successful at the box office, it was received slightly better by critics, but that’s not saying a lot. On Rotten Tomatoes, Deep Impact holds a 45% rating from pundits, which is two points higher than Armageddon’s 43% score. The official synopsis reads:
A comet is on a collision course with Earth, posing a catastrophic threat to all life. While the U.S. government tries to keep the danger secret, determined journalist Jenny Lerner discovers the truth and pushes the President to reveal it. A team of astronauts, led by veteran Spurgeon ‘Fish’ Tanner, is tasked with a desperate mission: landing on the comet and planting explosives to try and divert it. If they fail, humanity will face extinction.
The Majority of Fans Preferred ‘Armageddon’ Over ‘Deep Impact’
Paramount Pictures
While some viewers consider Deep Impact a thoughtful and emotionally resonant disaster film – even calling it a modern classic – most preferred the fast-paced action of Armageddon. This is reflected in their Rotten Tomatoes scores: Deep Impact received a 43% audience score, compared to Armageddon’s 73%. This isn’t surprising, considering Armageddon featured popular actors like Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler, and had a more straightforward, attention-grabbing premise than the more modestly-produced Deep Impact.
However, Deep Impact still has its fans. Many people fondly remember the movie, and it remains popular today. One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer praised it, saying it “brilliantly balances human emotion with natural disaster,” and others agree.
As a movie fan, I still think the digital effects in this film hold up remarkably well, even though it came out in 1998! Beyond the visuals, I really appreciate the story and how much time they took to develop the characters. It’s one of those movies that makes you think – it really explores what people might do in an impossible situation.
While Deep Impact is often praised for its scientific realism—more so than Armageddon—that’s not usually what people look for in a disaster movie. Most viewers want to see spectacular, large-scale destruction. If that sounds appealing, consider adding Deep Impact to your watchlist and streaming it on Netflix this weekend.
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2025-11-12 20:03