Armageddon, directed by Michael Bay, is a high-octane disaster movie packed with action, explosions, and emotional moments. It’s a quintessential ’90s blockbuster that deals with a catastrophic asteroid heading toward Earth and the daring mission to prevent global annihilation.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: The Threat from Space
The movie begins with NASA discovering that an asteroid the size of Texas is on a collision course with Earth. If it hits, all life on the planet will be wiped out. The government and NASA scramble to find a solution, and they decide the only way to stop it is to drill into the asteroid and plant a nuclear bomb to blow it apart.
Assembling the Team
NASA recruits oil driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), regarded as the best in the business, to lead the mission. However, Harry insists on bringing his own team of roughnecks for the dangerous task, believing only they are capable of pulling it off. This team includes his daughter Grace’s (Liv Tyler) boyfriend, A.J. Frost (Ben Affleck), and a colorful group of drillers.
This section of the movie focuses on training these unlikely heroes to become astronauts, highlighting the comedy and camaraderie between the group.
The Mission Begins: Into Space
Two shuttles—Freedom and Independence—are launched to reach the asteroid. However, things go wrong almost immediately. One of the shuttles crashes on the asteroid, killing several members of the team. Those that survive are forced to land on separate parts of the asteroid, complicating the mission.
Drilling on the Asteroid: Sacrifices and Tensions
The team faces numerous challenges as they begin to drill on the asteroid, including equipment malfunctions and time running out. The emotional core of the film comes to a head when Harry realizes that someone must stay behind to manually detonate the bomb after the drilling operation goes awry.
In a tearful and dramatic moment, Harry sacrifices himself, sending A.J. back to Earth to marry his daughter. This moment is the emotional heart of the film and a staple of Michael Bay’s explosive storytelling.
Movie Ending
The asteroid is successfully destroyed, and Earth is saved. The surviving members of the team return to Earth as heroes. In the final emotional scene, Grace watches A.J. return safely, and the film closes on her wedding with a montage set to Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”—a song that became forever tied to this movie.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Armageddon does not have any post-credits scenes. The movie ends with the wedding sequence, and the credits roll without any additional content. Classic ’90s blockbusters like Armageddon weren’t known for post-credits stingers the way modern films often are.
Type of Movie
Armageddon is a disaster film with heavy elements of action, adventure, and sci-fi. It’s also infused with emotional drama, particularly surrounding family and sacrifice.
Cast
- Bruce Willis as Harry Stamper
- Ben Affleck as A.J. Frost
- Liv Tyler as Grace Stamper
- Billy Bob Thornton as Dan Truman (NASA Executive)
- Steve Buscemi as Rockhound
- Will Patton as Chick
- Owen Wilson as Oscar
- Michael Clarke Duncan as Bear
Film Music and Composer
The film’s score was composed by Trevor Rabin, but the most iconic song associated with Armageddon is Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” This song was a massive hit and helped cement the film’s place in pop culture. The soundtrack also features other rock classics, including songs by ZZ Top and Journey.
Filming Locations
- NASA’s Kennedy Space Center: Many of the training and launch sequences were filmed at actual NASA facilities in Florida, giving the movie a sense of realism.
- Badlands National Park (South Dakota): The asteroid’s rocky, barren surface scenes were shot here, representing the harsh environment the crew faces.
- Edwards Air Force Base: Several of the film’s shuttle landing scenes were shot at this military base.
These locations added authenticity to the space missions and the dire, otherworldly feel of the asteroid’s surface.
Awards and Nominations
Armageddon was nominated for four Academy Awards:
- Best Sound
- Best Visual Effects
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Original Song (for “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”)
Though it didn’t win any Oscars, the movie found massive success at the MTV Movie Awards, where it was praised for its action sequences and performances.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Bruce Willis was initially reluctant to take the role but ended up being paid one of his largest salaries for the film.
- The cast underwent NASA training to prepare for the roles, giving them insight into what it’s like to be an astronaut.
- Michael Bay fought to keep the movie’s tone a mix of humor and emotion, despite the catastrophic stakes.
- NASA uses the film in its management training programs to highlight over-the-top “what not to do” scenarios.
Inspirations and References
The movie wasn’t based on a book but drew inspiration from real-life asteroid theories and space missions. It also took cues from other disaster films like Deep Impact (released the same year) and classic adventure movies.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No significant alternate endings have been publicly revealed, but several deleted scenes focus on more character development, especially between A.J. and Grace, which were cut to keep the pace fast.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Harry Stamper’s final goodbye to his daughter, Grace.
- The disastrous shuttle crash on the asteroid.
- The crew’s impromptu “space walk” when their shuttle fails.
Iconic Quotes
- Harry Stamper: “You take care of my little girl now. That’s your job.”
- A.J.: “This is the worst environment imaginable. That’s all you had to say, worst environment imaginable.”
- Dan Truman: “This is the largest space mission in history, and you’re the biggest part of it.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- NASA approved several lines of dialogue in the movie to ensure accuracy, but the drilling techniques were purely fictional and absurdly exaggerated.
- In one scene, when Rockhound (Steve Buscemi) is riding the nuclear bomb, it mirrors a scene from the movie Dr. Strangelove.
- Michael Bay makes a cameo appearance as one of the NASA scientists.
Trivia
- The space shuttle Freedom is named after the proposed Space Station Freedom, a NASA concept that was never realized.
- Ben Affleck has joked about how ridiculous the concept was, specifically the idea of training drillers to be astronauts instead of vice versa.
- Bruce Willis’ character, Harry, was originally written to die in the middle of the film, but test audiences wanted him to make the ultimate sacrifice at the end.
Why Watch?
If you enjoy action-packed disaster movies with high stakes, emotional moments, and larger-than-life scenarios, Armageddon delivers on all fronts. It’s a quintessential ’90s blockbuster that remains an iconic part of pop culture.
Director’s Other Movies
- The Rock (1996)
- Bad Boys (1995)
- Pearl Harbor (2001)
- Transformers (2007)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Deep Impact (1998)
- Independence Day (1996)
- The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
- Gravity (2013)
