What’s the Story?

Meteors rain down on the planet and panic sets in as officials realize that an enormous asteroid is heading straight toward Earth. In a last-ditch effort, NASA official Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton) brings in crack oil driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) to help in a plan in which the team travels by space shuttle to the oncoming asteroid and uses a drill to plant a nuclear bomb there, destroying it before it hits Earth. In a subplot, Stamper brings in A.J. Frost (Ben Affleck) -- who's romantically involved with Stamper's daughter Grace (Liv Tyler) -- to join the mission.

Is It Any Good?

The summer thrill ride movie is becoming as much of a 4th of July tradition as the picnic and the fireworks, and the 1998 version is Armageddon, the second movie of the year about a meteor headed toward earth. While the plot line is predictable (think "Dirty Dozen" crossed with The Right Stuff) and concocted almost by recipe (take one tough but loveable hero -- Bruce Willis in his Die Hard mode -- and add in a loveably diverse group of misfits, then wisecracks to taste and just a touch of sentiment and a dash of young love for seasoning), the 10-14 year olds in your household (and the 10-14 year old in many of us) will find that it delivers as a summer explosion movie.

Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.

Tell us your child's age:

monthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecyear2009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991

Already a member? Log in

Have you seen it?

Cast & Film Details

Studio

Touchstone Pictures

Director

Michael Bay

Cast

• Billy Bob Thornton
• Liv Tyler
• Bruce Willis

Genre

Action/Adventure

Run time

150 minutes

Theatrical release

12/31/1969

DVD release

1/14/2003

MPAA rating

PG-13

MPAA explanation

language and intense action, sad deaths

For Your Family