A low earth orbit space station is in the middle of a repair mission with the space shuttle when an unforeseen meteor shower obliterates them both. This sudden event sends fireballs hurtling to Earth and scientists scurrying to telescopes. An amateur astronomer is the first to spy a gigantic fireball headed towards the planet and notifies NASA. Turner (Thornton) informs the president of the asteroid and describes it as being "the size of Texas," a planet-killer. With eighteen days to impact, NASA frantically tries to find a solution but ends up turning to an outside contractor. Harry Stamper (Willis) and his team of oilmen are called upon to save the planet as only they can.
Grossing more than 200 million dollars domestically during its initial box office run in 1998, Bay's loud, fast spectacle is a love-it or hate-it archetype of the big budget studio action film at the century's end. Made with lots of money ($140 million!), a strong cast and tons of special effects, ARMAGEDDON tells the tale of a team of oilmen called in by the president to land on a Texas-sized asteroid approaching Earth and blast it into pieces before it ends life as we know it. Huge plot holes, some of the quickest cutting seen in film, and occasionally unconvincing special effects will not deter those who approach it seeking two and a half hours of full-throttle, flag waving cinematic rush.
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