The Impossible (2012)

Most people think so. 83% of audiences gave it a thumbs up, by Google's archived audience score. Critics agree, scoring it 77%.

In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror. Wikipedia ↗

The Impossible is a 2012 Spanish disaster drama directed by J.A. Bayona, based on the true story of the Belón family's experience during the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor star as Maria and Henry Bennett, a couple vacationing in Thailand with their three sons when the tsunami strikes their resort with catastrophic force, separating the family.

Maria and her eldest son Lucas are swept inland, with Maria suffering life-threatening injuries, while Henry and the two younger boys are left at the destroyed resort, desperately searching for their missing family members. The tsunami sequence was one of the most technically impressive and emotionally harrowing natural disaster depictions ever filmed — J.A. Bayona combined practical water effects shot in a massive wave tank with CGI enhancement to create an overwhelming, chaotic experience that audiences found physically difficult to watch.

Naomi Watts earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of a mother fighting to survive for her son despite devastating injuries. The Impossible earned $198 million worldwide on a $45 million budget.