Says dumb
An object that large would be tracked for years. The film does not explain why this one slipped through, and a short line about it would have helped.
Armageddon (1998)
At 0:10:00
Verdict: Contested. 54% of viewers say this is dumb. Top defense: Some viewers accept it as a once-in-history miss that the story needs, and nothing in the film tries to excuse it.
820 votes
Dumbness rating
6.4/ 10(820 ratings)Is this scene dumb, or does it make sense?
Rate how dumb
A shower of debris destroys a shuttle and strikes New York. NASA tracks the source to a giant asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The film says the asteroid will hit in 18 days.
The tone toggle also switches the reviews below. Contains spoilers for this scene only.
Says dumb
An object that large would be tracked for years. The film does not explain why this one slipped through, and a short line about it would have helped.
Says explained
The movie begins with a premise and moves on. The asteroid is hidden by debris and a cloud and no one sees it until later.
Says dumb
I can accept an early miss, but a delay this large makes me doubt the agency in the film. It could be helped with one scene of a missed warning.
Some viewers accept it as a once-in-history miss that the story needs, and nothing in the film tries to excuse it.
Some viewers accept it as a once-in-history miss that the story needs, and nothing in the film tries to excuse it.
Fixes are written by people. The smallest change, in 200 characters or fewer, that would have fixed the scene. AI is used only for duplicate detection, length and moderation.
Add a scene where an astronomer says a funding cut shut down the survey that would have found it. The film then has a villain.
A newer idea
Make it a comet that appears from the dark side of the sun. Short notice is then expected.