Armageddon

Armageddon has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on fuboTV and Philo among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Bruce Willis's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Armageddon earns its spot. Armageddon treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. When an asteroid threatens to collide with Earth, NASA honcho Dan Truman determines the only way to stop it is to drill into its surface and detonate a nuclear bomb. This leads him to renowned driller Harry Stamper, who agrees to helm the dangerous space mission provided he can bring along his own hotshot crew. Among them is the cocksure A.J. The human element stays intact thanks to Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton, who anchor every scene. It was released in 1998. What separates Armageddon from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Armageddon is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Bruce Willis anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.