History Film / DeepImpact

** The smaller comet (Biederman) would have instantly blinded if not crushed to a pulp everyone looking at it on its descent.

** Sarah's parents. They let their child refuse to go into the ark tunnel and then when Leo comes back for her, they don't try to follow on foot just because he has a motorbike. And yet they're redeemed, when [[TearJerker they spend their last few moments in each other's arms, giving each other a loving hug.]]
** After being found by the FBI and taken before the President, Jenny says "I'm expected back at MSNBC at 6." Evidently it didn't occur to her that, being a GovernmentConspiracy, it wouldn't take much effort for them to arrange an "[[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident accident]]."

** In fact, in the original script his character, Eric, had a slightly bigger role and him and Jenny were supposed to become a couple; which made the helicopter scene more heartbreaking as he'd tell her that he loved her and she'd reply "next time", holding their hands till the last moment.

* DisasterMovie: A giant comet on a collision course with Earth. The final disaster is minimised thanks to the Messiah's actions but there's still a lot of destruction and loss of life by the time the credits roll.

* FunWithAcronyms: Jenny spends the initial chunk of her character arc [[SustainedMisunderstanding mistakenly assuming]] that the "Ellie" everybody in Capitol Hill is worriedly talking about is a mistress [[OhCrap only to discover]] with an early Nineties Wiki-walk that it's the acronym for '''E'''xtinction '''L'''evel '''E'''vent.

* A TeenGenius and amateur astronomer who discovers what turns out to be a previously unknown comet. He strongly values his girlfriend.
* An IntrepidReporter for MSNBC who thinks she's found a scandal when she asks a just-resigned cabinet member about "Ellie." Due to a misunderstanding, she believes "Ellie" is his mistress; the White House believes she's uncovered the truth and treats her accordingly, chasing her down with the FBI. She has an irascible father from whom she is estranged and a virtuous single mom as a boss, whose insistence on giving her lame stories is why she's so ambitious.
* The president (played by Creator/MorganFreeman), who announces some months late that an ELE--an Extinction Level Event--threatens the earth. But he has several plans involving a large underground bunker and a special shuttle.
* The crew of the special shuttle sent to save the world from disaster; the younger members of which are a little grumpy about having an old-timer along.

* AltarTheSpeed: Leo and Sarah quickly get married so her family can join his in the Ark.

* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Gus Partenza is blasted into space by an outflow of gas, and dies either by starving to death, freezing to death, or being burned alive by the radiation of the sun.

-->'''Jenny Lerner:''' When I was 11, I stole $32 from your wallet.
-->'''Jason Lerner:''' When you were a baby I once dropped you on your head.

In 1998, Hollywood almost destroyed the Earth from space. [[DuelingMovies Twice.]] This is about the one that didn't [[Film/Armageddon1998 involve Bruce Willis]].

* ProductPlacement: For MSNBC. Leoni's character was originally supposed to work for CNN, but they rejected the offer, saying it would be "inappropriate." MSNBC jumped at the opportunity, since their network had only just been founded and wanted to get exposure.

''Deep Impact'' is a 1998 sci-fi[=/=]drama DisasterMovie released by Paramount Pictures and [=DreamWorks=] SKG in the United States. The film was directed by Creator/MimiLeder, and stars Creator/ElijahWood, Creator/TeaLeoni, Creator/MorganFreeman and Creator/RobertDuvall. It is loosely based on a book by Creator/LarryNiven and Creator/JerryPournelle called ''Literature/LucifersHammer''.

* CoolOldGuy: Spurgeon Tanner.

* WeAllLiveInAmerica: The Beiderman comet splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean - specifically, in Cape Hatteras, which is just off North Carolina. North America, South America, western Europe and western Africa all get swamped by the massive tsunami; Asia and Australia are apparently completely spared. That alone could be handwaved, at least until we learn the other comet will hit the Earth nowhere else than Canada, disregarding the fact how improbable it would be for it to land less than 3000 miles away from the first impact zone. In any case, with a few exceptions, the entire film takes place either around New York, Washington DC, or "in the soft limestone hills of Missouri."