Fact Finder - Movies

1998 saw a rare phenomenon where two massive blockbusters with almost identical plots—an asteroid/comet on a collision course with Earth—were released within months of each other. 'Deep Impact' focused on the emotional and scientific realism of the event, while Michael Bay’s 'Armageddon' focused on high-octane action and oil-drillers in space. Both were massive hits: 'Deep Impact' grossed $349 million and 'Armageddon' grossed $553 million. This proved that the 'blockbuster' market was large enough to support two films on the same topic simultaneously, provided they offered different tonal experiences for the audience.