Michael Bay’s $553 Million Sci-Fi Armageddon Tore Down by Expert

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Before Michael Bay became known for car crashes and explosions in the Transformers movies, he was already focused on big explosions in space with Armageddon. However, that film doesn’t rely much on actual science.

I recently listened to astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter on Insider’s podcast, How Real Is It?, and his takedown of popular sci-fi was fascinating. He really liked certain aspects of some films and shows, but when it came to Michael Bay’s Armageddon… well, let’s just say he wasn’t impressed. He didn’t hold back on pointing out its scientific inaccuracies.

I was fascinated listening to Sutter explain how the spacecraft maneuvered around the moon. He described how the astronauts turned the ship towards the moon, almost like a fighter jet banking into a turn. But then he quickly pointed out the obvious – this isn’t Earth! There’s no air in space to push against. He said they could just go with the turn, that it was perfectly safe and they’d easily swing around the moon. It was a really cool way to picture it.

After showing a clip of the team going over the plan, Sutter explained what 9.5 Gs would feel like: “It means you’ll be pushed into your seat with a force nine and a half times stronger than what you normally experience due to gravity.”

The expert said the situation would likely be terrible, calling the estimated timeframe “completely unrealistic.” They explained that without oxygen for just 10 minutes, everyone involved would perish.

Generally, Michael Bay’s Armageddon received a score of three out of ten. This was largely due to issues with the film’s plot, specifically the unrealistic way the spacecraft went around the moon—using extra fuel for a complicated maneuver instead of a direct path to the asteroid.

Armageddon Was a Massive Commercial Success

Despite its flaws, the 1998 sci-fi film Armageddon was a huge commercial success. It actually earned more money that year than even Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan.

According to Box Office Mojo, the science fiction film cost $140 million to make but earned $553.7 million globally, proving successful despite receiving mixed reviews.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics – it currently has a 43% score on Rotten Tomatoes even after nearly thirty years – Armageddon was popular with audiences, who gave it a 73% approval rating. The film also achieved significant recognition with four Academy Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Music for its famous song, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

Michael Bay directed the movie, which was written by Jonathan Hensleigh and J.J. Abrams and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. The science fiction film featured a large cast, including Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Ben Affleck, Will Patton, Peter Stormare, Keith David, Owen Wilson, William Fichtner, and Steve Buscemi.

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2025-12-10 22:08