We recently watched the movie 2012 and noticed that the main character, played by John Cusack, was the father of a fragmented family. For those who watched this movie, ok not exactly Oscar material, Cusack’s character played a major part in helping save the human race. This got me to thinking how many other “Doomsday/Disaster” movies I have watched that have this broken family theme.
War of The Worlds
Steven Spielberg’s version has Tom Cruise and his two estranged kids fighting for survival against the invaders.
Volcano
Tommy Lee Jones character is parted from his wife, with his daughter just visiting him.
Dante’s Peak
The Mayor of the town, portrayed by Linda Hamilton, is separated from her husband and has her two kids living with her.
Outbreak
Dustin Hoffman and Rene Russo play a previously married couple.
Twister
Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt play the roles of a separated married couple who just needed the legal documents to be signed for the divorce, but get back together at the end.
Armageddon
“Harry Stamper” played by Bruce Willis makes references that his wife left him leaving him to raise his daughter, played by Liv Tyler.
The Abyss
Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio play estranged husband/wife
Deep Impact
This is stretching the separation theme a bit as we have estranged parents of the TV reporter played by Téa Leoni who reports on the disaster, but not saving the world from it.
The earliest movie in my list above is The Abyss made in 1989 and I have to wonder is this Hollywood reflecting on the way of the world with the ever increasing statistics of divorce, separation and single parents since the late 80s?
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