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The 1998 movie that never fails to make Billy Bob Thornton cry: “I tear up a little bit every time”
Billy Bob Thornton says Armageddon, the 1998 sci-fi blockbuster, reliably makes him tear up, particularly during Bruce Willis’s sacrifice at the film’s conclusion. His emotional response is notable because he has also criticised the film harshly, despite saying he is proud to have appeared in it and believes it still holds up.
Thornton previously described Armageddon as a “two-hour piece of trash” and suggested he accepted the role largely for financial reasons. Nevertheless, the Michael Bay film became 1998’s highest-grossing release, earning more than $550 million worldwide, and its central sacrifice remains the film’s strongest emotional moment.
In short
- Thornton always gets emotional during Armageddon’s ending.
- He has both praised and harshly criticised the film.
- Armageddon earned more than $550 million in 1998.
Explained simply
Armageddon is a 1998 science-fiction film directed by Michael Bay. It follows a team of oil drillers sent into space to stop a huge asteroid from hitting Earth; Billy Bob Thornton plays a NASA official involved in the mission, while Bruce Willis leads the drilling team.
The film was a major box-office success and is remembered for mixing large-scale action with the personal cost of the mission. Thornton has spoken both critically and proudly about his part in it, while the ending centres on a character choosing to sacrifice himself to help save the others.