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.