Factual error: While the tidal wave is enveloping Manhattan, there is a scene where Washington Square Park is destroyed. A large arch is hit by the wave before reaching the rest of the park. The problem is the arch is on the UPTOWN side of the park, not the DOWNTOWN side which according to the movie was the direction the wave was coming from.

Deep Impact (1998)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Mimi Leder
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, James Cromwell, Vanessa Redgrave, Téa Leoni
Tea Leoni dies when the first comet hits. The crew of the shuttle dies blowing up the second comet and saving earth. Leo finds Sarah again, and runs off away from the tidal wave with her baby brother. Her parents die.
Alan Rittenhouse: I know you're just a reporter, but you used to be a person, right?
Question: All of the residents of Eastern United States were informed by the president when the smaller of the two meteors were to strike in the Atlantic Ocean, yet, even with ample time to evacuate away from the area of impact, why did it appear the residents all chose to leave on the final day? (Clogged highways and chaos).
Answer: They were trying to send missiles, which failed. The president spoke and that's when people started to leave.





Answer: There is no logical reason. It can be argued that people are just stubborn and/or reluctant to leave their homes under any circumstance. However, this is a movie, and showing the last-minute chaos of people attempting to evacuate heightens the tension and the drama.
raywest ★