Armageddon

Armageddon

Year: 1977

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: French

Director: Alain Jessua

Thriller

After years of poverty, repairman Carrier inherits a fortune after his brother’s fatal accident. Suddenly rich, he seeks fame, becomes increasingly unstable, and threatens police and the government, signing tracts called “Armaguedon.” An Interpol detective leads the case and sets a trap at an international summit of world leaders in Paris.

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Timeline & Setting – Armageddon (1977)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Armageddon (1977). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1980s

The film takes place during the early 1980s, a period marked by economic shifts, political conservatism under President Reagan, and ongoing racial tensions in America. The era's cultural and socio-political context influences characters’ experiences, especially regarding race, class, and identity struggles.

Location

Queens, New York City, Guggenheim Museum, Forest Manor Prep

The movie is set in Queens, a diverse borough of New York City known for its vibrant cultural mosaic. Key locations include the Guggenheim Museum, a world-famous art institution, and Forest Manor Prep, an elite private school representing social mobility and privilege. The settings highlight the contrast between public and private education as well as the socio-economic diversity of the city.

🌆 Urban 🖼️ Cultural 🏫 Educational

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:45

Main Characters – Armageddon (1977)

Meet the key characters of Armageddon (1977), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Paul Graff (Banks Repeta)

A hopeful and artistic young boy navigating socio-economic and racial challenges. His passion for art and desire to stay true to himself clash with family expectations and societal pressures, making him a symbol of resistance and innocence.

🎨 Artist 🧒 Young 🌟 Dreamer

Aaron Rabinowitz (Anthony Hopkins)

Paul’s wise and compassionate grandfather who encourages his artistic talents. His immigration story and battle with bone cancer add depth and emotional weight, embodying resilience and hope.

👴 Elder 💪 Resilient 🛠️ Storyteller

Johnny Davis (Jaylin Webb)

A rebellious and outspoken Black boy who faces racial discrimination and struggles with family issues. His bond with Paul highlights themes of friendship, inequality, and aspiration.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Friend ✊ Fighter 🎒 Student

Esther (Anne Hathaway)

Paul’s strict mother, focused on social status and stability. Her prejudices and ambitions for her family reflect societal stereotypes and the pressure to conform.

👩‍⚖️ Strict 💼 Ambitious 👩‍👧 Family

Irving (Jeremy Strong)

Paul’s father, a working-class man who values stability. His protective nature and traditional views influence his decisions about his son's future.

👨‍🔧 Caring 💪 Traditionalist 🏠 Family man

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:45

Major Themes – Armageddon (1977)

Explore the central themes of Armageddon (1977), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Anti-Semitism

The film explores anti-Semitic sentiments through Aaron Rabinowitz's immigrant story and the family's experiences. Their history of persecution, escape from Ukraine, and resilience highlight the ongoing impact of anti-Semitism in American society during the 1980s.

🎭 Identity & Ambition

The characters grapple with their personal identities amid societal expectations. Paul’s dreams of becoming an artist clash with his parents' desire for a practical career, illustrating the tension between individual passions and family aspirations and societal norms.

⚖️ Racial Inequality

The story addresses racial discrimination, particularly through Johnny’s experiences and the racist comments from classmates. The film sheds light on racial prejudices and the limited opportunities faced by Black Americans during that period.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:45

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about obsessive descent like Armageddon

Stories where a sudden fortune leads to psychological decline and societal conflict.Explore movies like Armageddon where a sudden inheritance or windfall triggers a character's psychological unraveling. These films feature tense confrontations with authority, a steady build of dread, and an ambiguous ending, perfect for viewers who enjoy character studies about ambition turning into obsession.

tensepsychologicalobsessiveunravelingdisillusionedparanoidconfrontational

Narrative Summary

These narratives often begin with a pivotal event—like an inheritance—that grants the protagonist a new sense of power. Instead of salvation, this triggers a spiral of increasingly unstable behavior, leading to high-stakes confrontations with institutions like the police or government, and concluding with an ambiguous resolution that questions the cost of their ambition.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on a protagonist's psychological deterioration fueled by ambition or sudden change in fortune. They share a medium intensity, steady pacing that builds tension, and a bittersweet or ambiguous tone, creating a coherent experience of watching a character's world slowly crumble from within.

Thrillers with ambiguous endings like Armageddon

Character-driven thrillers where personal ambition leads to an uncertain fate.Discover thrillers with ambiguous endings like Armageddon. These films focus on characters whose ambitions lead to a moral collapse, ending not with a clear victory or defeat but with an uncertain future. They are perfect for viewers who appreciate stories that prioritize psychological depth and thematic resonance over neat conclusions.

reflectiveambiguoustensemoral ambiguitydisillusionedmelancholicunresolved

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a protagonist's escalating commitment to a cause or desire, which often isolates them and leads to morally questionable actions. The conflict is as much internal as external, and the story resists a clean, cathartic ending. Instead, it concludes at a moment of high tension or aftermath, leaving the character's future deliberately open to interpretation.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their shared narrative structure that prioritizes character ambiguity and moral complexity over plot resolution. They typically feature a medium complexity plot, a steady pacing that allows for character study, and an ambiguous ending feel, creating a cohesive viewing experience for those who enjoy contemplative and unresolved conclusions.

Unlock the Full Story of Armageddon

Don't stop at just watching — explore Armageddon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Armageddon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Armageddon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Armageddon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Armageddon Summary

Armageddon Timeline

Track the full timeline of Armageddon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Armageddon Timeline

Armageddon Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Armageddon that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Armageddon Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Armageddon

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Armageddon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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