The film begins with a dire announcement regarding an asteroid named Matilda, which is a staggering seventy miles wide and is set to collide with Earth. The last attempt to destroy it has failed, leaving humanity with merely three weeks before the inevitable destruction. In the opening scenes, we find Dodge Petersen (Steve Carell) and his wife Linda listening intently to this harrowing broadcast from the side of the road. However, the moment is shattered when Linda suddenly abandons him, fleeing the vehicle without so much as a word.
The following day, Dodge returns to his nearly deserted workplace, where he sells insurance. Contrasting scenes unfold around him; while others react to the impending doom through suicide, hedonism, or indulgence in drugs, Dodge finds himself largely unchanged. Even his housekeeper, Elsa (Melinda Dillon), continues to arrive at his apartment, despite his protests that her services are no longer necessary.
After attending a friend's party, Dodge reminisces about his long-lost high school sweetheart, Olivia. During this introspection, he happens upon his neighbor, Penny (Keira Knightley), who is visibly upset while sitting on her fire escape. She confides in him about ending her relationship with her boyfriend, Owen (Adam Brody), after he made her miss a crucial opportunity to see her family in England. Penny also inadvertently reveals that Dodge's ex-wife, Linda, is having an affair by returning some forgotten mail.
Consumed by rage and despair, Dodge storms off into the night, consuming a mix of cough syrup laced with Codeine and a quirky window cleaner called "Windose," attempting to take his own life. However, he wakes up the next morning, greeted by a note pinned to his sweater that simply reads, “Sorry,” and a dog, which he affectionately names "Sorry," now tethered to him. Upon returning home, he opens his old mail and is astonished to discover a heartfelt letter from Olivia. In it, she explains her reasons for leaving him and reminisces about what he meant in her life, calling him "the love of her life."
As chaos erupts with a riot breaking out in the building, Dodge makes a daring escape through the fire escape and finds himself in Penny’s apartment, where he also discovers Owen. They manage to escape the fray, and in a moment of desperation, he proposes they travel to Somerset to find Olivia, believing Penny can help him reach her. In a twist of fate, they find themselves running out of gas and are picked up by a driver named William (Patton Oswalt), who tells them the comical tale of his own desire to be killed, which nearly leads them to a grim fate.
After burying William in a whimsical manner, they head to a quirky theme restaurant that culminates in a bizarre celebration which sees them caught up in a whirlwind of kisses and wild revelry. Just as they leave, an unexpected connection forms between Dodge and Penny, culminating in a passionate encounter within the confines of the truck.
Their journey continues as they encounter Speck ([Derek Luke]), an ex-boyfriend of Penny's who is deeply prepared for the apocalypse and possesses a satellite phone. Speck facilitates Penny’s contact with her family and helps them navigate the challenges of their journey, including acquiring a sleek Smart car. With each passing moment on their road trip, the emotional bond between Dodge and Penny intensifies, leading them to crucial self-discoveries.
Arriving at the home of Dodge's estranged father, Frank ([Martin Sheen]), after a heated reunion, they find common ground over a heartfelt dinner. Later, as the stakes heighten, Dodge reveals the truth about his father's hidden career as a pilot, ultimately leading to a bittersweet farewell between him and Penny as he prepares to send her off in the plane, declaring that she is the love of his life.
Returning home to an ever-clean apartment maintained by Elsa, he insists she should reconnect with her family, promising to see her soon. Yet, the despair returns as he learns that the asteroid's arrival has been moved up to only sixteen hours away. Fully aware of the impending doom, Dodge rushes to Penny’s apartment, where they share a final, poignant moment, reminiscing about their lives until the ground shakes, indicating Matilda’s arrival. As they face their final moments, fear gives way to acceptance, with Dodge reassuring Penny that they had saved each other in their time together.
Their final moments are enveloped in warmth and unspoken love, leaving the screen to fade to white as the audience is left to ponder the beauty of their brief but meaningful connection.
