Based on the true story of Spaniard Maria Belón and her family’s survival of the devastating Boxing Day 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, this movie follows a fictional family, the Bennetts, as they struggle through the terrifying ordeal.

The Bennetts travel to Khao Lak, Thailand, for their Christmas holiday and, on Boxing Day, they are caught in the path of destruction made by one of the deadliest natural disasters ever.

As the water floods the land, the family become separated. Maria (Naomi Watts) and one of her sons Lucas (Tom Holland) are together, with Maria having been seriously injured during the initial impact of the water. They are helped by locals to find medical assistance at a local hospital.

Meanwhile, Maria’s husband Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their other two sons have also survived. Henry relies on another family who are fleeing the carnage as he sets out to find Maria and Lucas and reunite his family.

The Bennetts face unbelievable odds to be reunited amidst the chaos, and their story shows how in a time of disaster and destruction, people came together to help one another.