Roland Emmerich, director and co-writer of The Day After Tomorrow, explained why buildings weren’t destroyed in his apocalyptic film. Dennis Quaid and Spider-Man: Far From Home actor Jake Gyllenhaal lead the cast of Emmerich’s 2004 blockbuster. The Day After Tomorrow features impressive special effects and action sequences that helped to earn the film over $550 million at the box office.

In the movie, global warming has caused the ice caps to melt, resulting in extreme storms and subfreezing temperatures that threaten life on earth. Tornadoes, blizzards, wolves, and flooding caused by massive storm surges ravage Manhattan. The once thriving metropolis is left desolate and isolated. Separated by the natural disasters, Quaid’s character attempts to make the dangerous voyage to New York City in order to save his son. However, some keen observers have noticed that throughout all of the battering the city takes, no buildings are actually destroyed.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Emmerich brought the issue to light in a recent interview with Yahoo! Entertainment. The director is known for his proclivity to produce large-scale disaster movies and apparently had no prior qualms with leveling NYC, as was evident in his 1998 film Godzilla. So, what kept Emmerich from annihilating everything in The Day After Tomorrow? According to the director, it was the tragic events on 9/11 that changed his course of action. Take a look below to see how the terrorist attacks impacted the movie.

“I watched 9/11 happen in my house in Mexico so I immediately put the script aside and said, ‘I’m not doing destruction movies anymore.’ And then nine months later, a friend of mine said, ‘But you could. If you don’t destroy any buildings, it’s totally OK.’ So, when you see the movie, the Statue of Liberty is upright and stays upright when the whole wave goes into Manhattan. There’s not one building getting destroyed and that’s how we solved that. The movie was meant as a [climate change] warning. If you don’t change your ways, this will happen.”

The real-life devastation seen in the wake of 9/11 was almost enough to cause Emmerich to forgo the film altogether. Luckily, he was able to compromise and find a way to complete The Day After Tomorrow’s script without sacrificing his conscience. His resolve is most evident in the scene featuring the massive tidal wave pummeling NYC. The waves meander down the paths of city streets rather than barreling through or toppling buildings.

Emmerich must have decided that an appropriate amount of time has passed since he has gone on to direct other apocalyptic movies like 2012, Independence Day 2: Resurgence, and most recently Moonfall. However, his decision regarding The Day After Tomorrow creates a respectable homage to the victims of 9/11 and those impacted by the attacks. The Statue of Liberty and buildings in Manhattan represent the strength and resiliency in the face of catastrophic disaster. They are a hidden tribute and symbol of hope, even in an uncertain future.

Source: Yahoo! Entertainment

Surprising MCU Graph Reveals Which Marvel Heroes Got The Most Screen Time

About The Author


JD Smithey
(64 Articles Published)

See also  Transformers 7 Casts Dexter Star Luna Lauren Velez

JD Smithey is a writer for Screen Rant with a focus in movie and television news. He is a graduate of Louisiana College and has had his work published in newspapers, blogs, and multiple award-winning websites. JD currently works full-time as an educator at a secondary school in Texas. He is also the Theatrical and Convention Editor for iliveindallas.com, a website focused on local events in the DFW metroplex. JD’s work has enabled him to conduct a plethora of celebrity interviews and gain a rare insight into some of Hollywood’s largest films.

More From JD Smithey