In recent days, an unprecedented event has shocked the world: the disappearance of the Titan submarine. Last Sunday, passengers Suleman Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet boarded a small capsule with Stockton Rush, founder and advisor of OceanGate Expeditions.
Their mission was to explore the surroundings of the Titanic wreckage, combining research and tourism—each passenger paid 250,000 euros for the experience. However, they faced limited oxygen and space, and it has now been revealed that the safety system was not sufficient for such expeditions.
Undoubtedly, the story is movie-worthy, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see it on the big screen at some point —at the very least, a documentary is guaranteed—, but it has also sparked a resurgence of submarine movies. Following Arturo González-Campos’ mantra on Todopoderosos, “if a submarine appears, the movie is good.” And although that might not be entirely true, there are certainly some cinematic gems set in submarines.
Below, we present some submarine movies that, while having little or nothing to do with the Titan, vividly portray the challenges of living underwater.
The Hunt for Red October (John McTiernan, 1920)
“The Hunt for Red October” – The first film adaptation of Tom Clancy’s character, Jack Ryan, revolves around the CIA’s negotiations with a Soviet nuclear submarine that goes rogue in the Atlantic Ocean en route to the United States.
Available on SkyShowtime.
The Submarine (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981)
One of the greatest submarine movies in history is this one by Wolfgang Petersen, depicting the lives of a group of young German soldiers during World War II. When they discover that their mission is essentially a suicide mission, their camaraderie becomes more challenging than ever.
Currently not available for streaming.
The Life Aquatic (Wes Anderson, 2004)
When we talk about Wes Anderson, we already know what kind of films we’re referring to, but I must say that with “The Life Aquatic,” the director created one of his best works. The story revolves around oceanographer Steve Zissou, who, after devising a plan to avenge his colleague’s death at the hands of a mythical great white shark, recruits a rather unique crew for a submarine expedition.
Available on Disney Plus.
The Wolf’s Call (Antonin Baudry, 2019)
In this recent French film, a man with exceptional hearing abilities embarks on a French nuclear submarine, with all that it entails, and ends up using his unique power to become a vital part of the crew.
Available for rent or purchase on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Filmin.
Crimson Tide (Tony Scott, 1992)
The 90s were a must for submarine movies, and a big part of that is thanks to “Crimson Tide,” a film in which three top U.S. military officers compete to take command of a submarine that could lead to the Third World War.
Available on Disney Plus.
K-19: The Widowmaker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2002)
Harrison Ford stars in this forgotten gem by Bigelow, where he portrays Russian Captain Alexei Vostrikov, who takes over from Captain Mihhail Polenin (Liam Neeson) on a mission for the Soviet Navy. Based on true events, this film, despite featuring Americans playing Russians, is highly thrilling and genuinely well-crafted.
Available on Rakuten TV.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Richard Fleischer, 1954)
The list wouldn’t be complete without the most acclaimed version of the classic novel by Jules Verne. In 1870, due to the accounts of sailors claiming to have seen a sea monster in the South Pacific, the United States charters a warship to destroy the beast that disrupts the tranquility of the seas. But when the monster attacks them, all their military might proves futile in preventing disaster. After the sinking, the crew members are rescued by the very “monster,” which turns out to be a vessel capable of submerging in the sea.
Available on Disney Plus.
Down Periscope (David S. Ward, 1996)
Not everything had to be war dramas. There’s always room for humor, as well. This is the case with “Down Periscope,” a film by David S. Ward that became a small hit in its year. The story begins when the high command of the United States fleet gathers to decide whether Captain Dodge should be given his own submarine. Unable to agree, they decide to give him a submarine from World War II, along with the worst and most eccentric crew, and put him to the test in a war exercise.
Available on Disney Plus.
Kursk (Thomas Vinterberg, 2018)
Renowned Belgian filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg directs one of the recent best submarine movies ever made. In this case, it tells the story of the tragedy of the Russian nuclear submarine K-141 Kursk, which occurred in August 2000, and the governmental negligence that followed. While the sailors struggle to survive, their families desperately fight against political obstacles and the slim chances of saving them.
Available on Filmin.
Abyss (James Cameron, 1989)
We conclude with one that couldn’t be left out: The Abyss. Directed by James Cameron, who was already proving his mastery of the underwater world, it tells the story of a team of scientists from an oil rig facility who are hired by the U.S. Navy to carry out a rescue operation for a nuclear submarine trapped, under strange circumstances, at the bottom of the sea.
Currently not available for streaming.
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