Top 10 Submarine Movies – How Many Have You Actually Seen?
Some of the best thriller movies are the ones that have submersible vessels as the central theme of their plotlines. Also, since submersibles are majorly used as naval vessels, such submarine movies veer mostly towards war-time drama or fictional recounting of two opposing countries facing off against each other.
Many such movies have been created and appreciated by the global audience. Each movie is a stand-alone and represents the best directorial and acting talent available in Hollywood.
Also Read: Top 5 Somali Pirates Movies
Ten all-time best submarine movies, of the many varied, can be shortlisted as follows:
1. Crimson Tide
Starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, this movie deals with military commandments and insubordination in the line of fire.
The movie was a roaring hit, with both actors gaining even more recognition for their already stellar career path.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington (Actors)
- Tony Scott (Director) - Michael Schiffer (Writer) - Don Simpson (Producer)
- Spanish, English (Playback Language)
- Spanish, English (Subtitles)
2. U-571
U-571 gives a cinematic narration of the seizing of the fabled German cypher device ‘Enigma’ by American naval forces.
The movie depiction was fictional and contradicted the actual seizing of the device carried out by a British naval vessel. U-571 faced several criticisms for this fictional deviation.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, David Keith (Actors)
- Jonathan Mostow (Director) - Jonathan Mostow (Writer) - Dino Delaurentiis (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Also Read: 8 Ghost At Sea Movies You Must Watch
3. Das Boot
A German film, Das Boot (The Boat) charts the life of naval personnel confined within the U-boat U-96 during World War II. Based upon a fictitious novel of the same name, the plotline presented a different perspective about the German naval forces.
This added further substance to the movie and made it an even bigger hit. The movie was directed by well-known director Wolfgang Petersen and was released in the year 1981.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Gronemeyer, Klaus Wennemann (Actors)
- Wolfgang Petersen (Director) - Wolfgang Petersen (Writer) - Gunter Rohrbach (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
4. The Hunt for Red October
At the peak of the Cold War between American and the Soviet Union, this movie was another example of brilliant American movie-making.
The plot deals with an insensible, submersible vessel that can hamper the fragile peace between the two nations and the hunt to capture and destroy it. The movie is regarded to be one of the best Hollywood movies to have ever been made.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones (Actors)
- John McTiernan (Director) - Tom Clancy (Writer) - Mace Neufeld (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Also Read: 5 Survival At Sea Movies Everyone Must Watch
5. Torpedo Run
A slightly different take on the Second World War, this movie’s plot outlines a submarine’s commanding officer’s determination to destroy a Japanese aircraft carrier ship.
The movie was released in the year 1958 and held an Oscar nomination to its credit.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Diane Brewster (Actors)
- Joseph Pevney (Director) - William Haines (Writer) - Edmund Grainger (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
6. The Abyss
The Abyss is a horror-cum-drama movie created by James Cameron.
The talented director once again proves his directorial abilities as he seamlessly integrates paranormal influences into the workings of the American naval and submarine forces.
Watch:
- English, Spanish (Subtitles)
- Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
7. Run Silent, Run Deep
A loose adaptation of the book of the same name, this 1958-movie depicts a fictional chapter of the American-Japanese conflict during the Second World War.
The movie underlines various aspects expected of a military person and the central character’s commitment towards achieving them, even in the face of death.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Jack Warden (Actors)
- Robert Wise (Director) - John Gay (Writer) - Harold Hecht (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Also Read: Top 10 Films on Ship Breaking Industry
8. Ice Station Zebra
Ice Station Zebra’s plot deals with spies and double-crossing and uniquely presents a tale of unified American and Soviet armed forces.
The movie was released in 1968 and is regarded to be loosely influenced by popular British author Alastair Maclean’s book bearing the same name. The author was also one of the screenplay writers for the movie.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan (Actors)
- John Sturges (Director) - Julian Fink (Writer) - Martin Ransohoff (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Also Read: Best movies on sea and shipping
9. The Enemy Below
The Enemy Below outlines two navy men’s conquest to out-manoeuvre each other.
Although the movie is based on a novel of the same name, there have been several modifications to it.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, David Hedison (Actors)
- Dick Powell (Director) - Wendell Mayes (Writer) - Dick Powell (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
10. The Bedford Incident
This movie relays the fictional account of a US warship, the USS Bedford.
The plotline involves the stance taken by the commanding officer of the Bedford against an incoming Soviet submersible and his relation with his subordinate officers. The movie was released in the year 1965 and was influenced by many real-time naval incidents.
Watch:
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, James MacArthur (Actors)
- James Harris (Director) - Mark Rascovich (Writer) - James Harris (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Over to you..
Do you know any other submarine movie that can be added to this list?
Let’s know in the comments below.
Image Credits: amazon
Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used in the article, have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.
The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase through an affiliate link, at no additional cost to you.
Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction
About Author
Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. His interests primarily lie in the energy sector, books and travelling.
Subscribe To Our Newsletters
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.
“U-571: U-571 gives a cinematic narration of the seizing of the fabled German cipher device ‘Enigma’ by American naval forces.”
There is no accuracy to this movie whatsoever of course.
By this point in the war Britain already had a number of enigma machines, and the Royal Navy (not American naval forces) and fought, boarded and captured enigma machines and vital code-books from a number of U-boats.
Therefore, your phrase “… gives a cinematic narration of…” is meaningless. There was no truth behind the incident to give any cinematic narration to.
No comment
This is a great list to watch.
I have definitely not watched em all.
Thanks for the list.
@Dilip: If you are still at home due to lockdown, you can watch them now 🙂
Das Boot number 3 behind Crimson Tide and U571??? This a joke, right?
Crimson Tide as number one; are you kidding??? This is probably one of the least believable submarine movies out there. Das Boot, Hunt for Red October, Run Silent Run Deep all much better movies. I put Crimson Tide about number 300.out of the 700+- submarine films out there. (259 of which I have in my collection)
No down periscope???? Best sub movie EVER!!!!
My boyfriend can’t remember a war film with submarine but they were one man ones any ideas?
U571 is cheesy and very unrealistic, I consider this movie really terrible. Das Boot, however, is a masterpiece, aserious and convincing production. Film made by adults for adults.
The Abyss is a submersible not a submarine.
The Bedford Incident and Ice Station Zebra are movies with subs but not really submarine movies.
And U-571 makes the bottom 5 of this list if at all. #2, really! Ahead of Das Boot and The Hunt for Red October. Seriously!
Hunter Killer too is a very sleek submarine movie – a must watch
I like purchasing the dvd/bluray.
Like many have said, some of these choices weren’t really submarine movies. Some not mentioned, Operation Petticoat..a comedy but definitely a sub movie, Destination Tokyo comes to mind. I still watch Das Boot, The Enemy Below, and Run Silent Run Deep (the last 2 are on youtube for free). There are lots of others I’ve seen in my 67 years but they have faded from memory. There are many ww2 subs on display around the US so if you like sub movies go inside one. It will open your eyes. I’ve been in the USS Drum in Mobile Alabama. Well worth a visit.
Thank you jerry for your comment and inputs.
“Destination Tokyo” with Cary Grant is a great submarine movie.
Cary Grant did a great job in his role and the movie itself is well-written and engaging. It’s a great watch for anyone interested in submarine movies or World War II era films.