You Won’t Want To Go In The Ocean Immediately After Watching These 10 Movies

Movies that are set in or on the ocean have long been very entertaining for audiences, and the new thriller Last Breath is no exception. Last Breath recounts the true story of a team of deep-sea divers who do everything in their power to help rescue their teammate after his umbilical line snaps, leaving him stranded at the bottom of the ocean. Last Breath has received positive reviews thanks to the performances of its cast and the movie’s ability to build suspense throughout its entire runtime.

As is evidenced by the movie’s positive critical response and ongoing success with audiences, Last Breath is a great addition to the subgenre of thrillers that take place on the ocean. In fact, it seems like each year brings a new release that centers on the dangers of being in the ocean, meaning that there are plenty to choose from. However, the best examples of the subgenre make the audience truly reconsider whether they want to step foot in the ocean at all after watching, and Last Breath is joined by several great companions in this category.

10

The Shallows (2016)

Even Staying Close To The Beach Can Be Dangerous

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The Shallows

PG-13

Horror

Thriller

Drama

ScreenRant logo

6/10

7/10

Release Date

June 24, 2016

Runtime

86minutes

Director

Jaume Collet-Serra

Writers

Anthony Jaswinski

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Brett Cullen In The Los Angeles premiere of 'The Long Shot'

    Brett Cullen

  • Headshot Of Blake Lively In The 'It Ends With Us' World Premiere

    Blake Lively

The Shallows follows Nancy Adams, a young surfer who’s attacked by a great white shark after getting stranded 200 yards from the shore while surfing alone at a secluded beach in Mexico. Blake Lively stars in the 2016 survival thriller, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

Studio(s)

Sony

Distributor(s)

Columbia Pictures, Sony

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Jaume Collet-Serra’s 2016 movie The Shallows is the perfect example of how to scare audiences without ever losing sight of the shore. While many movies about the ocean take place miles from land, The Shallows sees its main character Nancy (Blake Lively) in danger just 200 yards away from shore. Nancy, a med student who recently lost her mother, decides to visit a beach in Mexico that her mother visited while pregnant with her to remember her and go surfing for the day.

While sharks mostly do not want to mess with people swimming, The Shallows does a great job of bringing many viewers’ fears to life with non-stop intensity.

However, things go horribly wrong when she becomes trapped on a rock just offshore after being attacked by a shark. The Shallows sees Nancy use every survival skill she has to attempt to make it to shore. While audiences don’t usually like to think about it, it is fairly common for sharks to swim close to the shore, meaning the fear of shark attacks, even in shallow water, is not entirely unfounded. While sharks mostly do not want to mess with people swimming, The Shallows does a great job of bringing many viewers’ fears to life with non-stop intensity.

9

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Sharks Are A Common Enemy In Ocean Thrillers

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Deep Blue Sea

R

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Action

Horror

ScreenRant logo

6/10

9/10

Release Date

July 28, 1999

Runtime

105 minutes

Director

Renny Harlin

Writers

Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers

Sequel(s)

Deep Blue Sea 2, Deep Blue Sea 3

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Saffron Burrows

    Saffron Burrows

  • Headshot of Thomas Jane In The Los Angeles premiere of 'Maya' held at Laemmle Royal

    Thomas Jane

A sci-fi action horror film released in 1999, Deep Blue Sea follows a group of scientists trapped in the ocean deep within a research facility as several massive genetically altered sharks begin to wreak havoc. Despite the researcher’s best intentions, the scientific experiments conducted in this facility have grown hyper-intelligent and incredibly strong, making them apex predators the likes that have never been seen.

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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Many of the most famous movies in the ocean thriller subgenre revolve around sharks as they are typically seen as an easy predator to use to create fear in the characters. However, Deep Blue Sea takes that logic a step further by centering on genetically modified sharks. The movie takes place in a scientific lab based in the ocean that uses sharks to study Alzheimer’s disease, but what the team is hiding is that they genetically modified the sharks to increase their brain size, inadvertently making them smarter and better predators.

Imagery-from-Deep-Blue-Sea

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Admittedly, many facets of Deep Blue Sea are quite silly and entirely unrealistic, but the movie’s message does still stand. The ocean and its creatures are far more dangerous than humans are often willing to acknowledge and this can create dangerous situations. In short, don’t mess with the ocean. While most viewers likely won’t find themselves in this situation anytime soon, Deep Blue Sea is still thrilling enough to remind audiences of how much we don’t know about the ocean.

8

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The Ocean Can Be Unpredictable

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The Poseidon Adventure

PG

Action

Adventure

10/10

Release Date

December 13, 1972

Runtime

117 minutes

Director

Ronald Neame

Writers

Paul Gallico, Stirling Silliphant, Wendell Mayes

Cast

See All

  • HeaDSHOT oF Gene Hackman

    Gene Hackman

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Ernest Borgnine

The Poseidon Adventure is a disaster film directed by Ronald Neame. It follows a group of passengers as they struggle for survival after their luxury cruise ship capsizes in the open sea. Starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelley Winters, the film showcases their desperate journey to safety amidst perilous conditions. The Poseidon Adventure is based on Paul Gallico’s novel and emphasizes themes of bravery and human resilience.

Main Genre

Action

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The 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure is a classic disaster movie that is a must-watch for fans of the genre and has inspired several adaptions throughout the decades. The Poseidon Adventure also features a great cast led by Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons and more. Based on the book of the same name, The Poseidon Adventure centers on the passengers of the SS Poseidon, a luxury ocean liner that is hit by a massive tsunami wave following an underwater earthquake which capsizes the boat.

The majority of the film sees the boat’s survivors attempting to get off the sinking ship so they can be rescued, but the journey is incredibly perilous. While The Poseidon Adventure stands in contrast to many of the scariest movies set on the ocean, since it does not involve any ocean creatures or being trapped deep underwater, it certainly forces audiences to think about the randomness and power of the ocean. The inhabitants of the ship believe themselves to be safe only to have that taken away thanks to a rogue wave, which is a frighteningly real possibility at sea.

7

47 Meters Down (2017)

Diving For Fun Still Has Risks

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47 Meters Down

PG-13

Thriller

Adventure

Horror

ScreenRant logo

4/10

Release Date

May 25, 2017

Runtime

89 Minutes

Director

Johannes Roberts

Writers

Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera

Sequel(s)

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Mandy Moore

    Mandy Moore

  • headshot Of Claire Holt

    Claire Holt

47 Meters Down is a thriller directed by Johannes Roberts. The film follows two sisters, played by Mandy Moore and Claire Holt, who become trapped in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean during a vacation in Mexico. With limited oxygen and surrounded by great white sharks, they must find a way to escape before time runs out.

Main Genre

Thriller

Studio(s)

Lantica Media, Flexibon Films, Dragon Root Securities, Altitude Film Sales, Dimension Films, Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures, Tea Shop & Film Company, The Fyzz

Distributor(s)

Entertainment One

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Being trapped underwater is a scary enough thought as is, but 47 Meters Down combines that fear with the possibility of being surrounded by sharks. The 2017 horror movie stars Claire Holt and Mandy Moore as two sisters, Kate and Lisa, who decide to go cage diving to observe sharks while on vacation in Mexico. However, after being lowered into the water, the winch boom breaks, and the cage sinks to the bottom of the ocean with the women trapped inside and surrounded by great white sharks.

Luckily for viewers who enjoy cage-diving in safe circumstances, the movie is not very realistic, but that does not change the fact that its tense scenes might make some inexperienced audiences think twice about trying the activity.

While Kate and Lisa look for a way to get back to the surface, their situation becomes increasingly worse as they get lower on air, eventually leading to 47 Meters Down‘s twist ending. Luckily for viewers who enjoy cage-diving in safe circumstances, the movie is not very realistic, but that does not change the fact that its tense scenes might make some inexperienced audiences think twice about trying the activity. More than anything, perhaps 47 Meters Down works best as a reminder that the ocean can be dangerous, even with all the right equipment and preparation.

6

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

Knowing The Story Is True Makes It Even More Haunting

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In the Heart of the Sea

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Drama

ScreenRant logo

6/10

24

7.5/10

Release Date

December 11, 2015

Runtime

121minutes

Director

Ron Howard

Writers

Charles Leavitt

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Brendan Gleeson iN The 66th BFI London Film Festival

    Brendan Gleeson

  • Headshot Of Cillian Murphy In The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

    Cillian Murphy

Based on the real-life event that inspired Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea is directed by Ron Howard and stars Chris Hemsworth as Owen Chase, first mate of the whaling ship Essex who must fight for his life in the middle of the ocean when a whale destroys his ship, killing most of his crew and stranding him and a few survivors on a lifeboat. Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson also star. 

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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One of the hardest ocean movies to watch is undoubtedly In the Heart of the Sea because it retells a harrowing true story. There are no angry or genetically modified sharks to be found here, just an account of the sinking of the Essex whaleship which occurred in 1820 and the ordeal that the crew went through afterward. In the Heart of the Sea was directed by Ron Howard and features an all-star cast including Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy and more, meaning that the movie keeps viewers engrossed throughout its entire runtime.

The true story of the Essex served as one of the inspirations for the classic novel Moby Dick, and In the Heart of the Sea also features some of the book’s main themes.

The historical drama details the crew setting out on their whaling venture, but after finding little luck, they sail further and eventually are attacked by a white sperm whale that sinks their ship. To survive, the men board their smaller whale boats and attempt to navigate the open ocean. While In the Heart of the Sea is partially a story of survival and resilience, the gruesome lengths that the men must go to to survive highlight the horrors of being lost at sea with little hope of rescue.

5

The Abyss (1989)

The Sci-Fi Film Highlights The Ocean’s Unknowns

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The Abyss

PG-13

Mystery

Thriller

Adventure

Drama

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

8/10

8/10

Release Date

August 9, 1989

Runtime

140 minutes

Director

James Cameron

Writers

James Cameron

Producers

Joakim Hansson

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Michael Biehn In The Spike TV's Scream Awards 2006

    Michael Biehn

    Tage Vibenius

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Leo Burmeister

    Frigga Vibenius

The Abyss is James Cameron’s fourth feature film and his second water-themed movie. Starring Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, the 1989 drama that revolves around a team of oil workers and Navy SEALs who face a mysterious alien race at the bottom of the ocean.

Studio(s)

20th Century

Distributor(s)

20th Century

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James Cameron’s 1989 film The Abyss is pure science fiction, but it still has several scenes that make audiences question why anyone would want to be that deep in the ocean. The Abyss centers on a submarine that has sunk near the Cayman Trough in the Caribbean and the efforts made by the US government and the workers of an underwater drilling platform that are attempting to salvage the submarine before it is too late. However, the crew gets more than they bargained for when they learn that there are other beings underwater that none of them can explain.

Though some of the science and the probability of underwater aliens certainly seem far-fetched to many viewers, the dangers of deep-sea diving can be very real, and The Abyss does a great job of reminding us of that. Thanks to some friendly underwater aliens, The Abyss‘s ending is actually more positive than many of the other movies in the ocean thriller category, but Cameron’s excellent direction and ability to create suspense keep audiences hooked throughout the film.

4

All Is Lost (2013)

The Robert Redford Survival Film Shows The Worst Circumstances

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all is lost

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Drama

ScreenRant logo

5/10

Release Date

August 23, 2013

Runtime

106 Minutes

Director

J.C. Chandor

Writers

J.C. Chandor

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Robert Redford In The North America Rights Only

    Robert Redford

All Is Lost is a survival drama film starring Robert Redford as a lone sailor facing life-threatening challenges after his yacht collides with a shipping container in the Indian Ocean. Directed by J.C. Chandor, the film features minimal dialogue and focuses on the protagonist’s resourcefulness and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Through meticulous attention to detail, the narrative explores themes of human endurance and isolation.

Main Genre

Action

Studio(s)

Before the Door Pictures, Washington Square Films, Black Bear Pictures, Treehouse Pictures, Sudden Storm Productions, FilmNation Entertainment

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The 2013 survival film All Is Lost is pretty unusual given that there is only one cast member, Robert Redford, and the entire film includes only 51 words, but it is a near-perfect example of the extreme circumstances of being lost at sea. The film was well-received and even won several awards due to its ability to highlight the fading hope of its main character. There is nothing science fiction about the film at all. All Is Lost is straightforwardly about survival and the lengths that humans can survive through when forced into existential danger.

Though this sort of danger seems unlikely for swimmers who remain close to the shore, All Is Lost could certainly make even seasoned sailors wary of the worst possibilities.

All Is Lost sees its unnamed main character struggle to keep his boat afloat after it is damaged by a shipping container, but just when it seems that he has fixed the damage he is hit by an oncoming storm. Each major moment of the film sees the man tried by a new challenge as his boat eventually sinks, and he is left to navigate the ocean in a life raft. Though this sort of danger seems unlikely for swimmers who remain close to the shore, All Is Lost could certainly make even seasoned sailors wary of the worst possibilities.

3

The Perfect Storm (2000)

The Star-Studded Film Is Based On A Tragic True Story

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The Perfect Storm

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Documentary

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

June 29, 2000

Runtime

129 minutes

Director

Wolfgang Petersen

Cast

  • Headshot Of George Clooney

    George Clooney

  • A photo of actor Mark Wahlberg at a screening of Arthur The King

    Mark Wahlberg

  • Headshot Of Diane Lane In The FX's 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' For Your Consideration Event

    Diane Lane

  • Headshot Of John C. Reilly

    John C. Reilly

Main Genre

Action

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The Perfect Storm is a 2000 disaster movie based on the nonfiction book of the same name. With a cast led by George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane and more, the movie is full of impressive performances. However, the main takeaway from The Perfect Storm is how devastating the real-life 1991 storm was. The biographical film outlines the lives of the crew members and their circumstances before boarding the Andrea Gail fishing boat through the rescue attempts made for the crew.

A custom image of Suraj Sharma from Life of Pi and Robert Redford in All Is Lost.

Related

10 Best Movies About Being Lost At Sea

Films where characters are lost at sea do an excellent job of pulling audiences into their exhilarating stories of survival in the vast ocean waters.

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The tragic true story highlights the unpredictability of the ocean and how little humans can do to interfere with it when bad weather conditions arise. Despite the attempts to help the Andrea Gail made by another fishing crew, a helicopter crew, and the Coast Guard, sadly neither the boat nor any of the crew were ever found. The Perfect Storm highlights the bravery of those involved in the attempted rescue and the crew themselves, but it does certainly show the risks of running into storms in the open ocean.

2

Jaws (1975)

The Original Shark Movie Has Had A Lasting Impact

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Jaws

PG-13

Adventure

Horror

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

10/10

31

9.3/10

Release Date

June 18, 1975

Runtime

124 minutes

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writers

Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, John Milius, Howard Sackler, Robert Shaw

Cast

See All

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Roy Scheider

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Robert Shaw

Steven Spielberg’s legendary tale of one man’s desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.

Main Genre

Adventure

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If there is one reason why so many people alive today are afraid of sharks, that reason is Jaws. Jaws has been regarded as the first blockbuster movie and even held the title of highest-grossing movie ever for a period of time. Beyond its massive impact on the movie industry, Jaws also massively impacted how people see sharks. In fact, according to Smithsonian Magazine, Steven Spielberg himself stated that he regretted how the film had changed perceptions of sharks.

Jaws 1975 poster

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It seems unfair to blame Jaws for any fear of sharks, but the truth is that it did inspire so many of the movies that came after it, which have been rooted in the false idea that sharks go out of their way to attack people. Jaws sees shark attacks happen both in the shallow waters of public beaches and deeper in the ocean, where the film’s biggest confrontation takes place. Understandably, then, the fear of sharks caused by Jaws has likely caused its fair share of people to avoid the ocean, at least for a little while.

1

Last Breath (2025)

The Movie Highlights The Real Dangers Of Working At Sea

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Last Breath

PG-13

Thriller

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

8/10

Release Date

February 27, 2025

Runtime

93 minutes

Director

Alex Parkinson

Writers

Alex Parkinson, David Brooks, Mitchell LaFortune

Producers

Jared Underwood, Alastair Burlingham, Danny Mandel, Jeremy Plager, Anna Mohr-Pietsch, Gary Raskin, Stewart Le Marechal, Richard Da Costa, Andrew C. Robinson, Jonny Persey, David Brooks, Al Morrow, Dan Clifton, Hal Sadoff, Paul Brooks, Norman Golightly

Cast

  • Headshot Of Woody Harrelson

    Woody Harrelson

    Duncan Allcock

  • Headshot of Simu Liu In The Los Angeles premiere of 'Atlas' at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood

    Simu Liu

    David Yuasa

Last Breath is a film releasing in 2025, depicting the harrowing true story of experienced deep-sea divers who confront fierce natural forces to save a crewmate trapped deep beneath the ocean surface.

Main Genre

Thriller

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Last Breath is a great example of the unexpected dangers of working at sea, and it is completely understandable that it may put audiences off going into the ocean for a while. The biographical survival movie stars Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis as members of a diving team who experienced a catastrophe when their 2012 job ended in a shocking accident. The new movie perfectly recreates how tense the situation really would have been as the crew raced against time to rescue the diver Chris Lemons.

While many survival films based on true stories can only offer very bleak endings, Last Breath‘s ending is unexpectedly positive, as the real-life Chris Lemons actually survived the events portrayed in the film. The possibility of being stuck 100 meters below the ocean’s surface is admittedly terrifying and would make most audiences think twice about setting foot in the ocean, but Chris Lemons recovered almost immediately and even returned to finish the job just a few weeks later making the true story even more impressive than Last Breath.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

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