Submarine and Undersea Movies
by nagolyar | created - 17 May 2020 | updated - 19 Apr 2021 | PublicMovies with a central theme about submarines and undersea operations. (still being built)
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1. Das Boot (1981)
R | 149 min | Drama, War
A German U-boat stalks the frigid waters of the North Atlantic as its young crew experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic life of a submariner in World War II.
Director: Wolfgang Petersen | Stars: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch
Votes: 264,464 | Gross: $11.49M
2. U-571 (2000)
PG-13 | 116 min | Action, War
A German submarine is boarded by disguised American submariners trying to capture their Enigma cipher machine.
Director: Jonathan Mostow | Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi
Votes: 87,433 | Gross: $77.09M
3. Operation Petticoat (1959)
Approved | 124 min | Comedy, Romance, War
During World War II, a commander finds himself stuck with a decrepit (and pink) submarine, a con man executive officer, and a group of army nurses.
Director: Blake Edwards | Stars: Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Joan O'Brien, Dina Merrill
Votes: 15,884 | Gross: $23.30M
4. Gray Lady Down (1978)
PG | 111 min | Adventure, Drama, History
A Navy Captain uses his experimental Snark to reach a nuclear submarine stuck on an ocean ledge.
Director: David Greene | Stars: Charlton Heston, David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Ned Beatty
Votes: 3,537
5. The Enemy Below (1957)
Approved | 98 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
During WWII an American destroyer discovers a German U-boat, and in the ensuing duel the American captain must draw upon all his experience to defeat the equally experienced German commander.
Director: Dick Powell | Stars: Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, David Hedison, Theodore Bikel
Votes: 12,261
6. Crash Dive (1943)
Approved | 106 min | Drama, Romance, War
A submarine lieutenant and his commander fall in love with the same girl.
Director: Archie Mayo | Stars: Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, James Gleason
Votes: 1,751
7. Run Silent Run Deep (1958)
Approved | 93 min | Action, Drama, War
A U.S. sub commander, obsessed with sinking a certain Japanese ship, butts heads with his first officer and crew.
Director: Robert Wise | Stars: Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Jack Warden, Brad Dexter
Votes: 13,123
8. Hellcats of the Navy (1957)
Not Rated | 82 min | Drama, Thriller, War
The daring exploits of a submarine commander whose mission is to chart the minefields in the waters of Japan during World War II.
Director: Nathan Juran | Stars: Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Arthur Franz, Robert Arthur
Votes: 1,150
9. Destination Tokyo (1943)
Passed | 135 min | Adventure, War
In order to provide information for the first air raid over Tokyo, a U.S. submarine sneaks into Tokyo Bay and places a spy team ashore.
Director: Delmer Daves | Stars: Cary Grant, John Garfield, Alan Hale, John Ridgely
Votes: 5,752
10. Operation Pacific (1951)
Approved | 111 min | Drama, Romance, War
During WWII, a submarine's second in command inherits the problem of torpedoes that don't explode. When on shore, he is eager to win back his ex-wife.
Director: George Waggner | Stars: John Wayne, Patricia Neal, Ward Bond, Scott Forbes
Votes: 3,893
11. Ice Station Zebra (1968)
G | 148 min | Adventure, Thriller
USN nuclear sub USS Tigerfish must rush to the North Pole to rescue the staff of Drift Ice Station Zebra weather station.
Director: John Sturges | Stars: Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, Jim Brown
Votes: 11,884
12. Hell and High Water (1954)
Approved | 103 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
During the Cold War, a scientific team refits a Japanese submarine and hires an ex-Navy officer to find a secret Chinese atomic island base and prevent a Communist plot against America that could trigger WW3.
Director: Samuel Fuller | Stars: Richard Widmark, Bella Darvi, Victor Francen, Cameron Mitchell
Votes: 2,236
13. Morning Departure (1946 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama
At the end of World War II, a Royal Navy submarine on routine patrol strikes and detonates a mine. The subsequent explosion sinks the submarine, killing most of its crew. Frantic efforts ... See full summary »
Director: Harold Clayton | Stars: Nigel Patrick, John Stevens, Derek Elphinstone, Ronald Adam
Votes: 54
14. Morning Departure (1948 TV Movie)
90 min | Drama
Stars: Michael Rennie, William Roderick, Derek Elphinstone, Ronald Adam
15. Operation Disaster (1950)
Approved | 102 min | Drama, History, War
The crew of a submarine is trapped on the sea floor when it sinks. How can they be rescued before they run out of air?
Director: Roy Ward Baker | Stars: John Mills, Nigel Patrick, Peter Hammond, Andrew Crawford
Votes: 848
Third production of Morning Departure (other two were plays on BBC in 1946 and 1948)
16. We Dive at Dawn (1943)
Not Rated | 98 min | Action, Drama, War
All leave is cancelled so that a British submarine can be sent after a new German warship. They chase it so far that they have no fuel to get home.
Director: Anthony Asquith | Stars: John Mills, Louis Bradfield, Ronald Millar, Jack Watling
Votes: 1,701
17. Submarine Command (1951)
Approved | 87 min | Drama, War
Submarine commander Ken White reminisces about his wartime years aboard submarine USS Tiger Shark and struggles with feelings of personal guilt.
Director: John Farrow | Stars: William Holden, Nancy Olson, William Bendix, Don Taylor
Votes: 685
18. Above Us the Waves (1955)
Approved | 92 min | Drama, War
The attack by British submarines on the German battleship "Tirpitz" in a Norwegian fjord during World War II.
Director: Ralph Thomas | Stars: John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice
Votes: 1,631
19. Up Periscope (1959)
Approved | 112 min | Action, Drama, Romance
In 1942, Navy Lieutenant Kenneth Braden from the underwater demolition team is sent to a Japanese island to photograph secret radio codes.
Director: Gordon Douglas | Stars: James Garner, Edmond O'Brien, Andra Martin, Alan Hale Jr.
Votes: 2,254
20. Down Periscope (1996)
PG-13 | 92 min | Comedy
Lt. Cmdr. Tom Dodge is assigned as Captain to the USS Stingray, an old diesel driven submarine that has seen better days.
Director: David S. Ward | Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Holly, Rob Schneider, Harry Dean Stanton
Votes: 26,701 | Gross: $25.79M
21. Mystery Submarine (1962)
92 min | Adventure, Drama, War
During WWII, the British Royal Navy uses a captured German submarine to trick the enemy and protect their supply convoy.
Director: C.M. Pennington-Richards | Stars: Edward Judd, James Robertson Justice, Laurence Payne, Joachim Fuchsberger
Votes: 74
22. Torpedo Bay (1963)
99 min | War, Drama
An Italian submarine captain tries to navigate his sub through enemy waters whilst being stalked by a British commander (James Mason). The Italian sub manages to make it into the neutral port of Tangiers, followed by the British commander.
Directors: Charles Frend, Bruno Vailati | Stars: Lilli Palmer, James Mason, Gabriele Ferzetti, Alberto Lupo
Votes: 101
AKA Beta Som
23. On the Beach (1959)
Approved | 134 min | Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.
Director: Stanley Kramer | Stars: Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins
Votes: 14,425 | Gross: $11.00M
24. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
PG | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
When the Earth is threatened by a burning Van Allen Radiation Belt, U.S. Navy Admiral Harriman Nelson plans to shoot a nuclear missile at the Belt, using his experimental atomic submarine, the Seaview.
Director: Irwin Allen | Stars: Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, Peter Lorre
Votes: 6,667
25. K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
PG-13 | 138 min | Drama, History, Thriller
When Russia's first nuclear submarine malfunctions on its maiden voyage, the crew must race to save the ship and prevent a nuclear disaster.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow | Stars: Harrison Ford, Sam Spruell, Peter Stebbings, Christian Camargo
Votes: 67,430 | Gross: $35.17M
26. The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966)
Unrated | 126 min | Comedy, War
Without hostile intent, a Soviet submarine runs aground off New England. Men are sent for a boat, but many villagers go into a tizzy, risking bloodshed.
Director: Norman Jewison | Stars: Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin, Brian Keith
Votes: 10,058 | Gross: $21.69M
27. Crimson Tide (1995)
R | 116 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
On a U.S. nuclear missile sub, a young First Officer stages a mutiny to prevent his trigger happy Captain from launching his missiles before confirming his orders to do so.
Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, Matt Craven, George Dzundza
Votes: 123,403 | Gross: $91.40M
28. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
PG | 135 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
In November 1984, the Soviet Union's best submarine captain violates orders and heads for the U.S. in a new undetectable sub. The American CIA and military must quickly determine: Is he trying to defect or to start a war?
Director: John McTiernan | Stars: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill
Votes: 214,860 | Gross: $122.01M
29. The Silent Enemy (1958)
Not Rated | 112 min | Action, Biography, History
During WW2, Italian Navy divers use underwater chariots to mine the keels of British warships, forcing the British to send underwater demolition expert Lionel Crabbe and his team to counter these enemy actions.
Director: William Fairchild | Stars: Laurence Harvey, Dawn Addams, Michael Craig, John Clements
Votes: 848
2nd of 3 movies discussing the exploits of Italian Frogmen & mini-subs (maiali or Pigs) attacking British warships in WWII
30. The Valiant (1962)
80 min | Action, Drama, War
During World War II, two Italian frogmen, who placed magnetic mines under a British warship, are captured and interrogated by British intelligence about their mission.
Director: Roy Ward Baker | Stars: John Mills, Ettore Manni, Roberto Risso, Robert Shaw
Votes: 109
3rd of 3 movies discussing the exploits of Italian Frogmen & mini-subs (maiali or Pigs) attacking British warships in WWII
31. Hell Raiders of the Deep (1953)
93 min | Drama, War
A team of Italian divers plan to attach high explosives to the hulls of Royal Navy ships at anchor in Gibraltar harbour.
Director: Duilio Coletti | Stars: Eleonora Rossi Drago, Pierre Cressoy, Girolamo Manisco, Giovanni Tadini
Votes: 42
1st of 3 movies discussing the exploits of Italian Frogmen & mini-subs (maiali or Pigs) attacking British warships in WWII
32. Submarine X-1 (1968)
G | 89 min | Action, Drama, War
During World War II, the British Royal Navy used experimental midget submarines to raid German warships in Norway.
Director: William A. Graham | Stars: James Caan, David Sumner, Norman Bowler, Brian Grellis
Votes: 737
33. Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (1991 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 100 min | Action, Drama, History
True story of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, its crew's struggle to survive the sharks and exposure, and the captain's scape-goat court-martial.
Director: Robert Iscove | Stars: Stacy Keach, Richard Thomas, Don Harvey, Robert Cicchini
Votes: 960
34. The Frogmen (1951)
Approved | 96 min | Adventure, Drama, War
The new commander of a Navy Underwater Demolition Team--nicknamed "Frogmen"--must earn the respect of the men in his unit, who are still grieving over the death of their former commander and resentful of the new one.
Director: Lloyd Bacon | Stars: Richard Widmark, Dana Andrews, Gary Merrill, Jeffrey Hunter
Votes: 1,541
35. The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)
Approved | 99 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Meek and mild mannered bookkeeper Henry Limpet has few passions in life. It's mid-1941 and he would love to join the Navy but has been rated 4F. His friend George Stickle is in the Navy and... See full summary »
Directors: Arthur Lubin, Gerry Chiniquy, Robert McKimson, Hawley Pratt, Bill Tytla | Stars: Don Knotts, Carole Cook, Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan
Votes: 5,969
Patriotic Fish declares war on U-Boats
36. Fer-de-Lance (1974 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 100 min | Adventure, Thriller
Snakes on board an American sub set off a chain of events that ultimately causes the boat to sink to the bottom of the ocean. The surviving crew must devise a rescue plan to free themselves and raise the sub.
Director: Russ Mayberry | Stars: David Janssen, Hope Lange, Ivan Dixon, Jason Evers
Votes: 186
37. Assault on a Queen (1966)
Approved | 106 min | Adventure, Crime, Thriller
A motley crew of treasure hunters plan to rob the cruise-liner RMS Queen Mary, using a recovered WW2 German submarine.
Director: Jack Donohue | Stars: Frank Sinatra, Virna Lisi, Anthony Franciosa, Richard Conte
Votes: 1,238
38. The Silent Service (1957–1958)
30 min | Action, War
Documentary dramatic anthology about the US Navy's submarine fleet. All stories were based on fact and the realism was heightened by actual use of combat footage from the files of the Navy.
Stars: Thomas M. Dykers, Eric Morris, Robert Knapp, Ron Foster
Votes: 162
NOT a Movie but Deserves special mention for its documentary format of the US Navy submarine service.
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