Deep Blue Sea

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Deep Blue Sea

R

Released Jul 28, 1999

1h 45m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

117 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

On an island research facility, Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows) is harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered sharks as a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease. When the facility's backers send an executive (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate the experiments, a routine procedure goes awry and a shark starts attacking the researchers. Now, with sharks outnumbering their human captors, McAlester and her team must figure out a way to stop them from escaping to the ocean and breeding.

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Critics Consensus

Deep Blue Sea is no Jaws, but action fans seeking some toothy action can certainly do -- and almost certainly have done -- far worse for B-movie thrills.

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Paul Clinton (CNN.com)

CNN.com

If you like big summer action flicks with plenty of bite, check this one out. Then go out for a big sushi dinner. It'll make you feel better.

Jan 11, 2019

Full Review

David Denby

The New Yorker

Scary, absurd, inessential.

Jan 11, 2019

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

The characters are sufficiently naive to get picked off one by one, but their ignorance doesn't extend to the genre conventions governing their behavior, making for some shockingly funny moments.

Jan 11, 2019

Full Review

Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

It's a spin that had a fair amount of potential, but ultimately leaves you a little disappointed that they didn't fully tap into how suspenseful, wild, and over-the-top it could've been.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 17, 2025

Full Review

Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

Renny Harlin effectively combines Die Hard-style action with sharks.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2024

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Now considered a favorite cult film.

Rated: B-

Aug 4, 2023

Full Review

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moviefan2023

great action movie, classic for shark lovers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/23

Full Review

Cpry R

This film is second only to JAWS. This is a great Shark attack film, very fun, and surprising plot twists supported by an all star cast!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Mary S.

My second favorite shark movie after JAWS of course.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Craig H

Some real good tension, a decent bit of action(I really liked the last 15 minutes) the sets where fantastic and a likeable LL Cool J and Thomas Jane. Rest of the cast where crap and unlikeable and mostly bad actors, some real cringe dialogue and abit dated. Overall a decent typical late 90's movie

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Cade G

Deep Blue Sea is peak ’90s creature-feature fun — shamelessly over-the-top, suspenseful, and packed with unforgettable shark attacks. A wild, entertaining ride that still holds up as a guilty-pleasure classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Arianne I

Make sure to grab some popcorn because you're in for a big bite. This movie has multiple things going for it, visuals, top actors and story. The visuals are probably one of the best as far as shark movies go, as the film uses a mixture of real footage, animatronics and CGI. Sure some of the CGI could be better but for it's time and how everything was shot it leaves you wanting to stay out of the water. The real footage and use of animatronics for up close scenes, especially ones seen with Thomas Jane, bring a realistic feeling to the picture. The story may be science fiction but it brings along some real life thoughts in science today that could make it believable at times. The actors add an extra exciting touch to the film with well known actors like Samuel L Jackson, Michael Rapaport and Stellan Skarsgard, you'll surely want to stay on land after watching the cult classic Deep Blue Sea. As a last thought, you can depend on this movie for some definite scares and lots of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

Full Review

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Renny Harlin

Director

Thomas Jane

Carter Blake

Saffron Burrows

Dr. Susan McCallister

Samuel L. Jackson

Russell Franklin

Jacqueline McKenzie

Janice Higgins

Michael Rapaport

Tom Scoggins

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Synopsis

On an island research facility, Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows) is harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered sharks as a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease. When the facility's backers send an executive (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate the experiments, a routine procedure goes awry and a shark starts attacking the researchers. Now, with sharks outnumbering their human captors, McAlester and her team must figure out a way to stop them from escaping to the ocean and breeding.

Director: Renny Harlin
Producer: Akiva Goldsman, Tony Ludwig, Alan Riche
Screenwriter: Donna Powers, Wayne Powers, Duncan Kennedy
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Village Roadshow Prod.
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Shark Attacks)
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $73.6M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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