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

116 Reviews

39%

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

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David Denby

The New Yorker

Scary, absurd, inessential.

Jan 11, 2019

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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

Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

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

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2024

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Now considered a favorite cult film.

Rated: B-

Aug 4, 2023

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Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

Deep Blue Sea is overall a bit of a silly shark film, but it’s a really fun one with lots of action sequences.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 26, 2022

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moviefan2023

great action movie, classic for shark lovers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/23

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Anton H

This was upsetting. The main takeaway here is an unrelenting nightmare of sharks, claustrophobia, and some of the most horrific and devastating deaths ever. These are on full display, shoved into the audience’s face with the force of a head-on collision with a Peterbilt. Although a solid thriller, these scenes are not only gruesome and shocking, they are extremely unpleasant to watch. Not sure why I loved this movie so much as a kid.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

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Edward P

Crazy hybrid shark action what’s not to like!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/22/24

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Rik O

I have this on DVD and have watched it so many times. It's not going to win Oscars but it's a good watch. You can watch it multiple times, there's good action, good tension, the film builds to a strong climax. Yes it's cheese but it embraces that. I think people hate on it a bit too much for what is probably the second best shark film after jaws.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

Samuel L J has an early night in this rubbish nerve shredding but not scary dump truck of a joke. Watched years ago.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

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scott j

How is this 39% audience score!!! At the time best shark movie since jaws! Sure the effects are dated, but take this for what it is, just big dumb fun!!! And sharks having a ball!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

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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