Crimson Tide

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Crimson Tide

R

Released May 12, 1995

1h 55m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible Armageddon. When Ramsay insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him.

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Critics Consensus

Boasting taut, high energy thrills and some cracking dialogue courtesy of an uncredited Quentin Tarantino, Crimson Tide finds director Tony Scott near the top of his action game.

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Simpson/Bruckheimer have plunged to the ocean's depths to reach the heights of commercial, big-movie filmmaking.

May 12, 2020

Full Review

Dolores Barclay

Associated Press

Crimson Tide is a whale of a movie, an intense and a heartstopping adventure played out against the unnerving threat of nuclear annihilation.

Feb 19, 2020

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

This is a boy's movie all the way.

Mar 26, 2009

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

While this first (and still best) collaboration between Denzel Washington and late filmmaker Tony Scott remains a classic 1990s blockbuster, the tentative nature of the transformative path Washington’s character takes within it is often overlooked.

Rated: 4.5/5

Dec 30, 2024

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Adrian Turner

Radio Times

This is riveting stuff, an achievement that is even more remarkable in view of the movie's restricted setting - a submarine's claustrophobic confines.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 2, 2024

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...the picture’s compulsively watchable atmosphere is heightened by its emphasis on the fascinating nitty-gritty of submarine life and its surfeit of magnetic, charismatic performances...

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 19, 2023

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Ricardo B

Eu me apaixonei por esse filme à primeira vista, dois ou três anos atrás. Mas ele me fez retornar várias vezes e e vem se tornando, nos últimos meses, um dos meus filmes preferidos. E o principal fator causador disso é o roteiro. "Maré Vermelha" tem um dos mais intensos e incendiários conflitos entre personagens que eu já vi, cuidadosamente desenvolvido em cada interação e lindamente atuado por Denzel Washington e Gene Hackman. E embora seja totalmente confinado dentro de um subarino, o filme é forte como uma bala de canhão e explosivo como um míssil, prova de que ação se faz de diversas formas, não necessariamente na forma de pereseguições, tiroteios e explosões.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Really good movie. Hackman and Denzel are great. You can see why these two are seen as two of the best to do it. I love the submarine war in this. Super tense even at a slower speed. Tony Scott simply knows how to make quality movies.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

Andrew P.

Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington at their best. The suspense, the action, the drama. This movie is often overlooked, but there’s no way you will not enjoy this movie if you stop and watch it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

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Calvin T

That was top notch....glad I watched it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

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Alex R

Tense action thriller. Great cast

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $91,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

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Tony Scott

Director

Denzel Washington

Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter, XO, USS Alabama

Gene Hackman

Capt. Frank Ramsey

George Dzundza

Chief of the boat (COB)

Viggo Mortensen

Lt. Peter 'Weps' Ince

James Gandolfini

Lt. Bobby Dougherty, Supply Officer, USS Alabama

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Synopsis

After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible Armageddon. When Ramsay insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him.

Director: Tony Scott
Producer: Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter: Richard P. Henrick, Michael Schiffer
Distributor: Image Entertainment Inc., Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Hollywood Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $91.4M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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