Das Boot

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Das Boot

R

Released Sep 17, 1981

2h 30m

War

Drama

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Popcornmeter

98%

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55 Reviews

95%

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25,000+ Ratings

A German submarine patrols the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, manned by a crew that must contend with tense conflicts and long stretches of confined boredom. While war correspondent Werner (Herbert Grönemeyer) observes day-to-day life aboard the U-boat, the grizzled captain (Jürgen Prochnow) struggles to maintain his own motivation as he attempts to keep the ship's morale up in the face of fierce battles, intense storms and dwindling supplies.

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Critics Consensus

Taut, breathtakingly thrilling, and devastatingly intelligent, Das Boot is one of the greatest war films ever made.

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Wael Khairy

RogerEbert.com

...enough nerve-wracking suspense to make your heart pound against your chest like depth charges rupturing a submarine's hull.

Jul 30, 2023

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Dwight Brown

Sepia

Das Boot's actors look like they have lived through every sneak attack and painful claustrophobic moment in this film.

Aug 10, 2022

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Scott Cain

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

This is the finest submarine movie ever made. Although director Wolfgang Petersen emphasizes the claustrophobia of undersea life, his above-surface scenes are powerful as well.

Nov 9, 2021

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

The outcome, no matter how you look at it, confirms that it's futile to return to war but that it's also impossible to escape it. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 21, 2023

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Judy Stone

San Francisco Examiner

Director Wolfgang Petersen has rigorously discarded war movie clichés, both American and those of the Nazi regime, to show the very human fears and real courage of Germans who battled for, and lost, supremacy of the seas.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 11, 2021

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Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Effective as an anti-war movie and as thrilling as any disaster flick, Das Boot is a humanistic masterpiece.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 21, 2021

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Carol P.

Absolutely The best submarine movie ever A Must Watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e o filme ficou muito cansativo com mais de 3 horas de duração.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/23/25

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Stephen C

Too long in 2.5 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

Full Review

Kyle C

A lot of war movies spend a lot of time saying “war is bad”. Das Boot instead says “humans are incredible, resilient, ingenious creatures, and war is the worst possible thing we can do with our talents”. The atmosphere is crushing but homey, with fruit and sausages dangling from steel pipes, a shared latrine for a crew of 50, and sopping wet, well, everything. This film uses the camera incredibly effectively, incorporating character close-ups, frantic sprinting shots, and foggy, underwater landscapes to seamlessly, almost unconsciously transition the perspective, connecting you with specific characters at times, and at others, making you feel like just another member of the crew. The set work is very much deserving of all the awards it received. Apart from an occasionally wonky green screen in some external shots (I mean, it was 1981, after all), this film could not feel more real if it was a documentary. And the soundtrack dates the film just a little, but it’s forgivable and maybe a little charming. The pacing of the story is unique, given to the fact that it’s really just a shortened cut of a 6-episode miniseries. But it works for a film of this length, feeling naturally episodic while still consistently building pressure (no pun intended). All in all, Das Boot is a feat of filmmaking and a great option for anyone who likes being stressed (in a good way).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/19/25

Full Review

Andrew C

Claustrophobic. Wolfgang Peterson captures the intensity of the situation in an incredible way. One of the best films of its kind.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

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Madam D

Like any really good war movie, this shows the human toll & ignorance of war. Great writing, acting and special effects.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/21/25

Full Review

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Wolfgang Petersen

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Jürgen Prochnow

Der Alte

Herbert Grönemeyer

Lt. Werner

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Synopsis

A German submarine patrols the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, manned by a crew that must contend with tense conflicts and long stretches of confined boredom. While war correspondent Werner (Herbert Grönemeyer) observes day-to-day life aboard the U-boat, the grizzled captain (Jürgen Prochnow) struggles to maintain his own motivation as he attempts to keep the ship's morale up in the face of fierce battles, intense storms and dwindling supplies.

Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Producer: Günter Rohrbach, Ortwin Freyermuth
Screenwriter: Lothar G. Buchheim, Wolfgang Petersen, Dean Riesner
Distributor: RCA/Columbia, Columbia Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co: Bavaria Film, Radiant Productions, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Rating: R
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Dolby Digital, SDDS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

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