Das Boot

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Das Boot

R

1981

2h 30m

War

Drama

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Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

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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Banff 9.

Best War Drama, Best Thriller, Best EVERYTHING Movie. One of the few films that are actually better than the book. Recommend watching the longer Director’s Cut…settle in and take it all in. Stellar from start to finish.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

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David F

An intense look at underwater warfare during WWII.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Phantom 9

I’ve watched the director’s cut and it was absolutely amazing. It reminded me why older movies are so special they’re crafted with real passion, attention to detail, and atmosphere that pulls you in completely. Every scene felt alive, the acting was powerful, and the pacing kept me engaged from start to finish. The story had real depth and emotion, even if the ending felt a bit depressing. Still, that doesn’t take away from how incredible the whole experience was. I’d easily give it a solid 4.5/5 – nearly perfect in every aspect.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/18/25

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Abhishek B

A Must-watch movie. Absolutely brilliant story, great actors and fabulous filmography. Start to End gritty, suspenseful and brilliant ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/17/25

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ETV K

Coming from a current Submariner, Das Boot is the pinnacle of submarine movies. It might even be one of the best war movies ever made. You will not regret watching this. Recommend the 3 hour Directors Cut version. It builds each character to the point where they feel like your friends and you are part of the crew. No other submarine movie has ever made me feel that way, and this movie has one of the best endings I have ever seen in cinema. -ETV1(SS)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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Carol P.

Absolutely The best submarine movie ever A Must Watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

Full Review

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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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