Dead Calm

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Dead Calm

TV-MA

1989

1h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

84%

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31 Reviews

63%

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25,000+ Ratings

Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill), struggle to overcome the sudden death of their young son. In an attempt to move past their loss, the couple take their yacht out for an extended vacation trip. While far out at sea, they come across a sinking schooner and rescue the ship's sole survivor, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane). Hughie claims the crew of the ship died from food poisoning. Though Rae is empathetic towards Hughie, John is suspicious of his story.

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Critics Consensus

Nicole Kidman's coiled intensity and muscular direction by Phillip Noyce give this nautical thriller a disquieting sense of dread.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Though not always entirely credible, Dead Calm is a nail-biting suspense pic [from the novel by Charles Williams] handsomely produced and inventively directed.

Oct 18, 2008

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

A classic piece of pared-down genre film-making is lent extra depth by an emotional subtext stressing Kidman's transition from dependent wife to resourceful individual.

Jan 26, 2006

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Caryn James

New York Times

"Dead Calm" ... becomes disturbing for all the wrong reasons.

May 20, 2003

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

It is a tightly wound and wonderfully suspenseful work, making use of an extremely limited cast and cleverly exploiting its setting to maximum effect.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 22, 2024

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Dead Calm is not particularly original, but it is well made. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 24, 2022

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

The best kind of shabby little shocker.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 2, 2020

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Scott R

NYT 1000 movies list. This character study of a couple on a boat in the ocean who come across a crazy man leaving a haunted boat makes for some tense drama. However, it doesn't always deliver despite awesome performances. SLC DVD.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

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Dustin P.

Thought it was very good, main character made some questionable decisions but well worth the watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/30/25

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Barry E

Normally I wouldn't summarize a movie with one word, but this one deserves an exception: stupid.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

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Shaun R

Great thriller. It’s quiet and atmospheric. Stranded at sea with a psycho makes for a great movie if done right. This is done right.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

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Stoner J

The best at-sea thriller ever made! So intense. And all the actors did phenomenal work here

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/25

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Charles B

I saw this movie when it came out, it was I'm thinking eerie at best and a whole lot of damn. If Ever get to free, I'll definitely watch it......

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Phillip Noyce

Director

Sam Neill

John Ingram

Nicole Kidman

Rae Ingram

Billy Zane

Hughie Warriner

Rod Mullinar

Russell Bellows

Michael Long

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Synopsis

Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill), struggle to overcome the sudden death of their young son. In an attempt to move past their loss, the couple take their yacht out for an extended vacation trip. While far out at sea, they come across a sinking schooner and rescue the ship's sole survivor, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane). Hughie claims the crew of the ship died from food poisoning. Though Rae is empathetic towards Hughie, John is suspicious of his story.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Producer: Terry Hayes, George Miller, Doug Mitchell
Screenwriter: Terry Hayes, Charles Williams
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Kennedy Miller Productions
Rating: TV-MA, R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.0M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround

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