James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge

PG

Released Aug 8, 2014

1h 25m

Documentary

List

69%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

On March 26, 2012, James Cameron made a record-breaking solo dive to Earth's lowest point, successfully piloting a submarine nearly seven miles deep to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

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Prime Video

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Critics Consensus

Deepsea Challenge 3D is more of a tribute to director James Cameron than a true nature documentary, but it still boasts enough passion and visual thrills to make for an immersive viewing experience.

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Jorge H

This is an underrated documentary, I watched it 9 years ago in Sydney, Australia where I had the opportunity to interview James Cameron. It was then that I realized the risks of a trip of this nature. The OceanGate tragedy puts this documentary in an entirely different perspective. James Cameron has survived more than 33 trips to the bottom of the Ocean because he is a demanding person when it comes to calculating costs and following protocols. Hats off to the builders and engineers of the Acheron Project as they followed the protocols for building the Deepsea Challenger using titanium, the Australian-built submarine. Stockton Rush the CEO of OceanGate should have consulted Cameron to build his submarine. My condolences goes to the family members who died in the tragedy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Challenge here is trying to stay awake. Boring documentary.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved this documentary. Gave a realistic look but still a cinematic feeling to add more drama to it (in a positive way). Personally I don't like (what happens a lot in NG-documentaries) is the use of actors in the so-called flashbacks. For the people who do like it, it's well-made and it added a nice touch. I also liked that you first get to know earlier achievements and experiences of James Cameron before you dive into the adventure what the documentary is about (it gave a nice build-up). Conclusion, a well-made, inspirational and thrilling documentary.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Although I didn't see it in 3D it was still really interesting. In the end, I just wanted to know more and more but maybe that was the point.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Unfortunately there wasn't much to see at the bottom of Challenger Deep, so the film focuses mainly on Cameron's career and the sub development, resulting in a very boring documentary.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If you're interested in watching someone's ego play out over 2 hours you should watch this movie. All hail James Cameron.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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John Bruno

Director

Andrew Wight

Director

Ray Quint

Director

James Cameron

Self

Suzy Amis

Self

Paul Henri

Don Walsh

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James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge: Trailer 1

2:39

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Scott Foundas

Variety

While watching Cameron get in touch with his inner Jacques Cousteau won't be to everyone's taste, fans of the director and oceanography gearheads should swoon to the immersive, visually spectacular images of the ocean floor.

Sep 16, 2014

Full Review

Alonso Duralde

TheWrap

Adjust your documentary-watching gauge closer to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and further away from "Werner Herzog discovers one of the last unspoiled places left on earth," and you'll have a perfectly enjoyable time.

Sep 16, 2014

Full Review

John DeFore

Hollywood Reporter

If the three hours of filming Cameron did in the Trench yield little obvious drama, the story of how the Deepsea Challenger reached those depths makes up for it.

Sep 16, 2014

Full Review

Carl Franzen

The Verge

Cameron is much better at explaining the science involved in his mission than he is in revealing what makes him tick. But he does point to one common denominator between his two careers: insatiable curiosity.

Sep 16, 2014

Full Review

Chris Klimek

The Dissolve

It's so high on the thrill of discovery that it might even win over people who can't stand the guy.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 16, 2014

Full Review

Jim Schembri

3AW

Also known as Voyage to the Bottom of James Cameron's Ego...the film is like a scientific version of extreme sports with Cameron as the ultimate achievement junkie... It's impossible not to be absorbed and awed.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 29, 2014

Full Review

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Synopsis

On March 26, 2012, James Cameron made a record-breaking solo dive to Earth's lowest point, successfully piloting a submarine nearly seven miles deep to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

Director: John Bruno, Andrew Wight, Ray Quint
Producer: Mikael Borglund, James Cameron
Screenwriter: Andrew Wight, John Garvin
Distributor: DisruptiveLA
Production Co: Earthship Productions, Beyond Productions, Wight Expeditions
Rating: PG (Language|Brief Disaster Images)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $149.9K
Runtime: 1h 25m

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