Open Water

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Open Water

R

2003

1h 19m

Mystery & Thriller

Adventure

Drama

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

195 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Daniel (Daniel Travis) and Susan (Blanchard Ryan) embark on a tropical vacation with their scuba-diving certifications in tow. During a group dive, the two separate themselves from the others to dive a little deeper. An incorrect head-count suggests the entire group has returned, so the boat departs. When the pair surfaces, they make out a vessel in the distance, but it does not immediately set in that they have been left behind. With sharks lurking beneath, their survival chances grow smaller.

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Critics Consensus

A low budget thriller with some intense moments.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

Open Water is being touted as one of the most frightening films to chomp into your psyche for a long time, but either I'm secretly being fed sedatives or this is a case of good old hype meets collective hysteria.

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Dan Jolin

Empire Magazine

As it dawns on the couple that they've slipped several links down the food chain, you're right there with them.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2004

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Jeannette Catsoulis

Las Vegas Mercury

Open Water is terrifying on a purely primal level. In a fear-of-the-dark, monsters-under-the-bed way, it twangs nerves forgotten since childhood.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 8, 2004

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting

A minimalist shark film with only a few characters, real sharks, and a horrifying real life event. Points for how grim the film is willing to get, and a horrifying shark frenzy sequence that follows a night out in the ocean during a storm.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 15, 2025

Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

Inspired by similar events in Australia in 1998, director Kentis' film is a triumph of understatement.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 6, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An uneasy watch.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 15, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Member

Meh. Ok, the premise is cool, decently acted, and it's based on a true story- kind of. We don't really know what happened to them other than that they are dead, so a lot of the movie is pure speculation- and therefor some of the things that occurred= nonsensical. The complete lack of panic in 1 of the protagonists is a real headscratcher. Think the audience got this one right and the critics didn't. I was fine with watching it but won't be keeping it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/25

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Audience Member

SUPER scary ... if you like Shark movies ...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

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Audience Member

Despite the poor rating, I didn't actually mind this film. It looks sort of cheaply made, like a camcorder but I quite like that about it. It's also very scary being a true story and the actual story is far more mysterious which was interesting to learn about through the film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 19 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Some Nudity and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $30,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Speeed C

It was mis-marketed like a horror or action thriller, more than the slow burn, tense relationship drama that it really is. The poor reviews are probably a result of misguided expectations and the fact that the first act is terrible, but once you get through that and you get in the water, it’s awesome.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

Full Review

Julian S

It works because of its raw simplicity—the fear of what might happen, intensified by the uncertainty of never truly knowing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

Full Review

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Chris Kentis

Director

Blanchard Ryan

Susan

Daniel Travis

Daniel

Saul Stein

Seth

Estelle Lau

Estelle

Michael E. Williamson

Davis

Open Water: Official Clip - Big Ones

1:27

Open Water: Official Clip - Feeding Frenzy

2:54

Open Water: Official Clip - Was That a Shark?

2:42

Open Water: Official Clip - Stung by Jellyfish

2:49

Open Water: Official Clip - Just a Little Cut

2:09

Open Water: Official Clip - Night Storm

1:51

Open Water: Official Clip - Bitten

2:11

Open Water: Official Clip - Asleep and Drifting

2:37

Open Water: Official Clip - Left Behind

2:07

Open Water: Official Clip - Not in the Mood

2:02

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Synopsis

Daniel (Daniel Travis) and Susan (Blanchard Ryan) embark on a tropical vacation with their scuba-diving certifications in tow. During a group dive, the two separate themselves from the others to dive a little deeper. An incorrect head-count suggests the entire group has returned, so the boat departs. When the pair surfaces, they make out a vessel in the distance, but it does not immediately set in that they have been left behind. With sharks lurking beneath, their survival chances grow smaller.

Director: Chris Kentis
Producer: Laura Lau
Screenwriter: Chris Kentis
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Plunge Pictures LLC
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Adventure, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.5M
Runtime: 1h 19m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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