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

01/09/2018

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.

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Dan Jolin

Empire Magazine

09/11/2004

3/5

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

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Jeannette Catsoulis

Las Vegas Mercury

09/08/2004

4/5

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.

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Joe Lipsett

Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting

07/15/2025

3/5

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.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

07/06/2023

4/5

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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

02/15/2023

3/4

An uneasy watch.

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Jeremy W.

@reliablecritic Jun 11

WORTHY WATCH! This movie kept my interest the entire time and 100% delivered on this!

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Luke T

@Ljhadventurer Apr 13

It's crazy how low the audience reviews on this are. It's like they were wanting some glossy, polished, cgi, shark slasher movie rather than this: a viscerally real and gut-wrenching story. The ONLY shark movie in the same league with the great Jaws.

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KirwinDaZombie T

@RT79931688 Mar 22

This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. A movie that has lots of shark bet yet the guy dies due to bleeding to death. Yes, I know sharks don't just eat people, but he is wearing black. And bleeding, so a shark is going to bite him to check it out. And when they do, he is done, and the same with the girl. Not bleeding to death lol. WORST MOVIE EVER.

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Pamela A

@PamelaJ Feb 14

I’m not into scary movies, would never go scuba diving! This movie had my attention because I like stories based on real events, the actors were good, the sharks were real, the movie is worth watching. Not for children

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kevenquinlan T

@RT75276071 Nov 14

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.

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The_Matthew T

@RT40494941 Aug 29

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

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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)