The submarine film is a subgenre of war film in which the majority of the plot revolves around a

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

below the ocean's surface. Films of this subgenre typically focus on a small but determined crew of submariners battling against enemy submarines or submarine-hunter ships, or against other problems ranging from disputes amongst the crew, threats of mutiny, life-threatening mechanical breakdowns, or the daily difficulties of living on a submarine. The genre plays on the psychological tension of the submarine's crew and their unseen enemy, signified by a soundscape that may feature explosions, the ping of sonar, the creaking of the submarine's hull under extreme pressure, the alarm ordering the submarine to dive, and the threatening sound signatures of a destroyer's propeller or of an approaching torpedo. Some 150 films have been made in the submarine genre between 1910 and 2010, variously depicting submarines in relatively realistic stories about World War I, World War II or the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

, or purely fictional and fantastic scenarios.

Characteristics

Submarine films have their own particular semantics and

syntax In linguistics, syntax () is the study of how words and morphemes combine to form larger units such as phrases and sentences. Central concerns of syntax include word order, grammatical relations, hierarchical sentence structure ( constituency) ...

, creating a film genre concerned specifically with

submarine warfare Submarine warfare is one of the four divisions of underwater warfare, the others being anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare and mine countermeasures. Submarine warfare consists primarily of diesel and nuclear submarines using torpedoes, missi ...

. A distinctive element in this genre is the soundtrack, which attempts to bring home the emotional and dramatic nature of conflict under the sea. For example, in the 1981 '' Das Boot'', the sound design works together with the hours-long film format to depict lengthy pursuit with

depth charge A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...

s, and as the critic Linda Maria Koldau writes, Koldau identifies the basic syntactic structure of the submarine genre as "outside is bad, inside is good." The unseen outside means the enemy: this may be from nature, with elements such as water pressure threatening to crush the hull,

sea monsters Sea monsters are beings from folklore believed to dwell in the sea and often imagined to be of immense size. Marine monsters can take many forms, including sea dragons, sea serpents, or tentacled beasts. They can be slimy and scaly and are ofte ...

, or underwater rocks; or human opponents. Meanwhile, the inside of the submarine represents the human warmth and trust of the crew for each other and for their

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, their lives bound together by the situation. To this scenario can be added elements from within such as

mutiny Mutiny is a revolt among a group of people (typically of a military, of a crew or of a crew of pirates) to oppose, change, or overthrow an organization to which they were previously loyal. The term is commonly used for a rebellion among member ...

, fire, discord, or accidents including radiation leakage; and from outside such as water, terrorism, disease, and weapons, while the plot may feature sudden switches from being the hunter to being the hunted. The soundscape may depict the creaking of the hull under pressure: as Koldau observes, this is both realistic and metaphoric, standing in for the fear and the responsibility on the shoulders of the crew. Stress may further be expressed in the acoustic signature of specifically submarine threats, such as the swelling sound of an approaching

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

propeller A propeller (colloquially often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon ...

, the soft buzz of an enemy torpedo, or the submarine's own alarm ordering an immediate dive. Another element of the soundscape less often remarked upon is simply silence, which can mean both safety (nothing is happening) and unseen danger, creating tension.

List of submarine movies

This is a list of movies, grouped by the era in which they were made, in which a submarine plays a significant role in the storyline. From 1910 to 2010, some 150 fictional films about submarines have been made. Many of these are set in World War I, World War II, or the Cold War; others depict relatively "authentic" terrorist scenarios. Some movies depict historical events from actual battles or incidents, such as ''

Above Us the Waves ''Above Us the Waves'' is a 1955 British war film about human torpedo and midget submarine attacks in Norwegian fjords against the German battleship ''Tirpitz''. Directed by Ralph Thomas, it is based on two true-life attacks by British command ...

'', a 1955 film which depicts the true story of the British Royal Navy's midget submarines attacks on the . Other submarine movies develop a fictional plot created using more or less realistic details of naval warfare, such as the film ''U-571'', which tells the story of a fictional U-boat in World War II. Other submarine films from the fantasy, science fiction or occasionally

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

genres depict entirely fictitious events, such as the various film versions of

Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraor ...

's novel ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea''.

Set before World War I

* ''

Hearts in Bondage ''Hearts in Bondage'' is a 1936 American black-and-white war drama film directed by Lew Ayres for Republic Pictures. Set during the American Civil War, the film depicts the Union Navy's deliberate sinking of , the Confederate States Navy's salv ...

'' (1936) – directed by

Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film '' All Quiet on the Western Fr ...

* ''

The Hunley ''The Hunley'' is a 1999 American historical drama television film written and directed by John Gray, from a story by Gray and John Fasano. The film stars Armand Assante, Donald Sutherland, Alex Jennings, Michael Dolan, and Christopher Baue ...

'' (1999) – CSS ''Hunley'' attacks a U.S. Navy ship

Made before World War II

* '' The Secret of the Submarine'' (1915) – US action-adventure silent serial directed by

George L. Sargent George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

depicting prevention of US submarine from falling into enemy hands * '' A Submarine Pirate'' (1915) – US heist-comedy-short directed by Charles Avery and

Syd Chaplin Sydney John Chaplin (; 16 March 1885 – 16 April 1965) was an English actor. Chaplin was the elder half-brother of actor and director Charlie Chaplin and served as his business manager in later life. Through their mother Hannah, they were o ...

, depicting waiter attempting to foil sea-heist of gold-filled cargo vessel by submarine * '' Civilization'' (1916) – US allegorical-drama directed by

Reginald Barker Reginald C. Barker (April 2, 1886 – February 23, 1945) was a pioneer film director. Biography Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Barker's family moved to Scotland when he was an infant and then to the United States. Living in California, ...

, Thomas H. Ince,

Raymond B. West Raymond B. West (February 11, 1886 – September 11, 1923) was an American motion picture director. He joined the New York Motion Picture Company in 1910 and directed more than 70 motion pictures between 1910 and 1919 before being involved in an ...

, et al. depicting pacifist German Count's construction of submarine with order to sink ocean liner ''

Lusitania Lusitania (; ) was an ancient Iberian Roman province located where modern Portugal (south of the Douro river) and a portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and the province of Salamanca) lie. It was named after the Lusitani or Lusita ...

'' presumably also carrying enemy munitions; a.k.a. ''La cruz de la humanidad'', a.k.a. ''Civilização'' * '' The Little American'' (1917) – US action-drama directed by Cecil B. DeMille and

Joseph Levering Joseph Levering (1874–1943) was an American actor, screenwriter and film director.Pitts p.82 He was married to the actress Marian Swayne. Selected filmography Director * ''The Little American'' (1917) * ''Little Miss Fortune'' (1917) * ''The ...

, depicting ship of young Americans returning to ancestral French home torpedoed by a German U-boat and witness to German brutality while imprisoned; a.k.a. ''A Pequena Americana'', a.k.a. ''La petite américaine'' * ''

On the Jump ''On the Jump'' is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Museum of Modern Art. Like many American films of the time, ''On the Jump'' was subject to cuts by city and sta ...

'' (1918) – US comedy directed by

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh. He w ...

, depicting US reporter who joins

Liberty Loan A liberty bond (or liberty loan) was a war bond that was sold in the United States to support the Allied cause in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financi ...

campaign before he must rescue his girlfriend and stolen secret fuel formula from German agent rendezvousing with a German U-boat * ''

Patriotism Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to one's country. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings, language relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or histor ...

'' (1918) – US mystery-drama directed by

, depicting search in Scotland for German agent sending vital information to German U-boat fleet off the Scottish coast * '' Behind the Door'' (1919) – US action-drama directed by Irvin Willat, depicting German-American naval officer who takes revenge against the German U-boat commander who brutalized his wife after sinking his ship; a.k.a. ''Detrás de la puerta'' * '' The False Faces'' (1919) – US espionage-drama directed by Irvin Willat, depicting a thief who becomes a reluctant US agent and infiltrates German U-boat to deliver vital enemy information; a.k.a. ''The Lone Wolf'' * ''

The Isle of Conquest ''The Isle of Conquest'' is a 1919 American silent drama film starring Norma Talmadge and produced by Talmadge and her husband Joseph Schenck. The film is now considered lost. Plot Based upon a short review in a film magazine, a young woman (Ta ...

'' (1919) – US adventure-drama directed by Irvin Willat, based on

Arthur Hornblow Arthur Hornblow Jr. (March 15, 1893 – July 17, 1976) was an American film producer. Biography Hornblow was the son of Arthur Hornblow Sr. (1865–1942), a writer who edited ''Theatre Magazine'' in New York City. Hornblow graduated from DeWitt ...

novel, about a man and woman marooned on a deserted isle after their ship is sunk by a German U-boat * '' Mare Nostrum'' (1926) – directed by Rex Ingram * ''

Submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

'' (1928) – directed by

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s ...

* '' Men Without Women'' (1930) – fictional USS ''S-13'' * ''

The Sea Ghost ''The Sea Ghost'' is a 1931 American pre-Code film directed by William Nigh and starring Alan Hale, Clarence Wilson, Claud Allister and Laura La Plante. The film was retitled ''U 67'' for its American reissue, stating in the foreword that "som ...

'' (1931) – a.k.a. ''U-67'' * ''

A Woman of Experience ''A Woman of Experience'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Harry Joe Brown and starring Helen Twelvetrees, William Bakewell and Lew Cody, based on the play ''The Registered Woman'' by John Farrow. During World War I, a woman is ...

'' (1931) * '' Morgenrot'' (1933) * '' Hell Below'' (1933) – USS ''AL-14'' * '' Dark Journey'' (1937) – UK adventure-thriller directed by Victor Saville * ''

Submarine D-1 ''Submarine D-1'' is a 1937 drama directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Pat O'Brien, George Brent and Wayne Morris.. The film was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions and released by Warner Bros. Plot Butch Rogers and Sock McGillis are old submari ...

'' (1937) * '' Submarine Patrol'' (1938) – directed by John Ford * ' (1939) – the Soviet film * ''

The Spy in Black ''The Spy in Black'' (US: ''U-Boat 29'') is a 1939 British film, and the first collaboration between the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. They were brought together by Alexander Korda to make the World War I spy thrill ...

'' (1939) – a.k.a. ''U-Boat 29'' * ''

Thunder Afloat ''Thunder Afloat'' is a 1939 World War I naval film starring Wallace Beery and Chester Morris. The movie was directed by George B. Seitz. The submarine sequences were shot with the cooperation of the U. S. Navy at Annapolis, Maryland and aro ...

'' (1939)

Made during World War II

* '' Three Little Sew and Sews'' (1939) – US comedy short directed by Del Lord, depicting the Three Stooges as sailors working in a ships' tailor shop tricked into stealing a submarine by Nazi spies * '' 49th Parallel'' (1941) – a U-boat is sunk in Hudson's Bay, leaving the surviving crewmen stranded in northern Canada * ''

U-Boote westwärts! ''U-Boote westwärts!'' (in English: ''U-boats Westward!'') is a 1941 German war propaganda film promoting the '' Kriegsmarine''. It concerns a U-boat mission in the Battle of the Atlantic and was produced by UFA. The U-boat used for the film wa ...

'' (''U-Boat, Course West!'') (1941) – German war film promoting

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the a ...

and

Unterseeboot U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare rol ...

service * '' Crash Dive'' (1943) – fictional USS ''Corsair'' * ' (1943) – the Soviet movie * ''

Destination Tokyo ''Destination Tokyo'' is a 1943 black and white American submarine war film. The film was directed by Delmer Daves in his directorial debut,McGee, Scott"Articles: 'Destination Tokyo' (1944)."'' TCM.com'', 2019. Retrieved: August 15, 2019. and t ...

'' (1943) – fictional USS ''Copperfin'' * ''

Gung Ho ''Gung ho'' () is an English term, with the current meaning of "overly enthusiastic or energetic". It originated during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) from a Chinese term, ( zh, hp=gōnghé, l=to work together), short for Chinese ...

'' (1943) – fictional account of the Makin Island raid * '' The Silver Fleet'' (1943) – British drama directed by Vernon Sewell and

Gordon Wellesley Gordon Wong Wellesley (8 December 1894 – 1980) was an Australian-born screenwriter and writer of Chinese descent. Born in Sydney in 1894 He wrote over thirty screenplays in the United States and Britain, often collaborating with the director ...

, depicting a Dutch submarine builder forced to work for the Nazis * '' Submarine Alert'' (1943) – US thriller directed by Frank McDonald, depicting a former gangster supplying German U-boat commanders with torpedoes in South America * ''

Submarine Base A submarine base is a military base that shelters submarines and their personnel. Examples of present-day submarine bases include HMNB Clyde, Île Longue (the base for France's Force océanique stratégique), Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Na ...

'' (1943) – US drama directed by

Albert H. Kelley Albert H. Kelley (October 7, 1894 May 2, 1989) was an American film director. He is often credited as Albert Kelly or Albert Kelley. After previously working as an assistant director, Kelley directed a large number of short film, short and f ...

, depicting Nazi spies using a stolen shortwave transmitter prototype to broadcast top secret shipping info to an offshore Imperial Japanese Navy submarine * ''

We Dive at Dawn ''We Dive at Dawn'' is a 1943 war film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring John Mills and Eric Portman as Royal Navy submariners in the Second World War. It was written by Val Valentine and J. B. Williams with uncredited assistance from Fr ...

'' (1943) – UK action-drama directed by Anthony Asquith, depicting fictional submarine HMS ''Sea Tiger'' on a mission to sink fictional German battleship ''Brandenburg'' * ''

Two-Man Submarine ''Two-Man Submarine'' is a 1944 American action film directed by Lew Landers and written by Griffin Jay and Leslie T. White. The film stars Tom Neal, Ann Savage, J. Carrol Naish, Robert B. Williams, Abner Biberman and George Lynn. The film ...

'' (1944) – US B-movie directed by

Lew Landers Lew Landers (born Louis Friedlander, January 2, 1901 – December 16, 1962) was an American independent film and television director. Biography Born as Louis Friedlander in New York City, Lew Landers began his movie career as an actor. In 1914, ...

Later films depicting World War II

* '' The Damned'' (1947) – directed by

René Clément René Clément (; 18 March 1913 – 17 March 1996) was a French film director and screenwriter. Life and career Clément studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts where he developed an interest in filmmaking. In 1936, he directed hi ...

* '' Mystery Submarine'' (1950) – directed by Douglas Sirk, depicting a mission to destroy a U-boat off the coast of South America; a.k.a. ''Phantom Submarine'' * ''

Operation Pacific ''Operation Pacific'' is a 1951 black-and-white World War II submarine war drama from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Louis Edelman, and written as well as directed by George Waggner. John Wayne and Patricia Neal star and Ward Bond and Philip ...

'' (1951) – fictional USS ''Thunderfish'' * ''

Submarine Command ''Submarine Command'' is a 1951 American war film directed by John Farrow and starring William Holden, Don Taylor, Nancy Olson, William Bendix, and Darryl Hickman. It is notable for being one of the first films to touch on post traumatic stres ...

'' (1951) – US drama directed by John Farrow, depicting a US submarine commander forced to confront the consequences of sudden high-sea submersion while the crew remain outside the submarine * '' Ubåt 39'' (''U-Boat 39'') (1952) – Swedish drama directed by Hampe Faustman, depicting the crew of * ''

Torpedo Alley The Torpedo Alley, or Torpedo Junction, off North Carolina, is one of the graveyards of the Atlantic Ocean, named for the high number of attacks on Allied shipping by German U-boats in World War II. Almost 400 ships were sunk, mostly during t ...

'' (1953) – US drama directed by

, depicting a US Navy pilot rescued at sea by submarine before applying for submarine duty; a.k.a. ''Down Periscope'' * '' The Cruel Sea (1953 film)'' – British war film, portrays the conditions in which the Battle of the Atlantic was fought between the Royal Navy and Germany's U-boats, seen from the viewpoint of the British naval officers and seamen who served in convoy escorts. It is based on the best-selling 1951 novel of the same name by former naval officer Nicholas Monsarrat. * ''

Submarine Attack ''La Grande Speranza'' (''The Big Hope''), retitled ''Submarine Attack'' and ''Torpedo Zone'' in English, is a 1954 Italian anti-war film starring Lois Maxwell, Renato Baldini and Earl Cameron. It won the Special Prize of the Senate of Berlin, and ...

'' (''La grande speranza'') (1954) – Italian action-romance directed by

Duilio Coletti Duilio Coletti (28 December 1906 – 22 May 1999) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 29 films between 1934 and 1977. Career Born in Penne, Abruzzo, he took a degree in medicine and surgery and practiced the profession ...

, depicting an Italian submarine sinking Allied shipping during the

Battle of the Atlantic The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, ran from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, covering a major part of the naval history of World War II. At its core was the Allied naval blockade ...

; a.k.a. ''Torpedo Zone'' * ''

'' (1955) – Royal Navy midget submarines vs. German battleship ''Tirpitz'' * '' Hellcats of the Navy'' (1957) – fictional USS ''Starfish'' * ''

Sea Wife ''Sea Wife'' is a 1957 British CinemaScope drama thriller war film photographed in DeLuxe Color, based on the 1955 James Maurice Scott novel ''Sea-Wyf and Biscuit''. Shot in Jamaica, the film follows a group of survivors from a torpedoed Briti ...

'' (1957) – US action-drama directed by Bob McNaught and starring Richard Burton and Joan Collins, depicting a cargo ship dangerously jammed to excess capacity with evacuees fleeing the 1942 Japanese invasion and Battle of Singapore that is sunk by a Japanese Imperial Navy submarine; one scene depicts the submarine underwater while another scene shows the submarine on the surface * ''

The Enemy Below ''The Enemy Below'' is a 1957 DeLuxe Color war film in CinemaScope about a battle between an American destroyer escort and a German U-boat during World War II. Produced and directed by Dick Powell, the movie stars Robert Mitchum and Curt Jürg ...

'' (1957) – US action-drama directed by

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into ...

, depicting a duel between an American destroyer escort and a German U-boat in South Atlantic * ''

Run Silent, Run Deep ''Run Silent, Run Deep'' is a novel by Commander (later Captain) Edward L. Beach Jr. published in 1955 by Henry Holt & Co. The story describes World War II submarine warfare in the Pacific Ocean, and deals with themes of vengeance, endurance, c ...

'' (1958) – fictional (which loosely shares plot elements and the villain destroyer captain, Bungo Pete, with Edward L. Beach's novel, but not much of the plot) * ''

Submarine Seahawk ''Submarine Seahawk'' is a 1958 World War II film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and starring John Bentley and Brett Halsey. The film was originally released as a double feature with ''Paratroop Command''. The plot tells the story of a by-the ...

'' (1958) – US action-drama directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet depicting a US submarine commander on a reconnaissance mission to locate a fleet of Imperial Japanese Navy fighting ships; a.k.a. ''Submarine X-2'' * '' Torpedo Run'' (1958) – US drama directed by

Joseph Pevney Joseph Pevney (September 15, 1911 – May 18, 2008) was an American film and television director.

, depicting a US submarine commander confronted with destroying an Imperial Japanese Navy ship with Allied prisoners and civilians * ''

U 47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien ''U 47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien'' () is a 1958 black-and-white German war film portraying the World War II career of the U-boat captain Günther Prien. It stars Dieter Eppler and Sabine Sesselmann and was directed by Harald Reinl. Plot The f ...

'' (1958) – somewhat factual combat career of Günther Prien * ''

Battle of the Coral Sea The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the batt ...

'' (1959) – USS ''Dragonfish'' * '' Operation Petticoat'' (1959) – US comedy directed by Blake Edwards, depicting fictional USS ''Sea Tiger''; remade in 1977 TV series '' Operation Petticoat'' * '' Orzeł'' (''The Eagle'') (1959) – Polish drama directed by

Leonard Buczkowski Leonard Buczkowski (5 August 1900 – 19 February 1967) was a Polish film director and screenwriter. He directed 23 films between 1928 and 1966. His 1959 film ''The Eagle'' was entered into the 1st Moscow International Film Festival. Selec ...

, depicting ORP Orzeł and

Orzeł incident The ''Orzeł'' incident occurred at the beginning of World War II in September 1939, when the interned Polish submarine escaped from Tallinn, in neutral Estonia, to the United Kingdom. The Stalinist Soviet Union used the incident as one of th ...

* ''

Up Periscope ''Up Periscope'' is a 1959 World War II submarine film drama directed by Gordon Douglas, produced by Aubrey Schenck and starring James Garner and Edmond O'Brien. The supporting cast features Andra Martin, Alan Hale Jr., Edd Byrnes, Warren Oat ...

'' (1959) – US drama directed by Gordon Douglas, depicting a US Navy frogman on mission aboard a submarine to be smuggled into Japanese-held island; a.k.a. ''Up Periscope!'' * '' McHale's Navy'' (TV series), ''McHale and His Schweinhunds'' eason 2, Episode 3(1963) – US comedy episode directed by

Sidney Lanfield Sidney Lanfield (April 20, 1898 – June 20, 1972) was an American film director known for directing romances and light comedy films and later television programs. The one-time jazz musician and vaudevillian star started his first directing job ...

, depicting a PT boat crew destroying a German U-boat rendezvousing with a Japanese patrol * '' Mystery Submarine'' (1963) – UK action-drama directed by

C.M. Pennington-Richards Cyril Montague Pennington-Richards (17 December 1911 – 2 January 2005) was a British film director and cinematographer.Beta Som'' (''Torpedo Bay'') (1963) – Italian-French drama directed by Charles Frend and Bruno Vailati, depicting a British warship and Italian submarine operating in the

Strait of Gibraltar The Strait of Gibraltar ( ar, مضيق جبل طارق, Maḍīq Jabal Ṭāriq; es, Estrecho de Gibraltar, Archaic: Pillars of Hercules), also known as the Straits of Gibraltar, is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Medi ...

and meeting in the neutral Rick's Cafe; a.k.a. ''Défi à Gibraltar'' * '' Morituri'' (1965) – US drama directed by Bernhard Wicki, depicting German blackmailed by English to impersonate SS officer aboard ship; a.k.a. ''Saboteur: Code Name Morituri'' * '' McHale's Navy'' (TV series), ''36-24-73'' eason 4, Episode 23(1966) – US comedy episode directed by Hollingsworth Morse, depicting a PT boat crew capturing a German U-boat * ''

Submarine X-1 ''Submarine X-1'' is a 1968 British war film loosely based on the Operation ''Source'' attack on the German battleship ''Tirpitz'' in 1943. In the film, James Caan stars as Lt. Commander Richard Bolton, a Canadian, who must lead a group of m ...

'' (1969) – X class submarines * '' Murphy's War'' (1971) * ''

Commander of the Lucky 'Pike' ''Commander of the Lucky 'Pike (russian: Командир счастливой 'Щуки', Komandir schastlivoi 'Schuki') is a 1972 Soviet war film directed by Boris Volchek. The film's title is a pun in Russian, the submarine 'Щ-721' is nickna ...

'' (1972), the Soviet movie * '' Operation Petticoat'' (TV series) (1977–79) – comedy directed by Hollingsworth Morse, depicting fictional USS ''Sea Tiger''; spinoff of 1959 film '' Operation Petticoat'', producing 32 episodes * ''

1941 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January–August – 10,072 men, women and children with mental and physical disabilities are asphyxiated with carbon monoxide in a gas chamber, at Hadamar Eu ...

'' (1979) – US comedy directed by

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...

, depicting an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine terrorizing the California coast * '' Das Boot'' (1981) – German movie about * ' (1985), the Soviet film, about S-131 * ' (1985), the Soviet TV-movie * ' (1986–87), the Soviet TV miniseries * '' ''War and Remembrance'''' (TV miniseries) (1988) * '' ''U-571'''' (2000) – fictional * ''

Below Below may refer to: *Earth *Ground (disambiguation) *Soil *Floor *Bottom (disambiguation) Bottom may refer to: Anatomy and sex * Bottom (BDSM), the partner in a BDSM who takes the passive, receiving, or obedient role, to that of the top or ...

'' (2002) – fictional (

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction ** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction **Korean horror, Korean horror fiction * Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...

) * '' In Enemy Hands'' (2004) – fictional USS ''Swordfish'' and ''U-429''; a.k.a. ''U-Boat'' * '' Ghostboat'' (2006) – mystery-thriller based on George E. Simpson and Neal R. Burger novel, directed by Stuart Orme, depicting fictional lost during World War II and resurfacing near the end of the

* '' 真夏のオリオン'' (''Battle under Orion'') (2009) – Japanese action-drama directed by

Tetsuo Shinohara is a Japanese film director. His film ''First Love'' was the 3rd Best Film at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival. Filmography * ''Running High'' (1989) * ''Work on the Grass'' (1993) * ''One More Time, One More Chance'' (1996) * ''Aku no hana'' (1 ...

, depicting an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine against a US destroyer near the end of the war; a.k.a. ''Manatsu no Orion'', ''Last Operations Under the Orion'' * '' The Sinking of the Laconia'' (2010) – British-German historical drama directed by

Uwe Janson Uwe Janson (born 6 November 1959, Königswinter) is a German screenwriter, director and producer. He has worked in Germany and the United Kingdom, including '' Business with Friends'' for the British Film Institute and the BBC (1991) and the Br ...

about the sinking of the former British ocean liner by , which then, with three other U-boats (including ) and an Italian submarine, attempted to rescue nearly 2,000 passengers

Korean War

* ''

'' (1951) – fictional USS ''Tiger Shark''

Cold War

* '' Morning Departure'' (1950) – British drama directed by Roy Ward Baker depicting the crew of a sunken British submarine trapped on the sea floor; a.k.a. ''Operation Disaster'' * '' Hell and High Water'' (1954) – American action-adventure directed by

Samuel Fuller Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American film director, screenwriter, novelist, journalist, and World War II veteran known for directing low-budget B movie, genre movies with controversial themes, often ...

, depicting a World War II surplus Japanese submarine battling a Chinese submarine * '' On the Beach'' (1959) – fictional nuclear submarine USS ''Sawfish'' (SSN-623) * '' The Atomic Submarine'' (1959) – fictional USS ''Tiger Shark'' * '' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' (1961) – adventure-science fiction film directed by Irwin Allen, depicting fictional SSRN ''Seaview''; remade in the 1964 TV series '' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' * '' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' (TV series) (1964) – adventure-science fiction, directed by Jus Addiss depicting fictional SSRN ''Seaview''; spinoff of 1961 film '' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' * '' The Bedford Incident'' (1965) * '' The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming'' (1966) – American comedy directed by Norman Jewison, depicting fictional Soviet submarine ''Спрут''; a.k.a. ''The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!'' * '' Ice Station Zebra'' (1968) – fictional (in novel: USS ''Dolphin'') * ''

Mission Impossible ''Mission: Impossible'' is a multimedia franchise based on a fictional secret espionage agency known as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The 1966 TV series ran for seven seasons and was revived in 1988 for two seasons. It inspired a serie ...

'' (TV series), "

" (1969) – American action-adventure episode directed by

Paul Krasny Paul Krasny (August 8, 1935 – November 12, 2001) was an American film and television director. Beginning his career in 1964, he amassed many credits in television. Some of his television credits include ''Hawaii Five-O'', '' Mission: Imp ...

, depicting former SS officer with plans to fund Neo-Nazis * ''

The Boatniks ''The Boatniks'' is a 1970 American comedy film directed by Norman Tokar and starring Robert Morse, Stefanie Powers, Don Ameche and Phil Silvers. It was made by Walt Disney Productions, released by Buena Vista Distribution. Young and awkward, Co ...

'' (1970) – comedy directed by Norman Tokar, depicting a salami in a submarine torpedo tube * ''

Assault on the Wayne ''Assault on the Wayne'' is a 1971 American Cold War-themed action thriller TV film starring Joseph Cotten, Lloyd Haynes, Dewey Martin, Leonard Nimoy and William Windom. It aired on January 12, 1971, in the ''ABC Movie of the Week'' space. The ...

'' (1971) – fictional missile submarine USS ''Wayne'' (also named in ''The Spy Who Loved Me'') * '' The Spy Who Loved Me'' (1977) – American, British and Soviet submarines * ''

Gray Lady Down ''Gray Lady Down'' is a 1978 American submarine disaster film directed by David Greene and starring Charlton Heston, David Carradine, Stacy Keach, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox and Rosemary Forsyth, and includes the feature film debut of Christopher Re ...

'' (1978) – fictional USS ''Neptune'' * '' Bear Island'' (1979) – fictional U.S. Science Year team on remote island discover a World War II submarine base to which the SS had dispatched two U-boats with holds full of gold bullion from the conquest of Europe. SS, ex-Nazis, sons of U-boat commanders, Israelis, all try to recover the enormous wealth. * ''

Raise the Titanic ''Raise the Titanic!'' is a 1976 adventure novel by Clive Cussler, published in the United States by the Viking Press. It tells the story of efforts to bring the remains of the ill-fated ocean liner RMS ''Titanic'' to the surface of the Atlanti ...

'' (1980) – U.S. submarine confronts a Soviet warship and escorts the salvaged ''Titanic'' to port * ''

Virus (1980 film) ''Virus'', known in Japan as , is a 1980 Japanese post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Based on Sakyo Komatsu's 1964 novel of the same name, the film stars an international ensemble cast featuring Masao Kusakari, So ...

'' (1980) – fictional HMS ''Nereid'' * ''

Never Say Never Again ''Never Say Never Again'' is a 1983 spy film directed by Irvin Kershner. The film is based on the 1961 James Bond novel '' Thunderball'' by Ian Fleming, which in turn was based on an original story by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Flemi ...

'' (1983) – fictional U.S. submarine * ''

Incident at Map Grid 36-80 ''Incident at Map Grid 36-80'' (russian: Случай в квадрате 36-80, Sluchay v kvadrate 36-80) is a 1982 Soviet military action movie by Mikhail Tumanishvili. The total number of Soviet viewers was estimated at 33,100,000 people. Pl ...

'' (1984) – the Soviet movie, about U.S. submarine * ''

The Fifth Missile ''The Fifth Missile'' is a 1986 television movie starring Robert Conrad, Sam Waterston and David Soul about an American ballistic missile submarine, based on the novel ''The Gold Crew'' by Frank M. Robinson and Thomas N. Scortia. With the excepti ...

'' (1986) – fictional USS ''Montana'' * '' The Dolphin's Cry'' (1986) – the Soviet movie * ''

Russkies ''Russkies'' is a 1987 American comedy-drama film starring Whip Hubley and Leaf Phoenix, directed by Rick Rosenthal with cinematography by Reed Smoot. Plot A few nights before Independence Day, three 12-year old military brats (Danny, Adam, ...

'' (1987) – the Soviet submarine * '' Full Fathom Five'' (1990) – fictional USS ''Aspen'' versus Alpha Victor Three class submarine CCCP ''Kirov' * '' The Rift'' (1990) – fictional ''Siren II'' searches for lost ''Siren I'' * ''

The Hunt for Red October ''The Hunt for Red October'' is the debut novel by American author Tom Clancy, first published on October 1, 1984, by the Naval Institute Press. It depicts Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius as he seemingly goes rogue with his country's cutt ...

'' (1990) – fictional ''Red October'' (''Красный Октябрь''), fictional ''V.K. Konovalov'' (''В. К. Коновалов''), , * ''

Going Under "Going Under" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, ''Fallen'' (2003). It was released by Wind-up Records as the album's second single on August 18, 2003. Lee wrote the song about coming out of a difficult r ...

'' (1991) – Comedy – An American submarine races to get a nuclear weapon before a Russian submarine. * ''

Buried on Sunday ''Buried on Sunday'' is a Canadian comedy film, released in 1992. Also known as "Northern Extremes", it was directed by Paul Donovan, and written by Donovan and Bill Fleming. The film stars Paul Gross as Augustus Knickel, the mayor of Solomon Gu ...

'' (1992) – a Soviet submarine is used to launch a missile attack on Canada's Wonderland * '' Silent Service'' (1995) – anime; JMSDF ''Seabat'' (Japan's first nuclear-powered submarine) * '' Hostile Waters'' (1997) – ''K-219'' * '' K-19: The Widowmaker'' (2002) – ''K-19'' * ''

Phantom Phantom may refer to: * Spirit (animating force), the vital principle or animating force within all living things ** Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living Aircraft * Boeing Phantom Ray, a stealthy un ...

'' (2013) – ''

K-129 ''K-129'' (Russian: К–129) was a Project 629A (Russian: проект 629А ''Projekt 629A'', NATO reporting name Golf II–class) diesel-electric- powered ballistic-missile submarine that served in the Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Navy� ...

'', the plot has a basis in one theory about the events aboard the Soviet submarine's final voyage

Post-Cold War

* '' Crimson Tide'' (1995) – * '' Down Periscope'' (1996) – comedy directed by

David S. Ward David Schad Ward (born October 25, 1945) is an American screenwriter and film director. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for his screenplays for the films ''The Sting'' (1973) and ''Sleepless in Seattle'' (1993), winning for the former. He ...

, depicting fictional USS ''Stingray'' (SS-161) * ''

Peculiarities of the National Fishing Peculiarities of the National Fishing (russian: Особенности национальной рыбалки, Osobennosti natsionalnoy rybalki) is a 1998 Russian comedy directed by Alexander Rogozhkin and Inna Gorlova. Plot Several friends (Ge ...

'' (1998) * '' Phantom: The Submarine'' (1999), about fictional South Korea's first nuclear-powered submarine ''Phantom''. * '' On the Beach'' (2000) – fictional USS ''Charleston'' (SSN-704) * ''

Danger Beneath the Sea ''Danger Beneath the Sea'' is a 2001 American made-for-television action film directed by Jon Cassar, and starring Casper Van Dien. Plot This is a nightmare scenario, true for many Cold War submarine veterans. After a North Korean nuclear missile ...

'' (2001) * '' 72 Meters'' (2004) * ''

Phantom Below ''Phantom Below'' (also known as ''USS Poseidon: Phantom Below'' and ''Tides of War'') is the first film released by Hawaii-based studio Pacific Films. Its world premiere was at the Hawaii International Film Festival on March 31, 2005. The film i ...

'' (2005) * ''

Last Resort A last resort is something that is used when all other options have been exhausted. Last Resort or The Last Resort may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Last Resort'' (1986 film), starring Charles Grodin—a comedy set on a trop ...

'' (2012–13) – TV series, fictional , USS ''Colorado'' (SSBN-753) * '' Black Sea'' (2014) * '' Hunter Killer'' (2018) * ''

Kursk Kursk ( rus, Курск, p=ˈkursk) is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym rivers. The area around Kursk was the site of a turning point in the Soviet–German stru ...

'' (2018) * ''

The Wolf's Call ''The Wolf's Call'' (french: Le Chant du loup, italic=yes) is a 2019 French action thriller film written and directed by Antonin Baudry in his feature film directorial debut. The film is about a submarine's sonar operator, Chanteraide ( Franço ...

'' (2019)

Other conflicts

* '' Ghazi Shaheed'' (1998) * '' The Ghazi Attack'' (2017), first Indian underwater/war-at-sea film

Future or fantastic past

* '' Le voyage à travers l'impossible'' (''An Impossible Voyage'') (1904) – French adventure-comedy silent short directed by

Georges Méliès Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès (; ; 8 December 1861 – 21 January 1938) was a French illusionist, actor, and film director. He led many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema. Méliès was well known for the use of ...

, depicting Geographic Society members on an around-the-world journey using various modes of transport including a submarine; a.k.a. ''The Voyage Across the Impossible'', a.k.a. ''The Impossible Voyage''; predecessor to 1907 silent film '' 20,000 lieues sous les mers'' * ''

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas'' (french: Vingt mille lieues sous les mers) is a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne. The novel was originally serialized from March 1869 through June 1870 in Pierre-J ...

'' (

1907 Events January * January 14 – 1907 Kingston earthquake: A 6.5 Mw earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica, kills between 800 and 1,000. February * February 11 – The French warship ''Jean Bart'' sinks off the coast of Morocco. ...

1916 Events Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 1 – The British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that had been stored and cooled. * ...

1954 Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of t ...

) – Jules Verne's fictional ''Nautilus'' ( science fiction/ fantasy) * ''

The Secret of Two Oceans ''The Secret of Two Oceans'' (russian: Тайна двух океанов) is a 1956 Soviet drama film directed by Konstantine Pipinashvili. Plot Simultaneously, the Soviet ship "Arctic" and the French ship "Victoire" suddenly die in the Atlanti ...

'' (1957) – based on Grigory Adamov's novel, about the crew of the Soviet submarine "Pioneer" * '' Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' (1961) – ''Seaview'' nuclear submarine, the film was followed by a TV series 1964–68 * ''

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne ''Invention for Destruction'' ( cs, Vynález zkázy) is a 1958 Czechoslovak black-and-white science fiction adventure film, directed by Karel Zeman, produced by Zdeněk Novák, and starring Lubor Tokoš, Arnošt Navrátil, and Miloslav Holub. ...

'' (1958) – based on Jules Verne's '' Facing the Flag'', featuring * ''

The Three Stooges in Orbit ''The Three Stooges In Orbit'' is a 1962 American comedy science fiction film directed by Edward Bernds. It is the fourth feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Ho ...

'' (1962) – comedy directed by Edward Bernds, depicting the Three Stooges assisting an inventor with a new military hybrid (tank, helicopter, submarine) vehicle to aid in defense of a Martian invasion * '' Atragon'' (1963) – fictional ''

Gotengo is a 1963 Japanese tokusatsu science fiction film produced and distributed by Toho. It is based on ''The Undersea Warship: A Fantastic Tale of Island Adventure'' by Shunrō Oshikawa and ''The Undersea Kingdom'' by Shigeru Komatsuzaki. The film i ...

'' (science fiction/fantasy) * ''

Stingray Stingrays are a group of sea rays, which are cartilaginous fish related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingray), Plesiobatidae ( ...

'' (1964–1965) – adventures of the WASPs (the World Aquanaut Security Patrol) (Supermarionation) * '' Fantastic Voyage'' (1966) – set in the near future, an experimental submarine with special medical team aboard are reduced to microscopic size and injected into body of a brain-damaged scientist possessing military secrets in an attempt to repair his injury * ''

Around the World Under the Sea ''Around the World Under the Sea'' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Lloyd Bridges, with Marshall Thompson, Shirley Eaton, Gary Merrill, and David McCallum. It follows the adventures of a crew of the deep-divi ...

'' (1966) * '' Yellow Submarine'' (1968) – (

psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...

animated fantasy) * ''

Captain Nemo and the Underwater City ''Captain Nemo and the Underwater City'' is a 1969 British film starring Robert Ryan, Chuck Connors and Nanette Newman. It features the character Captain Nemo and is inspired by Jules Verne's 1870 novel ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea''. ...

'' (1969) – Jules Verne's fictional ''Nautilus'' (science fiction/fantasy) * ''

The Neptune Factor ''The Neptune Factor'', also known as ''The Neptune Disaster'', is a 1973 science fiction film directed by Daniel Petrie, featuring underwater cinematography by Paul Herbermann. The film's special effects utilized underwater photography of miniat ...

'' (1973) – undersea rescue (science fiction) * '' The Land That Time Forgot'' (1975) – depicts a stranded World War I U-boat crew on uncharted South-Atlantic sub-continent of "Caprona" * ''

The Return of Captain Nemo ''The Return of Captain Nemo'' (theatrical title: ''The Amazing Captain Nemo'') is a 1978 American science fiction adventure television miniseries directed by Alex March and Paul Stader (the latter directed the underwater sequences), and loosely b ...

'' (1978) – Jules Verne's fictional ''Nautilus'' (science fiction/fantasy) * '' Thundersub'' (1979) – (anime) * '' Virus'' (1980) – Japanese-made post-apocalyptic thriller featuring an international cast aboard a British sub, trying to find a cure to a global pandemic. * '' The Abyss'' (1989) – fictional USS ''Montana'' (science fiction/fantasy) * '' Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' (1989) – Jules Verne's fictional ''Nautilus'' (anime) * ''

seaQuest DSV ''SeaQuest DSV'' (stylized as ''seaQuest DSV'' and also promoted as simply ''seaQuest'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It originally aired on NBC between 1993 and 1996. In its final season, it ...

'' (1993) – (science fiction/fantasy) * ''

Blue Submarine No. 6 , officially translated in Japan as "Blue Sub 006", is a post-apocalyptic 3-volume manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Ozawa. The manga was published in 1967 by Shogakukan's ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' magazine. When the OVA ada ...

'' (1998) – (anime) * '' The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'' (2003) – Jules Verne's fictional ''Nautilus'' (fantasy) * ''

Submarine 707R is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Ozawa and serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' between 1963 and 1965. The manga series was adapted into two original video animations (OVA). The first OVA, titled , was produced ...

'' (2004) – (anime) * '' The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'' (2004) – US adventure-comedy-drama directed by Wes Anderson * '' Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean'' (2005) – (World War II, science fiction) * ''

Tide-Line Blue is a Japanese anime series created by Satoru Ozawa and Umanosuke Iida. The series was produced by Bandai Visual and animated by Telecom Animation Film. Background ''Tide-Line Blue'' is set after an environmental disaster later called the "Ham ...

'' (2005) – (anime) * '' The Land That Time Forgot'' (2009) – action-sci-fi directed by C. Thomas Howell, depicting a stranded World War II U-boat crew in a time void on an island inside the Bermuda Triangle * '' Arpeggio of Blue Steel'' (2013) – (anime)

References

External links

* * * * {{Authority control Submarine movies

Submarines A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely o ...

U-boats Films Lists of World War II films

Films A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

Characteristics

List of submarine movies

Set before World War I

Made before World War II

Made during World War II

Later films depicting World War II

Korean War

Cold War

Post-Cold War

Other conflicts

Future or fantastic past

See also

References

External links