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Deep Blue Sea
1999 105 min Australia, United States of America R 18+
★6.2
Action, Horror, Science Fiction
Director: Renny Harlin
Trailers
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Description
Researchers on the undersea lab Aquatica have genetically altered the brains of captive sharks to develop a cure for Alzheimer's disease. But there's an unexpected side effect: the sharks got smarter, faster, and more dangerous. After a big storm damages their remote research facility, they must fight for their lives.
Budget:
$60M
US Gross:
$73.65M
Worldwide:
$164.65M
Starring
Thomas Jane
Actor
Saffron Burrows
Actor
Samuel L. Jackson
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
Deep Blue Sea is widely regarded as a standout entry in the shark-horror genre, praised for its blend of high-stakes tension, energetic direction, and unexpected plot twists. While some viewers criticize the film for its predictable narrative and occasional absurdity, most audiences appreciate it as an effective, highly entertaining creature feature.
| Direction | Renny Harlin's direction maintains relentless momentum and creates genuine tension within the isolated setting of the Aquatica base. | |
| Acting | The cast is considered surprisingly strong for the genre, with Thomas Jane and LL Cool J delivering memorable, standout performances. | |
| Humor | The film is highly regarded for its ability to balance intense horror and survivalist action with moments of levity, particularly involving the chef and his parrot. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: fans praise its original, high-concept premise, while detractors find the plot predictable and the scientific basis for the "smart sharks" absurd. | |
| Production | The quality of the visual effects is debated; some view the shark depictions as revolutionary and realistic, while others see them as aging or inconsistent with the film's tone. |