Films about naval combat focus on maritime warfare, depicting battles at sea involving warships, submarines, or even entire fleets. Such films often portray historical events, fictional accounts, or futuristic warfare and tend to feature tactical maneuvers, intense action, and the human drama of life on the high seas. These movies can range from epic blockbusters to more intimate character-driven stories and are known for their intricate special effects and depictions of heroic or tragic events.
Here are several films about naval combat, along with brief descriptions:
“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”, 2003
Director: Peter Weir
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this film follows Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew as they engage in a high-stakes pursuit of a French war vessel around South America.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy, Edward Woodall, Chris Larkin, Max Pirkis, Jack Randall, Max Benitz, Lee Ingleby, Richard Pates;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: action, drama, adventure, war, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” on the website imdb.com
“Das Boot”, 1981
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
This intense German film explores life aboard a U-boat during World War II, highlighting the claustrophobic existence and grim realities of submarine warfare.
Starring: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch, Martin Semmelrogge, Bernd Tauber, Erwin Leder, Martin May, Heinz Hoenig, Uwe Ochsenknecht;
Production year: 1981;
Genre: thriller, drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 150 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,4;
More information about the film “Das Boot” on the website imdb.com
“The Hunt for Red October”, 1990
Director: John McTiernan
Based on Tom Clancy's novel, this Cold War-era film centers on a Soviet submarine captain who tries to defect to the United States with his advanced nuclear sub, leading to a tense cat-and-mouse chase.
Starring: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Joss Ackland, Richard Jordan, Peter Firth, Tim Curry, Courtney B. Vance;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: action, thriller, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “The Hunt for Red October” on the website imdb.com
“Battleship”, 2012
Director: Peter Berg
In this sci-fi action film inspired by the classic board game, a fleet of ships must battle an alien armada that threatens Earth while participating in a naval exercise.
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Tadanobu Asano, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgård, Jesse Plemons, Gregory D. Gadson, Hamish Linklater, John Tui;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 131 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,8;
More information about the film “Battleship” on the website imdb.com
“Sink the Bismarck!”, 1960
Director: Lewis Gilbert
This historical war film dramatizes the British naval pursuit and eventual sinking of the German battleship Bismarck during World War II.
Starring: Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Carl Möhner, Laurence Naismith, Geoffrey Keen, Karel Stepanek, Michael Hordern, Maurice Denham, Michael Goodliffe, Esmond Knight;
Production year: 1960;
Genre: action, drama, war, history;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Sink the Bismarck!” on the website imdb.com
“Tora! Tora! Tora!”, 1970
Director: Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku, Toshio Masuda
Providing a detailed account of the events leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor from both the American and Japanese perspectives, this film chronicles one of the most infamous naval battles in history.
Starring: Martin Balsam, So Yamamura, Jason Robards, George Macready, James Whitmore, Joseph Cotten, E.G. Marshall, Wesley Addy, Tatsuya Mihashi, Takahiro Tamura;
Production year: 1970;
Genre: war, history, action, drama;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 144 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Tora! Tora! Tora!” on the website imdb.com
“Midway”, 2019
Director: Roland Emmerich
Both films depict the Battle of Midway, a pivotal engagement between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Starring: Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Luke Evans, Mandy Moore, Luke Kleintank, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Keean Johnson, Nick Jonas;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: war, action, history, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
“Crimson Tide”, 1995
Director: Tony Scott
A tense thriller set aboard a U.S. nuclear submarine that depicts a confrontation between the commanding officer and his executive officer during a crisis involving potential nuclear warfare.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Matt Craven, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Rocky Carroll, Jaime Gomez, Michael Milhoan, Scott Burkholder;
Production year: 1995;
Genre: action, thriller, drama, war;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 116 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Crimson Tide” on the website imdb.com
“U-571”, 2000
Director: Jonathan Mostow
A World War II film telling the fictional story of American submariners attempting to capture a German Enigma machine from a U-boat to break Nazi codes.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, David Keith, Thomas Kretschmann, Jake Weber, Jack Noseworthy, Tom Guiry, Will Estes;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: action, war;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 116 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
“The Enemy Below”, 1957
Director: Dick Powell
This film features the strategic battle between an American destroyer captain and a German U-boat commander during World War II.
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, David Hedison, Theodore Bikel, Russell Collins, Kurt Kreuger, Frank Albertson, Biff Elliot, David Bair, Alfred K. Baroa;
Production year: 1957;
Genre: action, thriller, drama, adventure, war;
Age: 12+;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “The Enemy Below” on the website imdb.com
“K-19: The Widowmaker”, 2002
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Based on true events, the film follows the first of many disasters that befell the Soviet submarine K-19 and its crew during the Cold War.
Starring: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard, Sam Spruell, Tim Woodward, Steve Nicolson, Peter Stebbings, Lex Shrapnel, John Shrapnel;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: thriller, drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,7;
More information about the film “K-19: The Widowmaker” on the website imdb.com
These films represent a range of settings and eras, showcasing the intensity and drama that come with naval combat stories.
In sum, films about naval combat offer a unique blend of intense action, human drama, and the vast, often unforgiving theater of the sea. They transport audiences into the heart of maritime warfare, perfectly capturing the strategic cunning, the ebb and flow of naval conflicts, and the bravery of individuals who have faced the tumultuous oceans in times of war. Whether it's the historical authenticity found in epics such as “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” the patriotic fervor of “Midway,” or the somber reflections in “Das Boot,” the genre's best entries not only entertain but also educate and provoke thought about the complexities of war. As technological advancements continue to shape filmmaking, the future of naval combat films looks promising, with the potential for even more immersive and visceral experiences that will continue to honor the legacy of naval warfare and its impact on human history.
