Dramas, comedies, and other movies featuring ships or boats are typically filmed on a set in Olympic-sized pools, and the visual effects make the viewer feel as though they’re taking place on the ocean. Some feel far more realistic than others and have delighted fans.
Why can’t production companies just film a movie on the ocean? While it would be dramatic, storms, waves, and hazards like riptides can make it a dangerous location. Instead, they use safe — and large — pools where the conditions can be controlled. Outside of documentaries and reality shows, it’s unusual to find film crews out on the open water. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but they do come with dangers like these:
- “Across the Border” (1914) – A horse crossing the Arkansas River stumbled and an actress and camera operator died.
- “High Jungle” (1966) – While shooting a canoe scene on the Huallaga River, actors Eric Fleming (“Rawhide”) and Nico Minardos (“Mission: Impossible” and “Hondo”) fell into the river and Fleming drowned.
- “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.” (1966) – In this Disney movie, a wave hit the filming crew’s boat, and a cameraman drowned off the coast of Kauai.
- “Waterworld” (1995) – Several things went wrong while filming this movie. Two actresses had to be rescued after they fell off the boat they were on, and lead actor Kevin Costner almost died when he was caught in a squall on his boat. Several others were stung by jellyfish.
So you can see why filmmakers opt to keep their productions off the high seas. With that in mind, we’re taking a look at the 40 best movies set on the ocean. (Learn more about one of the most famous ships in history by reading about famous people who were supposed to be on the Titanic.)
Methodology
To determine the best movies set on the ocean, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of May 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies with at least 1,000 reviews on IMDb were considered, and documentaries were not excluded. Director information is from IMDb.
40. The Last Flight of Noah’s Ark (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (1,350 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 41% (1,507 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 40% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Charles Jarrott
39. The Island (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
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Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (4,149 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (7,405 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 40% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Ritchie
38. The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
Source: Courtesy of AVCO Embassy Pictures
Source: Courtesy of AVCO Embassy Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (2,969 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 40% (1,161 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 44% (27 reviews)
- Directed by: Mike Nichols
37. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (31,693 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (12,334 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 32% (22 reviews)
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
36. The Deep (1977)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (11,898 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 38% (5,437 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 48% (21 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Yates
35. Waterworld (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (188,102 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 43% (230,643 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 48% (61 reviews)
- Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
34. Flipper (1963)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (1,809 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (26,370 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 50% (6 reviews)
- Directed by: James B. Clark
33. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (141,155 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 53% (40,602 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Ron Howard
32. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (5,784 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (757 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (17 reviews)
- Directed by: Irwin Allen
31. The Perfect Storm (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (170,090 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (279,249 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (135 reviews)
- Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
30. Lord Jim (1965)
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (3,789 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 57% (1,794 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 57% (14 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Brooks
29. White Squall (1996)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (24,309 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (18,577 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 58% (36 reviews)
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
28. Wind (1992)
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (2,700 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (2,956 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 50% (12 reviews)
- Directed by: Carroll Ballard
27. The Finest Hours (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (67,742 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (23,121 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 63% (200 reviews)
- Directed by: Craig Gillespie
26. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Film Manufacturing Company
Source: Courtesy of Universal Film Manufacturing Company
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (1,678 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (10,532 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (8 reviews)
- Directed by: Stuart Paton
25. Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (3,140 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 56% (1,636 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (10 reviews)
- Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
24. Juggernaut (1974)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (5,294 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 56% (1,793 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (6 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Lester
23. Dead Calm (1989)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (42,512 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (31,428 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: Phillip Noyce
22. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (16,759 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (4,480 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 70% (20 reviews)
- Directed by: Lewis Milestone, Carol Reed, George Seaton
21. The Bounty (1984)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (27,919 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (10,369 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (19 reviews)
- Directed by: Roger Donaldson
20. The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (7,529 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 67% (4,435 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (10 reviews)
- Directed by: John Sturges, Fred Zinnemann
19. China Seas (1935)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (2,439 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (585 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (5 reviews)
- Directed by: Tay Garnett
18. All Is Lost (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate
- IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (78,514 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (40,659 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (240 reviews)
- Directed by: J.C. Chandor
17. Titanic (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (7,216 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (86,447 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (11 reviews)
- Directed by: Jean Negulesco
16. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (102,721 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (61,127 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (55 reviews)
- Directed by: Lewis Gilbert
15. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (42,779 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (47,418 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: Ronald Neame
14. Robinson Crusoe (1954)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (3,891 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 61% (1,352 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (12 reviews)
- Directed by: Luis Buñuel
13. Moby Dick (1956)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (20,980 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (8,362 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (25 reviews)
- Directed by: John Huston
12. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (15,225 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (41,502 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (22 reviews)
- Directed by: Ken Annakin
11. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (32,250 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (68,939 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Fleischer
10. Titanic (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (1,181,693 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 69% (35,797,635 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (193 reviews)
- Directed by: James Cameron
9. Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (211,366 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (141,196 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (219 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Weir
8. Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (7,231 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (1,201 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (9 reviews)
- Directed by: Raoul Walsh
7. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (23,465 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (8,083 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Lloyd
6. Whale Rider (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films
Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (43,429 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (49,973 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (156 reviews)
- Directed by: Niki Caro
5. Captain Phillips (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (465,186 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (152,646 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (279 reviews)
- Directed by: Paul Greengrass
4. Captains Courageous (1937)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (9,280 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (3,818 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (18 reviews)
- Directed by: Victor Fleming
3. The Navigator (1924)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (9,578 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (3,197 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (19 reviews)
- Directed by: Donald Crisp, Buster Keaton
2. Jaws (1975)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (565,147 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (945,011 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (93 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
1. Das Boot (1982)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (257,726 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (47,531 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen