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The Greatest Films That Take Place At Sea

The Greatest Films That Take Place At Sea

Updated: by

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

40. The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

39. The Island (1980)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

38. The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

Source: Courtesy of AVCO Embassy Pictures

37. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

36. The Deep (1977)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

35. Waterworld (1995)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

34. Flipper (1963)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

33. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

32. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

31. The Perfect Storm (2000)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

30. Lord Jim (1965)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

29. White Squall (1996)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

28. Wind (1992)

Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

27. The Finest Hours (2016)

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

26. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Film Manufacturing Company

25. Reap the Wild Wind (1942)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

24. Juggernaut (1974)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

23. Dead Calm (1989)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

22. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

21. The Bounty (1984)

Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures

20. The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

19. China Seas (1935)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

18. All Is Lost (2013)

Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate

17. Titanic (1953)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

16. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

15. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

14. Robinson Crusoe (1954)

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

13. Moby Dick (1956)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

12. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

11. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

10. Titanic (1997)

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

9. Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

8. Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

7. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

6. Whale Rider (2003)

Source: Courtesy of Newmarket Films

5. Captain Phillips (2013)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

4. Captains Courageous (1937)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

3. The Navigator (1924)

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation

2. Jaws (1975)

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1. Das Boot (1982)

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

40. The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)
39. The Island (1980)
38. The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
37. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
36. The Deep (1977)
35. Waterworld (1995)
34. Flipper (1963)
33. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
32. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
31. The Perfect Storm (2000)
30. Lord Jim (1965)
29. White Squall (1996)
28. Wind (1992)
27. The Finest Hours (2016)
26. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
25. Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
24. Juggernaut (1974)
23. Dead Calm (1989)
22. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
21. The Bounty (1984)
20. The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
19. China Seas (1935)
18. All Is Lost (2013)
17. Titanic (1953)
16. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
15. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
14. Robinson Crusoe (1954)
13. Moby Dick (1956)
12. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
11. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
10. Titanic (1997)
9. Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World (2003)
8. Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
7. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
6. Whale Rider (2003)
5. Captain Phillips (2013)
4. Captains Courageous (1937)
3. The Navigator (1924)
2. Jaws (1975)
1. Das Boot (1982)

In the past, Hollywood films have typically been shot on studio lots. Closed sets protected all involved from harsh elements and hazards that could be encountered in everyday life but it lacked realism. This is why many filmmakers opted to shoot on location. The 1975 film "Jaws" was the first movie shot at sea – which led to all sorts of disasters and issues with filming, from "Bruce," the shark malfunctioning due to salt water corroding its mechanics to rough seas and heavy winds that damaged equipment. But this realism lends credence to a film, and many of the greatest films that take place at sea illustrate how nothing is a substitute for the real thing.

Although they aren't always filmed at sea. Many 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. Safety is a key factor and conditions can be controlled in these environments.

Outside of documentaries and reality shows, it's unusual to find film crews out on the open water. But these directors threw caution to the wind, which resulted in the greatest films that take place at sea. (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 greatest films that take place at sea, 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.

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