Jacqueline McKenzie, LL Cool J, Michael Rapaport, Saffron Burrows, Samuel L. Jackson ...( see more  see more... ) , Stellan Skarsgård , Thomas Jane

With a voracious trio of mako sharks wreaking havoc, Deep Blue Sea dares to up the ante on Jaws, but director Renny Harlin trades the nuanced suspense of Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster for the trickery ...( read more  read more... )of the digital age. In other words, why build genuine terror when you can show ill-fated humans getting torn into bloody chunks? The aforementioned makos have been lab rats in an effort to harvest a miracle cure for Alzheimer's disease from the brains of sharks, but the research has an unfortunate side effect: the sharks get smarter, and they're determined to break out of Aquatica, the deep-sea complex where they've been penned.

Model-actress Saffron Burrows plays the researcher; Thomas Jane pulls double-duty as shark expert and action hunk; Samuel L. Jackson's the corporate sponsor who chooses the worst time for an Aquatica tour; and rapper LL Cool J is nicely cast as Aquatica's cook and comic relief. Michael Rapaport, Jacqueline McKenzie, and Stellan Skarsgård round out the cast, most of whom are turned into shark food as the makos turn Aquatica into a floating junkyard. Harlin takes devilish pleasure in providing sudden, unexpected shocks--no small feat in such a derivative thriller--and as a series of action set-pieces, Deep Blue Sea never disappoints. It's inevitable that Burrows should end up in her underwear like Sigourney Weaver in Alien, but even then the movie offers a credible reason for the strip-down; that Deep Blue Sea can be simultaneously ridiculous and sensible is just another one of its shlocky charms. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

44% liked it

355,427 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

89 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Renny Harlin

Release Date: July 28, 1999

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DVD Release Date: June 5, 2001

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Stats: 14,787 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (14,787)


  • September 7, 2009
    A ridiculous but enjoyable film with a good cast. Probably the best Shark film since the Jaws movies but that's not really saying much. Samuel L. Jackson's character's speech interruption is hilarious and is worth watching the film for alone!
  • September 6, 2009
    This made me even more scared of swimming in the ocean.
  • June 22, 2008
    This movie is to sharks what Andy Dick is to acting. Embarrassing.
  • May 21, 2008
    Steven Spielberg already made the ultimate shark movie, the world didn't really need another one. Until Renny Harlin decided to make Deep Blue Sea. Yes it's even more unrealistic and not always entirely logic, but also so extremely exciting you're on the edge of your seat the ent...( read more)ire 100 minutes. The movie takes its time for the introduction of the characters and then kicks you into the cold water with such an incredible scare after half an hour that you haven't entirely recovered when the next one hits you. Not really caring about the usual order of demise of characters it stays unpredictable, cruel and thrilling until the very end. Thomas Jane is particularly convincing as badass shark wrangler, just like LL Cool J as preaching cook. The effects are pretty damn good, and the music makes sure to additionally tighten the noose as the water keeps rising. Let's just say now there are two shark movies everyone should see: Spielberg's as the classic and this one as his little mean, exciting bastard brother.
  • March 22, 2008
    This has to be one of the best movies in 1999! I found myself laughing when I saw the floppy disks and zipdrive, that used to be everything for anyone who worked with pcs! Anyway, oh la laa Thomas Jane, miiiiyaaoowwrr!! ---- CGI back then was still crappy compared to what we have...( read more) now, but ykna what? after all these years, I still love watching this!
  • January 20, 2010
    one of my favorites love it!!!!!!
  • January 18, 2010
    i like that movie a lot
  • January 12, 2010
    Better than I thought it'd be.
  • January 10, 2010
    Deep Blue Sea is a movie that I was initially excited to see, being a fan of these genres of movie.

    The plot is your usual bad experiment gone wrong scenario, pitted with a group of survivors in an environment that ultimately should get the better of them. Considering the relea...( read more)se date if this movie and the CGI available, it was no surprise to find that the effects slightly dated.

    Thomas Jane is an actor I consider to be a favourite, one who chooses unwisely in some cases. This movie was essential for him to show a side for an action type of movie.
  • January 2, 2010
    Decent thriller, the computer animated sharks weren't very impressive and phony looking, but it does have a good pace and it is suspenseful. The cast does fine.

Critic Reviews


June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Call it silly. Call it obvious -- there's nothing more obvious than a shark attack. But this is one of the few big-fish horror films that still has the power to surprise. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A neat package of terror, sharks and special effects! full review

View more Deep Blue Sea reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Oliveerrr
    October 29, 2009
    Really awesome! Just as good as JAWS...but still isnt better :) This is definately a MUST SEE movie. The sharks are huge...the people are being picked off...AND I CANT BELIEVE THE GIRL DIES IN THE END!!! I WAS SHOCKED!!!but i love this movie :)
  • neelvparmar
    July 19, 2008
    wow! i really like this movie and i'm this movie's all fan here and i think i'm join this fan member. ok? bye then.
  • chrish19
    April 30, 2007
    hey wasup every one u guys should add me and add me on msn and aim muh msn is chris-h-19-@hotmail.com and muh aim is mchrish1909
  • jbpelican
    August 25, 2006
    This was great, your run of the mill shark times ten, creating a beast of pure violence and destruction. LL Cool J was a funny bastard too.

    Justins Best Bit: The end of Samual L Jacksons survival speech..........
  • JesusOnlyKnows19
    June 19, 2006
    Ll COOL j PLAYED AN EXCELLENT roll in this movie, 1 who preaches! Awesome.....Amen to that!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Deep Blue Sea : Watch Free on TV


Deep Blue Sea Trivia


  • He swam in the deep blue sea; hit for the Yankees and punished a lot of bad people. Who is he?   Answer »
  • in which movie did samuel jackson try to escape from sharks?  Answer »
  • in what movie did they make sharks smarter  Answer »
  • What rap star has fought sharks in the Deep blue sea and been in a S.W.A.T team?  Answer »

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