Water, water everywhere, and not a thing to watch. Okay, that’s not quite right; the truth is that plenty of films feature the unforgiving sea as a major character, evil villain, or metaphor for testing the very limits of humanity. While not all water-based movies are instant classics, some, The Shallows, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite ocean-bound films. We're looking at those movies set primarily on the water's surface - the aforementioned Pixar effort would have it a little easy, otherwise. Here are our 15 Best Movies Set on the Open Water. Enjoy!
15. Waterworld
It’s probably best to get this one out of the way so we can all enjoy the rest of the list. This Kevin Costner crapfest is easily one of the worst big budget films in recent memory - out of films that aren’t Battlefield Earth anyway. In all fairness, the concept of the ice caps melting and covering all the land is reasonable. The idea that this will make people even more frightened, angry, and combative also makes sense. But the rest? Nope. Not even a little. Even Dennis Hopper couldn’t save this collection of ludicrous characters, nonsensical plotting, and the sudden fertility of Mount Everest. In the end though, Waterworld always leaps to mind when we think about water movies.
14. Ghost Ship
Watching a haunted house movie usually devolves into the audience wishing the tormented protagonists would just leave the friggin’ house already. That’s why 2002’s Ghost Ship is a pretty good premise; it takes the option of leaving completely off the table. This movie also has a very strong opening, chock full of blood and screaming. Otherwise, this one falls a little flat. The cast seems disengaged, with the exception of Dexter’s Desmond Harrington as the antagonist. The closing scene, though, is both creepy and satisfying - especially after you’ve sat through the whole film. If you like ghost movies, or ship movies, or Juliana Margulies, this one might be to your liking.
13. The Reef
This 2010 movie was almost banned in its home country of Australia as it was believed that it would hurt the tourism industry. It’s probably true that people are less likely to hang out in the open water after watching hapless boat enthusiasts terrorized (and mostly eaten) by an enormous shark with a healthy sense of territoriality. As four friends are stranded in the ocean, a great white shark stalks them. The film is based on a true story told by lone survivor Ray Bounty. In the actual event, which happened in the 1980’s, the shark in question was a tiger, rather than a great white. The Reef is particularly notable for its shark effects, which are astoundingly realistic.
12. In the Heart of the Sea
Readers might be surprised to find this film on the list, since we already mentioned Moby Dick, and because In the Heart of the Sea is considered a major box-office flop. But hey, plenty of great movies didn’t find an audience the first time around. Eschewing Melville’s novel, this film is based on the true story Melville used as inspiration for his book. The film boasts a solid cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, and Brendan Gleeson. As if that’s not awesome enough, most of the movie takes place on the high seas, bringing enough action and suspense to keep viewers thoroughly engaged. We're not sure why this one didn’t connect with theater goers, but it’s sure to find a following on digital.
11. Cast Away
Can a movie that takes place mostly on an island be considered a water movie? Sure, especially if that water is the main antagonist. Most people think of Cast Away as that movie where Tom Hanks talks to a volleyball. It is that. It’s also the movie that explores the limits of human endurance, idealized reality versus actual reality, and the strength of the human spirit to continue even when we have no idea where we’re going or where we should be. Could you survive alone on an island for four years? How attached could you become to sporting equipment with a face painted on it? Here’s hoping none of us ever have to find out.
10. All is Lost
This little-known film features a powerhouse performance by Robert Redford, one he should have won every award in the world for. This is a unique film in that it features one cast member and almost no dialogue. Rather than inventing a companion to chat with like Hanks in Cast Away, director J.C. Chandor relied on a 31-page script to bring this harrowing tale to life. Redford was nominated (but did not win) for a Golden Globe for his performance. Sound editing, the score by Alex Ebert, and Redford himself did win a few other awards for this film. If you’ve never seen it, we recommend it highly.
9. Moby Dick
While everybody knows the broad strokes of the story of Moby Dick, there has always been healthy debate over which movie version is best. From the 1926 silent film, The Sea Beast, through the more modern retellings of today, the story of the relentless captain seeking revenge against an animal is a timeless metaphor for taking things too far. The 1998 miniseries that starred Sir Patrick Stewart, Gregory Peck, Ted Levine, and Henry Thomas is a great way to experience the story, particularly if you’ve never seen another adaptation. If a whale ever takes off part of your leg, your best course of action is to just let it go.
8. Titanic
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were already stars when they signed on to board one of the ill-fated ships of the White Star Line. But the all-star cast of Titanic also included Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, David Warner, Victor Garber, and Bill Paxton. The real stars of Titanic though, were the amazing special effects. Huge sets smashed to bits, opulent dining halls trapped underwater, and a highly dedicated band refusing to stop playing even as the ship went down—that’s what people most about this movie. And the love story, of course. Everybody loves a good romance, even when the ending turns out to be so sad we wonder if Nicholas Sparks didn’t secretly write it.
7. Open Water
Yet another true-life tale finds its way to our list. Open Water is a unique and terrifying low-budget horror film where water is the enemy. After being mistakenly left behind after a snorkel dive, a young couple begins to realize just how dangerous their situation is. While often referred to as a “shark movie,” Open Water focuses on fears. Fears of the dark, of being alone, of not knowing exactly where you are, and of every other creature in the sea. Jellyfish stings, useless bickering, and yeah, sharks ultimately prove to be… well, let's not spoil it for anyone who hasn’t sat down to enjoy this one yet. Avoid the sequel, though. Those people are all too stupid to live.
6. Life of Pi
The movie that won Ang Lee an Oscar for Best Director is also one of the most fantastic survival movies ever made. Can a boy really survive on a lifeboat with a tiger, an orangutan, a hyena, and a zebra? No, not all together, but the boy and his tiger are amazing to watch. Life of Pi is what reviewers call a visual feast, and with good reason. Part survival tale, part fantasy, this is an utterly enchanting story with an unexpectedly hard edge. Can faith in God save a person’s life and give them the power to commune with ferocious animals? Was it all dumb luck and a touch of know-how? It won’t matter, this film is damn enjoyable any way you cut it.