The deep blue ocean is one of the most mysterious places on earth, from its astounding array of marine life to the secrets it holds, from ship wreckage to undiscovered depths. Over the years, many films have captured the haunting beauty and mystery of the ocean. From sunken treasure to maniacal sea creatures, to real-life tragedy and everything in between. Here, Movieweb has compiled a list of some of the best underwater adventure movies in film history.

Whether exploring the deep blue sea for underwater civilizations, setting records for ocean free-diving, learning of advanced alien life, or fighting for survival against a man-eating shark (or whale) — whether based on fact or fiction — one thing this compilation of movies proves is the ocean is every bit as fascinating on the big screen as it is in real life. If you are as intrigued by underwater wonders as we are, be sure to check out our list of the best underwater adventure movies, ranked.

13 City Beneath the Sea

city-beneath-the-sea-1953-1
Universal International Pictures

City Beneath the Sea may not be known for its ratings; however, this pulpy quintessential B-movie is hard to resist. The 1953 film stars Robert Ryan and Anthony Quinn as two deep sea divers who are hired by some unsavory characters, to retrieve some sunken gold. If you are watching this movie for the plot, you may find yourself disappointed, but if it’s pure popcorn entertainment you’re after, it’s well worth your time.

12 The Deep

The Deep 1977
Columbia Pictures

Based on a novel by Peter Benchley, The Deep is a 1977 adventure thriller starring Jacqueline Bissett, Nick Nolte, and Robert Shaw. It follows the adventures of a young couple who, while vacationing in Bermuda, find a secret entrance into a sunken World War II ship. In the wreck, they find the cargo hold full of treasure, and medicinal morphine. This discovery catches the attention of a local drug kingpin who wants the treasure for himself. The massive success of Jaws in 1975 (also an adaptation of a Peter Benchley novel) inspired the adaptation of The Deep.

11 Moby Dick

Captain Ahab
Warner Bros.

Based on the 1851 Herman Melville novel of the same name, Moby Dick stars Gregory Peck as the fanatical Captain Ahab who puts his obsession with killing the treacherous white whale over the safety of his men. The screenplay was written by author Ray Bradbury, and the film was directed by John Huston. The film is a tour de force through and through, a great adaptation of the source material, and represents some of Huston’s best work.

10 The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure
20th Century Fox

Based on Paul Gallico’s 1969 novel of the same name, The Poseidon Adventure is a great underwater disaster film, that follows the passengers of SS Poseidon a luxury ocean liner on her final voyage from New York to Athens. On New Year’s Eve, the magnificent ship capsized after being hit by a Tsunami. The film follows the passengers in their fight for survival as they make their way out of the deteriorating ship. The film was released in the same era as other well-known disaster films of the time, such as Airport and The Towering Inferno, helping to launch a disaster film craze.

9 20000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Walt Disney Studios

Based on the popular novel by Jules Verne, 20000 Leagues Under The Sea has seen several adaptations for both radio and film. However, the definitive version remains Disney’s 1954 film starring Kirk Douglas. The film explores deep sea exploration and the discovery of nuclear energy. Disney has recently announced its plan to release a 10-part limited series spinoff titled Nautilus that will examine the origins of Captain Nemo.

8 Moana

Moana Maui and Moana
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Moana is an animated underwater adventure featuring voice performances from Auli’i Cravalho and Duane Johnson. The film follows an adventurous teenager who must fulfill her destiny to save her people and find her true identity. The film is all about girl power and features a strong female lead that does not need saving, but rather is the hero herself. Moana is also the first Disney film that doesn’t have a love interest for the female protagonist or a romantic subplot, which is a huge step in the right direction toward telling better stories for young girls.

Related: Here's What Makes Moana a Groundbreaking Disney Movie

7 Mutiny on the Bounty

mutiny-on-the-bounty1
Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Mutiny on the Bounty is an epic war drama starring Marlon Brando, that is based on the novel of the same name by Charles Nordoff, and James Nordon Hall. The film features a dramatized account of the real-life mutiny aboard the HMS Bounty on April 28, 1789. The mutiny saw acting-Lieutenant Fletcher Christian seize control of the ship from Captain William Bligh and force him and 18 of his crewmen onto a small boat and set them adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

6 The Big Blue

the big blue jean reno
Gaumont

The Big Blue, also known under the French title Le Grand Bleu, is a highly dramatized account of the friendship of rival championship free divers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca. The pair is played by Jean-Marc Barr and Jean Reno respectively. The film was a huge success in its native France, whereas an American adaptation was less successful in the U.S..

5 Aquaman

aquaman
Warner Bros. Pictures/DC

DC’s Aquaman is one of the greatest underwater adventure movies for its stunning interpretation of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. It is a delight to explore the mysteries of the ocean in James Wan’s visual masterpiece. True fans of the film consider it one of the best in the DC Universe. Furthermore, Jason Momoa steals the show in the role he was born to play. Momoa will reprise his role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is set for release on Dec 25, 2023.

4 The Abyss

The Abyss James Cameron
20th Century Fox

The Abyss is a James Cameron-directed science fiction film that follows a U.S. search and recovery team on their mission to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to retrieve a sunken submarine. While on their mission, the specialized team crosses paths with highly intelligent and benevolent alien life. Decades later, The Abyss remains an outlier in Cameron’s filmography. While it may not have broken box office records or attained mass popularity The Abyss boasts spectacular practical effects that were very impressive for its time. It has even been said that The Abyss marked the beginning of special effects as we know them today.

Related: Why We Can't Wait to Watch Jame's Cameron's The Abyss in Hi-Def

3 Titanic

Titanic ship sinking in James Cameron movie
Paramount Pictures

Cameron’s Titanic just celebrated its 25th anniversary this past December. The spectacular underwater disaster film long held the record for highest-grossing film of all time, and even today ranks third behind Avengers: Endgame and Avatar. The movie is celebrated in this list for its most historically accurate depiction of the famed shipwreck in cinematic history. The film also inspired one of the greatest debates in movie history with the question, could Jack have fit on the giant door? Titanic is set for re-release in theaters Feb 10, 2023 to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

2 Jaws

Jaws
Universal Pictures

No list of underwater adventure films would be complete without this Steven Spielberg classic. When a deadly great white shark declares hunting season on the touristy beaches of Amity, local police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), Marine Biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfus), and seasoned shark hunter Sam Quint (Robert Shaw) set out on a mission to exterminate the beast.

Jaws, based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, helped catapult Steven Spielberg to superstardom and became the definitive blueprint for blockbuster films as we know them today. Despite its tremendous success, the popularity of the film also came with dire consequences for sharks, as the "Jaws Effect" took hold. Since the 1975 release of the film the shark population has seen a cataclysmal decline. Spielberg recently opened up about his sorrow for how the film changed people's perceptions of sharks and ultimately led to their decimation.

1 Avatar: The Way of Water

Underwater scene in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
20th Century Studios

Avatar: The Way of Water follows Jake and Ney'tiri who have started a family and must explore Pandora for a new home. When an old threat resurfaces, Jake is at odds against the humans. The long awaited sequel to Avatar is currently taking the world by storm and its no wonder why, the film is transforming underwater filming with its use of underwater motion capture technology that looks incredible.