Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 43 Ratings

  • Starring: Jürgen Prochnow
  • Summary: It is 1942 and the German submarine fleet is heavily engaged in the so called "Battle of the Atlantic" to harass and destroy English shipping. With better escorts of the Destroyer Class, however, German U-Boats have begun to take heavy losses. Das Boot is the story of one such U-Boat crew, with the film examining how these submariners maintained their professionalism as soldiers, attempted to accomplish impossible missions, while all the time attempting to understand and obey the ideology of the government under which they served. (Sony Pictures) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. 100
    Wolfgang Petersen's direction is an exercise in pure craftsmanship. [Director's Cut]
  2. Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    100
    A great movie just got greater, thanks to this thorough restoration. [Director's Cut; 27 June 1997, p.D3]
  3. Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    80
    Racing through the sub, squeezing through tiny openings, director Wolfgang Petersen's camera brilliantly evokes the claustrophobia and clamor of undersea battle.
  4. Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    60
    A descent into the pit of hell with slim odds of ever returning.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. PatC.
    10
    Just too drawn out, even though that's necessary to a point to develop the tension of the underwater attacks. But still rates a 10 as the best submarine warfare movie ever made. One of those rare movies that, once viewed, is never forgotten. Expand
  2. JD
    10
    Probably the best war movie ever made. Forget garbage like 'Saving Private Ryan'. This movie truly captures the futility of war no matter what side you are on. Claustrophobic, non stop action that literally had me cringing throughout the long (nearly 4 hours) journey. You get so absorbed into the movie, you get to know the characters so well. Great acting, filming, dialogue and music. A masterpiece. 10/10 Expand
  3. 10
    Absolutely the best sub movie of all time.... I could actually imagine the smells and rotten food. Terrific performances... terrific everything!!!!!!!

    This is a must see or you have truly missed something great!
    Expand
  4. This movie would have been awfully boring it wasn`t as scary as it is. The first time I watched it I had to take breaks because I couldn`t take the tension. The claustrophobia of this film is something really special. We sit in half- darkness most of the time anticipating hull sounds. The story is simple, though it`s just secondary to the main part and that is the Uboat. This tin coffin reminds us of everything we`d like never to experience in our lives. And yet there were real poeple volunteering to serve onboard of those coffins. Right to the end that history showed most of them were destroyed in action. For some reason the German actors really play it well. I mean this couldn`t have been done so good if they were average. Everything is believable here - the effects (as few of them as there are) are great, the submarine external views underwater are outright scary, the music perfectly goes with the atmosphere. Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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