Crimson Tide

Name: Crimson Tide
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Released: May 12, 1995
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman

1995

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

See All

7.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: May 12, 1995 | R

Starring: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman

Summary: In the midst of a global crisis, the USS Alabama receives an unconfirmed order to launch its nuclear missiles -- signaling the start of Word War III. The tension quickly rises as the sub's respected commander (Hackman) and his brilliant executive officer (Washington) clash over the validity of their orders, battling each other for controlIn the midst of a global crisis, the USS Alabama receives an unconfirmed order to launch its nuclear missiles -- signaling the start of Word War III. The tension quickly rises as the sub's respected commander (Hackman) and his brilliant executive officer (Washington) clash over the validity of their orders, battling each other for control of the sub. (BV Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Tony Scott

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

The submarine drama, which opens today, has everything you could want from an action thriller and a few other things you usually can't hope to expect: an excellent script, first-rate performances and a story that has more to do with individuals than explosions. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Crisp as the creases in its naval officers' uniforms, this tale of seething conflicts aboard an American submarine on the eve of nuclear war is strictly by-the-numbers, but hardly ever are traditional elements executed with such panache. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff(not credited)

Directed by Hollywood's slickest hack, Tony Scott ("Top Gun"), with a script doctored by Quentin Tarantino--you won't need sonar to spot his contributions. Read full review

Desson Thomson

The scenario may be dumb and predictable, with a wimpy ending to boot, but it's also sort of fun. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Most egregiously, the filmmakers set up a classic struggle between right and wrong and then, in a coy coda, refuse to take a stand. Read full review

Elvis Mitchell

Crimson Tide is better watched for its toy appeal and high-priced talent than for any real suspense over where Hunter's mutinous instincts will lead the story. Read full review

Katrine Ames

Ultimately, this is a war of boorishness vs. sensitivity, and the filmmakers waffle. Read full review

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Compi24

Nov 28, 2012

"Crimson Tide" is a 1995 film Starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. The Tony Scott film involves a first officer (Washington) on a nuclear submarine who clashes with his captain (Hackman) over whether or not they have enough information to perform a first strike on a volatile Russia."Crimson Tide" is a 1995 film Starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. The Tony Scott film involves a first officer (Washington) on a nuclear submarine who clashes with his captain (Hackman) over whether or not they have enough information to perform a first strike on a volatile Russia. As far as, Tony Scott films go, they're sort of hit or miss. I loved "Man On Fire" and "Unstoppable." However, movies like "Deja Vu" and "The Taking Of Pelham 123" are just sort of "meh" for me. This is partly because Mr. Scott made a very strange transition midway through his career. He went from using a really clean and traditional camera movement (as in "Top Gun," "True Romance," and "Crimson Tide") to using this really frenetic and trippy camera style (as in "Deja Vu," "Man On Fire," and "Unstoppable"). Sometimes the latter works, sometimes it doesn't, but one thing that usually has stayed amazingly consistent throughout Tony Scott's career is a brilliant lead performance from Denzel Washington. Tony Scott and Denzel Washington have collaborated together five times, and they've crafted some amazing stuff. "Crimson Tide" is no different here - Denzel sails through this movie with an utterly incredible finesse. However, while Denzel's performance is a force to be reckoned with, the best performance in this film is from none other than Popeye Doyle himself; Mr. Gene Hackman. His portrayal of Captain Frank Ramsey is one of the most menacing performances I've seen him give in a long while. Hackman owns this ship. In terms of directing, this movie in my opinion had everything "The Hunt For Red October" had, yet there was just a tad more. While "The Hunt For Red October" filmed it's underwater combat scenes using trick photography and models in midair, "Crimson Tide" actually shot their model ships underwater and utilized practical special effects on them regularly. While "The Hunt For Red October" had a brilliant score by Basil Poledouris, "Crimson Tide". . .had Hans Zimmer. Finally, while "The Hunt For Red October"'s plot was very interesting and definitely worth watching, "Crimson Tide" managed to be one of the most intense filmgoing experiences for me in a very long time - the fear of a nuclear holocaust is hammered into your head at an almost unsettling degree. White-knuckle film? You don't know the meaning of the term. "Crimson Tide" is an unbelievable film that I will not soon forget.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Kai82

Aug 1, 2021

I consider this as a forgotten masterpiece. It has two great opposing characters that are caught in a cat and mouse game that can decide the fate of humanity. The psychology of the characters and moral ambiguity are great. There is no black and white or easy answer in this situation. Story:I consider this as a forgotten masterpiece. It has two great opposing characters that are caught in a cat and mouse game that can decide the fate of humanity. The psychology of the characters and moral ambiguity are great. There is no black and white or easy answer in this situation. Story: It is set on the USS Alabama submarine which is armed with nuclear rockets and on a mission near Russia. Lets continue with the main characters first as those are important. We have Ron Hunter who is the new first officer on the submarine and Captain Frank Ramsey who is a veteran and the hard as steel but fair commander of the ship. Both have different opinions, personalities and world views that collide. The submarine is in striking distance when a civil conflict erupts in Russia. A nuclear missile base is captured by ultra nationalist that threaten to start a nuclear war if either Russia or the USA confronts them. They receive the order to be ready to launch their missiles to avoid a nuclear attack by destroying the base before the rockets can be started. With this set up I end here to avoid spoiler. The story is engaging, intense and immersive. It deals with a problem that has no easy answer as you have no clue who is right or wrong. Also the clashing characters are great. A conflict between people who believe in the same things but in different ways. They set up the story and characters in a truly amazing way and the themes are worth to discuss a lot. By the way it is said to be based on an incident during the Cuban Missile Crisis which was the closest thing to the end of mankind in history as the USA and Russia were on the brink of nuclear war. Back to the movie. It works well because of the great actors and their performance. We have Gene Hackman as Captain Frank Ramsey who is one of a few submarine commanders with actual war experience. He is a man of duty, no nonsense and hard but fair. Then there is Denzel Washington as Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter the second in command. He is less experienced but also a man of honor and principles. The struggle or conflict between those two made the movie great along with the story. They are like two side of a coin similar but different. Both characters have their valid points, code of honor and will do what is necessary. While I say these two carry the movie the rest of the cast is also excellent with George Dzundza as Chief Walters, Viggo Mortensen as Peter Ince and Matt Craven as Roy Zimmer to name a few. They fill the support roles with a good performance and enhance the movie. The mixture of fitting great actors in an immersive story won me and many others over. For the sets and visuals I say they are fully convincing for someone like me who has no naval, submarine or military experience (Like nearly all viewers). I always use the argument that it has not to be absolute realistic in an entertainment movie if it is not immensely implausible. On a sidenote I just read that they had no US Navy support as they objected a lot in the script. So I praise the effort. The soundtrack was done by Hans Zimmer who is one of the 3 great film music composers in the movie industry (John Williams and Ennio Morricone are the other two). So there is nothing to criticize here as he delivered something that was nominated for the Oscars. Overall this is a forgotten gem of its time. Basically unknown now but really good. An easy recommendation by me.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

AntonyC

Nov 23, 2008

You know that once a movie is lampooned by the Simpsons it has to have surpassed a certain level of quality and popularity. Watching this movie, you'll soon see why it easily earns it's place in Springfield. Smart, dramatic and featuring some great performances from Hackman and You know that once a movie is lampooned by the Simpsons it has to have surpassed a certain level of quality and popularity. Watching this movie, you'll soon see why it easily earns it's place in Springfield. Smart, dramatic and featuring some great performances from Hackman and Washington, this is a story of deadly what-ifs in a place where no-one on Earth want's a deadly what-if situation.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Broyax

Jan 24, 2018

Cette grosse machine, que dis-je, cette grosse machinerie hollywoodienne inspire une certaine méfiance de prime abord avec bien sûr l'habituelle rengaine "nous sommes les meilleurs, en avant pour la gloire de nos armes etc" puis bien entendu une légèreté certaine dans quelques situations etCette grosse machine, que dis-je, cette grosse machinerie hollywoodienne inspire une certaine méfiance de prime abord avec bien sûr l'habituelle rengaine "nous sommes les meilleurs, en avant pour la gloire de nos armes etc" puis bien entendu une légèreté certaine dans quelques situations et dialogues ainsi qu'un certain laxisme côté réalisme général.

On s'étonne à ce sujet que le sous-marin nucléaire lanceur d'engins (SNLE) soit fumeur et qu'il y ait autant de gros dedans dont certains doivent à peine tenir dans les coursives : avec tout ce poids, on s'étonne également qu'il ne coule pas à pic directement. On s'étonne aussi de la présence de ce clébard qui va pisser partout dans le sous-marin nucléaire. Le combat aux torpilles est du même tonneau avec des torpilles qui dansent la lambada pendant que les sous-marins font la danse du ventre...

Cela dit, le film ne fait pas n'importe quoi non plus et reste infiniment plus réaliste qu'une pitrerie comme Octobre Rouge avec Sean Connery et sa moumoute : il faut dire qu'on est tout de même pas dans du Tom Clancy et que USS Alabama est bien plus sérieux que cela. Construit comme un thriller à grands enjeux, ce huis-clos sous-marinier nucléaire sait distiller une tension et un rythme indéniablement efficaces, et ce du début à la fin.

Il s'agit d'ailleurs à mon avis du meilleur film de Tony Scott qui délivre ici une mise en scène carrée et bétonnée, totalement insubmersible : il exploite avec à-propos les moments de grandiloquence et les tournants décisifs d'un scénario très présentable finalement.

Gene Hackman est au centre et l'un des artisans, sinon l'artisan premier de cette tension de tous les instants qui va crescendo : il incarne avec un brio sans faille ce commandant éminemment intéressant et contrasté. Hélas, a contrario, Denzel Washington fait pâle figure et n'est pas au mieux dans un rôle trop grand pour lui et qui le dépasse entièrement : c'est vraiment dommage mais on s'y attendait : il n'a jamais été convaincant et n'a jamais fait que surjouer en permanence dans toute sa foutue carrière.

En musique de fond, on a l'habitué des grosses productions, à savoir le Hans Zimmer qui ne fait pas dans la dentelle mais sait ici se révéler tantôt homérique tantôt assez discret et plus banal. Ses choeurs sont en tout cas un sacré clin d'oeil aux choeurs de Basil Poledouris sur Octobre Rouge...

Voilà donc une grosse machine assez bien huilée pourvu qu'on y regarde de pas trop près et dans l'ensemble un divertissement de qualité. Bon travail Tony mais Gene remporte la palme !… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Mar 30, 2021

Despite some considerable plot holes, this is still a well made geo-poltical thriller that uses is submarine setting to build the claustrophobic tension to good effect.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

YorkMan

Jun 1, 2016

Excellent post Cold War undersea thriller starring Gene Hackman as Captain Ramsay, the grizzled, old school Captain of the nuclear submarine USS Alabama, and Denzel Washington as his newly promoted First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Hunter.
When a situation develops that forces Hunter intoExcellent post Cold War undersea thriller starring Gene Hackman as Captain Ramsay, the grizzled, old school Captain of the nuclear submarine USS Alabama, and Denzel Washington as his newly promoted First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Hunter.
When a situation develops that forces Hunter into committing mutiny, in order to prevent a launch of nuclear missiles, it ultimately boils down to a battle of wills between the two men. Each convinced they are right, and each dedicated to their course of action.
Tony Scott directs, and conjurs up a tight and well crafted on screen depiction of life on a submarine. Going from the initial mundanities of everyday life, to ramping up the tensions as the crew deal with the distinct possibility their sub might become a very large metal coffin.
The acting throughout is excellent, with (pre-Lord of the Rings) Viggo Mortenson a stand out, as the weapons officer (and old friend of Hunter) who gets caught in the middle.
There are some (big) problems with the film though. The first is that it does take extreme liberties its narrative. The film was criticised on release by anyone and everyone connected with the US Navy, who stated that the principle notion of the movie (a mutiny) would never happen in real life. Other criticisms were thrown around about the (late in the day) script re-writes by Quentin Tarantino. It's so obvious where his 'lines' are in the script, and when they are being spoken it's utterly out of place.
The ending was also commented on, and it's no surprise this film was parodied in an episode of The Simpsons, the ending coming in for a very wry level of sarcasm due to it essentially being a cop-out. People wanting an actual epilogue that puts things into context won't be getting one.

Overall though this is an exciting action-thriller. Put your thinking cap in your pocket, fire up the DVD/Blu-Ray, ramp up the bass on your sound system/TV, dim the lights..... And go along for the ride!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

[Anonymous]

Nov 27, 2008

Caught this on cable last night -- the "extended version"! This is the worst kind of rah-rah jingoistic dreck, and an outrageously dumb premise to boot. Not to mention the cop out ending. The entire time you can't escape the feeling that both Hackman and Washington are slightly Caught this on cable last night -- the "extended version"! This is the worst kind of rah-rah jingoistic dreck, and an outrageously dumb premise to boot. Not to mention the cop out ending. The entire time you can't escape the feeling that both Hackman and Washington are slightly embarrassed for taking part in this. I'm sure Viggo Mortensen regrets it. For my part I'm embarrassed to have sat through it all. Roger Ebert unbelievably gives it an 88 though, making you question his integrity, or curious about what he gets paid to give these sorts of films good reviews.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

43	#43 Best Movie of 1995
34	#34 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
29	#29 Most Shared Movie of 1995