The Poseidon Adventure

Name: The Poseidon Adventure
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Released: December 13, 1972
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Arthur O'Connell, Carol Lynley, Ernest Borgnine, Gene Hackman, Jack Albertson

1972

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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The Poseidon Adventure

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Movie Details & Credits

20th Century Fox | Release Date: December 13, 1972 | PG

Starring: Arthur O'Connell, Carol Lynley, Ernest Borgnine, Gene Hackman, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Shelley Winters, Stella Stevens

Summary: A group of passengers struggle to survive and escape when their ocean liner completely capsizes at sea.

Director: Ronald Neame

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 117 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Noel Murray

There's ample overacting by the likes of Stella Stevens, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelley Winters, but the movie's one-obstacle-atop-another plot—and active meditation on faith—remain sharp and surprising. Read full review

Clark Collis

Once the lady in question is overturned by a freak tidal wave the tone shifts from unintentionally comedic to undeniably exciting as renegade priest Gene Hackman leads a motley band of souls (including Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, and Roddy McDowall) on their upside down quest to escape from a watery grave. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The Poseidon Adventure is a highly imaginative and lustily-produced meller that socks over the dramatic struggle of 10 passengers to save themselves after an ocean liner capsizes when struck by a mammoth tidal wave created by a submarine earthquake. Read full review

Eric Henderson

A nightmarishly schematic fantasia of guiltless discomfort. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

It's a terrific piece of junk: the top-notch screenwriters (Stirling Silliphant and Wendell Mayes) never let a cliché slip through the net, and Neame's anaemic direction ensures that every absurdity is treated at face value. Read full review

Roger Ebert

This is a wonderful formula. I love it. The Poseidon Adventure is the kind of movie you know is going to be awful, and yet somehow you gotta see it, right? Read full review

Pauline Kael

Expensive pop disaster epic, manufactured for the market that made Airport a hit. Ronald Neame directed, with dull efficiency.

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User Reviews

CM95

Oct 12, 2020

Amazing movie. Definitely a must-watch for disaster movie fans. All-star cast and impressive sets, this movie is one of the best of the disaster craze of the 70s.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

akshatmahajan

Aug 8, 2021

Watch this movie after reading alot about it. Don't know why critics say that this is bad movie which is entertaining. I don't think this movie was bad. It was both good and entertaining.

Being movie of 1972, movie had good visual effects (also won Oscars for this). The acting is good, IWatch this movie after reading alot about it. Don't know why critics say that this is bad movie which is entertaining. I don't think this movie was bad. It was both good and entertaining.

Being movie of 1972, movie had good visual effects (also won Oscars for this). The acting is good, I have no complaints about it. Movie is neither dragged nor had any unnecessary scenes. It was just to the point. This movie came 25 years before titanic and showed ship disaster in more better way (both movies are good on their own).

Overall, this movie is must watch for disaster movie fans and for those who love classics.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Topechulo

Sep 5, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un buen reparto, un clásico del cine de catástrofes de los 70 que te mantiene un vilo durante toda la película.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

This is a film about people with clashing personalities, having to try and get on, a bunch of, you could say, rag tag types having to pull together to try and find a way out of their gloomy predicament. There are some instances of quite witty retorts given by passengers in response to whatThis is a film about people with clashing personalities, having to try and get on, a bunch of, you could say, rag tag types having to pull together to try and find a way out of their gloomy predicament. There are some instances of quite witty retorts given by passengers in response to what they believe to be fanciful suggestions. Given this film dates from the early 1970s, the special effects aren't plentiful or impressive when compared to todays standards but I felt the performances were alright overall (well, there are some instances of slightly over the top performances but others are alright) and so made up for that. I found it a fairly engrossing watch - quite a tense one at that and while its not quite Titanic (or, perhaps moreso the case, think of it as an older version of Titanic, on a (I assume) smaller budget), I would still recommend it to others as it is somewhat atmospheric, in a claustrophobic sort of a sense.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mglovesfun

Jan 9, 2020

The film comes across as cliché, mostly because of a lot of similar films that have come after it. However, the Rogo character is irritating and doesn't make a lot of sense, and the film's portrayal of women as weaker and more hysterical than men comes across as sexist and franklyThe film comes across as cliché, mostly because of a lot of similar films that have come after it. However, the Rogo character is irritating and doesn't make a lot of sense, and the film's portrayal of women as weaker and more hysterical than men comes across as sexist and frankly uncomfortable to watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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