Shot and directed by Steven Soderbergh, ‘Let Them All Talk’ is a comedy drama set in a cruise ship. It follows the story of an author who boards a ship with her friends and a nephew to have a good time. This Meryl Streep-starrer light-hearted film takes place almost entirely on one ship, the RMS Queen Mary 2. If you are interested in films entirely set on a ship or the underwaters, here we have a list of similar movies that will catch your attention.
8. Titanic (1997)
One of the most popular films set on a ship, this romantic disaster film by James Cameron took home several Academy Awards and was a major box-office and critical success. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the lead, it follows the two as they fall in love on the doomed maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912. Cameron was inspired to make the film after he saw footage of the wreck of the real Titanic. This led him to make one of the most successful films of his career.
7. Life of Pi (2012)
Based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel, ‘Life of Pi‘ is an adventure drama film directed by Ang Lee. Told in flashback, the story follows a 16-year-old who is adrift on a boat with a Bengal tiger after surviving a shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean. The rest of the story is about him trying to survive with the tiger for 227 days. With amazing visuals and great acting by Suraj Sharma and Irrfan Khan, the film is a modern masterpiece that delves into several philosophical questions. Upon its release, it was a critical and financial success, and Lee earned the Academy Award for Best Director.
6. Crimson Tide (1995)
With a talented cast including Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, this 1995 submarine film takes place after the Cold War. Onboard the USS Alabama, the conflict gradually escalates between the Captain and the Lt. Commander after the former wants to launch an attack on the enemy. Directed by Tony Scott, ‘Crimson Tide’ is filled with moments of nail-biting tension and amazing performance by its lead. The critically acclaimed film has received several Academy Award nominations.
5. Captain Phillips (2013)
This biographical thriller film is inspired by the true story of the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking when four Somalian pirates had taken over the Maersk Alabama cargo ship on April 8, 2009. The rescue operation by the United States Navy ended the siege four days later. Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film is written by Billy Ray based on the book ‘A Captain’s Duty’ by Captain Richard Phillips.
Phillips was the captain of the container ship when the pirates seized it. With scenes that leave the audience gasping for air and an amazing performance by Tom Hanks, this tight thriller set in the sea is a must-watch.
4. Das Boot (1981)
This West German war film is considered to be one of the greatest German films of all time. Written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, this 1981 film is set during World War II and centers around the U-96 submarine as it sails for the Battle of the Atlantic. It is based on the 1973 eponymous German novel by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim and is one of the most expensive films of its time. ‘Das Boot’ proved to be a major critical and commercial success and won several awards.
3. The Abyss (1989)
Another film by James Cameron on the list, ‘The Abyss’ cements his fascination with deep-sea dives and their mystery. This science fiction film tells the story of a US search team who experience strange things in the deep waters as they try to rescue a sinking submarine. The film’s ahead-of-its-time visual effects earned it an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Although one of Cameron’s lesser-known works, ‘The Abyss’ is easily one of his best. You can’t afford to miss it if you are into science fiction or fascinated with the deep sea.
2. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Another submarine thriller in this list, this 1990 film, is directed by John McTiernan and written by Larry Ferguson and Donald E. Stewart. Based on the namesake 1984 Tom Clancy novel, the film is set towards the end of the cold war. With incredible performances by Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, and Sam Neill, this film gets the audience involved in the clever mind games the characters play. It was well-received by the critics and the audiences.
1. Triangle (2009)
This film will force you to rewatch it again, causing you to think about what you just saw. Written and directed by Christopher Smith, this psychological thriller film is not only high on the blood, gore, and shock quotient but also plays with the viewer’s expectation and turns the genre conventions on its head. Melissa George gives a strong performance in the film as a woman stuck in an abandoned ocean liner, as she figures out a strange presence on board.
Read more: Is Let Them All Talk A True Story?
