Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- claustrophobic
- tense
- brooding
- late night thriller viewing
- submarine movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found it an efficiently constructed, muscular submarine thriller elevated by Kevin Macdonald's direction and Jude Law's performance, despite limited depth and some implausibility.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Robinson's unemployment and the crew's promise of equal shares progressively intensify rivalry aboard the submarine.
The rusty Soviet submarine traps a divided crew in the dark depths while oxygen, machinery, and trust deteriorate.
The rumored Nazi U-boat and its gold ingots motivate Robinson's recruitment of the crew and the expedition into the Black Sea.
The film repeatedly foregrounds the cramped, rusting Soviet submarine and the hostile seabed environment.
Films like Black Sea, and why
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
shared treasure hunt structure, escalating greed, and morally compromised crew dynamics
Sorcerer
shared claustrophobic survival thriller atmosphere, harsh industrial environments, and escalating mistrust
Das Boot
shared underwater suspense, mechanical danger, and pressure-cooker crew conflict
The Abyss
shared maritime adventure, divided loyalties, and survival under extreme conditions
Movie Details
- Director
- Kevin Macdonald
- Release Date
- 2014-12-05
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (1220)
Cast
- Jude Law
- Karl Davies
- Jodie Whittaker
- Daniel Ryan
- Scoot McNairy
- Tobias Menzies
- Michael Smiley
- David Threlfall
- Ben Mendelsohn
- Konstantin Khabenskiy
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Black Sea about?
- A redundant submarine captain leads a divided British-Russian crew toward Nazi gold beneath the Black Sea, where greed and mechanical peril make survival increasingly uncertain.
- What is Black Sea like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Black Sea as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Black Sea violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Black Sea as brutal.
- What did critics think of Black Sea?
- Critics broadly found it an efficiently constructed, muscular submarine thriller elevated by Kevin Macdonald's direction and Jude Law's performance, despite limited depth and some implausibility.
- Which films are like Black Sea?
- Films with a similar feel include The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Sorcerer, Das Boot, and The Abyss.
- How long is Black Sea?
- Black Sea runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Black Sea?
- In United States, Black Sea is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
