Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- warm
- witty
- date night
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found it to be a charming, warmly funny romantic comedy elevated by Ron Howard's unobtrusive direction and the appealing performances of Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Madison is a mermaid whose relationship with Allen depends on hiding her aquatic identity and managing the danger of getting her legs wet.
Madison moves from the sea into New York City, learns English and human behavior, and adapts to land-based life through comic encounters.
The mermaid premise unfolds amid ordinary locations such as a fish market, New York streets, and department stores, while the central romance remains sincere.
Madison can walk on land when her tail dries, but contact with water causes her secret to become visible again.
Films like Splash, and why
The Man Who Fell to Earth
shares a warm romantic comedy tone, fish-out-of-water fantasy premise, and playful clash between ordinary life and magical identity
Edward Scissorhands
combines romantic comedy, fantasy transformation, and a heartfelt relationship between a human and an extraordinary outsider
Enchanted
shares whimsical romance, gentle humor, and a magical outsider entering contemporary urban life
The Shape of Water
pairs broad comedy with an impossible romance and a sympathetic supernatural character seeking belonging
Movie Details
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Release Date
- 1984-03-09
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (1540)
Cast
- Tom Hanks
- Daryl Hannah
- Eugene Levy
- John Candy
- Dody Goodman
- Shecky Greene
- Richard B. Shull
- Bobby Di Cicco
- Howard Morris
- Tony DiBenedetto
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus, YouTube TV
- 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 Splash about?
- A lonely New York bachelor falls for the mermaid who once saved him, forcing their improbable romance to survive the boundary between land and sea.
- What is Splash like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Splash as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Splash violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Splash.
- What did critics think of Splash?
- Critics broadly found it to be a charming, warmly funny romantic comedy elevated by Ron Howard's unobtrusive direction and the appealing performances of Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah.
- Which films are like Splash?
- Films with a similar feel include The Man Who Fell to Earth, Edward Scissorhands, Enchanted, and The Shape of Water.
- How long is Splash?
- Splash runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Splash?
- In United States, Splash streams on Disney Plus, YouTube TV.
