Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- claustrophobic
- oppressive
- mournful
- historical drama night
- serious movie night
What critics said
Critics found the film a reasonably compelling but uneven historical disaster drama, strengthened by solid performances and claustrophobic submarine sequences.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Russian officials and military authorities impede or complicate efforts to secure outside assistance for the stranded sailors.
The sailors struggle inside the disabled K-141 Kursk as the submerged hull becomes an increasingly oppressive environment.
The film follows both the trapped crew and families or naval authorities confronting the rescue crisis from outside the submarine.
The response to the submarine disaster is shaped by classified information, Russian political sensitivities, and resistance to foreign assistance.
Films like Kursk, and why
The Deepwater Horizon
shared true disaster foundation, claustrophobic survival tension, and institutional failure
The Hunt for Red October
shared submarine setting, military crisis, procedural suspense, and geopolitical stakes
The Impossible
shared historical disaster drama, family anguish, and bureaucratic obstruction
Apollo 13
shared ensemble survival narrative, fatalism, and crisis-management drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Thomas Vinterberg
- Release Date
- 2018-11-07
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (731)
Cast
- Matthias Schoenaerts
- Léa Seydoux
- Peter Simonischek
- Max von Sydow
- August Diehl
- Colin Firth
- Bjarne Henriksen
- Magnus Millang
- Artemiy Spiridonov
- Joel Basman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, History Vault, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Kursk about?
- A doomed submarine crew and the families fighting for them confront catastrophe, secrecy, and institutional paralysis after the Kursk sinks in the Barents Sea.
- What is Kursk like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kursk as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Kursk violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Kursk as mild.
- What did critics think of Kursk?
- Critics found the film a reasonably compelling but uneven historical disaster drama, strengthened by solid performances and claustrophobic submarine sequences.
- Which films are like Kursk?
- Films with a similar feel include The Deepwater Horizon, The Hunt for Red October, The Impossible, and Apollo 13.
- How long is Kursk?
- Kursk runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kursk?
- In United States, Kursk streams on Philo, History Vault, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.
