Sphere
A deep-sea team of scientists confronts a reality-bending metal sphere whose mysterious manifestations turn isolation and human fear into lethal threats.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- claustrophobic
- paranoid
- foreboding
- late night sci fi
- deep sea thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed Sphere as a derivative, overlong adaptation whose strong cast and ambitious science-fiction premise were undermined by an ordinary, talk-heavy screenplay.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The scientific team works 1000 feet below the ocean in Deepsea Habitats, where the hostile environment magnifies every threat.
The discovery of a perfect metal sphere inside a half-mile-long object drives the team's investigation and the film's central questions.
The mysterious manifestations appear to reflect the team's minds, turning psychology into concrete danger.
A psychologist, mathematician, biochemist, and astrophysicist must confront events that exceed their professional frameworks.
Films like Sphere, and why
The Abyss
shared deep-sea isolation, extraterrestrial technology, scientific mystery, and psychological tension
DeepStar Six
shared underwater survival setting, creature-driven peril, and claustrophobic science fiction thriller atmosphere
Event Horizon
shared paranoia thriller structure, reality-altering technology, and escalating distrust among specialists
Contact
shared psychological science fiction, mysterious alien contact, and a team confronting inexplicable phenomena
Movie Details
- Director
- Barry Levinson
- Release Date
- 1998-02-13
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (1920)
Cast
- Dustin Hoffman
- Sharon Stone
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Peter Coyote
- Liev Schreiber
- Queen Latifah
- Marga Gómez
- Huey Lewis
- Bernard Hocke
- James Pickens Jr.
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 Sphere about?
- A deep-sea team of scientists confronts a reality-bending metal sphere whose mysterious manifestations turn isolation and human fear into lethal threats.
- What is Sphere like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sphere as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Sphere violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Sphere as moderate.
- What did critics think of Sphere?
- Critics broadly viewed Sphere as a derivative, overlong adaptation whose strong cast and ambitious science-fiction premise were undermined by an ordinary, talk-heavy screenplay.
- Which films are like Sphere?
- Films with a similar feel include The Abyss, DeepStar Six, Event Horizon, and Contact.
- How long is Sphere?
- Sphere runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sphere?
- In United States, Sphere is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
