Phantom
A Soviet submarine captain must defy a covert nuclear mission when paranoia, buried guilt, and an unseen threat push the Cold War toward annihilation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- paranoid
- claustrophobic
- ominous
- cold war movie night
- military thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics agreed that strong performances, particularly from Ed Harris, could not overcome a clunky, predictable, monotonous script lacking sustained tension.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Captain Zubov and his crew confront a covert nuclear mission inside a Soviet submarine in the South Pacific.
The submarine’s classified orders, KGB presence, and suspected outside forces create pervasive distrust.
Zubov must reconcile his past while deciding whether to prevent a nuclear attack.
The plot suggests that forces beyond the visible KGB operation may be active aboard the submarine.
Films like Phantom, and why
The Hunt for Red October
shares cold war submarine warfare, nuclear brinkmanship, claustrophobic military tension, and moral responsibility
Crimson Tide
shares submarine-based military suspense, crew conflict, operational realism, and high-stakes command decisions
K-19: The Widowmaker
shares cold war paranoia, nuclear catastrophe anxiety, and morally pressured military protagonists
Das Boot
shares enclosed naval setting, wartime command tension, and psychological pressure under lethal stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Todd Robinson
- Release Date
- 2013-01-03
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (364)
Cast
- Ed Harris
- David Duchovny
- Lance Henriksen
- William Fichtner
- Johnathon Schaech
- Jason Beghe
- Dagmara Dominczyk
- Derek Magyar
- Sean Patrick Flanery
- Jason Gray-Stanford
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Phantom about?
- A Soviet submarine captain must defy a covert nuclear mission when paranoia, buried guilt, and an unseen threat push the Cold War toward annihilation.
- What is Phantom like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Phantom as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Phantom violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Phantom as moderate.
- What did critics think of Phantom?
- Critics agreed that strong performances, particularly from Ed Harris, could not overcome a clunky, predictable, monotonous script lacking sustained tension.
- Which films are like Phantom?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide, K-19: The Widowmaker, and Das Boot.
- How long is Phantom?
- Phantom runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Phantom?
- In United States, Phantom is available to rent or buy from Fandango At Home, Apple TV Store.
