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The Abyss

  • 19891989
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
175K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,549
549
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Abyss (1989)
Theatrical Trailer from 20th Century Fox
Play trailer2:47
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Mystery
A civilian diving team is enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine and faces danger while encountering an alien aquatic species.A civilian diving team is enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine and faces danger while encountering an alien aquatic species.A civilian diving team is enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine and faces danger while encountering an alien aquatic species.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
175K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,549
549
  • Director
    • James Cameron
  • Writer
    • James Cameron
  • Stars
    • Ed Harris
    • Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    • Michael Biehn
Top credits
  • Director
    • James Cameron
  • Writer
    • James Cameron
  • Stars
    • Ed Harris
    • Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    • Michael Biehn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 490User reviews
    • 108Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 9 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Abyss
    Trailer 2:47
    The Abyss
    'The Abyss' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:21
    'The Abyss' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos249

    Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in The Abyss (1989)
    Ed Harris in The Abyss (1989)
    Michael Biehn in The Abyss (1989)
    Ed Harris and Joe Farago in The Abyss (1989)
    The Abyss (1989)
    Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in The Abyss (1989)
    The Abyss (1989)
    The Abyss (1989)
    The Abyss (1989)
    The Abyss (1989)
    The Abyss (1989)
    Jimmie Ray Weeks in The Abyss (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ed Harris
    Ed Harris
    • Bud Brigmanas Bud Brigman
    Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    • Lindsey Brigmanas Lindsey Brigman
    Michael Biehn
    Michael Biehn
    • Lt. Coffeyas Lt. Coffey
    Leo Burmester
    Leo Burmester
    • Catfish De Vriesas Catfish De Vries
    Todd Graff
    Todd Graff
    • Alan 'Hippy' Carnesas Alan 'Hippy' Carnes
    John Bedford Lloyd
    John Bedford Lloyd
    • Jammer Willisas Jammer Willis
    J.C. Quinn
    J.C. Quinn
    • 'Sonny' Dawsonas 'Sonny' Dawson
    Kimberly Scott
    Kimberly Scott
    • Lisa 'One Night' Standingas Lisa 'One Night' Standing
    Captain Kidd Brewer Jr.
    Captain Kidd Brewer Jr.
    • Lew Finleras Lew Finler
    • (as Capt. Kidd Brewer Jr.)
    George Robert Klek
    • Wilhiteas Wilhite
    Christopher Murphy
    Christopher Murphy
    • Schoenickas Schoenick
    Adam Nelson
    Adam Nelson
    • Ensign Monkas Ensign Monk
    Dick Warlock
    Dick Warlock
    • Dwight Perryas Dwight Perry
    • (as Richard Warlock)
    Jimmie Ray Weeks
    Jimmie Ray Weeks
    • Leland McBrideas Leland McBride
    J. Kenneth Campbell
    J. Kenneth Campbell
    • DeMarcoas DeMarco
    Ken Jenkins
    Ken Jenkins
    • Gerard Kirkhillas Gerard Kirkhill
    Chris Elliott
    Chris Elliott
    • Bendixas Bendix
    Peter Ratray
    • Captainas Captain
    • Director
      • James Cameron
    • Writer
      • James Cameron
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Real oxygenated fluorocarbon fluid was used in the rat fluid breathing scene. Dr. Johannes Kylstra and Dr. Peter Bennett of Duke University pioneered this technique and consulted on the film, giving detailed instructions on how to prepare the fluid. The only reason for cutting to the actors' faces was to avoid showing the rats defecating from momentary panic as they began breathing the fluid.
    • Goofs
      While Lindsay's drowning scene in the submersible was obviously played for dramatic effect, if they were really concerned about reviving her it would have made much more sense for her to take a deep breath and for Bud to then immediately began towing her back to the rig. She would have then drowned on the way there and there would have been less time between her drowning and the start of the resuscitation attempt, thus increasing the chance that she would be successfully revived.
    • Quotes

      Lindsey Brigman: We all see what we want to see. Coffey looks and he sees Russians. He sees hate and fear. You have to look with better eyes than that.

    • Crazy credits
      In the cast list, Super Seal Rover is credited as Big Geek and Mini Rover Mk II is credited as Little Geek. These are the actual models used for the unmanned submarines.
    • Alternate versions
      The end credits were famously shortened to run under 5 minutes in 1989 in order to hit a target runtime and maximize daily showings; doing so also made the crawl almost illegibly tiny and fast. The credits on the extended edition were almost 10 minutes, with a bigger and slower crawl, and extended/alternate music. Several home video releases of the theatrical edition on laserdisc and DVD actually use the newer credits, so they are not entirely faithful! One VHS tape (Fox Video Selections 1561), at least, uses the original short credits; though the tape is formatted for 4:3, the credits merely gain picture information above and below the intended window (which, for some reason, is very high up in the frame after the first few names). However the new HD master, which has popped up on a few HDTV broadcasts (like Cinemax) go back to the original shortened credits, plus is in the original theatrical aspect ratio, making it the most faithful version available.
    • Connections
      Edited into No Feat But What We Make: 'Terminator 2' and the Rise of Digital Effects (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Willing
      Written by Lowell George

      Performed by Linda Ronstadt

      Courtesy of CEMA Special Markets and Capitol Records, Inc.

    User reviews490

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    James Cameron's forgotten gem
    I saw "The Abyss" in the theater (Cinema City, Fresh Meadows, NY) and many times times since. I hadn't watched it in quite a while when I sat down to watch it last night. I won't wait that long to watch it again. "The Abyss" is a rock solid adventure. The action is edge-of-your-seat stuff. The emotional scenes are brutal to watch. The story moves well and the cast is very good. "The Abyss" is not as well known as most of writer/director James Cameron's other movies but it's one of his best.
    helpful•37
    3
    • pmtelefon
    • Jun 13, 2020

    FAQ17

    • When will there be a Blu-ray release?
    • What is "The Abyss" about?
    • Is "The Abyss" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 9, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Abyss - Abgrund des Todes
    • Filming locations
      • Cherokee Nuclear Power Plant, Gaffney, South Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Pacific Western
      • Lightstorm Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $70,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $54,461,047
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,319,797
      • Aug 13, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $90,000,098
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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