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Das Boot

Play trailer Poster for Das Boot R 1981 2h 30m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A German submarine patrols the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, manned by a crew that must contend with tense conflicts and long stretches of confined boredom. While war correspondent Werner (Herbert Grönemeyer) observes day-to-day life aboard the U-boat, the grizzled captain (Jürgen Prochnow) struggles to maintain his own motivation as he attempts to keep the ship's morale up in the face of fierce battles, intense storms and dwindling supplies.
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Das Boot

Das Boot

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Critics Consensus

Taut, breathtakingly thrilling, and devastatingly intelligent, Das Boot is one of the greatest war films ever made.

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Critics Reviews

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Wael Khairy RogerEbert.com 07/30/2023
...enough nerve-wracking suspense to make your heart pound against your chest like depth charges rupturing a submarine's hull. Go to Full Review Dwight Brown Sepia 08/10/2022
Das Boot's actors look like they have lived through every sneak attack and painful claustrophobic moment in this film. Go to Full Review Scott Cain Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11/09/2021
This is the finest submarine movie ever made. Although director Wolfgang Petersen emphasizes the claustrophobia of undersea life, his above-surface scenes are powerful as well. Go to Full Review Erick Estrada Cinegarage 06/21/2023
The outcome, no matter how you look at it, confirms that it's futile to return to war but that it's also impossible to escape it. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Judy Stone San Francisco Examiner 11/11/2021
3/4
Director Wolfgang Petersen has rigorously discarded war movie clichés, both American and those of the Nazi regime, to show the very human fears and real courage of Germans who battled for, and lost, supremacy of the seas. Go to Full Review Tom Cassidy Common Sense Media 06/21/2021
5/5
Effective as an anti-war movie and as thrilling as any disaster flick, Das Boot is a humanistic masterpiece. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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BM M. @BMann Dec 11 What took me so long to watch this masterpiece!?!!! Top 5 war film I’ve seen. Brilliant all the way around. See more Banff 9. @Banff98 Nov 21 Best War Drama, Best Thriller, Best EVERYTHING Movie. One of the few films that are actually better than the book. Recommend watching the longer Director’s Cut…settle in and take it all in. Stellar from start to finish. See more David F @dfulmer Oct 20 An intense look at underwater warfare during WWII. See more Phantom 9 @Phantom961 Oct 18 I’ve watched the director’s cut and it was absolutely amazing. It reminded me why older movies are so special they’re crafted with real passion, attention to detail, and atmosphere that pulls you in completely. Every scene felt alive, the acting was powerful, and the pacing kept me engaged from start to finish. The story had real depth and emotion, even if the ending felt a bit depressing. Still, that doesn’t take away from how incredible the whole experience was. I’d easily give it a solid 4.5/5 – nearly perfect in every aspect. See more Abhishek B Oct 17 A Must-watch movie. Absolutely brilliant story, great actors and fabulous filmography. Start to End gritty, suspenseful and brilliant ending. See more ETV K Aug 12 Coming from a current Submariner, Das Boot is the pinnacle of submarine movies. It might even be one of the best war movies ever made. You will not regret watching this. Recommend the 3 hour Directors Cut version. It builds each character to the point where they feel like your friends and you are part of the crew. No other submarine movie has ever made me feel that way, and this movie has one of the best endings I have ever seen in cinema. -ETV1(SS) See more Read all reviews
Das Boot

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Cast & Crew

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Wolfgang Petersen

Director

Jürgen Prochnow

Der Alte

Herbert Grönemeyer

Lt. Werner

Klaus Wennemann

Der Leitende

Hubertus Bengsch

1st Lieutenant

Martin Semmelrogge

2nd Lieutenant

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Das Boot

Das Boot (1981) Das Boot (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A German submarine patrols the Atlantic Ocean during World War II, manned by a crew that must contend with tense conflicts and long stretches of confined boredom. While war correspondent Werner (Herbert Grönemeyer) observes day-to-day life aboard the U-boat, the grizzled captain (Jürgen Prochnow) struggles to maintain his own motivation as he attempts to keep the ship's morale up in the face of fierce battles, intense storms and dwindling supplies.
Director
Wolfgang Petersen
Producer
Günter Rohrbach, Ortwin Freyermuth
Screenwriter
Lothar G. Buchheim, Dean Riesner
Distributor
RCA/Columbia, Columbia Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Production Co
Bavaria Film, Radiant Productions, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Rating
R
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 17, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2012
Runtime
2h 30m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Dolby Digital, SDDS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
1.66:1
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