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The Big Blue

Play trailer Poster for The Big Blue PG 1988 1h 58m Adventure Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Director Luc Besson is famous for his imaginative visual technique and breathtaking action sequences. One of the most stunningly beautiful films ever made, "The Big Blue" features gorgeous underwater photography and spectacular location shooting in the French Antibes, the Greek islands, Peru, and Taormina in Sicily. But it is the emotional intensity of the film experience and mystical themes of the story that have made it a cult phenomenon.
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The Big Blue

The Big Blue

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Critics Consensus

Though this movie features beautiful cinematography, it drags on, being way too overblown and melodramatic.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Sanderson Time Out May 30, 2018
The first time you see someone plunging into alien blackness is exciting, but the novelty soon wears off. Go to Full Review Steve Macfarlane Slant Magazine May 30, 2018
Besson's deep-diving melodrama stresses its own depth-emotional, artistic, oceanic-while ping-ponging between its two lead frenemies. Go to Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Oct 16, 2012
0/5
Such a total disaster that it would have been an act of kindness for all concerned to have never released it. Go to Full Review Film4 Oct 16, 2012
A hypnotically beautiful and metaphysical delight. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lucile F @lucile_fl Jul 24, 2026 The Big Blue is a beautifully directed film, with a good cast and soundtrack. The story is touching, essentially doing a full circle, beginning and ending with a dive, from the death of Jaques father to his own. The film can be somewhat boring at times, while the first half is enjoyable the second half does drag on. See more R T @RT39185352 Jul 17, 2026 Fantastically enthralling, from the sound track to nearly every second your eyes spend on the screen is something incredibly fulfilling. Certainly one of the few movies out there that you’d yearn to see again for the first time. See more Alberto C @TitoCrespo Jul 31, 2025 A children's film from beginning to end. Not suitable for humans over 10 years old. A waste of time. See more Steve G @RT02894256 Mar 30, 2025 Started diving in 1981, and Big Blue became a cult movie for us all. As the Diving Officer I even got the nickname ENZO. It’s just a brilliant film … without all the CGI See more Shana D @RT50845684 Mar 23, 2025 Beautiful movie for lovers of the ocean. Jean Marc Barr is glorious & Jean Reno is wry and witty which becomes his trademark. The cinematography is excellent. The movie manages to be both amusing and poignant. Rosanna Arquette is the only one who lets the movie down - the connection isn’t there & her performance seems one dimensional. It stands the test of time as a classic pelagic tale of childhood friendship & loss. See more Creed S @RT26416498 Dec 2, 2024 What a wonderful movie m accept Rosana's acting...terrible acting See more Read all reviews
The Big Blue

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Cast & Crew

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Luc Besson

Director

Rosanna Arquette

Johanna

Jean-Marc Barr

Jacques Mayol

Jean Reno

Enzo Molinari

Paul Shenar

Dr. Laurence

Griffin Dunne

Duffy
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The Big Blue

Jean Reno and Rosanna Arquette in a film by Luc Besson. Jean-Marc Barr and Rosanna Arquette in a film by Luc Besson. Jean-Marc Barr in a film by Luc Besson, also starring Rosanna Arquette and Jean Reno. Jean-Marc Barr in a film by Luc Besson in The Big Blue, also starring Rosanna Arquette and Jean Reno. Director Luc Besson. The Big Blue (1988) The Big Blue (1988) The Big Blue (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Director Luc Besson is famous for his imaginative visual technique and breathtaking action sequences. One of the most stunningly beautiful films ever made, "The Big Blue" features gorgeous underwater photography and spectacular location shooting in the French Antibes, the Greek islands, Peru, and Taormina in Sicily. But it is the emotional intensity of the film experience and mystical themes of the story that have made it a cult phenomenon.
Director
Luc Besson
Producer
Patrice Ledoux
Screenwriter
Luc Besson, Luc Besson, Robert Garland, Marilyn Goldin, Jacques Mayol, Marc Perrier
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Gaumont, Les Films du Loup
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure, Action, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1988, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 17, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.9M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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