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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Play trailer Poster for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea G 1954 2h 7m Kids & Family Drama Adventure Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 1866, Professor Pierre M. Aronnax (Paul Lukas) and his assistant Conseil (Peter Lorre), stranded in San Francisco by reports of a giant sea monster attacking ships in the Pacific Ocean, are invited to join an expedition to search for the creature. During the search, they and harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) are thrown overboard during an attack, eventually discovering that the supposed monster is actually a submarine piloted by the brilliant but haunted Captain Nemo (James Mason).
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

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Critics Consensus

One of Disney's finest live-action adventures, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea brings Jules Verne's classic sci-fi tale to vivid life, and features an awesome giant squid.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 06/06/2007
Walt Disney's production of 20000 Leagues under the Sea is very special kind of picture, combining photographic ingenuity, imaginative story telling and fiscal daring. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 06/06/2007
Grandly entertaining. Go to Full Review
Geoff Andrew Time Out 06/24/2006
This is one of the great movie adventures, fully deserving its canonisation in Disney World. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 07/28/2025
3.5/4
One of Walt Disney’s earliest live-action pictures still remains one of its best. Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies 03/15/2024
2.5/4
Visionary for the 50s, this suffers a bit from the serialized nature of the source material. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 01/29/2024
4/5
... delivers when it comes to story, dialogue, acting and overall bonhomie; it’s a cinematic game-changer of its day that still comes up fresh as paint today... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Hector I @Hector1184BC 6d A very enjoyable old-school Disney adventure, with a magnificent Nautilus and beautiful production design. Nemo is particularly good: cold and almost villainous, but ultimately a fundamentally decent man whose desire for revenge has corrupted him. The film's nuclear-war undertones are interesting in retrospect, especially given its 1954 release. It is quite different from Jules Verne's novel rather than simply a simplified adaptation, and I particularly loved the underwater sequence in which the crew replaces the propeller shaft. A charming and spectacular Disney film. See more Mark L. @Peabsrt May 7 I saw this movie when I was a boy and loved it. I just watched it again and very happy I did. It's a great story with a terrific cast. In my opinion is one of Disney's best movies that they've made. This is a great family movie for kids and parents to watch together. James Mason was terrific as the captain and Kirk Douglas was very entertaining as a harpoon sailor. See more rogerio s @Roger31416 08/15/2025 While I always hate it when they change the ending (the fate of the Nautilus is the opposite, made to look like a classic film ending of the time, differing 180° from the book): Such a historic film, with Kirk Douglas as Ned Land, will always deserve 5 stars. See more Henry T @RT79168412 08/12/2025 It was super fun and I enjoyed it a lot!! See more Wesley H. @historynerdnumber1 07/18/2025 I think this is the right movie See more thiago s @Thiagostone 05/26/2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom. See more Read all reviews
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1866, Professor Pierre M. Aronnax (Paul Lukas) and his assistant Conseil (Peter Lorre), stranded in San Francisco by reports of a giant sea monster attacking ships in the Pacific Ocean, are invited to join an expedition to search for the creature. During the search, they and harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) are thrown overboard during an attack, eventually discovering that the supposed monster is actually a submarine piloted by the brilliant but haunted Captain Nemo (James Mason).
Director
Richard Fleischer
Producer
Walt Disney
Screenwriter
Jules Verne, Earl Felton
Distributor
Abril Vídeo, Warner Home Vídeo, Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 1954, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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