Do you want to see ‘Crimson Tide’?

Crimson Tide (1995)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 46
Fresh: 40 | Rotten: 6

Boasting taut, high energy thrills and some cracking dialogue courtesy of an uncredited Quentin Tarantino, Crimson Tide finds director Tony Scott near the top of his action game.

Average Rating: 8/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 1

Boasting taut, high energy thrills and some cracking dialogue courtesy of an uncredited Quentin Tarantino, Crimson Tide finds director Tony Scott near the top of his action game.

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 57,210

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Movie Info

Two leaders with different philosophies about battle and leadership wage war with each other in this tense military thriller. Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is the commanding officer of a nuclear submarine, the U.S.S. Alabama. Ramsey is a distinguished veteran near the end of his career, and he leads his men with an iron hand; as he puts it, "We're here to preserve democracy, not to practice it." Ramsey is assigned a new second-in-command, Lt. Cmmdr. Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington); Hunter is

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Tony Scott

Written By: Michael Schiffer, Richard P. Henrick

In Theaters: May 12, 1995 Wide

On DVD: Feb 3, 1998

Buena Vista Internationa

Cast

Denzel Washington
Lt. Commander Ron Hunte...
Gene Hackman
Capt. Frank Ramsey
George Dzundza
Cob
Viggo Mortensen
Lt. Peter (Weps) Ince
James Gandolfini
Lt. Bobby Dougherty
Matt Craven
Lt. Roy Zimmer
Earl Billings
Rick Marichek
Christopher Birt
Helmsman
Lillo Brancato Jr.
Petty Officer Third Cla...
Eric Bruskotter
Bennefield
Scott Burkholder
TSO Billy Linkletter
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Julia Hunter
Rocky Carroll
Lt. Darik Westerguard
Michael Chieffo
Chief Kline
Rad Daly
Lt. Comdr. Nelson
Dennis Garber
Fire Control Technician
Jaime G�mez
Ood Mahoney
Scott Grimes
Petty Officer Hilaire
Jason Robards
President of Inquiry Bo...
Mark Christopher Lawrence
Head Cook Rono
Michael Milhoan
Hunsicker
Danny Nucci
Danny Rivetti
Sean O'Bryan
Phone Talker
Warren Olney
Anchorman
Rick Schroder
Lt. Paul Hellerman
Jacob Vargas
Sonarman #2
Daniel von Bargen
Vladimir Radchenko
Chris Ellis
Additional Magician
Jim Boyce
Diving Officer
Bob Stone
Bob The Magician
Henry Mortensen
Henry Ince
Ryan Phillippe
Seaman Grattam
Steve Zahn
William Barnes
Michael D. Weatherred
Radioman #1

Critic Reviews for Crimson Tide

All Critics (48) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (6) | DVD (26)

This is a boy's movie all the way.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Isn't there something awfully satisfying about the throbbing missiles and cathartic explosions that constitute this film's main excitement? Maybe so, but nothing else here delivers a comparable thrill.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment (1)

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

Crimson Tide has everything you could want from an action thriller and a few other things you usually can't hope to expect.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Nope, this picture doesn't bear thinking about, but, if you resist that nasty temptation, setting all your mental gauges at Dead Slow, the flow of the action will see you through.

April 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

If ever a picture crackled, Crimson Tide fits the description.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Because of the contained environment, submarines make great settings for thrillers, with the throbbing of the engines sounding like a pulse. Crimson Tide is no exception -- the atmosphere alone is sufficient to keep the audience on edge.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

War Games in the water; older teens and up.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Heather Boerner

Common Sense Media

A big, bold Hollywood movie that won't be winning any awards for subtlety but can't be denied its popcorn appeal. [Blu-Ray review]

March 9, 2008 Comment

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

A respectable entry in the 'sub' genre, largely due to Hackman and Washington's performances.

February 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

An uncommonly intelligent actioner...

August 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

The screenplay may be credited to Michael Schiffer, but the punchy dialogue has Quentin Tarantino written all over it. The cast has a ball.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

Why now? Don't ask; just shut up and enjoy the ride.

June 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Habit

| Comment

Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

I don't know what the full Naval procedure is to launch nuclear weapons, but I hope to God it's more structured and fail-safe than what we see in this film.

June 8, 2006 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comments (4)

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

A riveting, high-testosterone nail-biter.

May 30, 2006 Full Review Source: FulvueDrive-in.com

| Comment

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

...despite the coincidences and the melodrama, especially in the second half, the stars manage to make it all seem fairly credible. (Unrated Extended Edition)

May 18, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...the thrills remain authentic, even though we know exactly how the plot is going to turn out.

May 18, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Considerably more intelligent than most of Jerry Bruckheimer's productions -- and Hackman's just awesome.

May 14, 2006 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

If this film is based on real events, we're all doomed.

November 10, 2004 Comment

Kevin A. Ranson

MovieCrypt.com

Quentin Tarantino contributes some priceless dialogue, but the wearying pattern of mutinies and counter-mutinies ultimately sinks it.

October 29, 2004 Comment (1)

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Crimson Tide

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Totally entertaining naval suspense film with great cinematography and fantastic performances.

March 28, 2007

Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

Enjoyable somewhat, "Crimson Tide" is a classic men's film combined with a beer and shouting at the screen, but it sometimes fails at times as I found myself just getting angry at the over the top gun-ho Americans.Michael Schiffer and Richard P. Henrick provide a decent script, snatched up by studios as a box office

August 20, 2011

Adam Kelly

Super Reviewer

Crimson Tide Quotes

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1. Capt. Frank Ramsey: What'd you think, son? That I was just some crazy old coot, putting everyone in harm's way as I yelled 'YEE-HA!'?
– Submitted by Scott G (6 months ago)

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