Dead Calm

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Dead Calm

R

1989

1h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill), struggle to overcome the sudden death of their young son. In an attempt to move past their loss, the couple take their yacht out for an extended vacation trip. While far out at sea, they come across a sinking schooner and rescue the ship's sole survivor, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane). Hughie claims the crew of the ship died from food poisoning. Though Rae is empathetic towards Hughie, John is suspicious of his story.

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Critics Consensus

Nicole Kidman's coiled intensity and muscular direction by Phillip Noyce give this nautical thriller a disquieting sense of dread.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Oct 18, 2008

Though not always entirely credible, Dead Calm is a nail-biting suspense pic [from the novel by Charles Williams] handsomely produced and inventively directed.

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

A classic piece of pared-down genre film-making is lent extra depth by an emotional subtext stressing Kidman's transition from dependent wife to resourceful individual.

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Caryn James

New York Times

May 20, 2003

"Dead Calm" ... becomes disturbing for all the wrong reasons.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Jul 15, 2026

63/100

A perfectly competent by the numbers thriller.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Jan 22, 2024

7/10

It is a tightly wound and wonderfully suspenseful work, making use of an extremely limited cast and cleverly exploiting its setting to maximum effect.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jun 24, 2022

Dead Calm is not particularly original, but it is well made. [Full review in Spanish]

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Paul G

@Fred1963 Oct 28, 2026

When asked between the worst film ever made, I'm really torn between Dead Calm and the Speed franchise - the biggest thing in Dead Calm's favour is that, as far as I'm aware, there is not, and never will be a sequel.....

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Gareth V

@geewah Oct 16, 2026

This is a lean, mean and gripping thriller that is led by excellent performances from Zane, Kidman and Neill. The set pieces are brilliant and Noyce gets maximum tension out of minimal ingredients.

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D P

@RT45936356 Sep 23, 2026

Didn't even know this film existed. My streaming options recommended it to me. I recognized the faces and pressed play. After watching this, I am pretty sure everyone in this film has been involved in some "Eyes Wide Shut" Hollywood shenanigans. Especially Miss Nicki. She probably played herself in that movie. The movie was... a movie. Not something I will click on again.

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Tim B

@SlimTim0707 Aug 25, 2026

There's nothing exceptional about Dead Calm. It's just solid all around, from the character development and acting, to the atmosphere, sensuality, and tension, Dead Calm delivers a straightforward and entertaining cat and mouse thriller.

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Francisc L

@RT19457213 Aug 8, 2026

The ending was really stupid, or rather, the last part of the movie was, but otherwise it was a good film with great suspense.

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Timothy S.

@TJSubject Jun 13, 2026

Dead Calm is a fascinating psychological thriller because it creates intense suspense with only a few characters and an isolated setting. The vast ocean appears peaceful and beautiful, yet beneath that calm surface lies danger, deception, and unpredictability. The film constantly keeps the audience questioning who can be trusted and what might happen next. Rather than relying on nonstop action, it builds tension through uncertainty and human psychology. The characters are pushed into extreme situations that reveal their strengths, fears, and vulnerabilities. What makes the movie especially intriguing is the contrast between the serene environment and the growing sense of chaos. In many ways, the film suggests that appearances can be deceiving and that calmness is often temporary, with conflict and danger lurking just beneath the surface. Its suspense, atmosphere, and exploration of human behavior make it a thought-provoking and memorable thriller.

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Phillip Noyce

Director

Sam Neill

John Ingram

Nicole Kidman

Rae Ingram

Billy Zane

Hughie Warriner

Rod Mullinar

Russell Bellows

Michael Long

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Synopsis

Rae Ingram (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, John (Sam Neill), struggle to overcome the sudden death of their young son. In an attempt to move past their loss, the couple take their yacht out for an extended vacation trip. While far out at sea, they come across a sinking schooner and rescue the ship's sole survivor, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane). Hughie claims the crew of the ship died from food poisoning. Though Rae is empathetic towards Hughie, John is suspicious of his story.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Producer: Terry Hayes, George Miller, Doug Mitchell
Screenwriter: Terry Hayes, Charles Williams
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Kennedy Miller Productions
Rating: R, TV-MA
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.0M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround

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