The Abyss (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Abyss is a 1989 action thriller directed by James Cameron, starring Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. It runs 2 hours 18 minutes and earned $90.5 million worldwide. It won 2 awards from 3 nominations, including Best Director at the Saturn Awards 1991. Critics gave it 62 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 18m (138 min)
- Director
- James Cameron
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Abyss About?
The premise of The Abyss without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A team of engineers and a Navy SEAL are sent to the ocean's deepest reaches to locate a lost nuclear submarine. Among them are former spouses, petroleum engineers Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who must put aside their troubled past to confront a perilous mission. As they descend into the crushing depths, they encounter inexplicable phenomena and uncover unsettling secrets that challenge their understanding of reality and put their lives in grave danger.
The Abyss Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- submarine
- abyss
- drowning
- paranoia
- submersible
- nuclear warhead
- cold war
- underwater scene
- ocean floor
- ocean trench
- psychosis
- hurricane
+38 more Show fewer
- accident
- fistfight
- near death experience
- underwater
- ocean
- trapped underwater
- love
- panic
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- estranged couple
- husband wife relationship
- alien
- remotely operated underwater vehicle
- navy seal
- diving suit
- swimming
- deep sea diving
- pet rat
- animal cruelty
- coma
- 1980s
- flooding
- nuclear submarine
- self inflicted wound
- conspiracy theorist
- corpse in water
- hypothermia
- nuclear weapon
- punched in the face
- disarming a nuclear warhead
- underwater civilization
- crying man
- female chief engineer
- swimming underwater
- kindness
- sacrifice
- alien technology
- alien contact
The Abyss Cast
Ed Harris leads the cast, with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Directed by James Cameron.
-
Director James Cameron
More from James Cameron
More films directed by James Cameron, best-rated first: Aliens, The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Avatar.
The Abyss Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Abyss 62 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 62 Metascore
User score 7.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
The Abyss Plot Summary
What happens in The Abyss from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As January 1994 dawns, a catastrophic event unfolds in the depths of the Cayman Trough. The USS Montana, an Ohio-class submarine, unexpectedly encounters a mysterious submerged entity, leading to its devastating destruction—a tragedy with wide-ranging implications. In the wake of this mysterious occurrence, the U.S. government mobilizes quickly, sending a SEAL team to Deep Core, a privately operated experimental underwater drilling platform, to leverage its resources and infrastructure for their operations.
At the heart of this operation is Dr. Lindsey Brigman, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who is determined to join the SEAL team despite her fraught relationship with her estranged husband and the platform’s foreman, Virgil “Bud” Brigman. This complex dynamic sets the stage for intense emotional conflicts and motivations that will unravel as the narrative progresses.
Full summary
The whole story of The Abyss, scene by scene
The Abyss Box Office
The Abyss grossed $90.5 million worldwide. $55 million came from the US and Canada and $35.5 million (39%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$90.5M
- US & Canada
- $55M
- International
- $35.5M
The Abyss Awards & Nominations
The Abyss won 2 awards from 3 nominations, including Best Director at the Saturn Awards 1991.
2 wins3 nominations1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 1991 2 wins · 3 nominations- Won Best Director – James Cameron
- Won Best Writing – James Cameron
- Nominated Best Actress – Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
The Abyss Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 5 trailers.
- Trailer Special Edition Trailer
- Trailer Original Theatrical Trailer
- Trailer Original Theatrical International Trailer
- Trailer 4K Remastered Official Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Abyss?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What event triggers the mission to Deep Core?
Cars in The Abyss
3 cars on screen, including the 1973 Ford F-Series and the 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria.
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1973 Ford F-Series Background role -
1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Background role -
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Background role
The Abyss Also Known As
40 alternative titles, including “El abismo” and “Afgrond”.
- Also known as
-
- El abismo
- Afgrond
- The Abyss (Special Edition)
- מצולות
- 심연
- 심연(어비스)
- Otchłań
- Głębia
- Işığın Bittiği Yer
- Abyss – Abgrund des Todes
- Derinlik Sarhoşluğu
- 深渊
+28 more Show fewer
- Abyss - Abgrund des Todes
- Бездна
- O Abismo
- Propast
- Dybet
- Avgrunden
- A Mélység titka
- Бездната
- アビス
- Η Άβυσσος
- Безодня
- Abisul
- המצולות
- O Segredo do Abismo
- Gelmė
- Abyss - Syvyys
- Bezdan
- El Secreto del Abismo
- Амбис
- Brezno
- 어비스
- 無底洞
- ดิ่งขั้วมฤตยู
- L'abysse
- Priepasť
- 深淵, უფსკრული
- Sügavik
- Vực Thẳm
Seen The Abyss?
Movies Like The Abyss
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Abyss, Underwater and The Deep.
The Abyss FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Abyss, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Abyss?
The Abyss runs 2 hours 18 minutes (138 minutes).
When was The Abyss released?
The Abyss was released on August 9, 1989.
Who directed The Abyss?
The Abyss was directed by James Cameron.
More films by James Cameron Who is in the cast of The Abyss?
The Abyss stars Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
How much did The Abyss make at the box office?
The Abyss grossed $90.5 million worldwide ($55 million domestic, $35.5 million international).
How is The Abyss rated?
The Abyss has 62 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
What awards did The Abyss win?
The Abyss won 2 awards from 3 nominations, including Best Director at the Saturn Awards 1991.
Does The Abyss have a post-credit scene?
No. The Abyss has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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