10 Best Naval War Films You Need To See

Another more modern submarine film to make the list, Tony Scott's Crimson Tide from 1995 is a more direct tale that's somewhat inspired by the tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Unlike the 1962 threat of nuclear war however, the film instead follows a group of ultranationalist Russians who may be planning to launch a nuclear missile at the United States. Faced with this threat, two commanding officers aboard the USS Alabama find themselves faced with a dilemma. As per the mutually assured destruction policy, do they launch American's own missile against the Russians?

Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) is one of few submarine commanders with proper combat experience and his executive officer Lieutenant-Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) is a newer, more analytical addition to the force. The two sides clash on what to do in the rising tension of the situation. With two great performances from both actors, the film is as much about the dynamic between its main leads as it is on the wider danger.

Who will win out in terms of perspective? The experienced veteran or the more contemporary newcomer? This tension continues to build as the Alabama starts to stumble across greater adversities, making Crimson Tide a surprisingly underrated flick for its time.