10 Best Submarine Movies You Probably Haven't Seen
2. Kursk (2018)
The Kursk submarine disaster of 2000 saw all 118 crew members killed after two explosions rocked the vessel and rendered it immobile in the middle of the ocean. This real-life event was the basis for Robert Moore's novel A Time to Die, which in turn provides the material for Thomas Vinterberg's Kursk.
It is a startling account of how bureaucracy and reputation are too often placed above the value of human lives. It regularly swaps between a look into the personal lives of the crew, to a more critical look at Russian politics and military incompetence. As with many historical films it is very much not an exact retelling of events, but the tone and purpose of the film are unkistakably to the point. Kursk also boasts an unassuming but strong cast including Léa Seydoux from Spectre (2016) and No Time to Die (2021), Colin Firth, and the late cult icon Max von Sydow.
The Kursk submarine disaster might not be that well known outside of Russia, but Vinterberg's film leaves it lingering like an anchor in your memory. It is a far cry from his latest film, Another Round (2000), a boozy comedy-drama starring Mads Mikkelsen.