10 Time We Absolutely Believed The Movie Hero Was A Goner

Because James Cameron is best-known for his work on Terminator, Titanic, and Avatar, it's easy to forget his earlier work, The Abyss, is an absolute gem. The early CGI still looks mesmerising. The fact that the actors used real oxygenated water for their diving scenes (yes, breathable water is a real thing) is astonishing. The defibrillator scene stays with you forever.

And let's not forget that heart-wrenching climax. After the SEAL team leader, Coffey, becomes paranoid, he tries to seize control of the submarine and launch a warhead. Although Bud stops him, the nuke becomes detached from the vessel.

When the team realise the nuke is primed to detonate, Bud dives two miles downward to deactivate it. After he disarms it, he informs his group that he'll run out of oxygen in five minutes. Because it'll take half an hour to return to his vessel, his teammates, which includes his ex-wife, Lindsey, rack their brains to find a means to save him.

While everyone is acting frantic, Bud calmly sends a message to Lindsey that breaks everyone's heart - One Way Ticket. In that moment, we realise Bud always knew his mission was a death sentence. Submerged in the depths of the ocean alone and saying farewell to Lindsey, it looked like there was no feasible way he could survive.

But thanks to the plot-convenience of aliens, Bud was rescued and reunited with his partner.