Movies Like The Abyss (1989)

The Abyss is a 1989 adventure, science fiction, thriller film from James Cameron with a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Leviathan and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Adventure Science Fiction Thriller

Leviathan

1989

Underwater deep-sea miners encounter a Soviet wreck and bring back a dangerous cargo to their base on the ocean floor with horrifying results. The crew of the mining base must fight to survive against a genetic mutation that hunts them down one by one.

6.0

MagicScore

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

1954

A ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings encounters the advanced submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo.

7.0

MagicScore

DeepStar Six

1989

The crew of an experimental underwater nuclear base are forced to struggle for their lives when their explorations disturb a creature who threatens to destroy their base.

5.5

MagicScore

Thunderball

1965

A criminal organization has obtained two nuclear bombs and are asking for a 100 million pound ransom in the form of diamonds in seven days or they will use the weapons. The secret service sends James Bond to the Bahamas to once again save the world.

6.7

MagicScore

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

1977

After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

7.3

MagicScore

The Phenomenon

2020

This documentary examines unidentified aerial phenomenon. With testimony from high-ranking government officials and NASA Astronauts, Senator Harry Reid says it "makes the incredible credible."

6.2

MagicScore

Raging Sharks

2005

An oceanic observation station is in desperate trouble after a sudden shark attack wrecked the oxygen supply. The accompanying ship, a coast guard cruiser, and other ships in and around the Bermuda triangle are attacked as well. The US Navy sends a submarine to investigate, but soon they too are under attack.

4.6

MagicScore

Crimson Tide

1995

After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible Armageddon. When Ramsey insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him.

7.2

MagicScore

The Deep

1977

A pair of young vacationers are involved in a dangerous conflict with treasure hunters when they discover a way into a deadly wreck in Bermuda waters.

6.0

MagicScore

#10

The Atomic Submarine

1959

Ships disappear on route across the Arctic Sea, and a special submarine is sent to investigate.

5.3

MagicScore

#11

The Spy Who Loved Me

1977

Russian and British submarines with nuclear missiles on board both vanish from sight without a trace. England and Russia both blame each other as James Bond tries to solve the riddle of the disappearing ships. But the KGB also has an agent on the case.

6.8

MagicScore

#12

Invaders from Mars

1953

A boy tries to stop aliens that have taken over his town and are brainwashing its inhabitants.

5.9

MagicScore

#13

Deep Blue Sea 3

2020

Dr. Emma Collins and her team are spending their third summer on the island of Little Happy studying the effect of climate change on the great white sharks who come to the nearby nursery every year to give birth. Along with the last two inhabitants of this former fishing village, their peaceful life is disrupted when a "scientific" team led by her ex-boyfriend and marine biologist Richard show up looking for three bull sharks who we soon learn aren't just any bull sharks.

5.6

MagicScore

#14

For Your Eyes Only

1981

A British spy ship has sunk and on board was a hi-tech encryption device. James Bond is sent to find the device that holds British launching instructions before the enemy Soviets get to it first.

6.5

MagicScore

#15

Barracuda

1978

Little coastal town is being terrorized by deadly Barracudas.

4.1

MagicScore

#16

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

2001

A young linguist named Milo Thatch joins an intrepid group of explorers to find the mysterious lost continent of Atlantis.

7.0

MagicScore

#17

Black Sea

2014

A rogue submarine captain pulls together a misfit crew to go after a sunken treasure rumored to be lost in the depths of the Black Sea. As greed and desperation take control on-board their claustrophobic vessel, the increasing uncertainty of the mission causes the men to turn on each other to fight for their own survival.

6.3

MagicScore

#18

Pioneer

2013

Pioneer is set in the early '80s, at the beginning of the Norwegian Oil Boom. Enormous oil and gas deposits are discovered in the North Sea and the authorities aim to bring the oil ashore through a pipeline from depths of 500 meters. A professional diver, Petter, obsessed with reaching the bottom of the Norwegian Sea has the discipline, strength and courage to take on the world's most dangerous mission. But a sudden, tragic accident changes everything. Petter is sent on a perilous journey where he loses sight of who's pulling the strings. Gradually he realizes that he is in way over his head and that his life is at stake.

5.9

MagicScore

#19

Sphere

1998

A spacecraft is discovered on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, presumed to be at least 300 years old and of alien origin. A crack team of scientists and experts is assembled and taken to the Habitat, a state-of-the-art underwater living environment, to investigate.

6.1

MagicScore

#20

Never Say Never Again

1983

James Bond returns as the secret agent 007 to battle the evil organization SPECTRE. Bond must defeat Largo, who has stolen two atomic warheads for nuclear blackmail. But Bond has an ally in Largo's girlfriend, the willowy Domino, who falls for Bond and seeks revenge.

6.1

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Abyss?

The top films similar to The Abyss by MovieMagicScore are Leviathan (6.0), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (7.0), DeepStar Six (5.5). Each shares adventure/science fiction/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Abyss worth watching?

The Abyss holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10 from 3,237 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is The Abyss?

The Abyss (1989) is a adventure, science fiction, thriller film directed by James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Abyss?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more adventure recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Leviathan Movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Movies like DeepStar Six Movies like Thunderball Movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind Movies like The Phenomenon

About movies like The Abyss

This ranked list pairs The Abyss (1989), a adventure and science fiction and thriller film from James Cameron, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Ed Harris take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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