Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Undersea UFO adventure is beautiful but intense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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The Abyss
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a breathtaking experience with a mix of intense violence, mild sexual content, and a good moral message, showing characters that risk their lives to save others. While it includes strong language and some scary scenes, such as characters drowning and self-harm, many viewers consider it a classic and recommend it for families, especially if parents are cautious about the content.
- breathtaking experience
- intense violence
- strong language
- good moral message
- family recommendation
- classic film
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
An American nuclear submarine bristling with atomic warheads sinks into THE ABYSS and encounters the deep-sea equivalent of a UFO, losing all power and contact with the outside world. As Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union escalate, the U.S. Navy conscripts the civilian oil rig workers of an experimental underwater drilling platform to mount a rescue expedition to the unresponsive sub, while a hurricane whips up the ocean surface. Things get worse; the platform is itself battered in an accident, and the commanding U.S. Navy SEAL officer (Michael Biehn) becomes violent and unstable under the pressure -- even more so when the luminous, enigmatic, inquisitive UFO aliens return to check out the stressed humans up close.
Is It Any Good?
Expect lots of orchestral crescendos and awesome visuals in this underwater epic. The Abyss was so highly touted in its production phase that rival Hollywood studios had time to get lookalike (and inferior) marine sci-fi flicks (Deep Star Six and Leviathan, if you had to ask) in theaters by the time perfectionist director James Cameron released the film. Even then, Cameron was less than satisfied, and on DVD and VHS releases, you can find both the original Abyss and a "special edition" that attempted to better blend the alien first-contact story into the plot. Even so, it mixes like the proverbial oil and water, because Cameron's realization of the characters' high-tech, deep-sea survival ordeal is so fascinating (and excruciatingly suspenseful) in its own right that the sci-fi element seems intrusive -- a Close Encounter of the Unnecessary Kind.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ocean exploration and underwater living depicted in The Abyss. Ask kids what they would prefer: manning a space station or a submarine platform?
How did the oil rig workers deal with unstable U.S. Navy SEALs onboard their submarine? Was violence the only answer? If not, what are some other ways to achieve peace?
How did the oil rig workers treat Lindsey? Was their gossip about her acceptable, or was it inappropriate and punishable? If you were Lindsey, how would you feel being called names behind your back?
What's the difference between suspense and violence? Which has a bigger impact on you?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 6, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : February 11, 2003
- Cast : Ed Harris , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Michael Biehn
- Director : James Cameron
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Run time : 140 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and some scenes of action
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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