Open Water
Added Updated How We Rate
- Directed by
- Chris Kentis
- Written by
- To be confirmed
- Produced by
- Laura Lau, Estelle Lau
Why it’s HorroRated
Open Water is a minimalist survival horror film that generates real dread from almost nothing. Shot on consumer video with actual sharks, the lo-fi aesthetic makes the danger feel uncomfortably real. It's essentially two people treading water for 80 minutes and it works because the situation itself is terrifying. A small film with a disproportionately large impact.
Synopsis
Daniel and Susan come up from their dive and face an empty sea. Shot on consumer video with actual sharks, the lo-fi aesthetic makes the situation feel uncomfortably documentary. Open Water generates its dread almost entirely from the premise itself and the understanding that what it depicts has happened to actual people.
Filed under
Where to watch Open Water
- Subscription
- HBO Max · Cinemax
- Free
- VIX
- Rent or buy
- Prime Video · Apple TV · YouTube · Google Play · Fandango at Home · Spectrum On Demand
Streaming in the US changes often. Listings from JustWatch via TMDB, checked November 10, 2026.See every option
Quick facts
- Release date
- August 6, 2004
- Runtime
- 1 hour 20 mins
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Content rating
- R
- Entry type
- Movie




