Down Periscope (1996) movie poster

Down Periscope (1996)

"A rusty sub. A rebel commander. A renegade crew. When destiny called, they should have hung up."
ThumbScore
๐Ÿ‘ 65%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
๐ŸŽฌ 25% (RT: 11%, MC: 39) โ„น๏ธRT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
Comedy

Where to Watch

Streaming
Prime Video
Rent / Buy
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See all watch options on JustWatch
Director
David S. Ward
Runtime
1h 32m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
TMDB Rating
6.4/10 (511 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
11%
Metacritic
39
Cast
Kelsey Grammer as Lt. Commander Tom Dodge
Lauren Holly as Lt. Emily Lake
Rob Schneider as Lt. Marty Pascal
Harry Dean Stanton as Lt. Howard
Bruce Dern as Rear Admiral Yancy Graham
William H. Macy as Captain Knox
Rip Torn as Admiral Winslow
Ken Hudson Campbell as Seaman Buckman
It's divisive. Only 65% of audiences liked it based on 511 votes. Critics scored it lower at 25%, but audiences disagreed.
Overview
Maverick Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge will never be a textbook officer, but he's a brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuclear submarine โ€” he's been given one last chance to clean up his record. Unfortunately, Admiral Graham, his nemesis, would rather sink the fleet than give Dodge his own boat. So, Graham stacks the deck against him and assigns Dodge to the Stingray, a diesel-powered WW2 submarine that can barely keep afloat. To make matters worse, Dodge's crew is a collection of maladjusted, mistake-prone misfits. Then, he's tagged the "enemy" in a crucial war game, and ordered to take on the U.S. Navy's best. Wikipedia โ†—
Fun Facts
  • David S. Ward cited several classic comedy films as the primary inspiration for the visual style.
  • During production of Down Periscope, the crew faced numerous challenges but managed to complete the shoot ahead of schedule.
Audience Consensus

Down Periscope is a 1996 comedy film directed by David S. Ward. Maverick Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge will never be a textbook officer, but he's a brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuclear submarine โ€” he's been given one last chance to clean up his record.

Unfortunately, Admiral Graham, his nemesis, would rather sink the fleet than give Dodge his own boat. So, Graham stacks the deck against him and assigns Dodge to the Stingray, a diesel-powered WW2 submarine that can barely keep afloat. To make matters worse, Dodge's crew is a collection of maladjusted, mistake-prone misfits.

Then, he's tagged the "enemy" in a crucial war game, and ordered to take on the U.S. Navy's best. The film has been rated by 511 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers.

As a comedy film, Down Periscope delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling. The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences. Down Periscope (1996) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape.

The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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