The Deep Blue Sea film series consists of American science fiction natural-horror films, centered around genetically enhanced-sharks. The overall plot of the series centers around scientific studies conducted by marine biologists. These experiments provide the predatory animals with heightened intelligence, inadvertently causing the sharks to attack the underwater facilities and hunt the researchers that created them. Director Renny Harlin had become well known for bringing stylish action sequences into his films, but he also was noted for pushing the boundaries of effects work. This was evident in his earliest forays into horror with A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. For Deep Blue Sea, Harlin employed animatronics wizard Walt Conti and his company Edge Innovations (which previously worked on Anaconda), to create the most lifelike on-screen shark puppets at that point in time.
The first film was released in theaters in 1999 and was a box office success, though it received mixed reviews from film critics. Over time Deep Blue Sea has been labeled a cult classic by audience and critics alike. After years of being in development hell, a sequel was released straight-to-home video and VOD services in 2018. While initially debuting at No. 8 on the Top 20 Sellers for the week ended April 21, 2018 and being on-par with theatrical releases, Deep Blue Sea 2 was panned by critics. Deep Blue Sea 3 was released on July 28, 2020 through video on demand.
Films Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s) Deep Blue Sea Renny Harlin Donna Powers, Wayne Powers & Duncan Kennedy Alan Riche, Tony Ludwig and Akiva Goldsman Deep Blue Sea 2 Darin Scott Jessica Scott, Hans Rodionoff & Erik Patterson Hans Rodionoff Tom Siegrist Deep Blue Sea 3 John Pogue Dirk Blackman Hunt Lowry and Patty Reed
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
On an island research facility, Dr. Susan McAlester is conducting experiments to cure Alzheimer's disease, by harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered mako sharks. When the facility's benefactors send a company executive to investigate the under-water facility, a routine procedure is disrupted after a shark attacks the researchers.
During the attack the protective glass, keeping the ocean outside of the building, is fractured. As the security systems begins to enter lockdown as a safety procedure, the enhanced sharks make their way into the outpost with the incoming water. Now, with sharks outnumbering their human captors, McAlester and her team must figure out a way to stop the hyper-intelligent sharks from escaping to the ocean, which would lead to the altered species reproducing. Together the group fights for survival, racing against the clock, while being hunted by the predatory animals.
Deep Blue Sea 2 (2018)
A shark conservation biologist named Dr. Misty Calhoun, is hired in a consultory position for a non-public confidential project involving genetically-enhanced bull sharks. Funded by a pharmaceutical billionaire with questionable ethics, the mogul plans to medically market intelligence. During a routine procedure, the sharks begin attacking the researchers and initiate security shutdown, causing mass flooding throughout the establishment. As the scientists fight for survival and race to the surface, the enhanced-sharks begin to hunt them.
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
In August 2019, it was announced that a third film tentatively titled Deep Blue Sea 3 was in development, with intentions to serve as a Netflix exclusive film. By May 2020, it was revealed that the film had finished production within the last year, with principal photography taking place in Cape Town of the Republic of South Africa. John Pogue serves as director, with a script by Dirk Blackman, while Hunt Lowry and Patty Reed serve as producers.
The plot centers around Dr. Emma Collins, who leads a team at a small island studying the effects of climate change on great white sharks. The study is disrupted when her marine biologist ex-boyfriend named Richard arrives, searching for some enhanced-bull sharks. The film attained an R rating for "violence, bloody images, and language". The project was distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film was released on July 28, 2020 on video on demand, and on August 25, 2020 for home video.
Future In November 2023, Tania Raymonde stated that a fourth movie is actively in development. The actress confirmed that she will reprise her role from the previous installment, while also announcing that there had already been completed drafts of a script at that time. Despite this, she also conceded that the combination of impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 writers/actors strikes had on the project's development have delayed its production. Raymonde however reaffirmed her involvement with the production, while also reiterating that the studios have confirmed to her their collective intentions to produce the sequel.
Main cast and characters
Character Films Deep Blue Sea Deep Blue Sea 2 Deep Blue Sea 3 Dr. Susan McAlester Saffron Burrows Carter Blake Thomas Jane Russell Franklin Samuel L. Jackson Dr. Jim Whitlock Stellan Skarsgård Janice "Jan" Higgins Jacqueline McKenzie Tom Scoggins Michael Rapaport Sherman "Preacher" Dudley LL Cool J Brenda Kerns Aida Turturro Dr. Misty Calhoun Danielle Savre Trent Slater Rob Mayes Carl Durant Michael Beach Aaron Ellroy Nathan Lynn Leslie Kim Kim Syster Daniel Kim Jeremy Jess Boado Josh Hooper Cameron Robertson Dr. Emma Collins Tania Raymonde Richard Nathaniel Buzolic Eugene Shaw Emerson Brooks Lucas Bren Foster
Additional crew and production details Film Crew/Detail Composer Cinematographer Editor(s) Production companies Distributing companies Running time Deep Blue Sea Trevor Rabin Stephen F. Windon Dallas Puett, Derek Brechin & Frank J. Urioste Warner Bros. PicturesRiche-Ludwig ProductionsVillage Roadshow PicturesGroucho III Film Partnership Warner Bros. Pictures 105 minutes Deep Blue Sea 2 Sean Murray Thomas L. Callaway Michael Trent Syfy Original FilmsWarner Bros. Pictures SyfyWarner Bros. Home Entertainment 94 minutes Deep Blue Sea 3 Mark Killian Sven Vosloo Eric Strand Roserock Films Warner Bros. Home Entertainment 99 minutes
Reception
Box office Film Box office gross Box office ranking Video sales gross Gross running income Budget North America Other territories Worldwide All time North America All time worldwide North America Deep Blue Sea $73,648,228 $91,400,000 $165,048,228 #1,104 #1,037 $165,048,228 $60,000,000 Deep Blue Sea 2 $1,641,517 $1,641,517 Deep Blue Sea 3 $653,537 $653,537 Totals $73,648,228 $91,400,000 $165,048,228 x̅ #1,104 x̅ #1,037 >$2,295,054 >$167,343,282 >$60,000,000
Critical and public response Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore Deep Blue Sea 60% (115 reviews) 54/100 (22 reviews) B Deep Blue Sea 2 0% (5 reviews) Deep Blue Sea 3 73% (15 reviews)
References