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Celluloid
WarDrama

Das Boot

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen · 1981 ·

Short answer

Is Das Boot worth watching?

Yes. Das Boot (1981) earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

89%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

98% Editorial Rating
95% Audience snapshot · excluded
86 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.4
8.4 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 29m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · M (Australia) · 14A (Canada)
Cast
Jürgen Prochnow , Herbert Grönemeyer , Klaus Wennemann
Streaming
fuboTV
Country
Germany
Language
German

Also known as El Submarino El submarino (Das Boot) Le Bateau O Barco: Inferno no Mar U・ボート 특전 U보트 从海底出击 從海底出擊

Where to watch

  • fuboTV

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (98/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (95%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (86/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.4/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded war, drama pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Das Boot worth watching?

    Yes — Das Boot earns an 89% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded war, drama pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Petersen's submarine epic makes the enemy crew human without excusing the war they fight.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Das Boot about?

    A German U-boat crew battles claustrophobia, Allied destroyers, and moral exhaustion during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Das Boot

    Das Boot (1981) Review: The War Inside a Steel Tube

    Das Boot is Wolfgang Petersen's German submarine epic, a claustrophobic war film that traps viewers inside a U-boat and shows the cost of the war it depicts.

    Yes. It is one of the most gripping war films ever made, essential for anyone who values tension, craft and a war story without glory, and not for the claustrophobic.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Das Boot stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Das Boot production still 1
    Das Boot production still 2
    Das Boot production still 3
    Das Boot production still 4
    Das Boot production still 5
    Das Boot production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Das Boot: frequently asked questions

    Is Das Boot worth watching?

    Yes. Das Boot (1981) has a Celluloid Score of 89%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Das Boot?

    In the United States, Das Boot streams on fuboTV with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Das Boot?

    Das Boot runs 2 hours 29 minutes (149 minutes).

    What is Das Boot rated?

    Das Boot is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, M in Australia and 14A in Canada. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Das Boot?

    Das Boot is directed by Wolfgang Petersen and stars Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann.

    What is the Metascore for Das Boot?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Das Boot is 86 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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