2015’s In the Heart of the Sea is an epic adventure film that has been making waves since its Netflix release, and here are the 10 best movies like it. In the Heart of the Sea was a box office failure upon its release, with the film only making $94.3 million at the box office against a budget of $100 million. However, the film has had a resurgence since In the Heart of the Sea found success on Netflix in early 2025, with the film becoming a global hit. So, fans of the film need to watch these 10 next.
Director Ron Howard’s 2015 film In the Heart of the Sea tells the true story of the 1820 sinking of the whaling ship Essex, which ended up inspiring the story of Moby-Dick. Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Cillian Murphy, and other stars bring the story to life, with the film following the various members of the ship as they attempt to survive an attack from a massive, white bull sperm whale.
10
Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World
2003
In the Heart of the Sea is a naval adventure epic, and fans of it need to check out one of the best entries in the genre, Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World. The Russell Crowe film follows members of the Royal Navy as they are tasked with tracking down and capturing one of Napoleon’s most powerful ships, with the critically-acclaimed epic being popular since it was released in 2003.
Much like In the Heart of the Sea, Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World focuses on a group of sailors as they attempt to take down a powerful enemy from within the confines of their ship. However, while the former has its characters setting their sights on a whale, the latter has the characters hunting down another ship, with it taking place in the context of a grander war story.
9
Captain Blood
1935
Dr. Peter Blood, unjustly convicted of treason and exiled from England, becomes a notorious pirate.
- Release Date
-
December 26, 1935
- Runtime
-
1h 59m
- Cast
-
Errol Flynn
, Olivia de Havilland
, Lionel Atwill
, Basil Rathbone
, Henry Stephenson
, Robert Barrat - Director
-
Michael Curtiz
- Writers
-
Casey Robinson
- Distributor(s)
-
Warner Bros
Viewers who are looking to find more films like In the Heart of the Sea should set their sights on the pirate genre, as it is one of the most popular subgenres within the world of naval epics. While there are plenty to choose from, one of the best is 1935’s Captain Blood, one of the earliest pirate films. The film follows a doctor who is sold into slavery after treating the wounds of someone who rebelled against King James II, with him and his fellow slaves escaping and becoming pirates.
Related
8 Biggest Details In The Heart Of The Sea Leaves Out From The Harrowing True Story
In the Heart of the Sea presents a gripping true story, but there are certain details that the movie leaves out that make it all even more shocking.
Similar to In the Heart of the Sea, Captain Blood also follows a bunch of sailors who live on a ship, with much of the film highlighting their lives at sea. The adventure aspect is there too, although the piracy angle makes the cast of Captain Blood a little less altruistic than the cast of In the Heart of the Sea.
8
Mutiny On The Bounty
1962
Mutiny on the Bounty, directed by Lewis Milestone, is a historical drama set in 1787, following the Bounty’s voyage to Tahiti. The film depicts the tension between Captain Bligh, who enforces strict discipline, and officer Fletcher Christian, leading to a mutiny on the return journey to England.
- Release Date
-
November 8, 1962
- Runtime
-
185 Minutes
- Main Genre
-
Adventure
- Cast
-
Marlon Brando
, Trevor Howard
, Richard Harris
, Hugh Griffith
, Richard Haydn
, Percy Herbert
, Gordon Jackson
, Chips Rafferty
, Noel Purcell
, Eddie Byrne
, Tim Seely
, Tarita
, Frank Silvera
, Keith McConnell
, Rahera Tuia
, Ruita Salmon
, Nathalie Tehahe
, Tematai Tevaearai
, Odile Hinano Paofai
, Teretiaiti Teyahineheipua Maifano
, Virau Tepii
, Maeva Maitihe
, Louise Tefaafana - Character(s)
-
First Lieutenant Fletcher Christian
, Capt. William Bligh
, Seaman John Mills
, Alexander Smith
, William Brown
, Matthew Quintal
, Seaman Edward Birkett
, Michael Byrne
, Seaman William McCoy
, John Fryer
, Midshipman Edward Young
, Maimiti
, Minarii
, James Morrison - Director
-
Lewis Milestone
- Writers
-
James Norman Hall
, Charles Nordhoff
, Charles Lederer
Mutiny on the Bounty is another incredibly exciting movie set at sea, with Marlon Brando starring in the 1962 hit. The film sees an abusive captain lead a ship on a voyage to Jamaica, with him punishing several of his sailors for attempting to desert once they arrive. Because of this, Marlon Brando’s Fletcher Christian decides to stage a mutiny on the way back from their expedition, leading to all kinds of conflict aboard the ship.
Mutiny on the Bounty gives a heavy focus to the interpersonal relationships between the people who are on the boat, with the film having this in common with In the Heart of the Sea. Both movies are notable for their strong characters, all of whom share a bond due to their life on ships.
7
The Perfect Storm
2000
The Perfect Storm
- Release Date
-
June 29, 2000
- Runtime
-
129 minutes
- Director
-
Wolfgang Petersen
While In the Heart of the Sea gives a lot of focus to its epic story and its life at sea, one of the most important themes of the film is survival. Throughout the movie, the characters are attempting to survive the onslaught of attacks that the whale is carrying out, with the time period and conditions making this even harder. Luckily, there is another popular movie that also focuses on surviving a natural threat at sea, with this being The Perfect Storm.
The 2000 film The Perfect Storm follows the crew of several boats who, on Halloween of 1991, are met with the fiercest storm in modern history. Much like In the Heart of the Sea, The Perfect Storm is a true story, with it focusing on the fishing boat the Andrea Gail as it attempts to survive the onslaught of weather.
6
The Abyss
1989
The Abyss is James Cameron’s fourth feature film and his second water-themed movie. Starring Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, the 1989 drama that revolves around a team of oil workers and Navy SEALs who face a mysterious alien race at the bottom of the ocean.
- Release Date
-
August 9, 1989
- Runtime
-
140 minutes
- Cast
-
Michael Biehn
, Leo Burmeister
, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
, Ed Harris
, Todd Graff - Character(s)
-
Tage Vibenius
, Frigga Vibenius
, Dabir Ayobi
, Mika Vibenius
, Erika Svalin
, Aila
, Simon Vibenius
, Livli
, Patrik
, Joakim Lundmark
, Fredrik Bauman
, Tina
, Förskolelärare
, Pojke | Sandlådan
, Emo Linda
, Kvinna på sjukhuset
, Berättarröst - Producers
-
Joakim Hansson
- Budget
-
$70 million
- Studio(s)
-
20th Century
- Distributor(s)
-
20th Century
Since In the Heart of the Sea is a true story, the film is fairly grounded. However, for viewers looking for a similar story that is far less grounded, James Cameron’s classic The Abyss is a perfect option. The Abyss follows a group of scientists and Navy SEAL operatives who are tasked with recovering a top-secret nuclear submarine that has been sunk. However, upon doing so, they learn that they are being stalked by an extra-terrestrial threat.
While In the Heart of the Sea focuses on a whale, The Abyss focuses on aliens, even though the movies are incredibly similar at their core. Both films are about crews of expert people who find themselves facing an impossibly powerful threat out at sea, with them working together to fight for their survival.
5
Black Sea
2014
Black Sea is a thriller directed by Kevin Macdonald, featuring Jude Law as a rogue submarine captain. The film centers on a crew’s perilous pursuit of sunken treasure in the Black Sea. Tensions rise as greed and desperation lead to dangerous conflicts among the crew members aboard their vessel.
- Release Date
-
December 5, 2014
- Runtime
-
115 minutes
- Cast
-
Jude Law
, Karl Davies
, Jodie Whittaker
, Daniel Ryan
, Scoot McNairy
, Tobias Menzies
, Michael Smiley
, David Threlfall
, Ben Mendelsohn
, Konstantin Khabenskiy
, Grigoriy Dobrygin
, Bobby Schofield
, Sergey Veksler
, Branwell Donaghey
, Sergey Kolesnikov
, Llewella Gideon
, Gus Barry
, Zaak Conway
, Yuri Klimov
, Dennis Kelly
, Kevin Macdonald
, Charles Steel
, Paulina Boneva - Character(s)
-
Captain Robinson
, Liam
, Chrissy
, Kurston
, Daniels
, Lewis
, Reynolds
, Peters
, Fraser
, Blackie
, Morozov
, Tobin
, Baba
, Gittens
, Levchenko
, Job Centre Worker
, Martin (aged 12)
, Martin (aged 4)
, Ukranian Admiral
, Himself
, Job Center Worker (uncredited) - Director
-
Kevin Macdonald
- Producers
-
Charles Steel
, Tessa Ross
, Jim Cochrane - Writers
-
Dennis Kelly
The 2014 film Black Sea is another fantastic pick for fans of In the Heart of the Sea, with it being a perfect follow-up movie. Black Sea stars Jude Law as Robinson, a naval officer who organizes a hunt for a Nazi U-boat that has been sunk. He puts together a crew of sailors and other knowledgeable people, although the rag-tag team begins to conflict with one another during the course of the hunt.
Related
Why Owen Chase Doesn’t Kill The Whale When It Returns During In The Heart Of The Sea
In the Heart of the Sea is based on the horrifying true story that inspired Moby Dick, but its ending is very different, with the whale being spared.
In the Heart of the Sea is all about characters who are incredibly determined to kill a whale, while Black Sea is all about characters who are incredibly determined to find the U-boat, with this being a major thematic similarity. On top of that, the naval setting of both film means that they have a lot in common, with fans of one of the films most likely liking the other.
4
Rush
2013
Written by Peter Morgan and directed by Ron Howard, Rush is a Sports film set in the world of Formula One racing. The 2013 movie sees two rivals fighting against one another to reign supreme in the Formula One racing world during the 70s.
- Release Date
-
September 27, 2013
- Runtime
-
123 minutes
- Main Genre
-
Sport
- Cast
-
Chris Hemsworth
, Olivia Wilde
, Alexandra Maria Lara
, Daniel Brühl
, Pierfrancesco Favino - Writers
-
Peter Morgan
- Budget
-
$38 million
- Studio(s)
-
Universal Pictures
- Distributor(s)
-
Universal Pictures
While the rest of the movies on this list share In the Heart of the Sea‘s naval setting, Rush tells an entirely different story in an entirely different setting. The 2013 sports film follows James Hunt and Niki Lauda, two Formula 1 racers who are embroiled in a fierce rivalry. Their attempts to outdo each other begin to scare the people who surround them, although nothing can stop them from trying to come out on top.
Rush is a great pick for fans of In the Heart of the Sea thanks to the creatives who are behind it. In the Heart of the Sea wasn’t the first collaboration between director Ron Howard and Chris Hemsworth, with them previously working on Rush together. Rush has long been cited as one of Chris Hemsworth’s best films, which is why new fans of Ron Howard or Chris Hemsworth definitely need to see their previous work.
3
Jaws
1975
Steven Spielberg’s legendary tale of one man’s desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.
- Release Date
-
June 18, 1975
- Runtime
-
124 minutes
- Main Genre
-
Adventure
- Cast
-
Roy Scheider
, Robert Shaw
, Richard Dreyfuss
, Lorraine Gary
, Murray Hamilton
, Carl Gottlieb - Writers
-
Peter Benchley
, Carl Gottlieb
, John Milius
, Howard Sackler
, Robert Shaw - Franchise
-
Jaws
- Sequel
-
Jaws: The Revenge, Jaws 3, Jaws 2
- Cinematographer
-
Bill Butler
- Producer
-
Richard D. Zanuck, David Brown
- Production Company
-
Zanuck/Brown Productions
- Budget
-
$7 million
Although all kinds of movies have adapted the story of a man obsessed with killing an animal, one of the most famous ones is Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. After a series of shark attacks, the mayor of Amity Island attempts to cover the deaths up, hoping to save the town’s Fourth of July celebration. Because of this, three men take killing the shark into their own hands, with them traveling out to sea in an attempt to wipe the monster out.
Jaws is often considered to be one of the greatest films ever made, and while watching it, it is impossible not to notice its parallels with Moby-Dick. Considering that Moby-Dick was inspired by the story that In the Heart of the Sea tells, it should be clear that In the Heart of the Sea has a lot in common with Jaws, making them a fantastic double feature.
2
The Old Man And The Sea
1958
The Old Man and the Sea is a cinematic adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s novel, released in 1958. It follows Santiago, an elderly Cuban fisherman, who endures an epic struggle with a giant marlin after months of futile fishing efforts. Spencer Tracy stars, capturing the resilience and determination of his character.
- Release Date
-
October 7, 1958
- Runtime
-
86 minutes
- Cast
-
Felipe Pazos
, Spencer Tracy
, Harry Bellaver
, Don Diamond
, Mary Hemingway
, Joey Ray
, Mauritz Hugo
, Tony Rosa
, Don Blackman - Character(s)
-
Manolin, the Boy
, The Old Man
, Martin, the Cafe Bartender
, Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
, Tourist (Uncredited)
, Gambler (uncredited)
, Arm Wrestler - Director
-
John Sturges
- Producers
-
Leland Hayward
- Writers
-
Peter Viertel
Moby-Dick isn’t the only famous piece of literature about a man who is obsessed with killing an aquatic animal, as the nvoella The Old Man and the Sea pulls off a very similar trick. The film follows the titular old man as he becomes obsessed with catching a massive marlin, with him hopping on a boat and heading out to sea for two days in an attempt to reel it in.
Related
In The Heart Of The Sea Leaves Out A Wild True Story Detail About Owen Chase & Matthew Joy After The Sinking
Thomas Nickerson’s explanation of what happens after In the Heart of the Sea’s sinking leaves out a shocking detail about Owen Chase & Matthew Joy.
The 1958 adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea may be on a smaller scale than In the Heart of the Sea or Moby-Dick, but their thematic and narrative similarities mean that they have a lot in common. Thus, fans of In the Heart of the Sea or the story that it inspired need to check the 1958 film out.
1
Moby Dick
1956
Moby Dick (1956): This film adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic novel follows Ishmael, a sailor on the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Obsessed with revenge, Ahab sets the crew on a perilous journey in relentless pursuit of the elusive great white whale, Moby Dick.
- Release Date
-
June 27, 1956
- Runtime
-
116 minutes
- Cast
-
Gregory Peck
, Richard Basehart
, Leo Genn
, James Robertson Justice
, Harry Andrews
, Bernard Miles
, Noel Purcell
, Edric Connor
, Mervyn Johns
, Joseph Tomelty
, Francis de Wolff
, Philip Stainton
, Royal Dano
, Seamus Kelly
, Friedrich von Ledebur
, Orson Welles
, John Huston
, Carol White - Character(s)
-
Captain Ahab
, Ishmael
, Starbuck
, Capt. Boomer
, Stubb
, The Manxman
, Ship’s Carpenter
, Daggoo
, Peleg
, Peter Coffin
, Capt. Gardiner
, Bildad
, Elijah
, Flask
, Queequeg
, Father Mapple
, Barman / Ship’s Lookout (voice) (uncredited)
, Young Girl (uncredited) - Director
-
John Huston
- Producers
-
Vaughan N. Dean
- Writers
-
Ray Bradbury
Throughout this list, the connection between In the Heart of the Sea‘s subject and Moby-Dick has been cited countless times. Because of this, one of the many adaptations of Moby-Dick obviously had to be included. While there are plenty of takes on the classic story, the best version is the 1956 adaptation, starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab.
The film follows Captain Ahab, a sailor who goes mad as he attempts to seek the white whale who took his own leg. 1956’s Moby Dick is a fantastic adaptation of the original story, with it being necessary viewing for fans of In the Heart of the Sea.
Based on the real-life event that inspired Moby Dick, In the Heart of the Sea is directed by Ron Howard and stars Chris Hemsworth as Owen Chase, first mate of the whaling ship Essex who must fight for his life in the middle of the ocean when a whale destroys his ship, killing most of his crew and stranding him and a few survivors on a lifeboat. Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson also star.
- Release Date
-
December 11, 2015
- Runtime
-
121minutes
- Writers
-
Charles Leavitt
- Budget
-
$100 million
- Studio(s)
-
Warner Bros. Pictures
- Distributor(s)
-
Warner Bros. Pictures