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Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson, Peter Sarsgaard, Joss Ackland, John Shrapnel ... see more see more... , Donald Sumpter , Tim Woodward , Steve Nicolson , Ravil Isyanov , Christian Camargo , William Lucas , George Anton , Ingvar E. Siguršsson , Tygh Runyan , Peter Stebbings , Shawn Mathieson , Sam Spruell

A real-life historical incident becomes the basis for this military thriller from director Kathryn Bigelow that's reminiscent of such submarine dramas as Das Boot (1981), The Hunt for Red October (199... read more read more...0), Crimson Tide (1995), and U-571 (2000). Harrison Ford stars as Captain Alexi Vostrikov, a Russian naval officer who's being given command of the Soviet Union's first nuclear submarine, K-19, at the height of the Cold War in 1961. The vessel's previous commander, Captain Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson) has been demoted to executive officer following a botched test and his outspoken assertions that the flagship is not yet ready for deployment, but he curbs his resentment and resolves to serve his new superior well. Polenin's concerns are well founded: parts are not yet installed, equipment is missing, and the ship's doctor is killed in an auto mishap. Political pressure forces Vostrikov to sail his crew into the North Atlantic anyway, for a missile fire test that serves as a warning to the U.S. that its enemy is now its technological equal. The test is a success, but a disastrous leak in the K-19's reactor cooling system soon threatens to create enough heat to detonate the craft's nuclear payload -- which would certainly be mistaken for the first salvo in a worldwide atomic exchange and spark the beginning of World War III. With no other option, Vostrikov orders his men to repair the damage in ten-minute shifts, irradiating them hopelessly. The conflict between the seemingly bureaucratic Communist Vostrikov and the more humane Polenin escalates, until a surprising twist reveals where both officers' loyalties truly lie. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

50% liked it

44,091 ratings

Critics

60% liked it

167 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Release Date: July 19, 2002

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DVD Release Date: December 10, 2002

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Stats: 1,181 reviews

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Peter Sarsgaard (as Vadim Radtchinko) in 'K-19: The Widowmaker' Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson in their 80s from 'K-19: The Widowmaker' K-19: The Widowmaker K-19: The Widowmaker K-19: The Widowmaker K-19: The Widowmaker K-19: The Widowmaker
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Flixster Reviews (1,181)

  • SirPant
    January 30, 2012
    SirPant
    I'm ashamed to say that I've always passed this film of as being just another Submarine film full of the usual cliches no doubt, and so have never bothered with it. A foolish mistake as K-19 is a great film, full of drama and suspense but never over the top and, as I mentioned be... read morefore, without cliched acting/writing/story. Apparently based on true events, it's great that this story has finally been told as it is a heartwarming and inspirational one - it's also not very often that cold war stories are told from the Russian side - not least by an American, so it was also refreshing. Just ignore the dodgy Russian accents..again.
  • CloudStrife84
    March 10, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    What I thought would be a mediocre sub flick, turned out to be so much more. The Academy Award for Best Director that Kathryn Bigelow received last year, is well-deserved in the least. For two out of two war films I've seen by her now, that have been of very high calibre. Much of... read more the credit, however, also goes to to Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. The dignity and effort that they invest into their roles is highly appraisable, and every second they're on screen is a second of pure awe and joy. It's a little scary also to think how close we really were to World War III, and this film illustrates that perfectly. The only beef I had with it was the horrible russian accents. Too fake-sounding to be bought and believed. Other than that though, it's a splendid piece of cinema. Very suspenseful throughout and with a tight and well-paced script. Certainly not for the claustrophobic, but if you're into the sub-genre (no pun intended), you might wanna give it a go.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 18, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    K-19 is a masterful submarine film. No such sub film since Das Boot conveys a sense of drama and helplessness like K-19. Kathryn Bigelow has assembled a great cast of actors here, and Harrison Ford delivers one of his greatest performances since the 1980's. Bigelow's directing is... read more flawless, the tension on screen unfolds so well in her hands. K-19 Is a terrific film and the cast make this film soar. A film filled with suspense, tension, thrills and drama, this is one of the best since Wolfgang Peterson's Das Boot. Maybe not as masterful, but this film heads into the right direction. It may be viewed in the years to come as a great submarine film. Because it really is. A film thats seriously underrated, K-19 may find an audience in the future. Bigelow displays great skills in telling a great story, and delivered a monumental film with K-19.
  • allan913
    April 6, 2010
    allan913
    Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson are electrifying. Ford gives a fearless, demanding and commanding performance. Neeson is outstanding. Some of the best and most unforgettable performances of their careers. A tremendous and exciting edge of your seat Cold War thriller. Loaded with ri... read moreveting suspense, dazzling emotion, rip-roaring tension and turbo-charged thrills. A masterpiece. Director, Kathryn Bigelow has crafted her finest work as a filmmaker. An explosive, powerful, furious and exhilarating movie.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 2, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    This Movie was a tiny bit boring for me, but a friend enjoyed it, as she is a Polit-Thriller Fan. I m not much in to Politic anyway. lol
  • RossCollinsUK
    November 30, 2008
    RossCollinsUK
    I'd forgotten I'd seen this one. It is not the action thriller that one would expect from a submarine drama. This is the true story of the first sea trials of the Soviet K-19 nuclear submarine, whose "Widowmaker" moniker refers to the many tragedies that befell the crew. Most not... read moreably a reactor meltdown where crew members sacrificed their lives to protect the rest of the crew. I'm always suspicious of American movies about the Soviets, especially ones where the lead actors don't speak with Russian accents.
  • ironclad1609
    April 27, 2008
    ironclad1609
    This true story of submarine events from the cold war time of the late 60s is one of the rare cases of an US movie taking an entirely Russian point of view. Which is odd, knowing Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson from countless other roles they don't seem to work as communistic milit... read moreary officers at first and so the movie drags on for a bit. Once the atom run sub is getting into a real mess the movie has its strongest moments, when members of the crew have to expose themselves to radiation to save the rest. In the end, the message felt kind of ambiguous to me: on the one hand it was not promoted to blindly follow orders from above and sacrificing everyone, on the other hand it was a lot about doing your duty and contained a lot of heroism and pathos. Still, worth watching, even though far from the awesomeness that's Petersen's Das Boot, the king of submarine movies.
  • thmtsang
    March 24, 2008
    thmtsang
    When a nuclear submarine malfunctions, the crew has to prevent a nuclear disaster.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 24, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    a little dissapointing
  • superclerk25
    January 5, 2007
    superclerk25
    It was ok but I think it was outplayed by the other sumberine movie that came out that year.

View All K-19: The Widowmaker Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rex Reed
July 25, 2002
Rex Reed, New York Observer

What could have been a movie packed with historical significance and nail-gnawing underwater tension ends up little more than a lumbering public-service announcement for the human spirit.

Dennis Lim
July 23, 2002
Dennis Lim, Village Voice

Bigelow hits all her marks and more within the narrow parameters. Full Review

Richard Roeper
July 22, 2002
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

[A] really strong work from start to finish. Full Review

Desson Thomson
July 19, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

More intellectually scary than dramatically involving.

Stephen Hunter
July 19, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Gets stuck in a no man's land between the real and the fictional. Full Review

Mike Clark
July 19, 2002
Mike Clark, USA Today

Though this saga would be terrific to read about, it is dicey screen material that only a genius should touch. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
July 19, 2002
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

The movie's centrepiece is as close to tour-de-force suspense filmmaking as you'll see anywhere this summer. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
July 19, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Bigelow is known for making good, visceral movies, but here she adopts a kind of dignified watchfulness, and that feels right for the material. Full Review

Joe Baltake
July 19, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

A very depressing movie of many missed opportunities. Full Review

Peter Travers
July 19, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A salute is in order for Bigelow, a director who knows how to navigate macho terrain without losing her human compass.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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K-19: The Widowmaker Trivia

  • This submarine movie, based on real events, was criticized for insulting the patriotism of the sub's crewmembers because it portrayed an attempted mutiny.  Answer »
  • In which film do Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson work as officers on board a Russian nuclear submarine?  Answer »
  • In which film would you find this character 'Captain Alexei Vostrikov'?  Answer »
  • Finish the title of this film: _______: The Widowmaker  Answer »
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