Movie · 2000 · War, Action, Adventure · 1h 56m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 3.3/10 (120.8K ratings)
Heroes are ordinary men who do extraordinary things in extraordinary times.
Overview
In the midst of World War II, the battle under the sea rages and the Nazis have the upper hand as the Allies are unable to crack their war codes. However, after a wrecked U-boat sends out an SOS signal, the Allies realise this is their chance to seize the 'enigma coding machine'.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.3/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
Letterboxd: 3.22/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Metacritic: 62
TMDB: 6.5/10
Director
Jonathan Mostow
Production
Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, The De Laurentiis Company
Cast
Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, David Keith, Thomas Kretschmann, Jake Weber, Jack Noseworthy, Tom Guiry, Will Estes, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Erik Palladino, Dave Power, Derk Cheetwood, Matthew Settle, Rebecca Tilney, Carolyna De Laurentiis, Dina De Laurentiis, Burnell Tucker, Rob Allyn
Curator Review
Verdict
A tense, old-school submarine thriller with strong sound design, solid performances, and efficient wartime suspense, but it’s also heavily criticized for historical distortion and a fairly blunt, patriotic approach. If you want a propulsive action-war movie set underwater, it delivers; if you want accuracy or deeper character writing, it’s a tougher sell.
Best for
viewers who want high-tension submarine action
fans of WWII thrillers with a fast pace
people who prioritize suspense and sound design over historical fidelity
audiences in the mood for a straightforward, muscular studio war movie
Skip if
historical accuracy matters to you
you prefer war films with nuance and ambiguity
you want a more meditative or psychologically rich submarine drama
patriotic, Hollywood-style wartime heroics turn you off
Overview
U-571 is a slick, high-pressure submarine thriller that knows exactly how to squeeze tension out of cramped spaces, failing machinery, and the constant threat of depth charges. It’s the kind of movie that thrives on sound design and momentum, turning every hull creak and sonar ping into part of the drama.
Worth noting
The film’s biggest strength is its ability to play like a classic wartime adventure: clear objectives, escalating danger, and a crew forced to improvise under impossible conditions. The performances are sturdy, especially from the ensemble, and the movie has enough set-piece craft to keep the mission feeling urgent.
Bottom line
Its biggest weakness is also impossible to ignore: the historical liberties are extreme, and the film’s patriotic framing can feel heavy-handed. That doesn’t make it ineffective as entertainment, but it does mean the movie works best when taken as a genre exercise rather than a serious account of World War II.
Top Letterboxd reviews
DirkH (3★) · 239 likes
I once watched this in a German movie theatre. I won't go into details about why I was in said theatre (it involved a bar with 150 different kinds of whiskey. And absinthe), but suffice to say it was a unique experience. Especially because they dub films in Germany and my German isn't that great.
It did provide a singular moment in which a Dutch idiot nearly died laughing in a room filled with very serious Germans. There is a… more
shookone (2★) · 101 likes
your dad's 7th favorite movie from 2000, right in between Men of Honor and Space Cowboys
🇵🇱 Steve G 🐝 (4.5★) · 98 likes
“Maybe we got ’em demoralised!” – For Bill
You're all fucking nuts, U-571 is BRILLIANT.
I'm well aware that, historically, it could not be less accurate if it tried but I think you know me well enough by now to know that I don't give half a crap about that sort of thing. As far as #fakenews goes, I'm more than alright with it in films.
As a WW2 action thriller, this is the fucking BUSINESS. The opening scene is… more
Brennan (3.5★) · 89 likes
Wish there were more war movies focused on submarines. It can be so easy to turn up the tension in them.
U-571 is a pretty good entry into that genre led by Matthew McConaughey and Harvey Keitel. The depth charge scene is still my favorite scene of the movie. I hold my breath like that’s going to help
Fun fact about me and this movie is that after the Christmas my brother and I got our PlayStation 2 (2000 or… more
gregs1999 (3★) · 75 likes
Not the best submarine film I’ve seen, but not the worst either. Matthew McConaughey and Harvey Keitel were great.