The Big Blue (1988)
Kernel Score: 82% · 1,540 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Romance, Adventure, Drama
Released: 1988-05-10
Runtime: 168 minutes
Where to watch The Big Blue
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Childhood friends Jacques and Enzo share a passion for the danger of free diving. Professional diver Jacques opted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who died at sea when Jacques was a boy; to the bewilderment of scientists, Jacques harbors a remarkable ability to adjust his heart rate and breathing pattern in the water, so that his vital signs more closely resemble that of dolphins than men. As Enzo persuades a reluctant Jacques to compete against him in a free diving contest -- determining who can dive deeper and longer without scuba gear -- Jacques meets Johana, a beautiful American insurance investigator, and finds that he must choose between his love for her and his love of the sea.
The Big Blue parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Big Blue is a PG-13 drama about free-diving friends, touching on themes of death and a suicide.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Keywords reference suicide and the death of a parent at sea, treated dramatically rather than graphically.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Big Blue
If you liked The Big Blue, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Top Gun (1986) — 85%
- Charlie St. Cloud (2010) — 78%
- Collateral Beauty (2016) — 79%
- P.S. I Love You (2007) — 81%
- Divorce Italian Style (1961) — 88%
- Men of Honor (2000) — 85%
- At War for Love (2016) — 81%
- We Live in Time (2024) — 82%
Director
Cast
- Jean-Marc Barr as Jacques Mayol
- Jean Reno as Enzo Molinari
- Rosanna Arquette as Johana Baker
- Paul Shenar as Dr. Laurence
- Sergio Castellitto as Novelli
- Jean Bouise as Uncle Louis
- Marc Duret as Roberto
- Griffin Dunne as Duffy
- Valentina Vargas as Bonita
- Kimberly Beck as Sally
The Big Blue FAQ
Is The Big Blue good?
The Big Blue has an 82% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,540 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Big Blue?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Big Blue OK for kids?
The Big Blue is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Big Blue is a PG-13 drama about free-diving friends, touching on themes of death and a suicide.
What movies are like The Big Blue?
If you liked The Big Blue, try Top Gun, Charlie St. Cloud, Collateral Beauty and P.S. I Love You.