K-19: The Widowmaker

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K-19: The Widowmaker

PG-13,

2002,

2h 18m,

Mystery & Thriller/

History/

Drama/

War

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Watchlist

59%

164 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

164 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Follows Captain Alexei Vostrikov who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. His assignment: Prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol -- no matter what the cost. But problems with the K-19 arise that may lead to a core meltdown and explosion that will certainly kill all aboard, and possibly trigger a nuclear war. Vostrikov must choose between his orders and the lives of his men.

Critics Consensus

A gripping drama even though the filmmakers have taken liberties with the facts.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Mar 5, 2013

Why did movie moguls think that this was the right moment for a tale of unflinching loyalty to the Soviet Union?

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Jason Best

BBC.com

Sep 26, 2002

4/5

The movie's true hero -- or heroine -- is Bigelow, who once again proves herself one of the very best action directors around.

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Rex Reed

Observer

Jul 25, 2002

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.

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Dillon Gonzales

Geek Vibes Nation

Nov 14, 2025

Bigelow crafts a tale of great dramatic tension without having to play up the action aspects of the tale. This is much more character-based than you might suspect, and it thrives in that respect.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 2, 2024

2/4

Not to be confused with K-9, K-2 or even K-PAX, the fact-based K-19 is nevertheless strictly DOA and should be KO’d ASAP.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Aug 4, 2020

3/5

Does a competent job of creating the same sense of creepy claustrophobia that made classic sub actioners like Das Boot, Crimson Tide and The Hunt For Red October so memorable.

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Hagrid M

Nov 18, 2018

Fantastic movie. Very good watch.

Poe S

Oct 25, 2018

The Widowmaker (2002): K-19: The Widowmaker is a war movie without a war, or at least without a hot war. Like Crimson Tide the film uses the backdrop of a potential nuclear holocaust to generate a powerful sense of escalating tension. And that's not the only common ground. As with Crimson Tide, the majority of the movie takes place in the belly of a submarine with the threat of mutiny in the air, and, as with Thirteen Days, the events depicted herein are based on a nearly catastrophic incident from the 1960s. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Harrison Ford this is one taut film.

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Hagrid W

May 23, 2018

Recently I have been on a bit of a bummer with choosing good movies to watch, and although it may just be out of good will, I am giving this one a good rating. Because personally it wasn't that bad, it was really quite thrilling, other than Harrison Ford's mostly unbelievable accent and the rather frequent drifts into excess and intensity near the end, (actually the entire back half of the movie.) My grade for this film: B+ Final Note: Out of all honesty, I would advise any movie reviewer to give K-19 a high rating, whether you like it or not, just to honor those men on the submarine's bravery and courage, if nothing else.

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George M

Apr 21, 2018

I love sub films so I enjoyed this but felt it dragged on. Interesting as historical drama but wasn't portrayed very dramatically. And someone needed to coach Liam to either use the Russian accent or not, you can't keep switching every other scene. Good sense of realism. Fx and sets seemed very accurate.

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Luke S

Mar 6, 2018

Come for Liam Neeson's attempt at a rUssian accent, stay for Harrison Ford's complete lack thereof.

Anakin L

Jan 29, 2018

A really heart felt, emotional roller coaster. Excellent story and great performances from all the main cast. Accents weren't great but f*** it, Brilliant! film.

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Kathryn Bigelow

Director

Harrison Ford

Captain Alexi Vostrikov

Liam Neeson

Captain Mikhail Polenin

Peter Sarsgaard

Reactor Officer Vadim Radtchenko

Joss Ackland

Marshal Zelentsov

John Shrapnel

Admiral Bratyeev

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Synopsis

Follows Captain Alexei Vostrikov who, at the height of the Cold War, is ordered to take over command of the nuclear missile submarine K-19, pride of the Soviet Navy. His assignment: Prepare the K-19 for sea and take her out on patrol -- no matter what the cost. But problems with the K-19 arise that may lead to a core meltdown and explosion that will certainly kill all aboard, and possibly trigger a nuclear war. Vostrikov must choose between his orders and the lives of his men.

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Producer: Kathryn Bigelow, Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Christine Whitaker, Edward S. Feldman
Screenwriter: Christopher Kyle
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: National Geographic Society, Palomar, First Light Production, New Regency Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Disturbing Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, History, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 19, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.2M
Runtime: 2h 18m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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