The Abyss
1989
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
A civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search and rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks. One diver soon finds himself on a spectacular odyssey 25,000 feet below the ocean's surface where he confronts a mysterious force that has the power to change the world or destroy it.
The Abyss (1989) is a 2h 20min ghost / haunting feature film by James Cameron. A civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search and rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks.
Key facts
Cast
Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Todd Graff, John Bedford Lloyd, Kimberly Scott, Chris Elliott
Original language
English
First release
August 9, 1989 (United States)
Production companies
20th Century Studios, Lightstorm Entertainment
Home video distributors
CBS/Fox Video (United States), 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Benelux (Australia)
Awards
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
Setting
Atlantic Ocean
Filming locations
California, North Carolina, South Carolina
Crew
Screenplay
James Cameron
Producer
Gale Anne Hurd, Van Ling
Cinematography
Mikael Salomon
Editing
Conrad Buff IV, Howard E. Smith, Joel Goodman, Steven Quale
Music
Alan Silvestri
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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VHS & home video releases
| VHS | CBS/Fox Video (cat. no. 1561) | 1990, United States, slipcase |
| VHS | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Benelux (cat. no. 1988SVP) | 2000, Australia, clamshell |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | The Abyss (Original Soundtrack) - Alan Silvestri (1989) | 3 releases, 1989: Estúdio Eldorado, Varèse Sarabande |
| CD | The Abyss (Original Soundtrack) - Alan Silvestri (1989) | 7 releases, 1989-2013: Varèse Sarabande, Victor |
| Cassette | The Abyss (Original Soundtrack) - Alan Silvestri (1989) | 3 releases, 1989-1991: Euro Star, Varèse Sarabande |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | August 9, 1989 |
| Theatrical | New Zealand | August 30, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Taiwan | September 23, 1989 |
| Theatrical | France | September 27, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Germany | September 28, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Finland | September 29, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Greece | September 29, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | September 29, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Belgium | October 4, 1989 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | October 7, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | October 11, 1989 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | October 13, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | October 27, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | November 3, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Spain | November 8, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | November 16, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Yugoslavia | November 28, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | December 1, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Australia | December 14, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | December 15, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Italy | December 20, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | December 21, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Thailand | December 23, 1989 |
| Theatrical | Uruguay | January 1, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Philippines | January 16, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Japan | March 10, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | April 20, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | June 21, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Germany | July 20, 1990 |
| Theatrical | United States | February 26, 1993 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | May 21, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | June 18, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Germany | July 8, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Spain | August 27, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Australia | September 24, 1993 |
| Television | Slovakia | December 20, 1997 |
| Television | Netherlands | January 9, 2002 |
| Theatrical | United States | December 6, 2023 |
| Streaming | Puerto Rico | December 12, 2023 |
| Streaming | United States | December 12, 2023 |
| Streaming | AS | April 10, 2025 |
| Streaming | GU | April 11, 2025 |
| Streaming | MP | April 11, 2025 |
| Streaming | Puerto Rico | April 11, 2025 |
| Streaming | United States | April 11, 2025 |
| Streaming | VI | April 11, 2025 |
| Classification | Germany | 12 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
| Classification | United States | PG-13 |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1990 1561 |
| Home video | United States | March 29, 1990 |
| Home video | United States | June 1, 1990 |
| Home video | Japan | December 16, 1990 |
| Home video | United States | April 7, 1993 |
| Home video | United States | November 6, 1996 |
| Home video VHS | Australia | 2000 1988SVP |
| Home video | Canada | March 21, 2000 |
| Home video | United States | March 21, 2000 |
| Home video | United States | March 5, 2002 |
| Home video | United States | May 21, 2002 |
| Home video | Russia | November 28, 2006 |
| Home video | Netherlands | June 30, 2007 |
| Home video | Puerto Rico | March 12, 2024 |
| Home video | United States | March 12, 2024 |
Full credits
| Director | James Cameron |
| Cast | Ed Harris (Virgil 'Bud' Brigman), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Lindsey Brigman), Michael Biehn (Lieutenant Hiram Coffey), Leo Burmester (Catton ‘Catfish’ De Vries), Todd Graff (Alan 'Hippy' Carnes), John Bedford Lloyd (Jammer Willis), Kimberly Scott (Lisa 'One Night' Standing), Chris Elliott (Bendix), J.C. Quinn (Arliss 'Sonny' Dawson), Pierce Oliver Brewer, Jr. (Lew Finler), George Robert Klek (Wilhite), Christopher Murphy (Schoenick), Adam Nelson (Ensign Monk), Dick Warlock (Dwight Perry), Jimmie Ray Weeks (Leland McBride), J. Kenneth Campbell (DeMarco), Peter Ratray (Captain), Michael Beach (Barnes), Ken Jenkins (Gerard Kirkhill), Michael Chapman (Dr. Berg), William Wisher (Bill Tyler), Wendy Gordon (Anchorwoman), Paula Cross (Young Woman), Emily Yancy (Woman Reporter), Joe Farago (Anchorman), Marcus K. Mukai (Anchorman #2), Thomas F. Duffy (Construction Worker), Chris Anastasio (Truck Driver), Tom Isbell (Wave Reporter), Mikhail Gorbachev (Self (archive footage) (uncredited)), Frank Lloyd (Navigator) |
| Screenplay | James Cameron |
| Producer | Gale Anne Hurd, Van Ling |
| Cinematography | Mikael Salomon |
| Editing | Conrad Buff IV, Howard E. Smith, Joel Goodman, Steven Quale |
| Music | Alan Silvestri |
| Production design | Leslie Dilley |
| Visual effects | Dennis Muren, Hoyt Yeatman, John Bruno, Steve Johnson, Walt Conti |
| Sound | Blake Leyh |
| Costumes | Deborah Everton |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
