Open Water (film series) explained

Open Water
Distributor:Warner Bros. Entertainment
Released:2003–2017
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:~$2,068,100
(Total of 3 films)
Gross:$64,001,222
(Total of 3 films)

The Open Water film series consists of American-distributed standalone survival-horror and natural horror-shark thriller movies, inspired by the real-life disappearance of Tom and Eileen Lonergan. The overall plot centers around individuals who are stranded in the ocean and must fight to survive the hours alone.

The first film was a massive financial and critical success, with film critics praising its minimalistic filmmaking.[1] The sequels were met with mixed-at-best and poor respective critical reception, while both fared well overall financially.

Films

FilmU.S.
release date
DirectorScreenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
Open WaterChris KentisLaura Lau
Adam Kreutner & David Mitchell and
Collin McMahon & Richard Speight, Jr.
Dan Maag and Philip Schulz-Deyle
Gerald RascionatoGerald Rascionato & Stephen ListerCharles M. Barsamian, Rana Joy Glickman, Jake Gray, Antoine Mouawad and Gerald Rascionato

Open Water (2004)

See main article: article and Open Water (film).

Daniel and Susan take a tropical vacation, which includes scuba-diving adventures. Excited for their diving certifications, the pair dive deeper than the rest of their group and get separated. Following an incorrect head-count and believing the entire class is accounted for, the boat returns to land. When the couple resurfaces, they see a vessel in the distance and decide to wait for its return. As time passes, and stranded miles from shore with Caribbean reef sharks stalking them below, the likelihood of their survival grows smaller by the moment.[2]

Open Water 2: Adrift (2007)

See main article: Open Water 2: Adrift.

Amy and James, with their baby Sarah, travel to Mexico to celebrate their friend Zach's thirtieth birthday. Upon arriving, they're reunited with common friends, Zach, Lauren, and Dan. Together they set sail on Dan's new yacht, where they're introduced to his new girlfriend named Michelle. The group party, drinking alcohol while they reminisce. When they stop for a swim, Amy stays in the boat with her baby and no intention to join the rest, due to a childhood traumatic event in the ocean. Dan keeps her company for a time, before he picks her up and throws her into the water below. Irresponsibly, he falls overboard as well. Once everyone is in the water, it's realized that no one lowered the ladder while they were on deck. Following hours of struggling and failing to climb the freeboard, Michelle claims that she saw sharks in the water and unsettling exhaustion overtakes the group. Stranded in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean, panic and desperation leads to a tragic fight for survival; while Amy must use her motherly instincts to return to her daughter, to overcome her fears. As time passes, their chances of survival lessen.

Open Water 3: Cage Dive (2017)

See main article: Open Water 3: Cage Dive.

Determined to experience adrenaline-filled thrills of coming face-to-face with great white sharks, three friends from California travel to Australia for a cage-diving encounter. Josh, together with his half-brother Jeff and Jeff's girlfriend Megan, set out to film an audition tape for an extreme stunts reality-TV show. Tensions arise when Jeff discovers that Josh and Megan are having an affair. Things take a despairing turn while they are in the safety of the shark-proof cage, when a rogue wave capsizes their boat leaving the trio stranded in the open water of the sea. As the day turns to night, hysteric fear overtakes them as a swarm of hungry sharks hunt them from below. As the predators close in on them, the friends do all they can to survive until morning.[3]

Main cast and characters

CharacterFilms
Open WaterOpen Water 2:
Open Water 3:
Susan WatkinsBlanchard Ryan 
Daniel KintnerDaniel Travis 
Amy Susan May Pratt
 
James Richard Speight, Jr. 
Dan Eric Dane 
Michelle Cameron Richardson 
Zach Niklaus Lange 
Lauren Ali Hillis 
Sarah Mattea Gabarretta &<br>Christine Gabarratta 
Jeff Miller Joel Hogan
Josh Miller Josh Potthoff
Megan Murphy Megan Peta Hill

Additional crew and production details

FilmCrew/Detail
Composer(s)Cinematographer(s)Editor(s)Production
companies
Distributing
company
Running time
Open WaterGraeme RevellChris Kentis & Laura LauChris KentisLions Gate Films,
Plunge Pictures LLC,
Eastgate Pictures
Lions Gate Films89 minutes
Gerd BaumannBernhard JasperChristian LonkSummit Entertainment,
Universum Film,
Orange Pictures,
Peter Rommel Productions,
Shotgun Pictures,
FilmFernsehFonds Bayern
Lions Gate Entertainment94 minutes
Andy Grush & Taylor Newton StewartGerald Tascionato & Andy BambachGerald Rascionato, Antoine Mouawad & Andre StamatakakosLionsgate Home Entertainment,
Just One More Productions,
Exit Strategy Productions
Lionsgate80 minutes

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingVideo
sales gross
Worldwide
gross total
Budget
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll-time
North America
All-time
worldwide
North America
Open Water$30,610,863$25,017,759$55,628,622
  1. 2,786
  1. 2,783
>$55,628,622$500,000[4] [5]
$6,816,129$6,816,129>6,816,129~$1,448,100[6]
$1,486,774$1,486,774
  1. 8,434
  1. 12,696
$69,697$1,556,471$120,000[7] [8]
Totals$30,610,863$33,320,662$63,931,525
  1. 3,740
  1. 5,160
$69,697>$64,001,222~$2,068,100

Critical and public response

FilmRotten TomatoesMetacritic
Open Water71% (196 reviews)[9] 63/100 (38 reviews)[10]
Open Water 2: Adrift45% (11 reviews)[11]
Open Water 3: Cage Dive25% (8 reviews)[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. News: August 6, 2004 . Ebert . Roger . 'Open Water' churns emotions with quiet terror . . May 10, 2021.
  2. Web site: Open Water. Variety. Scheib . Ronnie. November 4, 2003. May 6, 2021.
  3. Web site: Film Review: Open Water 3 Cage Dive (2017). HorrorNews.Net. Halen, Adrian. December 29, 2017. May 7, 2021.
  4. Web site: Open Water. Box Office Mojo.
  5. Web site: Open Water (2004) - Financial Information. The Numbers.
  6. Web site: Open Water 2: Adrift. Box Office Mojo.
  7. Web site: Open Water 3: Cage Dive (2017) - Financial Information. The Numbers.
  8. Web site: Cage Dive Written & Directed by Gerald Rascionato. Divernet. Weinman, Steve. December 2017. March 6, 2021.
  9. Web site: Open Water (2003). www.rottentomatoes.com.
  10. Web site: Open Water. www.metacritic.com.
  11. Web site: Open Water 2: Adrift (2006). www.rottentomatoes.com.
  12. Web site: Open Water 3: Cage Dive (2017). www.rottentomatoes.com.
  13. Web site: Open Water 3: Cage Dive. www.metacritic.com.