DEEPWATER HORIZON
Powerful heroism and prayer amid a terrifying disaster — for adults only.
Should You Watch It?
DEEPWATER HORIZON is a powerful, emotional disaster movie with excellent acting, highly commendable special effects and camerawork, and a suspenseful presentation of deepwater drilling. It also gives you strong examples of self-sacrifice, heroism, moral courage, and prayer. The survivors’ recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and one survivor’s testimony about prayer are especially meaningful.
The cost is substantial. The film contains 53 obscenities and eight profanities, very scary and sometimes gruesome disaster violence, and a bedroom scene that almost goes too far. Its anti-capitalist treatment of BP also shapes the story.
Adults who can engage those concerns with discernment may find this a moving, worthwhile film. It is not suitable for children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 2010, electronic technician Mike Williams returns to the Deepwater Horizon, an oil exploration platform several miles off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. Captain Mr. Jimmy is preparing to oversee tests while facing pressure from British Petroleum executives and concerns about the platform’s maintenance.
As warning signs accumulate, the crew discovers that the dangers beneath the Gulf are more serious than anyone expected. Mike and the others must respond when the platform’s work becomes a fight for survival.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a thoroughly effective disaster movie. DEEPWATER HORIZON does an excellent job of foreshadowing danger and building suspense. Its explanations of deepwater drilling are entertaining and comprehensible, while the disaster effects and camerawork make the characters’ pain feel immediate.
The film also offers strong character sketches. Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell are convincing and excellent, while John Malkovich is extraordinary. The emotional power comes from the crew members’ courage and self-sacrifice as they try to save lives.
The Worldview
DEEPWATER HORIZON presents a strong Christian worldview centered on human courage and self-sacrifice in the midst of disaster. It honors people who risk themselves to save others, criticizes company cronies who try to save money at any cost, and emphasizes moral rectitude when people face pressure and danger.
The film also places prayer at the center of its response to suffering. The survivors say the Lord’s Prayer together, and the real-life protagonist speaks about prayer and God’s grace in adversity. These elements align with a biblical view that courage, compassion, and dependence on God matter when catastrophe comes.
The movie includes evolutionary comments about dinosaurs, oil, and 300 million years. It also portrays BP as the villain and gives the story an anti-capitalist spin, although Mr. Jimmy, a capitalist and contractor representing the rig, is shown as someone who cares about people. That character provides some balance.
The film’s deepest longing is for courage and grace in the face of overwhelming suffering. Scripture teaches, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian worldview about human courage and self-sacrifice in the midst of one of the world’s biggest disasters with all the survivors saying the Lord’s Prayer together and an ending statement by the real life protagonist about the power of prayer and God’s Grace in the midst of adversity, some examples of moral rectitude in spite of company cronies trying to save money at any cost, some anti-capitalist comments, although one of the heroes is the contractor representing the rig itself who does care, some evolutionary comments about dinosaurs, oil and 300 million years; 53 obscenities and eight profanities; very scary disaster violence with gruesome pictures of glass and metal embedding itself in people’s bodies, people’s bodies peppered by shattering glass and metal, people stuck and crushed and trapped by objects, people diving into oil fire on the ocean, people on fire, birds going wild and destroying a cabin and helicopter; husband and wife foreplay, young daughter mentions she didn’t bother them because she wants a little brother; upper male nudity several times, female in halter top with skimpy bikini panties; very light alcohol; no smoking or drugs; and, company lies and people refuse to do the right thing because they lack authority.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Several characters risk their lives to save others. What makes self-sacrifice courageous rather than reckless?
John 15:13 · Philippians 2:3–4The film shows people refusing to do the right thing because they lack authority. When have you seen pressure make obedience difficult, and how can Christians respond?
Acts 5:29 · Micah 6:8The survivors pray the Lord’s Prayer together in the midst of disaster. What does that prayer teach us about God’s care, provision, forgiveness, and deliverance?
Matthew 6:9–13One survivor speaks about the power of prayer and God’s grace in adversity. How have prayer and grace helped people you know endure suffering?
2 Corinthians 12:9 · Psalm 46:1The Final Word
DEEPWATER HORIZON is powerful, suspenseful, and emotionally stirring, with admirable heroism and prayer. Its heavy language, frightening violence, sexual content, nudity, and worldview concerns make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. Families seeking something gentler can start here:
