POSEIDON
A short disaster thriller best saved for home.
Should You Watch It?
POSEIDON gets to its disaster quickly, and the overturned cruise ship provides a few tense situations. The group’s selflessness is also worthwhile: people look out for one another, and one parent sacrifices himself for a child.
But the movie’s two-star entertainment rating matters. The acting and script are wooden, the characters are difficult to care about, and predictable sequences drain suspense. The film takes itself more seriously than the 1970s movie it remakes, but loses that earlier film’s campy fun as well.
The content is generally a matter for discernment rather than a reason to rule it out entirely, though the catastrophe may be too intense for younger viewers. For a better family decision, save this one for home, where you can control the experience.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESThe Poseidon is a luxurious cruise ship filled with passengers celebrating New Year’s Eve. When a gigantic wave overturns the vessel, survivors are trapped in a ballroom sealed off from the rising water.
A small group decides not to wait for rescue. Led by a former fireman and including a card shark, parents, children, and a newly engaged couple, they attempt to find their own way out through the ship’s maze of traps and dead ends.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means POSEIDON has a few worthwhile moments but does not sustain its thriller premise. The movie moves quickly into the disaster, and some sequences involving an empty elevator shaft, a room on fire, and the ship’s large lobby create tension.
Too many other scenes fall flat, especially the lengthy and predictable air-duct sequence. The acting and script are wooden, making it difficult to relate to the characters or feel the intended drama. The film is also less entertaining than the campy original, leaving a short movie that still feels boring.
The Worldview
POSEIDON presents bravery, self-sacrifice, and helping other people as positive virtues. The group gradually becomes selfless, choosing to look out for one another rather than simply forging ahead alone. Parents are also shown as dedicated to their children’s safety.
The film includes a Christian character who prays to God for safety and survivors. A crucifix connected to her helps the group escape one dangerous situation. These elements offer a light Christian worldview, though the Christian faith is a brief part of a story focused primarily on survival.
The movie’s central moral insight is that people should not abandon one another when danger makes selfishness easier. Scripture likewise calls believers to serve others: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light Christian worldview with bravery, self-sacrifice, helping other people, and a Christian character who prays to God for safety and survivors borrow crucifix necklace from Christian woman to get out of one scrape, plus brief mention of a male character’s onshore homosexual relationship, which apparently has broken up; four light obscenities, one SOB, four or five strong profanities by unpleasant character, and six light exclamatory profanities; some strong violence includes large wave turns boat upside down, ocean water knocks people off their feet, woman falls to her death, two men fall to their deaths, explosions, people drown, many passengers are crushed and burned but the camera does not dwell on their injuries, boy in danger several times, people electrocuted, and images of corpses but not in a extremely graphic manner; no sex scenes, but young adults kiss and brief mention of a male character’s homosexual relationship; no nudity, but female cleavage; drinking; smoking; and, gambling and man makes another man fall to his death in order to save his life.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The survivors must choose between looking out only for themselves and helping the whole group. What does it look like to “outdo one another in showing honor” when you are afraid?
Romans 12:10 · Philippians 2:3–4One parent sacrifices himself for his child. What can a parent’s love teach us about self-sacrifice, and where does human love fall short of God’s?
John 15:13 · Romans 5:7–8A Christian character prays for safety and survivors. How should Christians pray when they cannot control the outcome?
Philippians 4:6–7 · Psalm 46:1–3The group keeps helping one another even when it would be easier to go alone. Who around you might need practical help this week?
Galatians 6:2 · Hebrews 13:16The Final Word
POSEIDON offers a few tense moments and a clear picture of selflessness, but wooden acting, a weak script, and predictable scenes make it a poor theater choice. The content calls for discernment, especially with younger viewers. Our answer is WAIT FOR HOME. Looking for something stronger for family movie night? Try.
