Film Overview and Production Details
The underwater movie starring Kristen Stewart is titled "Underwater," a science fiction horror film released in 2020. The film was produced by 20th Century Studios and Chernin Entertainment, with Brian Duffield writing the screenplay and William Eubank directing. It centers on a crew of researchers at a deep-sea laboratory who face a catastrophic event after an earthquake destroys their facility. The production design emphasized practical sets and CGI to depict the crushing pressure and creature threats at extreme ocean depths.
Kristen Stewart stars as Norah Price, the mechanical engineer and protagonist who must lead the surviving crew members to safety. The cast includes Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr., and T.J. Miller, portraying the crew of the Kepler 822 research station. The film was shot primarily at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, with underwater sequences filmed in controlled tanks to simulate the deep-sea environment. Its runtime is 1 hour and 35 minutes, and it was released theatrically by 20th Century Studios before its streaming debut.
Plot Summary and Key Story Beats
The story begins with the crew of the Kepler 822 working at a depth of approximately 9,000 meters on the ocean floor, harvesting energy from methane hydrate deposits. A sudden earthquake destroys their station, killing several crew members and destroying their escape vehicles. Kristen Stewart's character, Norah Price, must navigate the damaged facility while managing dwindling oxygen supplies and repairing a damaged escape pod. The crew encounters mysterious creatures that have been displaced from the deep by the seismic event.
As the survivors attempt to reach the surface, they face escalating threats from both the environment and the creatures. The film's tension builds around the physical limits of human endurance under extreme water pressure and the psychological toll of isolation. Norah Price's leadership and engineering skills are central to the survival narrative, as she makes critical decisions about resource allocation and escape routes. The climax involves a desperate ascent through the ocean's layers, with the remaining crew members confronting the source of the underwater disturbances.
Reception, Streaming Availability, and Related Projects
Underwater received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its visual effects and Kristen Stewart's performance but criticism for its pacing and familiar horror tropes. The film holds a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on critic reviews, while audiences gave it a higher score. It grossed approximately $40 million worldwide against a production budget of $50 million, making it a modest box office performer. The film's visual effects were handled by DNEG and Scanline VFX, contributing to its immersive deep-sea atmosphere.
For streaming availability, Underwater is currently available on Disney+ in the United States and other regions where the service operates. Viewers can also rent or purchase the film through digital platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play Movies. Kristen Stewart has since starred in other major projects, including the "Twilight" saga rewatch and the film "Spencer," which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film remains a notable entry in the underwater survival genre, alongside titles like "The Abyss" and "Deep Blue Sea." For more information on Kristen Stewart's filmography, visit Forbes.