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The Big Blue

Original title: Le grand bleu
  • 1988
  • PG
  • 2h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
53K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,277
196
The Big Blue (1988)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:04
2 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaSport

The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown.The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown.The rivalry between Enzo and Jacques, two childhood friends and now world-renowned free divers, becomes a beautiful and perilous journey into oneself and the unknown.

  • Director
    • Luc Besson
  • Writers
    • Luc Besson
    • Robert Garland
    • Marilyn Goldin
  • Stars
    • Jean-Marc Barr
    • Jean Reno
    • Rosanna Arquette
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    53K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,277
    196
    • Director
      • Luc Besson
    • Writers
      • Luc Besson
      • Robert Garland
      • Marilyn Goldin
    • Stars
      • Jean-Marc Barr
      • Jean Reno
      • Rosanna Arquette
    • 172User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos2

    The Big Blue
    Trailer 2:04
    Watch The Big Blue
    The Big Blue
    Trailer 2:05
    Watch The Big Blue

    Photos157

    Jean-Marc Barr in The Big Blue (1988)
    The Big Blue (1988)
    The Big Blue (1988)
    Rosanna Arquette and Jean Reno in The Big Blue (1988)
    Jean-Marc Barr in The Big Blue (1988)
    Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr, and Marc Duret in The Big Blue (1988)
    Jean-Marc Barr in The Big Blue (1988)
    Jean Reno and Marc Duret in The Big Blue (1988)
    Rosanna Arquette and Jean Reno in The Big Blue (1988)
    Jean-Marc Barr in The Big Blue (1988)
    Jean-Marc Barr in The Big Blue (1988)
    The Big Blue (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Marc Barr
    Jean-Marc Barr
    • Jacques Mayol
    Jean Reno
    Jean Reno
    • Enzo Molinari
    Rosanna Arquette
    Rosanna Arquette
    • Johana
    Paul Shenar
    Paul Shenar
    • Dr. Laurence
    Sergio Castellitto
    Sergio Castellitto
    • Novelli
    Jean Bouise
    Jean Bouise
    • Uncle Louis
    Marc Duret
    Marc Duret
    • Roberto
    Griffin Dunne
    Griffin Dunne
    • Duffy
    Andréas Voutsinas
    Andréas Voutsinas
    • Priest
    • (as Andreas Voutsinas)
    Valentina Vargas
    Valentina Vargas
    • Bonita
    Kimberly Beck
    Kimberly Beck
    • Sally
    • (as Kimberley Beck)
    Patrick Fontana
    • Alfredo
    Alessandra Vazzoler
    Alessandra Vazzoler
    • La Mamma
    Geoffrey Carey
    • Supervisor
    • (as Geoffroy Carey)
    Bruce Guerre-Berthelot
    • Young Jacques
    Gregory Forstner
    • Young Enzo
    Claude Besson
    • Jacques' Father
    Marika Gevaudan
    • Angelica
    • Director
      • Luc Besson
    • Writers
      • Luc Besson
      • Robert Garland
      • Marilyn Goldin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The most financially successful French film of the 1980s.
    • Goofs
      Unlike SCUBA divers, free divers become negatively buoyant below depths of around 15m (varies a bit depending on body type, weight belt, and wet-suit thickness). In the final scene when Jacques let's go of the sled to swim toward the dolphin, he appears neutrally buoyant. In reality, at that depth, he would have had to actively swim toward to surface to avoid passively sinking deeper.
    • Quotes

      Johanna: What's it feel like when you dive?

      Jacques: It's a feeling of slipping without falling. The hardest thing is when you're at the bottom.

      Johanna: Why?

      Jacques: 'Cause you have to find a good reason to come back up... and I have a hard time finding one.

    • Alternate versions
      Original 132-minutes French version has a music score by director Luc Besson's usual composer, Éric Serra. The USA version is 118 minutes long and was re-scored by Bill Conti. The version released in the rest of Europe is 118 minutes long. A special Version Longue (long) director's cut released in France is 168 minutes long.
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: The Best Man for the Job: The Making of 'The Professional' (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      MY LADY BLUE
      Lyrics by Luc Besson
      Composed by Éric Serra
      Performed by Éric Serra

    User reviews172

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A Fascinating Film.
    The film starts with an island view in black and white Greece. Throughout the film I encounter wonderful scenes. Blue color is peaceful and watching the endless expanse of the Mediterranean is enjoyable. I was very happy for acting. I think that people who are interested in diving and the sea should not go on without watching. The final scene was very impressive. It is a very beautiful film that brings happiness and sadness together.
    helpful•6
    0
    • ayhansalamci
    • Mar 17, 2018

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 19, 1988 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Veliko plavetnilo
    • Filming locations
      • Agia Anna, Amorgos, Small Cyclades, Greece(location)
    • Production companies
      • Gaumont
      • Les Films du Loup
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • FRF 80,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,580,882
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,617,462
      • Aug 21, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,975,244
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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