Movies like
Loved the vibe? Here are ten films that hit similar notes—with match scores, reasons to watch, and where to stream in the US.
Audiences latched onto The Abyss (1989) as a adventure theatrical experience: big enough for a group watch, specific enough to reward a second viewing once you know where it's headed. The adventure and thriller blend is the engine: it lets the film shift registers without feeling like two different movies stitched together.
Runtime 2h 20m · ★ 7.3
Mood
Streaming (US)
Era
Showing 10 of 10 picks
★ 6.3 · Horror · Science Fiction · Action · 1h 35m
Why you'll love it
Underwater (2020) operates in the same adventure as The Abyss, but with its own distinct voice and pacing. The dark payoff will feel satisfyingly familiar without retreading the same ground.
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★ 6.3 · Adventure · Action · Thriller · 2h 8m
Why you'll love it
The World Is Not Enough (1999) belongs to the same conversation as The Abyss — both anchor their adventure in thriller emotion that doesn't let go. The tense undercurrent connects them more than any plot summary would suggest.
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Netflix
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★ 7.2 · Action · Thriller · Adventure · 2h 50m
Why you'll love it
If The Abyss's adventure stayed with you, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) delivers the same sensation through an entirely different story. The thriller through-line is the real common thread between them.
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★ 6.9 · Action · Adventure · Thriller · 2h 1m
Why you'll love it
Where The Abyss excels in adventure, Hunter Killer (2018) doubles down on thriller to comparable effect. The tonal similarities run deep enough that watching both back-to-back feels intentional.
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★ 6.9 · Mystery · Science Fiction · Thriller · 2h 1m
Why you'll love it
The X-Files (1998) is the natural next step after The Abyss: same thriller DNA, different perspective. The tense streak and science-fiction elevate it well above a simple genre exercise.
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★ 7.3 · Science Fiction · Adventure · 1h 38m
Why you'll love it
Fans of The Abyss who respond to its adventure will find Forbidden Planet (1956) immediately familiar. Both films share a science-fiction sensibility without ever feeling like carbon copies of each other.
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★ 6.9 · Action · Adventure · Science Fiction · 1h 43m
Why you'll love it
There's a reason The Abyss fans keep landing on Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) — the adventure is unmistakably related even when the plots diverge. Both films operate on the same emotional frequency, especially in their third acts.
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HBO Max
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★ 6.8 · Animation · Comedy · Family · 1h 34m
Why you'll love it
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs draws from the same adventure well as The Abyss, channeling animation in ways that feel unmistakably related. The 2009 film makes a natural companion watch — similar in spirit but distinctly its own.
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★ 6.2 · Action · Science Fiction · Horror · 1h 53m
Why you'll love it
The Meg (2018) captures the science-fiction appeal of The Abyss without simply imitating it. The action streak running through both films is what puts The Meg at the top of any "if you liked…" shortlist.
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★ 6.4 · Action · Science Fiction · Horror · 1h 56m
Why you'll love it
The science-fiction appeal of The Abyss — that dark edge, the action — translates cleanly into Meg 2: The Trench (2023). Different setting, same essential satisfaction.
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Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxHBO Max Amazon ChannelYouTube TV
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