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The Burning Sea

Original title: Nordsjøen
  • 2021
  • PG-13
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
The Burning Sea (2021)
In 1969, the Norwegian government announces their discovery of one of the world's largest oil fields in the neighboring North Sea, launching a prosperous period of offshore drilling. 50 years later, the environmental consequences begin to manifest - a crack has opened on the ocean floor, causing a rig to collapse. A team of researchers, including submarine operator Sofia, rushes in to search for the missing and assess the cause of the damage, but what they discover is that this is just the start of a possible apocalyptic catastrophe. As rigs are evacuated, Sofia's loving companion Stian becomes trapped in the depths of the sea, and Sofia must dive in to rescue him.
Play trailer2:12
2 Videos
21 Photos
DisasterActionDramaThriller

An oil platform dramatically goes down on the Norwegian coast, and researchers try to find out what happened when they realize this is just the start of something even more serious.An oil platform dramatically goes down on the Norwegian coast, and researchers try to find out what happened when they realize this is just the start of something even more serious.An oil platform dramatically goes down on the Norwegian coast, and researchers try to find out what happened when they realize this is just the start of something even more serious.

  • Director
    • John Andreas Andersen
  • Writers
    • Harald Rosenløw-Eeg
    • Lars Gudmestad
  • Stars
    • Kristine Kujath Thorp
    • Henrik Bjelland
    • Rolf Kristian Larsen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    8.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Andreas Andersen
    • Writers
      • Harald Rosenløw-Eeg
      • Lars Gudmestad
    • Stars
      • Kristine Kujath Thorp
      • Henrik Bjelland
      • Rolf Kristian Larsen
    • 60User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer
    The Burning Sea
    Trailer 2:12
    The Burning Sea
    The Burning Sea
    Trailer 2:12
    The Burning Sea

    Photos20

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    + 17
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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Kristine Kujath Thorp
    Kristine Kujath Thorp
    • Sofia
    Henrik Bjelland
    • Stian
    Rolf Kristian Larsen
    • Arthur
    Anders Baasmo
    Anders Baasmo
    • Ronny
    Bjørn Floberg
    Bjørn Floberg
    • William Lie
    Anneke von der Lippe
    Anneke von der Lippe
    • Gunn
    Christoffer Staib
    • Steiner Skagemo
    Ane Skumsvoll
    • Berit
    Cengiz Al
    Cengiz Al
    • Jasin
    Nils Elias Olsen
    • Odin
    Monique Amado
    Monique Amado
    • Gunn
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Daniel Frikstad
    • Trapped man
    Camilla Gullbrekken
    • Sykepleier
    Halfdan Hallseth
    Halfdan Hallseth
    • Oil rig worker
    Renate Hellerud
    • Renate
    Jean-Luc Julien
    Jean-Luc Julien
    • Stian Birkeland
    • (English version)
    • (voice)
    Karina Knight
    • Political Counselor
    Hibba Najeeb
    • Security Guard
    • Director
      • John Andreas Andersen
    • Writers
      • Harald Rosenløw-Eeg
      • Lars Gudmestad
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews60

    6.38.6K
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    Featured reviews

    7sara-loui

    A good movie

    I did really appreciate this film. The film was great, and had good effects. I got to remember this is a Norwegian movie, but they are at the level with the great ones in America, I think. I love that the catastrophic movies of 2021, has a message. Not only this movie of course. The message is real and important!
    6alexication-786-237269

    Fair movie, but no image stabilization

    Good movie, a bit more promising in the trailer.

    However, someone forgot to turn image stabilization on. Awful capturing... If you are into movies you'll realize it from the first second.
    7unpaid_movie_critic

    Norsk Deepwater Horizon!?

    Yes, for American viewers it will remind "Deepwater Horizon" (2016) and others could probably compare it with movies about Chernobyl Disaster 1986 or 2021 Suez Canal obstruction. Anyway, yes this movies is about disaster that was caused nor by nature but by humans.

    This movies has it strong sides like a good acting from the whole cast, interesting plot, and driven action without unreal things (like Dwayne Johnson failing out of the skyscraper, mundane routine in a movie "Skyscraper" (2018)). Unfortunately, this movie also has negative sides like copying American style of movies (examples above can be considered), obviously somewhere & somehow scenario is predictable, and "fancy" cultural contrast (It is not about Norway, it is about representation how scenes and certain actions showed).

    Overall, it is a good movie and good story. The plot is interesting and has interesting twists. It is showing action from on side and beauty of culture from another side. Definitely, not a waste of time but sadly contain some vivid cliché. If it would had editing in regards of the scenario and cut in chronométrage, it could be 10 out of 10.

    P. S: If you are in Greenpeace or in WWF, or fan of Greta Thunberg, you might have a serious "burnout" / "butthurt" particularly close to the end of the movie ;)
    7eva3si0n

    North Sea is a little-known Norwegian disaster film

    North Sea is a little-known Norwegian disaster film. Norwegian cinema is not the most famous in Europe, not to mention the whole world. But North Sea is a great movie, something similar to Deepwater Horizon, but without Hollywood pathos and star cast. If you liked Deepwater Horizon, I advise you to watch North Sea. Yes, there is no star cast in North Sea, there is almost no action. Here is mostly a drama of several people, their suffering and sacrifices. But the film doesn't seem more passable. It's just about something else. I advise everyone to watch it, I understand that few people will know about the film. I was accidentally offered by a media service after watching Deepwater Horizon.
    8OJT

    Posivively surprised after rather bad trailer

    Another Norwegian disaster movie which was a success in the Norwegian theatres. I wasn't expecting much from this, as the trailer seemed lame, telling the movie was overacted. I'm happy to say it was not. Before showing it abroad, they should make a new trailer, or it will be more lightly to bomb.

    It started off with The Wave (Bølgen) in 2015 (Director: Roar Uthaug, Writers: John Kåre Raake and Harald Rosenløw-Eeg) which was 9/10.

    Followed by The Quake (Skjelvet) (The Quake) in 2018 (Director: John Andreas Andersen, same writers as The Wave) which was 7/10.

    Followed by The Tunnel (Tunnelen) in 2019 (Director: Pål Øie, Writer Kjersti Helen Rasmussen) which also was 7/10.

    And now The Burning Sea (Nordsjøen) in 2021. (John Andreas Andersen, Writers: Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Lars Gudmestad) which I think is 8/10.

    Before this Norwegian disaster movies did hardly exist, maybe with the exception of People in the sun (Mennesker i Solen) from 2011 which has a funny approach and which I think is under-appreciated and I also loved to an 8/10.

    The team behind The Wave was also behind The Quake, which is some kind of follow-up, and now this The Burning Sea, while The Tunnel was an exception.

    Well, this is a step up, both when it comes to the catastrophe as well as in effects. The CGI is, like in them all superb. No wonder Hollywood searches Norway for CGI-talents, as all these movies are made on what would be a shoestring budget in Hollywood. The story is also good, and quite believable, though of course there are plot holes, and things that are not drawn out too much, hence the length of the movie.

    I was on the egde of my theater seat along the way. Even if I didn't like very much the kid-story took too much place. Bu well done! I hope for more Norwegian disasters!

    More like this

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    6.6
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The company Eelume featured in the movie exists in real life, and its snake-like underwater robots are real products.
    • Goofs
      The movies poster contains an underwater sub in which a person can sit. It also shows a scuba diver in full gear diving underwater. Neither of the two can be seen back in the movie. An unmanned ROV is used and there are no divers in the movie.
    • Quotes

      William Lie: We thought we were an oil nation

      William Lie: But we are really an ocean nation.

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    FAQ

    • How long is The Burning Sea?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 29, 2021 (Norway)
    • Countries of origin
      • Norway
      • Sweden
      • Denmark
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Language
      • Norwegian
    • Also known as
      • Maremoto
    • Production companies
      • Fantefilm
      • Zefyr Media Fund
      • Film i Väst
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $493
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $371
      • Feb 27, 2022
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,025,723
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39:1

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