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The Deep End of the Ocean

Play trailer Poster for The Deep End of the Ocean PG-13 1999 1h 45m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
42% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After Beth Cappadora's the youngest son, Ben, vanishes in Chicago, she slowly descends into a deep depression, affecting her husband, Pat, and her other children. Relocating to Chicago several years later, they are shocked to discover a local boy named Sam who looks strikingly similar to Ben. Along with detective Candy Bliss, the family must relive their trauma and find out the truth about Sam.
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The Deep End of the Ocean

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety Jun 20, 2006
3/5
Well-acted but pedestrian TV-like melodrama what what consitutes a family, or sociology versus biology in the kinship debate. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
1.5/4
The Deep End of the Ocean is unconvincing from start to finish. Go to Full Review Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media May 23, 2023
The script is as oblivious as the biological parents, almost completely ignoring the trauma of the father who raised the boy in good faith from 3 to 12. Go to Full Review CSM Staff Christian Science Monitor Mar 21, 2019
2/4
The subject is poignant and suspenseful, but the treatment is drab and uninvolving despite competent acting and a few well-crafted scenes. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008
3/5
Maria Garcia Film Journal International Jan 12, 2007
Grosbard...forgets the need for character motivation, point of view, or anything else that might make this compelling subject an interesting film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 3 days ago This is a 2.5 star Movie... See more Wendel L @BRZRKR Jan 26, 2026 Direção: Ok Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok See more Tim J @RT47613730 Oct 3, 2025 It has Michelle so I gave something but otherwise falls flat like a cardboard box. Kept expecting a twist or maybe something but no. See more Rania k @RT62574649 Dec 30, 2024 It’s my first time seeing this movie in the end of 2024 and it’s really heart melting , the idea of losing a kid every parent’s nightmare. however, i was focusing on the big brother feelings , the kid and teenager actors were more than perfect See more Teria H @RT83077906 Dec 27, 2024 This movie is amazing I’ve seen some of the comments and as a movie buff for 40 years please have a heart because a lot don’t. This is an excellent movie and the title makes sense with the film. The Deep end of the Ocean references losing their son and the hard times they went through until being reunited again. It’s a parents nightmare and this film shows that. Good job to all the actors/actresses. Michelle and Treat made the perfect couple in this movie. I still watch it 25 years later. See more Tina B @RT64909744 Feb 11, 2024 Almost all the adults sucks, they never really thought about the kids. Mostly the characters are unlikable. But the the female detective is unbearable, "we'll find your son" 9years later "oh it's my fault, I should've done this very basic detective work but please comfort me bec I failed". I wish they focused on the other aspect of the story. See more Read all reviews
The Deep End of the Ocean

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Cast & Crew

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Ulu Grosbard

Director

Michelle Pfeiffer

Beth Cappadora

Treat Williams

Pat Cappadora

Whoopi Goldberg

Candy Bliss

Jonathan Jackson

Vincent Cappadora - Age 16

Ryan Merriman

Sam Karras

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The Deep End of the Ocean

A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." A scene from the Columbia Pictures film "The Deep End of the Ocean." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After Beth Cappadora's the youngest son, Ben, vanishes in Chicago, she slowly descends into a deep depression, affecting her husband, Pat, and her other children. Relocating to Chicago several years later, they are shocked to discover a local boy named Sam who looks strikingly similar to Ben. Along with detective Candy Bliss, the family must relive their trauma and find out the truth about Sam.
Director
Ulu Grosbard
Producer
Kate Guinzberg, Kate Guinzburg
Screenwriter
Jacquelyn Mitchard, Stephen Schiff
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 12, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.4M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital
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