Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Kraken (2025) movie poster

Timeline

Kraken (2025) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2025 · 133 mins · Russian
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Nikolay Lebedev
Starring
Mikhail Evlanov, Sergey Garmash, Diana Pozharskaya, Alexander Petrov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Anton Rival

A Russian missile submarine vanishes during a clandestine mission in the Greenland Sea, prompting a search operation led by the brother of its commander. The crew’s mission is to find the submarine and secure a top-secret weapon, preventing it from falling into enemy hands. Simultaneously, a geological survey near the North Pole inadvertently awakens the Kraken, a colossal deep-sea monster possessing camouflage abilities and surprising intelligence. As the search party closes in on the missing submarine, they face an encounter with the legendary creature of the deep.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (11)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

11 events in order · contains spoilers

Kraken Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Kraken (2025) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Expedition starts as ice entombs camp

    In the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole, geologists Julia and Oskar conduct hydro‑experiments with explosive charges. Their camp is suddenly swallowed by shifting sea ice after a snowmobile crash. The fragile peace of the mission is shattered as danger looms nearby.

    When
    early in the mission
    Where
    Arctic Ocean, near North Pole
  2. Ataman Yermak reports activity and sinks

    The experimental submarine Ataman Yermak moves beneath the ice and signals unknown activity. It sustains critical damage and founders, jettisoning its emergency locator beacon before vanishing beneath the ice. The crew's fate triggers an urgent rescue response.

    When
    during the expedition
    Where
    Under the Arctic sea ice
  3. Zapolyarye is dispatched to recover the beacon

    The Russian Navy deploys the submarine Zapolyarye to locate the beacon and assist any survivors. Admiral Belousov appoints Viktor Voronin to command, with Counter Admiral Olshansky as a potential replacement if needed. A deep-submergence rescue vehicle is prepared for the challenging mission ahead.

    When
    shortly after beacon jettison
    Where
    Arctic waters
  4. Beacons located and rescue begins; strange ocean life appears

    Zapolyarye detects the beacon signal and closes in to recover it. A massive pod of whales swims erratically and an unfamiliar creature lurks near the hull. Olshansky pushes for direct engagement, while Voronin chooses to hide among the sea ice to avoid the threat.

    When
    during beacon tracking
    Where
    Arctic waters under sea ice
  5. The chase intensifies; oil rig encounter

    The Kraken-like creature continues to hunt the Zapolyarye, forcing evasive maneuvers. The submarine passes a Norwegian oil rig, which is swiftly overwhelmed by the monster. Olshansky denounces Voronin's caution as a mistake, foreshadowing further conflict.

    When
    mid-mission
    Where
    Arctic sea near an oil rig
  6. Command dispute reaches a breaking point

    With the creature pressing in and the crew at risk, Olshansky relieves Voronin of command. Voronin regains control just in time, ordering a crash dive and powering down nonessential systems to conserve energy. The submarine struggles to survive as the threat closes in.

    When
    mid-late mission
    Where
    Arctic waters
  7. Wreckage of Ataman Yermak found; survivors discovered

    A graveyard of ships awaits as Zapolyarye penetrates deeper. The wreck of Ataman Yermak surfaces with its stern damaged but bow intact. Voronin and his crew locate several survivors inside the bow, including his brother Alexander.

    When
    late mission
    Where
    Nansen Basin / wreck site
  8. Koshkin deploys DSRV; beacon restored

    The deep-submergence rescue vehicle reaches the wreck to retrieve survivors. Koshkin sets a locator beacon on the hull and later reactivates it after capturing the tactical directive from Viktor. The Kraken remains a looming threat.

    When
    rescue operations
    Where
    Ataman Yermak wreck site
  9. Final confrontation: weapon activation

    With survivors aboard, they decide to disable the monster by firing the experimental weapon. The energy beam blasts into the air, destroying the Kraken and allowing the crew to scramble toward safety. The DSRV and rescue teams separate as the weapon initiates its self-destruct.

    When
    climax
    Where
    Arctic battle zone
  10. Self-destruct and escape

    The crippled Zapolyarye detonates its weapon and sinks the bow of Ataman Yermak. The DSRV carries Viktor, Alexander, and others away from the wreck as the rescue operation continues in the freezing depths. The surviving crew endure a perilous escape to safety.

    When
    post-climax
    Where
    Arctic abyss / wreck vicinity
  11. Return to base and recognition

    Zapolyarye surfaces and reaches Kola Bay with Viktor and Alexander aboard. Viktor receives the ceremonial dive watch from his brother, acknowledging his earned leadership. The mission ends with the pair atop the conning tower, heading home to Murmansk.

    When
    end of mission
    Where
    Kola Bay, Murmansk vicinity

Last updated: May 19, 2026 at 05:53

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Kraken Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Kraken (2025): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the Ataman Yermak submarine sink?

The Ataman Yermak suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure while traveling beneath the Arctic sea ice. Commander Alexander Voronin reported strange activity before the incident, but the submarine ultimately sustained critical damage that forced the crew to jettison the emergency locator beacon. The vessel then slipped beneath the waves and vanished.

Foreshadowing: Earlier reports of strange activity under the ice hint at the Kraken's presence, which may have been responsible for or contributed to the submarine's failure.

  • ataman yermak
  • submarine
  • sinking
  • failure
  • arctic
Q2

What caused the Kraken to attack the search party?

The Kraken was awakened and agitated by the geological survey conducted by Julia and Oskar near the North Pole. Their use of explosive charges to study ocean behavior beneath the sea ice disturbed the monster from its slumber in the seabed. The creature then pursued any vessel that entered its territory, including the Zapolyarye and later the Norwegian oil rig.

Foreshadowing: Julia mentions after the rescue that their colleagues may have disturbed the Kraken, linking the early expedition events to the creature's attacks.

  • kraken
  • attack
  • awakened
  • geology expedition
  • explosive charges
Q3

Why did Viktor Voronin choose to hide in sea ice instead of engaging the creature?

Viktor chose to hide the Zapolyarye among the sea ice to avoid confrontation with the unknown creature. Counter Admiral Olshansky ordered an aggressive torpedo strike, but Viktor deemed it safer to slip into the ice cover rather than engage a threat of unknown capabilities. This decision saved the crew from harm, though it earned Olshansky's disapproval.

  • viktor voronin
  • sea ice
  • hiding
  • tactical decision
  • olshansky
Q4

Why did Counter Admiral Olshansky try to relieve Viktor of command?

Olshansky relieved Viktor of command after the incident with the Norwegian oil rig, which he labeled as Viktor's third mistake. Olshansky viewed Viktor's cautious approach as ineffective against the Kraken threat, arguing that aggressive action was needed. Viktor later regained control by ordering a crash dive and powering down systems to conserve energy.

  • olshansky
  • relieved
  • command
  • mistake
  • authority
Q5

How did the experimental weapon on the Ataman Yermak work?

The Ataman Yermak was equipped with a top-secret experimental weapon designed as a last resort. When activated, it fired a powerful energy beam directly into the air. This weapon was capable of destroying the Kraken, the colossal monster that had been pursuing the submarines. However, the weapon self-destructed immediately after being fired, destroying the bow of the Yermak in the process.

Foreshadowing: The mission briefing mentioned securing the weapon to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, establishing its importance and destructive capability.

  • experimental weapon
  • energy beam
  • ataman yermak
  • self-destruct
Q6

What happened to the surviving crew of the Ataman Yermak?

When Zapolyarye located the wreck of the Ataman Yermak, they found several survivors trapped inside the intact bow section. This included Alexander Voronin, Viktor's younger brother. Viktor and a small crew board the damaged submarine to disable the secret weapon while the more severely injured sailors are evacuated via the DSRV. The survivors are ultimately rescued during the confrontation with the Kraken.

  • survivors
  • ataman yermak
  • bow section
  • alexander voronin
  • rescue
Q7

Why did the Kraken destroy the Norwegian oil rig?

The Kraken attacked the Norwegian oil rig because the rig entered the creature's territory. The monster demonstrated both aggression and intelligence by dragging the entire rig beneath the waves. This attack occurred as Zapolyarye was passing nearby, showing that the Kraken would destroy any significant structure in its domain.

  • oil rig
  • norwegian
  • destruction
  • territory
  • attack
Q8

Why did the experimental weapon self-destruct after being fired?

The experimental weapon was designed with a self-destruct mechanism that activated immediately after firing. When Viktor and Alexander decided to use the weapon against the Kraken, they fired the energy beam which successfully destroyed the monster. However, the weapon then detonated itself, causing the bow of the Ataman Yermak to plunge into the abyss and forcing the DSRV to flee the area.

  • self-destruct
  • weapon
  • explosion
  • energy beam
  • destruction
Q9

What was the significance of the dive watch that Viktor gave to Alexander?

The dive watch originally belonged to Viktor and Alexander's father, a legacy of naval duty. At the start of the mission, Viktor was given the watch as a reminder of family tradition and responsibility. At the end, after successfully completing the mission, Viktor offered the watch to his brother Alexander, who acknowledged that Viktor had earned it. This gesture symbolized Viktor's proven leadership and the reconciliation of the brothers.

  • dive watch
  • father
  • legacy
  • viktor
  • alexander
  • reconciliation
Q10

Why were the whales behaving strangely before the Kraken appeared?

The massive pod of whales swimming erratically near Zapolyarye was reacting to the Kraken's presence. The whales possessed an instinctive awareness of the monster's location and were attempting to flee or avoid the creature. Their unusual behavior served as an early warning sign that something dangerous lurked beneath the submarine.

  • whales
  • sonar
  • behavior
  • warning
  • creature presence
Q11

How did the DSRV rescue operations work during the mission?

The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) commanded by Koshkin was deployed from Zapolyarye to reach the Ataman Yermak wreck. The DSRV was used to evacuate the most severely injured crew members first, while Viktor and a smaller group stayed aboard the Yermak to handle the weapon. A locator beacon was placed on the hull to track the wreck, though it was temporarily toggled off per Viktor's orders before being reactivated.

  • dsrv
  • rescue vehicle
  • koshkin
  • beacon
  • evacuation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Kraken, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Kraken tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Tense submarine thrillers like Kraken

Tense undersea missions where the pressure is both outside and in. If you enjoyed the claustrophobic suspense of Kraken, explore more movies like it. This collection features high-stakes undersea missions, tense military dramas, and stories of survival in the deep, all capturing the unique pressure-cooker atmosphere of submarine life.

  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • brooding
  • technical
  • military
  • Tone: tense, brooding, suspenseful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a military or scientific crew on a high-pressure mission beneath the waves. Conflict arises from both external threats—be it an enemy, a malfunction, or a monster—and the internal strain of close quarters. The narrative is a race against time, often to prevent a catastrophic weapon from falling into the wrong hands or to simply survive the crushing depths.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared setting and the intense, confined mood it creates. They deliver a specific type of suspense built on technical jargon, blinking lights in dark corridors, and the constant threat of implosion, making the submarine itself a central character in the drama.

Military monster action movies like Kraken

When high-tech weaponry meets a prehistoric threat on the battlefield. Looking for more films like Kraken where soldiers face off against giant creatures? Discover similar action-packed thrillers where military precision meets monstrous chaos. These movies blend combat suspense with creature feature horror for a uniquely intense experience.

  • thrilling
  • adventurous
  • heroic
  • suspenseful
  • action
  • military
  • Tone: tense, thrilling, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot usually involves a specialized military team tasked with containing or eliminating a newly discovered creature. The narrative is a series of escalating encounters, where standard tactics fail against a superior biological foe. The journey is one of adaptation, sacrifice, and using human ingenuity to overcome a primal threat, often to prevent a global catastrophe.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films by their core conflict: organized human soldiers versus a monstrous antagonist. They share a specific mix of tones—the serious, procedural nature of a military thriller combined with the thrilling spectacle and horror of a monster attack, all delivered with high intensity and fast pacing.

Every angle

Kraken (2025) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Kraken in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app