Sphere

In the Southern Pacific Ocean, an astonishing discovery is made when a transoceanic cable laying ship loses its cable. An investigation by the United States Navy reveals the presence of a supposed alien spacecraft lying a thousand feet below the surface, prompting further exploration.

A specialized team is brought together to investigate the underwater phenomenon. The team includes marine biologist Dr. Beth Halperin, mathematician Dr. Harry Adams, and several other experts, all tasked with exploring the astonishing find.

The team arrives at the advanced underwater facility known as the Habitat. Their mission is to descend to the ocean floor to investigate the spacecraft, which has remained undisturbed for nearly 300 years, covered in extensive coral growth.

Upon entering the spacecraft, the crew discovers that it is not an alien vessel but an American craft from the future. They find the last log entry, dated June 21, 1943, which hints at an 'Unknown Event' that may have caused the ship's mysterious journey through time.

Harry and Ted begin to decipher a series of numeric messages from the sphere, leading to communication with an entity named 'Jerry.' They realize that this entity is aware of their conversations and may be connected to the bizarre events occurring around them.

Just as they prepare to evacuate, a powerful typhoon strikes the surface. This forces the crew to remain underwater for nearly a week, heightening the tension and creating a sense of claustrophobic urgency as they await rescue.

Tragedy strikes when navy technician Fletcher meets a gruesome fate at the hands of aggressive Sea Nettles. This incident raises alarms among the crew about the true dangers lurking in the depths of the ocean.

The crew discovers the mangled body of Edmunds, which reveals the threat of a giant squid lurking in the location. The horrifying sight increases fear and paranoia within the remaining team members as they face a seemingly relentless nightmare.

Captain Barnes suffers a tragic accident with a computer-operated door, further contributing to the chaos aboard the Habitat. The crew is increasingly unsettled as they realize that danger is coming from both their environment and themselves.

Harry's obsessive curiosity leads him back into the sphere, where his subconscious begins to manifest their fears. This causes additional disturbances that complicate their already treacherous situation, as the crew questions their mental stability.

As Beth's suicidal thoughts trigger a countdown for explosives meant to clear the coral, the team decides to flee in the mini-sub. The explosives detonate, obliterating the Habitat and the spacecraft, marking a desperate escape.

The shockwave from the explosives propels the mini-sub to the ocean's surface, where they are rescued by returning naval vessels. The survivors decompress safely, but the experience has left them profoundly changed.

Prior to their debriefing, the survivors decide to erase their memories of the mission to protect the secrets of the sphere. This moment symbolizes a final escape from their harrowing experience, as they resolve to forget the unknown events.

As the survivors wipe their memories, the sphere majestically rises from the ocean and ascends into space. This enigmatic departure hints at the continued mystery surrounding the spacecraft and its alien-like qualities.

In an alternate conclusion, the film omits the sphere's ascent and focuses instead on the characters affirming their erased memories. This ending suggests the themes of forgetting trauma and the unknown while leaving readers with an unsettling question about what happened.