U-571

U-571

Year: 2000

Runtime: 116 min

Language: English

Director: Jonathan Mostow

ActionDramaWar

During World War II, an American Navy team led by Lieutenant Andrew Tyler is tasked with a perilous mission: to seize a vital German U-boat and its advanced Enigma machine. After the U-boat sinks, the team successfully boards it, but their presence is quickly discovered. A tense battle ensues as they struggle to secure the Enigma device and escape the crippled submarine before a pursuing German destroyer arrives, threatening to destroy everything.

U-571 (2000) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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During the relentless storm of World War II, the Atlantic becomes a theater of silent dread, where unseen predators stalk the vital supply lanes. The Allied war effort is haunted by a German submarine menace that threatens to choke the flow of men and material. Against this backdrop, an uneasy alliance of daring sailors and intelligence officers is assembled for a covert assignment that could tilt the balance of the hidden code war.

At the heart of the operation is Andrew Tyler, a talented but restless lieutenant yearning for a command of his own. His recent disappointment over a missed promotion fuels a quiet determination to prove himself, while the weight of responsibility pulls him toward a leadership role he never asked for. Alongside him, seasoned crew members bring a mix of technical expertise and hardened resolve, creating a tight‑knit team that must rely on each other’s strengths in the cramped, steel‑clad world beneath the waves.

The mission hinges on infiltrating a captured German U‑boat to retrieve the coveted Enigma machine, the key to decoding enemy communications. Among the crew, a multilingual radioman—Wentz—offers the crucial linguistic edge, while the seasoned officer Dahlgren provides seasoned strategic counsel. The atmosphere aboard their own vessel is a blend of tight‑lipped confidence and barely concealed anxiety, as the men prepare to slip into the enemy’s domain under the cover of darkness.

What awaits them is a test of endurance, ingenuity, and the fragile trust that binds a crew together when the ocean itself seems intent on swallowing them whole. The film’s tone balances gritty realism with a simmering suspense, inviting the audience to feel the claustrophobic pressure of the submarine steel and the ever‑present pulse of an unseen war beneath the surface.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 12:41

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U-571 Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in U-571

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