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Timeline

Underwater (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 95 min · English
Echo score 53
JustWatch #697 62
Directed by
William Eubank
Starring
T.J. Miller, Mamoudou Athie, Jessica Henwick, Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, John Gallagher Jr.
Budget
$80M

When a catastrophic event triggers the implosion of an underwater drilling station, a small group of survivors fights for survival. They must journey across the dangerous and immense ocean floor to escape, facing immense pressure and treacherous conditions. Their escape is further threatened by unseen creatures lurking in the deep, dark waters, creating a terrifying fight for survival against both the environment and an unknown menace.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (16)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Underwater
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Underwater (2020)

Where can you watch Underwater? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, FXNow and YouTube TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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16 events in order · contains spoilers

Underwater Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Underwater (2020) 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. The Earthquake Strikes

    In the year 2050, the Kepler 822 experiences a violent earthquake that shakes the entire state-of-the-art facility. The sudden upheaval causes significant damage, leading to chaos as the crew scrambles to assess the situation and seek safety.

    When
    2050
    Where
    Kepler 822
  2. Desperate Escape Attempt

    Mechanical engineer Norah Price, along with her colleagues Rodrigo and Paul, rushes toward the escape pod bay in hopes of survival. The tension escalates as they realize the facility is in dire straits, and every second counts.

    Where
    Kepler 822
  3. Pods Already Deployed

    Upon reaching the escape pod bay, the team discovers that all available pods have already been sent to the surface, leaving only Captain Lucien behind. Together, they decide to navigate to a control base to seek another way out.

    Where
    Escape Pod Bay
  4. Encounter at the Control Base

    At the control base, Norah and her team meet Emily Haversham and Liam Smith. Their efforts to communicate with the surface are thwarted as they learn of a severe power core malfunction threatening the facility's stability.

    Where
    Control Base
  5. Treacherous Plan Proposed

    Captain Lucien proposes a perilous plan: they must don pressurized suits and traverse a mile across the ocean floor to reach Roebuck 641 for possible escape. With no time to waste, they prepare for their dangerous journey.

    Where
    Ocean Floor
  6. Tragedy Strikes

    The group descends into the abyss but tragedy unfolds when Rodrigo's helmet malfunctions under the immense pressure. His demise adds to the urgency and fear among the remaining crew members as they navigate the dark depths.

    Where
    Ocean Depths
  7. Discovery of Distress Beacon

    Spotting a distress beacon from a trapped pod below, Smith and Paul investigate, only to find a body that leads to a shocking encounter with a grotesque creature. Emily identifies the beast as an undiscovered species, hinting at the disruption caused by their drilling.

    Where
    Near Trapped Escape Pod
  8. Kepler's Catastrophic Demise

    The Kepler facility unexpectedly detonates above them, causing debris to rain down and injuring Smith. Norah and Lucien manage to rescue him and seek refuge in an access tunnel, but the danger continues as they face dwindling oxygen supplies.

    Where
    Access Tunnel
  9. Paul's Terrifying Fate

    While traversing the access route, Paul is suddenly attacked and dragged underwater by an unknown entity. The crew is left devastated by their loss, raising stakes as they continue their harrowing journey under extreme duress.

    Where
    Ocean Floor
  10. Destruction of the Drill Bit

    The crew arrives at a mid-point station, where they witness a formidable drill bit being obliterated. This catastrophic event serves as a grim reminder of mankind's reckless ambition to explore deep beneath the ocean.

    Where
    Mid-Point Station
  11. Critical Oxygen Challenges

    Smith's oxygen scrubber is compromised, and the crew races against time to help him maintain his life support. Their determination intensifies as they realize each misstep could lead to fatal consequences.

    Where
    Access Route
  12. Lucien's Sacrifice

    In a moment of bravery, Lucien sacrifices himself to rescue Smith from a humanoid creature. His heroic act leaves Norah to confront the overwhelming pressure of survival as she grapples with the loss of her comrades.

    Where
    Ocean Floor
  13. Final Confrontation at Roebuck

    Upon making it to Roebuck, Norah repairs her suit and reunites with Emily and injured Smith. They encounter a nest of hostile creatures, leading to a life-or-death struggle as they attempt to escape unharmed.

    Where
    Roebuck Station
  14. Narrow Escape

    In a gripping escape, Norah fights off a beast that partially engulfs her, managing to break free before reaching the escape pod bay. Here, only two pods remain operational, and the stakes are higher than ever.

    Where
    Escape Pod Bay
  15. Heroic Overload and Explosive Finale

    As Norah prepares to flee with Emily and injured Smith, she triggers a core overload in Roebuck. The explosion destroys the creatures and provides the final chance for escape, but at a significant cost.

    Where
    Roebuck
  16. Survivors and Aftermath

    In the aftermath, reports confirm only two survivors emerge from the chaos, casting a shadow over the lives lost. Meanwhile, Tian Industries distances itself from the disaster, vowing to continue their drilling exploits in the ocean's depths.

    Where
    Various Locations

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 11:22

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Timeline questions answered

Underwater Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Underwater (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

What caused the earthquake at Kepler 822?

The earthquake was triggered by the drilling operations conducted by Tian Industries. Their deep-sea drilling disturbed a hydrothermal pocket deep beneath the ocean floor, causing violent seismic activity that destabilized the entire facility.

Foreshadowing: Earlier reports of strange sightings and unexplained occurrences had been dismissed by Tian Industries, hinting at the geological instability their operations were creating.

  • earthquake
  • kepler 822
  • drilling
  • seismic activity
  • hydrothermal
Q2

Why were all the escape pods already deployed?

When Norah and her colleagues reached the escape pod bay, they discovered that all pods had already been launched to the surface. The timeline indicates this happened during the initial chaos of the earthquake, with other crew members prioritizing immediate escape rather than waiting for the rest of the team.

  • escape pods
  • kepler 822
  • deployment
  • surface
Q3

What killed Rodrigo in the deep ocean?

Rodrigo's helmet imploded under the immense water pressure at 36,000 feet depth. His faulty helmet failed to withstand the crushing force equivalent to 8 tons per square inch, causing immediate death.

  • rodrigo
  • helmet
  • implosion
  • pressure
  • death
Q4

What were the creatures attacking the survivors?

Emily identified the first creature they encountered as an undiscovered species. The humanoid creatures that appeared later were also previously unknown lifeforms living in the deep ocean. Tian Industries' drilling operations disturbed their hydrothermal habitat, forcing them to defend their territory against the humans.

  • creatures
  • species
  • deep ocean
  • undiscovered
  • hydrothermal
Q5

Why did Lucien sacrifice himself?

Lucien sacrificed himself to save Smith from a humanoid creature that had grabbed him. When the creature overwhelmed Lucien during the rescue attempt, he chose to stay behind and protect Norah from the increasing pressure and creature attack, allowing her to continue escaping.

  • lucien
  • sacrifice
  • smith
  • creature
  • death
Q6

How did Norah survive the final explosion?

Norah triggered a core overload in Roebuck 641, causing a massive explosion that destroyed the creatures. While the explosion allowed the escape pods to break free, the epilogue reports only two survivors, implying Norah did not make it out alive despite her heroic sacrifice.

  • norah
  • explosion
  • core overload
  • escape
  • sacrifice
Q7

What happened to Paul during the journey?

Paul was attacked and dragged underwater by an unknown humanoid creature while traversing the access route. The crew attempted to rescue him but were unable to save him before he was pulled away and killed.

  • paul
  • attack
  • creature
  • death
Q8

Why did Tian Industries keep drilling despite the dangers?

Tian Industries was portrayed as a reckless corporation that ignored safety warnings and dismissed reports of strange occurrences. The ending shows them separating themselves from the disaster and vowing to continue their deep-sea drilling ambitions, highlighting corporate negligence and the pursuit of profit over human life.

  • tian industries
  • corporation
  • drilling
  • negligence
Q9

Why was Smith's oxygen supply critical?

Smith's oxygen scrubber was compromised when debris from Kepler's explosion rained down on the group. This caused his oxygen supply to become critically low, threatening his life throughout the latter part of their journey and requiring the group to support him.

  • smith
  • oxygen
  • scrubber
  • injury
  • debris
Q10

What was the significance of the drill bit being destroyed?

The destruction of the formidable drill bit at the mid-point station served as a grim warning about the dangers of deep-sea drilling. It demonstrated that the ocean floor itself was fighting back against humanity's invasive extraction efforts, foreshadowing the catastrophic events to come.

  • drill bit
  • destruction
  • drilling
  • danger
  • warning

Movie threads

More Movies Like Underwater, by Mood & Story

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

Deep Sea Survival Horror Movies like Underwater

Trapped in the crushing abyss, fighting against the environment and unseen horrors. If you liked the high-stakes, claustrophobic terror of Underwater, explore more movies like it. This section features similar survival horror stories set in the deep sea, where characters face environmental disasters and monstrous threats in the crushing, lightless depths.

  • claustrophobic
  • terrifying
  • oppressive
  • anxious
  • desperate
  • gripping
  • Tone: tense, bleak, terrifying
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically begin with a catastrophic failure in an isolated deep-sea facility, forcing a dwindling group of survivors to navigate treacherous environments to reach safety. The narrative is a linear, fast-paced escape mission, where the setting itself is a primary antagonist, and unknown creatures add a layer of immediate, visceral danger.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their oppressive deep-sea setting, which generates intense claustrophobia and a constant sense of dread. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced structure focused on pure survival, often featuring themes of corporate hubris and humanity's vulnerability in the face of nature's extremes.

Cascade of Disaster Survival Thrillers like Underwater

A relentless series of crises where survival means adapting to one disaster after another. For viewers who enjoyed the non-stop, high-octane survival pace of Underwater, this section collects similar movies. These films feature a cascade of disasters from the very beginning, creating a relentless and tense viewing experience where characters fight for their lives against overwhelming odds.

  • relentless
  • chaotic
  • desperate
  • gripping
  • anxious
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: tense, desperate, heavy
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is a downhill sprint from the opening scene. There is no calm before the storm; the storm is already raging. The plot is a straightforward sequence of escalating threats and narrow escapes, with character development occurring through immediate action and sacrifice under extreme pressure. Endings are often bittersweet, emphasizing the high cost of survival.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their relentless, fast-paced structure that maintains a near-constant state of suspense. They share a high intensity and heavy emotional weight, focusing on the physical and psychological toll of a non-stop fight for survival against both environmental and monstrous forces.

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Movies Like Underwater

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Every angle

Underwater (2020) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

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

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