20,000 Leagues Under the Sea195420,000 Leagues Under the Sea
1954
In 1868, a professor, his assistant, and a brash harpooner set out to hunt a sea monster and are captured by the mysterious Captain Nemo aboard his submarine, the Nautilus. Beneath the waves they find wonders no one has ever seen and a brilliant man at war with the world.
For children old enough to talk it through: sustained intensity, or language or sexual content that Common Sense Media rates 7–9.
Why it’s here
Jules Verne's wonder-filled voyage, with a brilliant captain whose genius is twisted by hatred, set against a sailor's plain decency. A natural companion to the novel.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Ships are rammed and sunk with men aboard, and the giant squid battle is intense for little ones. Island "cannibals" are a dated stereotype played for laughs and Ned Land gets drunk, while Nemo's vengeance is shown as a brilliant man's ruin.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Was Captain Nemo a hero or a villain? Why?
- What did Ned Land want, and was he right to want it?
- Which part of the voyage filled you with wonder?
- Should Nemo's secret have died with him?
Content advisory
Common Sense Media 9+: fistfights, ships sunk by ramming, the squid attack; "hell"; drinking and cigars.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Blu-ray (Disney Movie Club Exclusive)
Blu-ray · June 18, 2019
Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.