Poseidon (film)

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Poseidon (2006) is an American action-disaster film directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It is a loose remake of The Poseidon Adventure and stars Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, and Richard Dreyfuss, with Emmy Rossum, Jacinda Barrett, Mike Vogel, Mía Maestro, Jimmy Bennett, and Andre Braugher in supporting roles. The film was produced by Virtual Studios and distributed by Warner Bros., with an IMAX release in theaters.

Plot
The luxury liner RMS Poseidon capsizes after a rogue wave hits during a New Year’s Eve party. A group of survivors—including Robert Ramsey, his daughter Jennifer, her boyfriend Christian, and other passengers—fights to escape the inverted ship. They navigate flooded corridors, face dangerous conditions, and lose several companions as they work toward an exit. Their journey ends with a risky plan to reach safety as the ship sinks, and they are rescued after the wreck is located by rescuers.

Production
Plans for a Poseidon remake began in the mid-2000s, with Petersen directing and Mark Protosevich writing the screenplay. The film had a budget of about $160 million. Filming began in 2005, with extensive use of computer-generated imagery. Visual effects were led by Industrial Light & Magic and Moving Picture Company, using advanced water simulations and inverted-set designs to depict the ship’s capsizing. Some interiors were inspired by rooms aboard the RMS Queen Mary 2.

Release and reception
Poseidon was released on May 12, 2006, with a simultaneous IMAX release. It grossed around $181.7 million worldwide but cost about $160 million to produce, and after marketing and distribution expenses, Warner Bros. reportedly lost $70–80 million, making it a box-office bomb. Critics gave mixed to negative reviews (Rotten Tomatoes: ~33%; Metacritic: ~50), though the film was praised for its visual effects. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects but lost to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Roger Ebert criticized the film, while some noted the strong CGI work during the action sequences.

Home media and soundtrack
Poseidon was released on DVD on August 22, 2006, in multiple formats, including a two-disc special edition with extra features. The soundtrack was composed by Klaus Badelt, with additional songs by Fergie.

Key facts
- Director: Wolfgang Petersen
- Based on: The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico
- Main cast: Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, Richard Dreyfuss, Emmy Rossum
- Budget: $160 million
- Box office: About $181.7 million worldwide
- Awards: Nominated for Best Visual Effects (Academy Awards)