The Big Blue, directed by Luc Besson, will be available to stream in France on Disney+ from December 22, 2025. Released in theaters on May 11, 1988, thisadventure and romantic drama starring Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, and Rosanna Arquette left its mark on a generation of viewers and established its aquatic aesthetic, Eric Serra's music, and its story centered on freediving as one of the flagship works of French cinema in the 1980s.
The film follows two exceptional divers, Jacques Mayol and Enzo Molinari, rivals since childhood in Greece and reunited years later around offshore freediving competitions. Fascinated by the underwater world, Jacques has an almost mystical connection with the sea and dolphins, while the more extroverted Enzo approaches diving as a constant challenge and an affirmation of himself. Their sporting rivalry pushes them to constantly push their physical and mental limits.
Between two records, Jacques' encounter with Johanna, an American woman who has come to work for an insurance company, introduces a love story that clashes with the irresistible call of the deep blue sea. Caught between his earthly ties—friendship, passion, Johanna's presence—and the attraction of the depths, Jacques seems to be pursuing an unattainable dream, at the risk of sacrificing everything. The film thus explores the fragile boundary between surpassing oneself, fascination with the abyss, and breaking with the world of the living.
Inspired by the life of freediving champion Jacques Mayol, who participated in the project as a technical advisor, the film combines fictional elements with references to the real practice of freediving. Shot in Greece and Peru, The Big Blue imposed particularly demanding working conditions: around fifteen dives a day for the team, extended underwater filming sessions, and no stunt doubles for the actors in the diving scenes. Luc Besson himself provided some of the training, making the physical aspect of the production a central element of the project.
Presented at the opening of the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, the film received a very cold critical reception, which left its mark on the director's relationship with the press. On the other hand, the public's reaction was spectacular: The Big Blue attracted nearly 9.2 million viewers in France and became a true cult film. In 1989, it won two César Awards—Best Music for Eric Serra and Best Sound—and cemented the collaboration between Besson, his composer, and his technical team. The film also benefited from a re-release in an extended version, lengthened by about fifty minutes, accompanied by an ironic tagline: "Don't go, it lasts three hours!"
Aesthetically, The Big Blue stands out as a synthesis of Besson's taste for strong visual worlds and his fascination with the underwater world, which he would later extend with the musical documentary Atlantis. The cinematography, the natural light diving scenes, and the prominence given to music all contribute to a kind of modern fable, oscillating between sporting realism, romantic melodrama, and a quasi-metaphysical quest. The film's international career, notably under the title The Big Blue in the United States, helped establish the director on the world stage.
Aimed at teenagers and adults, the film will appeal to fans of sports stories and romantic dramas as well as viewers who enjoy sensory cinema experiences. The relationship between Jacques and Enzo, like their connection to dolphins and the sea, is part of a mythology of inner exploration, where rivalry, brotherhood, and renunciation intersect. The soundtrack, which is very present, reinforces this emotional connection to the marine landscape and diving as a particular state of consciousness.
The Big Blue
Film | 1988
Theatrical release: May 11, 1988
On Disney+ December 22, 2025
Adventure, Drama, Romance | Running time: 2 hours 18 minutes
By Luc Besson | Starring Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, Rosanna Arquette
Nationality: France, Italy
A portrait of exceptional divers, a story of thwarted love, and a prolonged immersion in the depths, The Big Blue remains an iconic work of popular French cinema from the 1980s, both controversial and widely embraced by audiences. Its arrival on Disney+ allows us to rediscover this tale of rivalry and vertigo, where the desire to join the world of silence is constantly confronted with life on the surface.
To go further, check out our selection of new Disney+ releases for December, our guide to streaming releases on all platforms, and today's selection of What to Watch Today on Streaming.
