San Francisco Chronicle by Mick LaSalle

Two hours of nonstop, nail-biting tension and anxiety.

Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman

When the submarine has to dive 400 meters beneath the surface to avoid detection, you can practically feel the water pressure crushing in on the sailors.

New York Daily News by Jami Bernard

The action is tightly focused and well-paced.

Film.com by Sean Means

Fast-moving, watertight and firing from all tubes.

Village Voice by Michael Atkinson

It's a simple pleasure watching an American movie that respects genre, knows its limitations, and genuflects at the memory of Don Siegel in the age of Spielberg.

Rolling Stone by Peter Travers

A rip-roaring action adventure.

Film.com by Robert Horton

Highly enjoyable.

Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt

Full of old tricks - cuts between worried faces and overheated gauges inching into the red zone - but director Mostow pulls most of them off with conviction and pizazz.

Baltimore Sun by Ann Hornaday

Sets up a mood of tensile suspense from the beginning and never lets it go.

New York Post by Jonathan Foreman

A formulaic and predictable movie that combines minimal characterization with some irritating implausibility.

Washington Post by Stephen Hunter

It pulps you, but it doesn't enlighten you.

Boston Globe by Jay Carr

Never lets down, even if depth of character always takes second place to depth charges.

TV Guide Magazine by Maitland McDonagh

It's straightforwardly entertaining and a genuine nail-biter.

The New York Times by A.O. Scott

Yet there is so little characterization that when the sub goes down, you may find yourself confused as to which of the supporting cast members lived through the torpedo blast.

Miami Herald by René Rodríguez

It''s loud and flashy and fun to look at, but you''ll grow tired of it very quickly.

USA Today by Mike Clark

One would be hard-pressed to name another submarine movie that lingers so little in the memory two days after seeing it.

Austin Chronicle by Marc Savlov

U-571's plot moves like a rocket, never pausing for breath, and this works to a point, but certain events ... are glossed over in favor of more (exceptionally well-done) shots of exploding depth charges and topside battles.