Raise the Titanic Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Raise the Titanic Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 9, 2026

Jerry Jameson's "Raise the Titanic" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill; new program with production manager Frederick Muller; new program with film historian Jonathan Smith; archival documentary on the production of the film; numerous vintage production and promotional materials; remastered original trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Several decades ago, Raise the Titanic was routinely described as a ridiculous film, portraying utterly ridiculous developments. One of these developments was the construction of a military defense system like The Sicilian Project, which uses strategically positioned laser beams to form a massive, invisible protective shield over America. A far more sophisticated version of The Sicilian Project is coming. It is called Golden Dome, and it will protect America from “aerial attacks from any foe”. (A primitive but still very effective version of Golden Dome, called Iron Dome, was launched in Israel in 2011). Golden Dome will be a “system of systems”, integrating ground- and space-based technology that would operate cutting-edge missile interceptors. The Pentagon has already completed the first large-scale, "phenomenally successful", tests for Golden Dome. According to the Pentagon, Golden Dome is supposed to achieve initial operational capability by Summer 2028, and become fully operational before January 2029. (Read more about Golden Dome here and here).

In Raise the Titanic, the President approves a secret operation to recover a super-rare mineral, byzantium, that can power up The Sicilian Project. Byzantium is a fictional mineral, but uranium and plutonium, when combined, can accomplish precisely what is described shortly after the opening credits disappear. When an American spy confirms that in the early 1900s byzantium was discovered on the Russian island of Svardlov, located in the far North Sea, and a different secret operation extracted it but failed to smuggle it back home, Admiral James Sandecker (Jason Robards) and special agent Dirk Pitt (Richard Jordan) trace it back to the Titanic. Shortly after, the best Navy and NUMA engineers locate the Titanic and use their most advanced technology to raise it from the bottom of the ocean so that byzantium can be recovered. However, a mole tips off the Russians.

The relationship between The Sicilian Project and the island of Svardlov is crucial, because the former cannot function without what the latter offers. Presently, Golden Dome has a similar relationship with Greenland. Golden Dome needs to have some of its components installed on Greenland -- or it will have to be modified.

The final third of Raise the Titanic is the most ridiculed. Ironically, it features the least controversial material. Here, Pitt describes in detail where the Titanic is supposed to have sunk and what type of efforts are needed to lift it. Raise the Titanic guessed the wreck's resting depth almost perfectly: 12,347 feet. In 1985, when the precise location where the Titanic sank was identified, Dr. Robert Ballard confirmed that the wreck's actual resting depth is 12,415 feet.

Pitt’s descriptions of the technology and process that are needed to raise a ship from the bottom of the ocean are accurate as well. In 2013, marine engineers used similar advanced technology to salvage the partially sunk cruise ship Costa Concordia off the coast of Tuscany.

What Raise the Titanic gets wrong is another crucial detail, which makes its finale impossible. When the Titanic sank, it was split into two pieces, confirmed to be resting approximately 2,000 feet apart from each other.

Jerry Jameson teamed up with director of photography Matthew F. Leonetti, whose credits include such crowd pleasers and cult films as Fire in the Sky, Poltergeist, Commando, and Hard to Kill.

Raise the Titanic Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Raise the Titanic arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The release is sourced from an older but very, very nice organic master. Other than a few small density fluctuations, which a new 4K master will manage better, and some areas with darker nuances that can look a bit more convincing, the current presentation of Raise the Titanic is as good as it can be in 1080p. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from very good to excellent, and depth is always pleasing. Color reproduction and balance are wonderful. Yes, minor tweaks could strengthen the saturation levels of a few primaries and supporting nuances, but all are properly set, and there are no troubling anomalies. Also, there are no traces of any problematic digital corrections, like degraining, sharpening, contrast boosting, etc. Image stability is very good. I did not notice any large and distracting cuts, debris, marks, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Raise the Titanic Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I started viewing Raise the Titanic with the LPCM 2.0 track, switched to the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and then went back to the LPCM 2.0 track. Both are good tracks. However, I feel that there are areas with small unevenness that can be addressed. Dynamic intensity is wonderful. On the 5.1 track, a lot of the underwater footage can be pretty impressive. The music sounds terrific as well.

Raise the Titanic Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered original theatrical trailer for Raise the Titanic. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Lighting the Titanic - presented here is a rare alternate scene for Raise the Titanic. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• The Last Great Human Adventure - this archival documentary was made to accompany the cinema release of Raise the Titanic and aired on select television stations. It chronicles the film's production and highlights some of the true events that are depicted in it. The documentary is sourced from a rare VHS master. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Jonathan Smith - in this new program, film historian Jonathan Smith discusses Clive Cussler's novel that inspired Raise the Titanic, the film's production and depiction of crucial events, and its style and realism. Smith also comments on the cast that was gathered for the film and the main characters in it. In English, not subtitled. (33 min).

• Syncing a Sunken Ship - in this new program, assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill reveals how he was hired to work on Raise the Titanic and discusses the dailies he received during the production process, the impressive models that were created in Hollywood, Jerry Jameson's desire to shoot the film in the most realistic way possible. Mackrill also comments on some of the research work he did to prepare himself for the job. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• Muller in Malta - in this new program, production manager Frederick Muller reveals that twenty-five special effects specialist from America were used to build the Titanic model and discusses the work he had to oversee in Malta, where some of the crucial exterior footage was shot. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Behind the Scenes - presented here is behind the scenes footage from Malta of water tank and model construction. Silent.(11 min).

• Test Footage - presented here is test footage from unused 1912 opening sequence. (1 min).

• Photo Gallery - presented here is a massive collection of images from the John Smith Collection, which includes promotional images, sketches, drawings, model ships, memorabilia, and a lot more. With music. (63 min).

• Time-Lapse Titanic - weighing 10 tons, 55ft in length and 12ft in height, the Raise the Titanic model was the largest ever built of Titanic. Two tanks were specially built to hold it at the Maltese Film Studios in Malta - the Shallow Water tank that 4ft in dept and the Deep Water tank was 250ft across by 40ft deep and was used for the underwater and raising shots. The model still exists in Malta. Presented here are photos showing how it has weathered over the past few decades. Silent. (6 min).

• Radio Spots - presented here are three vintage radio spots for Raise the Titanic. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Book - an exclusive 80-page hardback book featuring a brand new essay, It Would Have Been Cheaper to Have Lowered the Atlantic: The Making of Raise the Titanic, by Raise the Titanic historian Jonathan Smith, featuring the extraordinary behind-the-scenes story of how the film came to be.

• Lobby Cards - eight, double-sided, high-gloss, collectible lobby cards.

Raise the Titanic Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is wild how Raise the Titanic was able to predict so many future developments so accurately while telling a supposedly ridiculous story. Some of its defense analyses and grasp of complex international dynamics, especially when placed in a current, supposedly post-Cold War context, are shockingly objective as well. It is a terrific film. Imprint Films' two-disc set brings a wonderful organic presentation of Raise the Titanic with an outstanding selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. Both discs are Region-Free. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.