Down Periscope

Right now you can watch Down Periscope in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the UK on Disney Plus — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 537 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Kelsey Grammer's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Down Periscope is worth clearing space for. Down Periscope gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Maverick Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge will never be a textbook officer, but he's a brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuclear submarine — he's been given one last chance to clean up his record. Unfortunately, Admiral Graham, his nemesis, would rather sink the fleet than give Dodge his own boat. So, Graham stacks the deck against him and assigns Dodge to the Stingray, a diesel-powered WW2 submarine that can barely keep afloat. Kelsey Grammer and Lauren Holly lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1996. The timing in Down Periscope is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Down Periscope is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Kelsey Grammer anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.