Combat veteran Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) and his second-in-command Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) are the chief officers on board US nuclear submarine Crimson Tide. They are heading for Russia, ready to intervene in an escalating crisis which could result in the outbreak of World War 3. When they then receive orders to launch their missiles, Ramsay and Hunter clash over the validity of the command and mutiny ensues.
