James Cameron’s Seminal Sci-Fi Thriller ‘The Abyss’ Is Free to Stream on Tubi After 37 Years

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While James Cameron continues working on his ambitious Avatar plans, one of his earlier acclaimed films is now available to stream. The Abyss, a classic sci-fi thriller that has been difficult to find for years, has been added to Tubi’s free streaming service. It’s unusual for this film to be offered for free, given its limited availability on home video.

The 1989 film from 20th Century Fox centers around a diving team sent to find a lost nuclear submarine at the bottom of the ocean. During their search, their equipment slips and lands near a deep trench. However, they discover something that might be able to assist them – if they can conquer their fear of what lies below.

Everyone Involved Had a Hard Time Making ‘The Abyss’

Making The Abyss was famously difficult, and many people who worked on the sci-fi classic describe it as a challenging experience. Director James Cameron was known for demanding a lot from his team, and the stress even led to the end of his marriage to producer Gale Ann Hurd during filming.

Back in the late 1980s, filmmaking technology wasn’t as sophisticated, so the director insisted on shooting a significant portion of the movie underwater. This caused a lot of hardship for the cast and crew over a six-month period, and some actors felt the director pushed too far in his pursuit of realism. After filming finished, Ed Harris vowed to never speak about the experience again, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio admitted it was a difficult production.

James Cameron fully immersed himself in making The Abyss, experiencing the same difficult conditions as the crew, like breathing compressed air for long periods. But the challenges didn’t stop at filming. Cameron meticulously oversaw post-production, pushing for flawless CGI effects. He ultimately achieved a breakthrough with a realistic CGI water tentacle that revolutionized visual effects. However, surprisingly, Cameron admits he still didn’t fully realize his vision for the film, even though The Abyss is now considered a classic and helped launch his career as a top Hollywood director.

Why Was ‘The Abyss’ So Hard to Find (And Strangely Banned in the UK Upon Re-Release)?


Twentieth Century Studios

Finding a good copy of The Abyss wasn’t the problem – it was finding the best version. When the movie came out in 1989, director James Cameron wasn’t happy with the cut shown in theaters. He’d made changes and altered the ending to satisfy studio requests. However, after the huge success of Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991, Cameron had the opportunity to go back to The Abyss and release the Special Edition he’d always envisioned.

Cameron spent two years creating this updated version of the film. He not only brought back previously cut scenes, but also enhanced some shots using the advanced CGI technology from Terminator 2. The result was a 28-minute longer cut that received a brief run in theaters. While it was available on DVD and LaserDisc, fans consistently requested a Blu-ray version, which Cameron repeatedly said the studio was preventing.

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The version of The Abyss available to stream on Tubi is the Theatrical Edition.

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2026-02-06 21:39