Submarine (2010) Movie Explained: Plot, Cast, Ending & Review
If you searched for a “submarine movie” hoping for a tense underwater thriller, this isn’t that film. Submarine (2010) is a British coming-of-age comedy-drama set in Wales, about a teenage boy with an overactive imagination and very little emotional self-awareness.Submarine (2010) Movie Explained If you want naval classics instead, Das Boot, The Hunt for Red October and K-19: The Widowmaker are the usual recommendations.
If you’re here for the Welsh teen film, read on. It’s one of the most distinctive British indie films of its decade.
What Is the Movie Submarine About?
Short answer: Submarine follows Oliver Tate, a 15-year-old in Swansea, as he tries to lose his virginity before his next birthday, win over a fiery classmate named Jordana Bevan, and stop his parents’ marriage from falling apart.
That one-line summary undersells the tone. The film plays like a sharp, deadpan comedy, but under the jokes it’s a story about awkward adolescence, parental relationship problems and the gap between how we imagine our lives and how they actually go. Oliver narrates his own story like a self-appointed auteur, imagining the national mourning that would follow his death and picturing his life as a dramatic film.
Submarine 2010 Movie Plot Summary (Spoiler-Light)
Oliver (Craig Roberts) is bright, pretentious and emotionally clumsy. He has two missions. The first is to start a relationship with Jordana (Yasmin Paige), a sardonic, pyromaniac-leaning classmate who is initially drawn to him partly as a way to make an ex jealous. The second is to save his parents, Lloyd and Jill, from drifting apart.
The second mission gets urgent when Oliver notices that his mother’s old flame, a New Age self-help guru named Graham Purvis, has moved in next door. Oliver, with all the subtlety of a teenage detective, starts spying, scheming and interfering.
Meanwhile his relationship with Jordana grows more intense just as her family is hit by a serious illness. Oliver, who has spent the whole film performing emotions rather than feeling them, has to decide whether he’s capable of showing up for someone else.
Submarine Movie Ending Explained
Short answer: The ending is hopeful but deliberately unresolved. Oliver doesn’t “win” anything neatly, but he does begin to grow up.
Without giving away every beat: Oliver’s schemes don’t deliver the clean outcomes he imagined. His parents’ marriage survives in a bruised, uncertain form rather than a triumphant reunion, and his relationship with Jordana is tested by real emotional stakes rather than teenage theatrics. The final scene on the coast leaves their future open.
My reading is that the ending is about a change in perspective rather than plot. Early on, Oliver treats other people as supporting characters in his own movie. By the end, he’s learned, at least a little, that they have inner lives of their own. That small shift is the film’s real “ending.” medium
Submarine 2010 Cast and Characters
| Actor | Character | Role in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Craig Roberts | Oliver Tate | The self-dramatizing teenage narrator |
| Yasmin Paige | Jordana Bevan | Oliver’s complicated first love |
| Sally Hawkins | Jill Tate | Oliver’s mother, restless and unfulfilled |
| Noah Taylor | Lloyd Tate | Oliver’s father, quietly depressed |
| Paddy Considine | Graham Purvis | The mystic neighbour and mother’s ex |
| Gemma Chan | Zoe Preece | A classmate caught up in Oliver’s social world |
Who plays Oliver Tate in Submarine? Welsh actor Craig Roberts, who was around 18 when the film was made. He’s the heart of the movie: arrogant, funny and painfully vulnerable, often in the same scene. Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor give the parents a quiet sadness that grounds the comedy, and Paddy Considine steals scenes as the absurd Graham.
Who Directed Submarine (2010)?
Short answer: Richard Ayoade wrote and directed it. It was his first feature film.
Before Submarine, Ayoade was best known as an actor and comedian, particularly as Moss in the sitcom The IT Crowd and for his work with The Mighty Boosh team. Many viewers expected a straight comedy. What they got was a visually confident film with a clear authorial voice, which is why Submarine is often cited as one of the strongest British directorial debuts of its period. Ayoade’s later feature The Double (2013) shows the same fondness for stylized, offbeat storytelling.
Is Submarine Based on a Book?
Short answer: Yes. It’s adapted from Joe Dunthorne’s 2008 debut novel of the same name.
Dunthorne grew up in Swansea, and the book’s sharp, funny teenage voice transfers well to the screen. Ayoade’s adaptation keeps Oliver’s narration and his habit of over-analysing everything, but reshapes the story into something more visual. If you enjoyed the film, the novel is worth reading for Oliver’s even more unfiltered inner monologue.
Where Was Submarine Filmed?
The story is set in Swansea, Wales, and the production shot in and around Swansea and nearby South Wales locations. The cold seaside light and plain suburban streets are central to the film’s mood. They feel real, slightly melancholy and oddly beautiful, a good example of how British cinema can find poetry in ordinary places.
Submarine Movie Themes and Meaning
Submarine is more than a quirky romance. A few ideas run through it:
- Teenage insecurity disguised as confidence. Oliver’s pretension is armour. He performs maturity because he’s terrified of not having it.
- First love and its awkward reality. The romance with Jordana is tender and funny, but also selfish and messy, as first love often is.
- Dysfunctional family relationships. The Tate household is low-key unhappy rather than dramatic, which makes it more believable.
- Emotional maturity. The film’s central question is whether Oliver can feel something real instead of narrating it.
The title is a metaphor too. Oliver’s emotional life stays submerged, observing from below, until he’s forced to surface.
Submarine Movie Soundtrack and Music
Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys wrote original songs for the film, released as an EP in 2011, and Andrew Hewitt composed the score. The soft, wistful acoustic songs suit the film’s mix of humour and ache. They’re a big reason the movie has such a devoted following among music fans.
Submarine (2010) Movie Review: Is It Worth Watching?
Short answer: Yes, if you enjoy dry humour, stylized visuals and character-driven stories.
What works:
- Craig Roberts carries the film with a funny, layered performance.
- The direction is inventive without being showy for its own sake.
- The cinematography gives a small Welsh town a warm, dreamlike look.
- It balances comedy and drama better than most teen films.
What might not work for everyone:
- Oliver can be hard to like, and he’s often self-centred.
- The deadpan tone and slow pace may not suit viewers who want broader comedy.
- Some of the stylistic touches are very Wes Anderson-adjacent, which divides audiences.
Critics were broadly positive. Ratings shift over time, so check the current IMDb score and Rotten Tomatoes percentage before you publish; both have historically sat in the high range for an indie comedy-drama. The film also earned Ayoade a BAFTA nomination in the debut category.
Submarine 2010 Age Rating and Parents’ Guide
Short answer: It’s not for young children. In the UK it carries a 15 certificate, and in the US it’s rated R.
Parents should expect strong language, sexual references and scenes involving teenage sexuality, along with some bullying and emotionally heavy family moments. It isn’t graphic, but the themes suit older teens and adults. As always, check the ratings body’s current listing for the exact content advisory in your country.
Submarine 2010 Streaming Availability
Streaming rights for older indie films rotate frequently between services, and the film can usually also be rented or bought digitally. Because availability varies by country, the most reliable way to find it is to search the title on a tracker such as JustWatch.
Submarine 2010 Similar Movies
If you like Submarine, try:
- Rushmore (1998): a clever, awkward teen with big plans
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012): stylized first love
- Juno (2007): witty teenage voice with emotional depth
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012): a more earnest take on teenage self-discovery
- The Double (2013): Ayoade’s next film, darker and stranger
Custom FAQ Section
What is the movie Submarine about?
It follows 15-year-old Oliver Tate in Swansea as he pursues his first love, Jordana Bevan, and tries to save his parents’ failing marriage.
Who directed Submarine (2010)?
Richard Ayoade wrote and directed it. It was his feature directorial debut.
Who plays Oliver Tate in Submarine?
Craig Roberts plays Oliver Tate.
Is Submarine based on a book?
Yes. It’s based on Joe Dunthorne’s 2008 novel Submarine.
Is Submarine a coming-of-age movie?
Yes. It’s a British coming-of-age comedy-drama about adolescence, first love and emotional growth.
Where was Submarine filmed?
It was filmed in and around Swansea and South Wales, where the story is set.
What is the age rating for Submarine (2010)?
It’s rated 15 in the UK and R in the US, due to language and sexual content.
Is Submarine (2010) worth watching?
Yes, particularly if you like witty, character-led indie films with a mix of comedy and emotion.
