Why I Prefer This Chilling Titan Submersible Doc Over Netflix’s Version!

by

In June 2023, much like many others, I found myself captivated by news reports regarding the OceanGate Titan submersible incident, where a five-person crew encountered disaster while heading towards the Titanic wreckage. Two years following their devastating demise, the Netflix schedule for 2025 included a documentary titled Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster, piquing my curiosity. As I delved deeper, I uncovered another documentary detailing the implosion, and it had an even greater impact on me, particularly due to one particularly chilling scene.

In April of 2023, the events surrounding the Titan disaster unfolded like a horrifying reality: On June 18, the ill-fated submersible plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, carrying on board OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, an expert on the Titanic, businessmen Hamish Harding and Shahzada Dawood, and Dawood’s 19-year-old son Suleman. It wasn’t until these documentaries made it to the big screen in 2025 that I fully understood the sequence of events leading to the catastrophic collapse that claimed all five lives. The availability of this footage, especially with a Max subscription, has been difficult to escape from.

Two Documentaries On The 2023 Titan Submersible Implosion Are Streaming Now

The documentary titled “Implosion: The Titanic Submarine Disaster” premiered on May 28 on the Discovery Channel and on streaming platforms like Discovery+ and HBO Max. A few weeks later, Netflix released its own Titanic submarine disaster documentary on June 11 – “Titan: The Ocean Gate Submersible Disaster“. Watching Netflix’s Titan documentary was definitely nerve-wracking, but it was the footage from Discovery’s “Implosion” that truly left me shaken.

Actual Audio Of The Suspected Implosion Chilled Me To My Core

As a movie critic, I found both documentaries insightful, with extensive interviews from Stockton Rush himself, his associates, and those involved in the U.S. Coast Guard’s investigation for one film, while the other documentary, “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster,” delves deeper into the tragic final voyage of the Titan and its subsequent implosion. The latter even includes a chilling clip that seems to capture the suspected moment of implosion, making it an unforgettable watch for history enthusiasts like myself.

Apart from experiencing the explosion that happened approximately 90 minutes post the Titan’s descent, which is already disconcerting, we also witness Stockton Rush’s wife’s response to the sound. Being the communication director for OceanGate, Wendy Rush was managing communications during her husband’s dive—their 88th mission.

In a scene from the Implosion documentary that was presented to investigators on a laptop, she can be seen conversing with a coworker. Suddenly, they hear a sound similar to a door slamming, as described by investigators. At this point, Wendy looks up and says: “Oh, what was that?

What was that bang?

She flashed a tentative grin, and following this, it seemed she got the last communication from the Titan, stating they’d “released two heavy objects.” Investigators worked out how long it takes sound to travel through water considering this fact. Notably, Wendy Rush had been receiving signals from her husband’s submarine every 5 to 10 seconds, but no more communications arrived from the Titan after that.

In my viewpoint, a strong documentary should contain substantial real footage about the topic, along with reliable participants who were directly involved. Both “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster” and “Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster” (available for streaming with a Netflix subscription) offer an abundance of these elements. What surprised me, however, was the supposed instant when the craft’s carbon-fiber hull allegedly imploded, which is something I find difficult to shake off my mind.

The Coast Guard investigators appeared equally surprised. After viewing the video a few times, Jason Neubauer dabbed his eyes before speaking: “I… I can’t believe it.

That is, I mean you figure, the fatal moment, you know, for all of them. It’s very sobering.

The part of the documentary that I found most nerve-wracking stood out to me, yet the entire film left me quite shocked – particularly the segment titled “Implosion”.

There Was Some Overlap Between The Two, But I Thought Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster Was More Impactful

In both the “Implosion” documentary and Netflix’s “Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster,” they utilized footage of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Additionally, they incorporated evidence from the ongoing Coast Guard investigation and interviews with various ex-employees of OceanGate to support their arguments.

In both instances, it appears that their argument centered around the idea this event wasn’t an unforeseen accident, but rather a disaster that could have been prevented. Stockton Rush disregarded warnings from various sources, took deliberate actions to circumvent safety measures, dismissed those who attempted to raise concerns, and may have been aware of the high probability of such a catastrophe occurring. Yet, he persisted, received large sums of money from each passenger, and endangered civilians, including a minor, by putting them on his submarine.

The OceanGate Submersible Disaster on Netflix primarily delved into the company’s hierarchy, demonstrating how employees joined Stockton Rush and ultimately decided to depart, whereas The Titanic Sub Disaster showcased the tales of those who had previously participated in dives.

Access “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster” and plenty more for just $9.99 per month! Choose our With Ads plan, which offers three distinct tiers following your Max subscription. If you prefer, pre-pay annually and save up to 20%. Check out the deal now!

It turns out that Josh Gates from Discovery Channel, who intended to highlight the submersible on “Expedition Unknown,” decided against it after their dive went awry. Gates felt it would be inappropriate to publicize Stockton Rush’s actions under such circumstances, and the episode was subsequently canceled.

Additionally, there was a heartrending memory shared by a rescue diver, who choked up while narrating his role in assisting Suleman Dawood into the submersible. Furthermore, we observe, without any cuts, a bird’s-eye view of the Titan submarine making its final descent on June 18, 2023, for a full 15 seconds.

Watching Both Documentaries Gives A Fuller Picture Of The Titan Disaster

Despite preferring the documentary available on HBO Max more, I would still advise you to watch the one on Netflix too. It’s intriguing to notice how different filmmaking teams tackled the same event, given that – as was mentioned earlier – they utilized similar footage and interviewed some of the same individuals.

As a cinephile who appreciates a good maritime tragedy, I can’t stress enough the value of watching both “Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster” on Netflix and “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster” on Discovery+ and Max back-to-back. Each film offers unique perspectives, filling in gaps left by the other, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the events leading up to and following the tragic sinking of the Titanic two years ago. If time or interest only allows for one, I’d strongly suggest “Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster”. It’s an engaging journey into the world of underwater exploration and disaster recovery, not to be missed!

Read More

2025-06-19 12:08