Greyhound (2020)

Greyhound is special because it turns WWII naval warfare into a lean, breath-held thriller where every blip on the sonar and every command on the bridge feels like it could mean life or death. Aaron Schneider keeps the film moving with the clean efficiency of a well-run ship—no wasted scenes, just mounting tension, crisp procedural detail, and battle sequences that are loud, clear, and terrifying in the way the open ocean can be. Tom Hanks anchors it with a quietly commanding performance, playing a first-time captain whose faith and fatigue sit right behind his steady eyes as the pressure never lets up. If you’re looking for a sprawling war epic with lots of backstory, this isn’t that; it’s 91 minutes of nerve and momentum, and it’s hard to look away.

Greyhound is clearly trying to be a tightly wound, procedural slice of WWII naval combat, putting you on the bridge with a first-time captain making life-or-death calls under relentless pressure. It largely succeeds as a brisk, no-frills thriller with crisp pacing and Tom Hanks’ steady, serious presence anchoring the chaos. The trade-off is that it’s more about commands, sonar pings, and split-second tactics than people, so if you want rich character work, emotional release, or a broader view of the war, it can feel thin and oddly numbing. Some of the action also has a clean, almost “simulated” look that may keep you admiring the mechanics rather than feeling the danger, so this is best for viewers who enjoy military procedure and constant tension over heartfelt drama.