Down Periscope May 2026

While it was a modest success upon release, the film has gained a massive following over the years for several reasons:

Down Periscope is a military comedy directed by David S. Ward and produced by 20th Century Fox. It stars as Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge, a highly capable but unconventional officer who has been repeatedly passed over for command of a nuclear submarine. The Plot: A Misfit Crew on a Rusty Relic

: The movie is packed with raunchy and witty dialogue, such as Dodge's famous line regarding his "Welcome Aboard" tattoo. Production Trivia Down Periscope

As a final test to see if he is "command material," the Navy brass gives Dodge a seemingly impossible task: lead a diesel-powered, World War II-era submarine, the , in a series of war games against the high-tech Atlantic Fleet.

To make matters more difficult, his crew is a collection of "misfits" and oddballs, including: While it was a modest success upon release,

If you are looking for a breakdown of the 1996 cult classic comedy Down Periscope ,

: Fresh off the success of Frasier , Grammer brought a mix of intelligence and "pirate" charm to the role of Commander Dodge. The Plot: A Misfit Crew on a Rusty

: Part of a pilot program to see if women can serve on submarines.