'OceanGate Disaster' Netflix Trailer Sparks Criticism

Newsweek

23-05-2025

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Netflix's Titan: The OceanGate Disaster trailer has sparked criticism online.
Newsweek reached out to a Netflix representative for Titan: The OceanGate Disaster via email for comment on Friday.
The Context
In June 2023, Titan—a submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions—imploded while on an expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at a depth of 12,500 feet. About 1,500 people died when the Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg on its maiden journey from England to New York.
On board the Titan were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, French Titanic expert and deep sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, British businessman Hamish Harding, 58, Pakistani-British businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman. All five were killed, likely instantly from the implosion.
Titan's wreckage was found four days after contact was lost, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
A decal on a piece of equipment which reads "Titan" is pictured near a trailer with the OceanGate logo at OceanGate Expedition's headquarters in the Port of Everett Boat Yard in Everett, Washington on June...
A decal on a piece of equipment which reads "Titan" is pictured near a trailer with the OceanGate logo at OceanGate Expedition's headquarters in the Port of Everett Boat Yard in Everett, Washington on June 22, 2023. More
JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images
What To Know
On Thursday, Netflix released the trailer for Titan: The OceanGate Disaster.
A description of the documentary posted to Netflix's YouTube account read: "Titan: The OceanGate Disaster examines CEO Stockton Rush's quest to become the next billionaire innovator and the doomed underwater endeavor that called into question the price of ambition in the depths of the ocean. The Titan submersible's ill-fated journey to the ruins of the Titanic dominated headlines in June 2023, yet the shocking decisions that led to the disaster have never been revealed like this before."
A separate note shared to Netflix's X account, formerly Twitter, read: "The deeper you look, the darker it gets."
In the trailer, one expert said: "There was no way of knowing when Titan was going to fail, but it was a mathematical certainty that it would fail."
Another added: "Stockton fully believed in what he was doing and that it would work. He wanted fame."
The deeper you look, the darker it gets.
Titan: The OceanGate Disaster premieres June 11. pic.twitter.com/i3NGuddRXp — Netflix (@netflix) May 22, 2025
The trailer quickly racked up millions of views as it spread across social media, including to X accounts @DiscussingFilm and @PopBase.
What People Are Saying
In the comments on both X and YouTube, people accused Netflix of releasing the documentary too soon, while others said the streaming service was profiting off a tragedy.
X user @MsAnjaliB wrote in a note with 22,400 views: "They didn't waste any time in making this."
@turquoisepogos agreed in a comment with 11,200 views: "They wasted no time to make this."
@MovieMediaX said: "Seems so soon."
@XAnalyst2020 said: "No time to waste."
@acemexchilli commented: "they started writing this thing back when we still thought they had 12 hours of air left."
@DxTCinema asked: "Already?"
@belaxcl0uds said: "i remember when this was happening ppl making memes about netflix writers rushing to the writing room... they were right."
@slotslv added: "Netflix doesn't waste any time when it comes to making documentaries!"
@Chemcontrol wondered: "Too soon?"
@Kane_Wolfe92 added in a message with 16,700 views: "Cmon man there was a kid in there, this is gonna be massively disrespectful."
@M7_Reaper shared in a separate reply with over 7,600 views: "Profiting from tragedies should be illegal. wtf is this?"
On YouTube, others echoed similar sentiments:
@IkerUnzu wrote in a message with 460 likes: "Of course Netflix had to take advantage of this opportunity."
@nevercertain said in a comment with 116 likes: "Not surprised Netflix is making this. Can't let a good tragedy go unmilked."
@timmyrehanek9576 posted: "netflix couldn't resist that bag extremely disrespectful."
Many, however, defended the documentary.
YouTube user @knights3247 shared: "Wanted this as a documentary and here it is, Netflix never disappoints."
@x6King6x remarked: "What everyone was waiting for, Netflix never disappoints with [these] documentaries."
@julioblase9861 noted: "Omg! Can't wait! This was one of the craziest disasters ever."
What Happens Next
Titan: The OceanGate Disaster premieres on Netflix on June 11.