Based on the best-selling novel by Clive Cussler, the film was a bigger shipwreck than the vessel it fictionally tried to raise.

The poorly adapted film version was greeted by immense criticism and was nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards.

Cussler was said to be so disgusted by the film, which was such a box office flop it failed to recoup most of its estimated $40 million budget, that for years he refused to allow a Hollywood adaptation of his works.