在90年代，惊险刺激的电视节目《美国角斗士》令观众兴奋不已。这部系列纪录片探讨了这档节目的成功以及它如何险些胎死腹中。

On the surface, Clara Barron seems to have it all a job as an OB-GYN; a great house in LA; and a loving family. But, the one thing Clara doesn't have figured out is her love life. Pressured by a family wedding in Mexico, Clara asks a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend for the weekend festivities,- only to be caught by surprise when her ex- boyfriend (and family favorite) suddenly shows up after disappearing from her life completely. Torn, Clara must decide between going back to the past or open her heart to new and unexpected possibilities.

故事发生在1870年的英国，传闻中海怪的出没的消息惹得人心惶惶，各国政府都排遣除了军舰在大海上巡逻，哪知道这些军舰均被海怪给击沉了。阿龙纳斯教授（Dan Hanlon 饰）和他的助手康赛尔成为了海难中的幸存者，同时保住了小命的还有鱼叉手尼德（Curtis Benton 饰），一行人被鹦鹉螺号潜艇救起，他们也就此认识了潜艇的主人尼莫船长。尼莫船长久仰阿龙纳斯的大名，把他当做上宾接待。但是船长暴躁的个性和激进的手段让阿龙纳斯明白，此地不宜久留。尼莫船长向阿龙纳斯展示了自己多年来苦心钻研的研究成果，亦带他畅游神秘的海底世界，但阿龙纳斯的脑袋里只有一个念头，那就是逃走。