Prime Video‘s latest original movie had me wondering why, with all that ocean open for adventures, pirate movies have mostly fallen out of favor. “The Bluff,” if you’re yet to stream it, sees an ex-pirate Ercell (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) forced to return to her old ways when her vengeful former captain (Karl Urban) returns and shatters her peaceful life.
Not only is it a solid action thriller in its own right, but “The Bluff” also stands as proof that there must be a demand for more pirate adventures to head back to our screens. After all, if there wasn’t, there’s no way “The Bluff” would have managed to cling to the No. 1 spot in Prime Video’s streaming charts, right?
Best pirate movies you can watch right now, and where to stream them
‘Pirates of the Caribbean’
Let’s just get the most obvious suggestion I could make out of the way first, shall we? Yes, if you love pirate movies, you’re almost certainly going to love “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Though Disney’s swashbuckling saga diminishes in quality over the course of its five-movie run, this is still an epic series of voyages movies fronted by a cast of enduring faves like Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). It’s quintessential viewing for any pirate-loving moviegoer, and the first couple of films especially are still brilliant adventure movies that I’d be happy to recommend.
Stream all five “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies on Disney+ now
‘Hook’ (1991)
![HOOK [1991] - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/c-vwgt8cwEM/maxresdefault.jpg)
Spielberg’s spin on the classic “Peter Pan” story is not the only family adventure on the list, but Steven Spielberg’s “Hook” feels like it’s the one that needs the most defending. It has flaws, sure, but I can’t see how this can only have a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes.
If it wasn’t part of your childhood, “Hook” introduces us to an all-grown-up Peter Pan (now an absent father to two kids who has forgotten his old adventures) who is lured back into adventure when his past comes calling. When his former foe, Captain James Hook (a swaggering turn from Dustin Hoffman), steals his children away, Peter heads back to Neverland and, with the help of Tinkerbell and the rest of the Lost Boys, sets out to rescue his kids by confronting Hook all over again.
Stream “Hook” on Prime Video now
‘The Pirates! Band of Misfits’ (2012)
As a lover of all things from Aardman Animation, I couldn’t not mention “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” which is another dose of delightfully silly fun from the “Wallace & Gromit” studio.
“The Pirates!” is a stop-motion romp that revolves around a bearded, bumbling Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) who leads a crew of hapless pirates and has his eye on getting one over on his rivals by plundering the most loot and bagging the Pirate of the Year Award for himself. That mission takes him and his shipmates on a madcap quest across the seas that sees them crossing paths with Charles Darwin (David Tennant) and noted pirate-hater Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton). If you’re after piracy fit for the whole family, it’s worth seeking out.
Buy/rent “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” on Prime Video now
‘Treasure Planet’ (2002)
What’s cooler than pirates? Space pirates. That seems to be the idea behind John Musker and Ron Clements’ thrilling family sci-fi adventure, “Treasure Planet.” It was a box office bomb during its theatrical run, but it has remained one of my favorite Disney movies ever since I first laid eyes on it as a kid, and it deserves more love.
This must-see caper transplants R.L. Stevenson’s iconic “Treasure Island” story to the far future, and instead revolves around Jim Hawkings (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a miscreant inn worker. After a chance meeting sees him left with a map that leads to Treasure Planet, he speeds off on a dangerous intergalactic voyage aboard Captain Amelia’s (Emma Thompson) galaxy-hopping vessel, alongside his pal Dr. Doppler (David Hyde Pierce), cyborg chef Long John Silver (Brian Murray Bell), and their crew.
Stream “Treasure Planet” on Disney+ now
‘Captain Phillips’ (2013)
A contemporary thriller might not be what you’re first thinking of when searching for pirate movies, but Paul Greengrass’ 2013 action thriller is based on a true story wherein the Maersk Alabama merchant vessel was seized by a crew of Somali pirates, and I think that’s grounds to include it here, especially as this nerve-shredding thriller is so easy to recommend.
The film focuses on the Maersk Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks), and the pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi). It’s arguably the most intense watch on this list and deserved all the praise it earned from filmgoers and movie critics at release.
Buy/rent “Captain Phillips” on Prime Video now
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