Despite the large place that pirates have in pop culture, there are surprisingly few films that are just about rotten scallywags shouting “avast ye!” and boarding ships. While pirate films were huge in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, the genre fell out of fashion until the Johnny Depp-led Pirates of the Caribbean franchise brought it roaring back. Here are the ten best movies (and shows) about pirates!
Treasure Island
There’s nothing quite as iconic as Treasure Island when it comes to the pirate genre. Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver go on an unforgettable journey to find buried pirate treasure. It plays like a collection of cliches now, but that’s because this is the movie that helped create the genre.
Hook
Robin Williams playing a grown-up Peter Pan seemed like a weird idea in the 90s, and Hook still remains one of the most divisive of Spielberg’s films. Still, it presents some compelling swashbuckling drama and uses its titular villain to great effect.
Black Sails
Speaking of Treasure Island, Black Sails was initially written as a prequel to the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel that the movie was based on. Black Sails also has some real-world pirates in fictionalized versions of their adventures. It’s a surprisingly gripping, heavy show that focuses on the consequences of greed.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is the movie that ignited many young fans’ love of pirate stories. Johnny Depp steals the show as a Keith Richards-inspired swaggering pirate captain who needs to return treasure, rather than steal it, so he can break an ancient curse and get his beloved ship back.
The Princess Bride
You might not think of The Princess Bride when you think of pirate movies, but hear us out here. Westley is kidnapped by pirates and shaped into the hero he becomes due to his time as a swashbuckling ship’s attendant with the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Captain Phillips
Maybe a modern-day pirate story isn’t quite in the main genre of swashbuckling adventure, but, trust us, this one is worth checking out. It’s a retelling of the 2009 capture of an American cargo vessel by Somali pirates, the first such capture in 200 years.
Treasure Planet
The impact of Treasure Island on the pirate genre can’t really be overstated. Treasure Planet is a Disney animated film that loosely adapts the novel’s plot but transposes it to a steampunk, sci-fi setting. It’s a bit unwieldy, plot-wise, but it’s still a visually stunning movie that any fan of pirates should check out.
Master and Commander: Far Side of the World
Russell Crowe starred in Master and Commander: Far Side of the World as Captain Aubrey. The film is not technically about pirates at all, but it’s a classic Age of Sail story depicting realistic naval combat, so we’ll let it slide!
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Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death is a hilarious pirate comedy that uses classic Taika Waititi chaos and swashbuckling action to make the best use of the Golden Age of Piracy as a setting. It’s irreverent, openly joyous, and was tragically cut short after only two seasons.
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Firefly/Serenity
Speaking of shows that were tragically cut short, Firefly only got one season on the air before Fox pulled the plug. The space western focuses on a crew of mercenaries aboard the Serenity. In some cases they’re basically space pirates, though they’re a heroic bunch (mostly) and do a lot more saving the day than stealing from merchant vessels.
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