Though pirate movies are still in-demand these days, it is not as much of an eminent film concept as in the 1900s.
A lot of people love the idea of this film and genre, especially the kids, because it was also often used in cartoon and anime films. If you are one of the people who enjoy the storyline of such pirate movies, you can binge-watch these 20 best pirate movies over the weekend.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
English 2h 23m IMDb
Director: Gore Verbinski
Stars: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom
The first ever Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Curse of the Black Pearl, is the one that started the whole franchise. The Black Pearl, Captain Sparrow’s Old ship, came back with his old first mate, Barbossa, to capture Will Turner for the sake of removing the curse of immortality from him and his cursed undead crew.
This film is widely loved by all fans of the Caribbean trilogy as well as also loved by the leading actor, Johnny Depp. Though the movie might be rated PG-13, kids don’t mind Violent and undead pirates if they can watch the movie’s Comedic, entertaining, and thrilling side.
But of course, it is advisable to have them guided by adults when they intend to watch the film!
2. The Black Pirate (1926)
1h 28m IMDb
Director: Albert Parker
Stars: Douglas Fairbanks, Billie Dove, Tempe Pigott
You are probably not yet born when the movie titled The Black Pirate was released, but despite it being a classic, you will absolutely enjoy the movie, especially its plot. It has reached a 7-star rating, thus, proving that a lot of the audience wanted and appreciated watching the film.
People regard it as a silent but deadly masterpiece. The plot is as exciting as you think it is where a nobleman ensures to get revenge for the death of his beloved father in the hands of the terrible and heartless pirates.
Moreover, people appreciated it more especially when the main character is portrayed by Douglas Fairbanks who is by the way a veteran and classic actor proven by his years of experience.
3. Captain Blood (1935)
English 1h 59m IMDb
Director: Michael Curtiz
Stars: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill
Captain Blood may have been produced for more than 50 years already and is probably older than most of you, but this pirate movie is timeless. Like most people who have watched it the first time, you will definitely like this movie.
The audience liked the movie’s location, set, and production design. Moreover, some people appreciate how it tackled political and controversial topics back then, such as patriarchal authority, superstition, and bureaucratic corruption. Captain Blood is considered legendary and the blueprint for most pirate movies even up to this day.
4. The Sea Hawk (1940)
English 2h 7m IMDb
Director: Michael Curtiz
Stars: Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains
It has been more than 8 decades or 82 years to be exact since The Sea Hawk movie was released in theaters. So, if you intend to watch this film, do not be surprised if the quality of the cinematography is not as modern as the recently produced films.
Though, its old-school cinematography style makes it more classic. Even though there are a few viewers who find the movie is lacking when it comes to dynamics. Still, the film was somehow interesting because of its characters, how well the actors played their designated roles, and how well it was written.
5. Sinbad, the Sailor (1947)
English 1h 56m IMDb
Director: Richard Wallace
Stars: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Maureen O’Hara, Walter Slezak
Sinbad, the Sailor is another classic pirate movie you must add to your watch list. Many moviegoers enjoyed this pirate movie as they joined the main character in its adventure of crossing the Seven Seas to find the treasure of Alexander the Great.
This film is also one of the best pirate movies portrayed by the veteran actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr. People enjoyed how the movie’s storytelling was well-thought and consistent regarding its adventure.
Moreover, its entire set and production design were colorful and appreciated by many, which somehow complement the storyline’s humor.
6. Anne of the Indies (1951)
English 1h 21m IMDb
Director: Jacques Tourneur
Stars: Jean Peters, Louis Jourdan, Debra Paget
What is different among the many pirate movies is that this film, Anne of the Indies, is a movie top-billed by a female. The main character is a female pirate portrayed by Jean Peters.
Despite this being a classic, Millenials will still appreciate this movie, especially those who enjoy watching pirate films, because the storyline is well-written and thought out. You will probably not get bored of it. The film will absolutely entertain those who will watch this with some interesting plot and a few action circumstances.
7. Peter Pan (1953)
English 1h 17m IMDb
Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Stars: Bobby Driscoll(voice), Kathryn Beaumont(voice), Hans Conried(voice)
Now, the last on the list is one of Disney’s most fan-favorite animated films. With this, we are talking about Peter Pan from the 1950s. All fans of Young and Old enjoyed the animated film as it is a fun-filled fantasy and has entertaining animation, even in the new generations of kids who love to watch it.
The movie is about our main characters from London who have met the boy in Green overalls named Peter, as they flew out and onto the island known as Neverland, where they met the island’s inhabitants and came face to face with the villain of the movie, Captain Hook.
This animated film is a classic that even kids of this generation still know about the film and the characters.
8. Blackie the Pirate (1971)
Italian 1h 39m IMDb
Director: Lorenzo Gicca Palli
Stars: Terence Hill, Silvia Monti, Jorge Martín
Blackie the Pirate is a film of Captain Blackie planning to steal the Spanish gold from a shipment. The film is filled with battleships and swordplay as it is enjoyable to watch mainly because of its comedic genre. Despite being amusing, some people still find the plot messy and the costume and production design unpleasant to look at.
9. Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
Japanese 2h 5m IMDb
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Stars: Mayumi Tanaka(voice), Keiko Yokozawa(voice), Kotoe Hatsui(voice)
Laputa: Castle in the Sky is not your typical pirate movie that is often R-13. But with, this extraordinary animated pirate film is approved by its viewers. People find it exciting to watch because you are in for a surprise— you will get to experience a fun, exciting, and thrilling adventure throughout the entire film.
We cannot deny that Mizayaki’s films are always superb, including Castle in the Sky. From an exciting and well-written plot story down to the fantastic voice works of the actors and the well-thought-of character portrayal.
10. Hook (1991)
English 2h 22m IMDb
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts
The movie Hook is inspired by the animated film Peter Pan. Moreover, the entire production crew and the cast gave justice to the ever-famous animated film. It is like a modernized and grown-up version of our Neverland fantasy.
Despite it being all fantasy and adventure, viewers will still be able to learn lessons that they can apply in reality due to its in-depth storyline and plot. Moreover, Steven Spielberg has proven his worth as a director and makes sure he creates quality movies – with cinematography, veteran and versatile actors, storyline, and a lot more.
11. Cutthroat Island (1995)
English 2h 4m IMDb
Director: Renny Harlin
Stars: Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella
Another classic female-led pirate film is Cutthroat Island. The storyline will glue you to your seat as you watch the entire film because two pirate ships race against each other to find the enormous treasures on a hidden island.
However, despite it being one of a kind and a great pirate film, it was controversial with its production and distribution, but at least the overall output helped the movie thrive.
12. Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
English 1h 39m IMDb
Director: Brian Henson, David Lane(uncredited)
Stars: Tim Curry, Billy Connolly, Jennifer Saunders
Some of you may be as old as the movie Muppet Treasure Island, but it is also timeless. People still love watching this movie because of its production, plot, and veteran cast quality. Kids and kids mostly appreciate the film at heart as its storyline was inspired by one of the famous children’s books.
This is one of the many muppet movies that garnered high praises and love from those who have seen it. Moreover, it is highly recommended to be added to your watchlist!
13. The Pirates: Band of Misfits (2012)
English 1h 28m IMDb
Director: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt
Stars: Hugh Grant(voice), Salma Hayek(voice), Jeremy Piven(voice)
This animated movie isn’t like any other mature pirate movie, as it is geared toward a younger audience. But that does not mean adults will not enjoy it, but they did enjoy watching it.
The Pirates: Band of Misfits film is for everyone to enjoy in the family as it has comedy and fun-filled action adventure through the seas as the misfit pirates must collect a lot of loot and earn their way to become the Pirate of the year.
14. Captain Phillips (2013)
English 2h 14m IMDb
Director: Paul Greengrass
Stars: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman
Captain Phillips is not your usual pirate movie, as this film is a recreation of what happened in real life. It has received a lot of compliments from the moviegoers as the cinematography and camera works were quite realistic as if they were shooting the hijacking live.
Moreover, the unusual and unknown actors (of course, except for THE Tom Hanks) have proven their worth and their love for their craft. The storyline was well written and quite thrilling all throughout.
15. The Pirate Fairy (2014)
English 1h 18m IMDb
Director: Peggy Holmes
Stars: Mae Whitman(voice), Christina Hendricks(voice), Tom Hiddleston(voice)
Pirate fairy is an enjoyable film for everyone to watch, and it is the fifth installment from Tinkerbell Films.
Notably, the younger audiences that had been following the series; even though the movie is meant to be watched by kids, most adults who deny that they are still kidding at heart often find themselves caring, managing, and loving the entire film!
Tink and her friends must find a fairy that had fled from their home, but soon they find out that they are dealing with pirates, led by a younger captain, hook. The film has references from the original film, Peter Pan, such as the infamous captain hook and others.
16. Pan (2015)
English 1h 51m IMDb
Director: Joe Wright
Stars: Levi Miller, Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund
Pan is a film that was an untold origin story of Peter before he became the hero that we all know and love today. Although old fans of the original Peter Pan don’t like this film as it suddenly came out of nowhere, it is still an entertaining film to watch for newer audiences still yet to know of Peter pan.
This brightly colored action-adventure takes place when he was much younger and was still living in an orphanage in London before he got taken and sent away to Neverland, working as an enslaved person in the mines before he escaped with a few others.
Now banding with James hook, which he befriended before being his future rival, and Tiger lily to help save Neverland from a Pirate called Black beard.
17. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest(2006)
English 2h 31m IMDb
Director: Gore Verbinski
Stars: ohnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
The 2nd movie of the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, is a sequel to the first film. But this movie, among the rest, is now going a bit more serious, severe, and violent as the main protagonist, Davy Jones, is a more threatening villain than Barbossa.
Davy Jones and his crew are here to collect the blood debts of Captain Jack Sparrow, which he needed all the luck he got to survive his fate and to collect a lot of souls to pay back his old debt with the haunting villain. Despite being the second entry in the trilogy, it is considered the best pirate movie among the best films in the trilogy.
18. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End(2007)
English 2h 49m IMDb
Director: Gore Verbinski
Stars: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
The third chapter of the franchise, At World’s End, is the third worthy movie that Hollywood has ever made. Since it is entertaining and enjoyable to watch, the film outdid its predecessor as moviegoers and fans are not disappointed in the franchise’s third film.
After the end of the last movie, The crew ended up rescuing Jack Sparrow from the land of the dead, as they needed to end Davy Jones’s control of the sea once and for all. Though it is not geared towards children, the film has even more deaths, actions, and violence that kids won’t like if they are not used to the series.
On the other hand, the ones that are used to it loved the third film as it has all the action and thrill. It lasts for almost three hours of showdown and fillers. Even 5-year-olds have watched the franchise as some are aware of who is the legendary Jack Sparrow, AKA Johnny Depp.
19. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides(2011)
English 2h 16m IMDb
Director: Rob Marshall
Stars: ohnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane
As the franchise continues, more movies will be made, such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. This is the fourth installment of the series as it is as fun and as thrilling as the last three films.
Though some say that the film lacks the charm and entertainment compared to the successors of the franchise, it is still agreeable to them that it is as fun and as entertaining as it is in the franchise.
Following the end and the death of Davy Jones, the famous Captain Jack Sparrow must fight through other pirates. Captain Jack is now ready to assist a beautiful pirate woman he once loved and get a taste of the legendary fountain of youth that will make her life immortal and live long.
20. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales(2017)
English 2h 9m MDb
Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Stars: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem
Dead Men Tell No Tales, the last film of the Caribbean franchise, is the 5th installment of the favorite fan series that most people in this generation grew up watching.
Though not as loved as the other installment, the film has some lackluster and poor plotting as the franchise is now running out of ideas on where Captain Jack Sparrow will go next.
However, it is a fun ride nonetheless and a decent finale send-off to the beloved franchise. In this film, the story takes on a new adventure. You will notice that the enemy is now hunting Jack down from his past. The Spanish Captain the haunted and angry ghost due to his deep hatred for our favorite captain, sparrow.
Summary
Halloween is getting nearer, so the left and right Halloween parties or costume parties will occur! And one of the most favorite costumes by most people is portraying a pirate!
Try to binge-watch these 20 best pirate movies and study each pirate character you would want to cosplay! You will notice that the pirate movies concept has been in the industry since the early years of the 1920s since it was more popular back then compared to the movies that are being released these days.