Pirates! The ancient lore of swashbuckling scoundrels pillaging and plundering has inspired classic fantastical tales. With societal preconceptions making pirates seem fun to be around, that was by no means the reality. However, film interpretations can be open to a bit of leniency. It is always a blast to see a band of pirates sailing the high sea on the search for treasure. After all, the story of piracy encapsulates danger and adventure, and who doesn’t want to see that on screen (or live it out, as seen in the delightful recentHBO comedyOur Flag Means Death).
The reality of pirates was that they were not at all empathetic or humane in the moral sense. But as most stories go, the characters must have a bit of relatability to the audience. There have been motion pictures that tell the tale of piracy while maintaining a bit of cinematic fun. Seeing what pirates truly did would not be all that enjoyable an experience. However, a majority of pirate-themed stories have grounded themselves in the children’s or family genre. There are a few classic stories of pirates that live on and set a standard for films of the genre.
9Muppet Treasure Island
Tim Curry andthe charming Muppetstogether in a pirate-themed adventure is enough to describe and sell the classicMuppet Treasure Island.While it is solely a children’s film and maintains the musical whimsy of most Muppet stories, the film is an enjoyable ride, and it is one of the biggest scaled Muppet films to date. The familiarity of the characters like Kermit, Fozzy and Gonzo pull the audience in, but Tim Curry truly steals the show as Long John Silver. His dedication to the role is palpable and makes for one entertaining experience.
Related:These Are the Best Tim Curry Movies, Ranked
8Treasure Planet
Disney’s underrated animated moviefrom 2002,Treasure Planet, is a steam-punk reiteration of theTreasure Islandstory. The combination of the pirate-themed genre as well as science-fiction meld together in a way audiences have not seen before. The film is ambitious and takes the audience through galaxies of unique locations with entertaining characters. However, the heart of the film is truly that adventure for something wondrous, which is expressed perfectly by the prominent theme of piracy and its impact on the overall tone of the film.
Robin Williams soars off the screen as Peter Banning in Steven Spielberg’sHook.The film has a dedication to childlike amazement and embracing imagination. The story is more of a redemption tale for Williams’ character, who has forgotten who he truly is: Peter Pan. Once he unlocks the adventure within him, the film becomes the swashbuckling ride we had hoped it would be. It is filled with one-liners and clashes between good and evil. But the heart of the movie is the love of one’s family. It is one of Williams’ classic roles and Spielberg’s more innocent interpretations.
6The Pirates! Band of Misfits
The great Aardman Animationssits on a high stature when it comes to stop-motion animated features. With a wide range of genres and character designs, the studio continues to show that they can pull off any type of story.The Pirates! Band of Misfits(or as it’s also known,The PiratesI In an Adventure Witch Scientists!) is their crack at the pirate genre, and it is a lighthearted adventure about friendship.
The Oscar-nominated film also tells a compelling story about materialism and the very concept of treasure. While The Pirate Captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) is on the hunt for the trophy and crown of The Pirate of the Year, he soon realizes that his surrounding crew is worth more than any speck of gold. This message is an important one for kids to see, which gives this film a more mature presentation.
5Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s Endis the third installment of thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, and it ‘surly’ packs a lot into a nearly three-hour adventure. While the shift from pillage and plundering has moved to the spiritual and supernatural, the film does have great moments. Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow’s clash with Davy Jones is a classic Disney moment. But the heart and soul of this film… is the heart itself, the disembodied heart everyone is after. Destiny has awaited Will Turner and to see how his arc had led him towards complete piracy was poetic.While thePiratesfranchise continuedafter this installment, this film was a nice bookend to the trilogy.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestis the second installment of thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, and it introduced audiences to some of the greatest motion capture in film history. Davy Jones (played by Bill Nighy) is a character who makes the audience question what it means to be dead or alive. He is a powerhouse and steals every scene he is in.
Related:Pirates of the Caribbean Movies in Order: How to Watch Chronologically and by Release Date
Of course, seeing Johnny Depp back as the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow is a cinematic treat. But the film focuses on darker tones, and in fact it is one ofDisney’s darkest films to date. Jack Sparrow is constantly faced with doing either what is right, or what is convenient for him. Seeing his heroic arc when he is face to face with the Kraken is overall one of the greatest moments in the franchise.
3Peter Pan
Straight from the Disney vault, the classic 1953 animated filmPeter Pancaptures the magic we all have grown to love about the studio. Captain Hook, in his most recognizable depiction, is an extremely effective villain and there is nothing more iconic than seeing him go head-to-head against the innocent Peter Pan. The film takes audiences to a world far from reality, into the stars where this adventure awaits.
2Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlis the first of thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise and possibly the strongest received critically. In Disney’s first PG-13 film, there is a more realistic depiction of the dirtiness and rawness these pirates inhabited. The film is explosive and fun, but is committed to telling a pirate story. While there is a supernatural element to the film, it does not overshadow why we are all there. It also introduced us to the greatest captain we have ever seen on screen, Captain Jack Sparrow. This film also garneredJohnny Depp an Academy Award nominationfor his role as the swashbuckling scoundrel.
1Captain Phillips
The true story of modern day piracy is one of the most intense we have ever seen.Captain Phillipsis the story of a US container vessel that was hijacked by Somali pirates. These pirates are not like the fun, entertaining sword-slashers we are used to seeing. These pirates are true to the ones seen today, and are quite violent and intimidating. One of the pirates in particular, played by Barkbhad Abdi, was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance. This is a high-stakes, fast moving film by Paul Greengrass that is certainly unforgettable.
