Watchworthy

The Best Pirate Movies 

Ranker Film
Updated September 19, 2019 24.2k votes 2.5k voters 63.2k views 59 items

List Rules Films about pirates and their lives on the high seas. Vote up the best pirate movies.

Who doesn’t love a good action flick about the life of a pirate? The idea of searching the world for hidden treasure is a daydream that most of us have as kids. Some of our favorite literary works tell the story of a pirate and his ship and it’s no wonder so many movies tell these piratey, swashbuckling stories as well. But what are the best pirate movies? Cast your votes below and see which film comes out on top!

The movies featured on this list follow the life of a pirate in one way or another. Some are cartoon versions that are great sources of adventure for children, others are based on classic books such as the famous Treasure Island, while others take a dramatic look at what life on the seas is really like. No matter what kind of pirate you're looking for, the world of film certainly has a salty character for you.

This list has the best pirate movies including, Treasure Planet, The Swiss Family Robinson, Pirates of the Caribbean, Treasure Island, Hook, Blackbeard’s Ghost, The Goonies, The Island, and Captain Phillips. Vote up your favorite pirate film below or add one you love that isn't already on the list.

Data-driven recommendations based on voting from over 40 million monthly visits to Ranker. Try the free app
list ordered by
1
Pirates of the Caribbean... is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Zoe Saldana

Released: 2003

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a 2003 American fantasy swashbuckler film based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney theme parks. It was directed by Gore ...more

More Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl ❯

The Best Characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies #23 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made #18 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies

2
Pirates of the Caribbean... is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom

Released: 2006

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

This film is a 2006 American fantasy swashbuckler film and the second installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, following The Curse of the Black Pearl. It was directed by Gore ...more

More Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ❯

The Best Characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies #262 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Madelisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

3
The Goonies is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin, Sean Astin

Released: 1985

Directed by: Richard Donner

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. The film's ...more

More The Goonies ❯

Things You Have To Ignore In Order To Enjoy Watching 'The Goonies' #8 of 349 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime #3 of 571 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

4
The Princess Bride is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, André the Giant

Released: 1987

Directed by: Rob Reiner

The Princess Bride is a 1987 American romantic comedy fantasy adventure film directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner. It was adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name. The ...more

More The Princess Bride ❯

Who Would Star In 'The Princess Bride' If It Were Made Today? #27 of 349 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime #6 of 571 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked

5
Hook is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Robin Williams

Released: 1991

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Hook is a 1991 American fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie. When Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan ...more

More Hook ❯

What Happened To All The Kids From 'Hook'? #175 of 493 The Funniest '90s Movies #283 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made

6
Pirates of the Caribbean... is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Keith Richards

Released: 2011

Directed by: Rob Marshall

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides a 2011 action adventure film based on Tim Powers' novel. The film is directed by Rob Marshall

More Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ❯

The Best Characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies #25 of 82 The Best Film Adaptations of Young Adult Novels #306 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made

7
Treasure Island is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Patrick Troughton, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton

Released: 1950

Directed by: Byron Haskin

Treasure Island is a 1950 live action adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions, adapted from the Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island. It stars Bobby Driscoll as Jim ...more

More Treasure Island ❯

#74 of 82 The Best Film Adaptations of Young Adult Novels #193 of 366 The Best Movies Based On Books #12 of 30 Movies Based On Books You Should Have Read In 6th Grade

8
Pirates of the Caribbean... is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Keith Richards

Released: 2007

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is a 2007 American fantasy swashbuckler film and the third film in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The plot follows Will Turner, Elizabeth ...more

More Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End ❯

The Best Characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies #191 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made #112 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies

9
Pirates of the Caribbean... is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a 2017 fantasy swashbuckler film, and the fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is ...more
10
Swiss Family Robinson is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, Tommy Kirk

Released: 1960

Directed by: Ken Annakin

Swiss Family Robinson is a 1960 British-American family film starring John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro and Tommy Kirk in a tale of a shipwrecked family building an ...more

More Swiss Family Robinson ❯

#15 of 143 The Best Disney Live-Action Movies #14 of 33 The Greatest Classic Films the Whole Family Will Love #2 of 27 The Best Desert Island Movies

11
20,000 Leagues Under the... is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas

Released: 1954

Directed by: Richard Fleischer

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a 1954 American Technicolor adventure film starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre. It was the first CinemaScope science fiction film and ...more

More 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ❯

#73 of 82 The Best Film Adaptations of Young Adult Novels #85 of 599 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Madelisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

12
Blackbeard the Pirate is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Linda Darnell, William Bendix, Robert Newton

Released: 1952

Directed by: Raoul Walsh

Blackbeard the Pirate is a 1952 Technicolor adventure film made by RKO. The film was directed by Raoul Walsh and produced by Edmund Grainger from a screenplay by Alan Le May based on the story ...more
13
Cutthroat Island is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Geena Davis, Frank Langella, Matthew Modine

Released: 1995

Directed by: Renny Harlin

Cutthroat Island is a 1995 romantic comedy action adventure film directed by Renny Harlin. The film stars Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Frank Langella. The film, having endured a notoriously ...more

More Cutthroat Island ❯

Inside ‘Cutthroat Island,’ The Cinematic Flop Accused Of Extinguishing The Pirate Genre #382 of 410 The Best Rainy Day Movies #43 of 100 Movies Turning 25 In 2020

14
Muppet Treasure Island ... is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Tim Curry, Billy Connolly, Jennifer Saunders

Released: 1996

Directed by: Brian Henson

Muppet Treasure Island is a 1996 American musical adventure comedy film based on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. It is the fifth feature film to star The Muppets and was directed by ...more

More Muppet Treasure Island ❯

#171 of 377 The Best Musical Movies of All Time #210 of 493 The Funniest '90s Movies #362 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies

15
Captain Blood is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone

Released: 1935

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Captain Blood is a 1935 American swashbuckling film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, and Ross Alexander. The film was made by First ...more

More Captain Blood ❯

#126 of 212 The Best Adventure Movies #61 of 232 The Best Black and White Movies Ever Made #2 of 52 The Best Errol Flynn Movies

16
Treasure Planet is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short

Released: 2002

Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker

Treasure Planet is a 2002 American animated science fiction adventure film directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. After he receives a map from a pirate, a rebellious teen (Joseph ...more

More Treasure Planet ❯

#64 of 601 The Best Animated Films Ever #9 of 99 The Greatest Kids Sci-Fi Movies #71 of 111 The Best Disney Animated Movies of All Time

17
Treasure Island is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Orson Welles, Maria Rohm, Lionel Stander

Released: 1972

Directed by: Andrea Bianchi, Antonio Margheriti, John Hough

Treasure Island is a 1972 adventure film, based on the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film stars Orson Welles as Long John Silver, Walter Slezak as Squire Trelawney, Rik ...more
18
Treasure Island is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Christian Bale, Christopher Lee, Charlton Heston

Released: 1990

Directed by: Fraser Clarke Heston

Treasure Island is a 1990 TV film adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous 1883 novel Treasure Island, written & directed by Fraser Clarke Heston, and also starring several notable ...more
19
Blackbeard's Ghost is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Suzanne Pleshette, Peter Ustinov, Elsa Lanchester

Released: 1968

Directed by: Robert Stevenson

Blackbeard's Ghost is a 1968 live-action fantasy comedy Disney film starring Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones, and Suzanne Pleshette, directed by Robert Stevenson. It is based upon the novel of the ...more

More Blackbeard's Ghost ❯

#41 of 143 The Best Disney Live-Action Movies #21 of 43 The Funniest Movies About Ghosts #132 of 238 The Best G-Rated Children's Movies

20
The Sea Hawk is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, Gilbert Roland

Released: 1940

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

The Sea Hawk is a 1940 American Warner Bros. feature film starring Errol Flynn as an English privateer who defends his nation's interests on the eve of the Spanish Armada. The film was the tenth ...more
21
Blackbeard is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Angus Macfadyen, Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward

Released: 2006

Directed by: Kevin Connor

Blackbeard is a 2006 adventure-drama miniseries based on the pirate Blackbeard, directed by Kevin Connor from a screenplay written by Bryce Zabel. It premiered on Hallmark Channel on June 17, ...more
22
Captain Kidd is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Charles Laughton, John Carradine, Randolph Scott

Released: 1945

Directed by: Rowland V. Lee

Captain Kidd is a 1945 adventure film starring Charles Laughton, Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, and John Carradine, directed by Rowland V. Lee, produced by Benedict Bogeaus and James Nasser, ...more
23
Captain Phillips is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Tom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Max Martini

Released: 2013

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Captain Phillips is a 2013 American biographical thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. The film is inspired by the true story of the 2009 Maersk ...more

More Captain Phillips ❯

#1,347 of 1,699 The Most Rewatchable Movies #10 of 94 Best Kidnapping Movies & Hostage Movies of All Time, Ranked #6 of 22 The Greatest Lost at Sea Movies Ever Made

24
Long John Silver is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Rod Taylor, Robert Newton, Connie Gilchrist

Released: 1954

Directed by: Byron Haskin

Long John Silver, also known as Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island, is a 1954 United States film production made in Australia about the eponymous pirate from Treasure Island, starring ...more
25
The Buccaneer is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Pirate Movies
Chuck Bennett added Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Charles Boyer

Released: 1958

Directed by: Anthony Quinn

The Buccaneer is a 1958 War film, made by Paramount Pictures like the 1938 version, starring Yul Brynner as Jean Lafitte, Charles Boyer and Claire Bloom. Charlton Heston plays a supporting role ...more