sailboat movies

20 Best Sailing Movies of all Time

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

If you have been looking forward to curling up on the couch, grabbing a bowl of popcorn, and watching some captivating movies, this can be a good time. A good sailing movie can be perfect given that you'll hear a few lines that you're already familiar with when on the dock or setting sail.

This can be a perfect time to binge-watch some of the best sailing movies.

So in no particular order, we'll highlight 20 of the best sailing movies of all time. From the brutal and dramatic tales of man vs. sea to inspirational explorations and expeditions, we've covered it all. Keep reading and you'll be inspired while waiting to get off dry land when it's safe to do so.

Table of contents

All is Lost (2013)

For lone sailors, All is Lost is probably the best movie to give you a glimpse of what might go wrong for you if you decide to sail the big blue ocean alone. With a near-mute performance as an old man who loves sailing alone, Robert Redford puts in an almost quasi-silent performance by portraying the ordeal of what a lone sailor can undergo when the sea turns on you.

Directed by JC Chandor, there's only one person on the screen throughout the film. He's all alone in the vast sea with his damaged boat. He has to become tough, resourceful, and calm even when things turn against him. Single-character movies are a rarity even today but this is a great survival film that perfectly depicts what could happen even to the hardest lone sailors out there.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Directed by the talented Peter Weir, this critically-acclaimed movie was nominated for 10 Oscars and won for best cinematography and sound editing. Depicting the return of the high-seas adventure, this movie is skillfully and meticulously adapted from the historical novel by Patrick O'Brian set during the Napoleonic Wars and starring Russell Crowe.

Crowe plays an arrogant captain who pushes his ship crew to the limits while trying to capture a French warship. This movie offers action-packed battle scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This movie gives you an insight of what sailors undergo in their struggles to make it through the high-seas alive.

Captain Ron (1992)

With little sailing experience but with an inherited yacht moored on an offshore island Martin Short hires charismatic Captain Ron to take them back to Florida. The voyage isn't as easy as they expected as they have to face pirates, breakdowns, and other obstacles. They all get more than what they bargained for.

Portrayed by Kurt Russell, Captain Ron depicts the misadventures of a nominal sailing character that is hired by an upper-middle-class father to guide a yacht through the Caribbean. From the marine accidents, pirates, guerilla carnivals to malfunctioning equipment, and Russell's croaked absurdities, this movie is just full of double humor and worthy performance. 

Wind (1992)

As one of the biggest races in competitive sailing, America's Cup is often associated with rich people competing in weird-looking boats. But this movie changes this as it takes viewers through the eyes of tanned and rugged Will Parker as played by Matthew Modine. He's hired by a self-made millionaire (Cliff Robertson) to lead his crew in the competition.

Together with his girlfriend Kate who is an equally skilled sailor, Parker intends to win America's Cup but Kate is thrown off the crew leaving Parker angry. When the crew loses America's Cup to the Australians, Parker decides to form his own syndicate to win back the cup. 

White Squall (1996)

This movie follows a young man's adventure movie that follows a group of high school students who boards the brigantine ship called Albatross for their senior year at sea. They sail to the tip of South America and back. They get to accept responsibility, learn how to be sailors, and grow up.

The skipper of the ship, Christopher Sheldon together with the 13 teenage boys set sail for an eight-month voyage. The boys soon discover Sheldon's psyche gradations, rattling tension, and freak storms that sink the ship. As a sailor, you'll be disturbed by the fact that four students and two crew members drown, leaving skipper Sheldon facing a fierce tribunal, tortured conscience, and grieving parents and students.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

As one of the greatest epic movies of the 1960s, English Captain Bligh is on a sea voyage to transport breadfruit from England to Jamaica. He is so abusive that he gets on the nerves of his crew members, especially 1st Lieutenant, Fletcher Christian.

Tension eases when they reach Jamaica and the crew indulges in the island's lifestyle but the captain claps some members of his crew in irons as they try to desert. Further abuses lead Fletcher to inspire a mutiny against the Captain. Fletcher and his men set the Captain and his loyal members afloat in a rowboat. This movie offers a realistic depiction of a larger-than-life character that most sailors are known for. 

Dead Calm (1989)

Starring Billy Zane, Nicole Kidman, Sam Neil, and a gorgeous 60 ft. ketch, Dead Calm revolves around a mass-murderer who kidnaps and seduces a young beautiful woman after leaving a husband to die on a vessel whose crew he has just murdered.

This movie was filmed in the Whitsundays Islands of Australia, which is one of the best sailing destinations in the world. Bringing forth an epic combination of deadly sailing conditions , complete isolation from the rest of the world, and a skillful villain aboard the vessel, this movie is thrilling and will leave you looking behind your back whenever you're out there on the sea.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

This adventure-comedy follows the high journeys of Steve Zissou, a character adaptation of French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. It follows his ocean expedition when tracking the ‘jaguar shark' that apparently ate his partner, Esteban.

Esteban had been working with Zissou on a documentary about mysterious circumstances by a shark. This is a sharp film with lots of fun and adventure on the sea.

Kon-Tiki (2012)

Legendary Norwegian explorer and ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl believes that the South Sea Islands were originally colonized by South Americans. Thor, who fears water and doesn't know how to swim, partakes on a voyage in 1947 to prove his belief. Together with five crew members, set sail from Peru on a balsa-wood ancient raft.

Even though their only modern equipment is a radio, they have to navigate through the ocean while relying on stars and ocean currents and they achieve the impossible after exhausting three months at the sea. This is a very spirited adventure that depicts what's possible when we believe in our dreams. 

Maidentrip (2013)

A 14-year-old sailor by the name Laura Dekker sets sail on a two-year voyage in pursuit of her dream to become the world's youngest sailor. Laura sets out from Holland and sails throughout the world. Apart from the occasional foul language that Laura uses now and then on the documentary, this is an excellent film that shows what one can achieve when he/she lives her dream and works hard towards achieving it.

The documentary, however, doesn't suggest that Laura is alarmingly young to sail across the unforgiving Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Instead, she's depicted as an independent outsider who is looking for paradise in a never-ending sea. 

Adrift (2018)

In most cases, sailors seem to never anticipate that they may sail directly into a catastrophic hurricane and this is exactly what Richard Sharp and Tami Oldham do when they sail directly in one of the worst hurricanes ever recorded in history.

Tami awakes in the aftermath of the hurricane to find their boat in ruins and Richard is badly injured. And because they do not have any hope that they would ever get help or get rescued, Tami is left with two options: sit there and perish or find strength and determination to save herself as well as the only man she's ever loved.

Turning Tide (En Solitaire) (2013)

In this daring tale, this movie portrays how a fearless sailor known as Yann Kermadec finds a lot of obstacles in his biggest race as a two-hander named Turning Tide falls flat. In a nail-biting tension, the story begins when Kermadec replaces the main skipper in the Vendee Globe on short notice.

After some smooth sailing, things go eerily wrong for the sailor as his ship is damaged and he's forced to anchor off the Canary Islands to repair it. When he gets back on his journey, he soon discovers that a Mauritanian teenage boy has sneaked inside the boat and he has no option but to sail with him at least until they cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

An old Cuban angler known as Spencer Tracy is so unlucky that he hasn't caught any fish in 84 days. And despite the commitment of a young boy to bring him food, the angler fears that he's forever lucky but catches a small fish on his 85th day, so he decides to keep fishing.

When one of his many fishing lines hooks a large marlin, he decides not to go back to the shore until he reels it in. For almost two days and nights, he has no choice but to sit there and do everything he can to redeem himself from what seems like a perpetual failure.

Morning Light (2008)

By entering the TRANSPAC, which is one of the world's best open-ocean competitions, 15 young men and women prepare for a sailing adventure of their lives. With world-class teachers, these sailors begin intense training in Hawaii but only reach a climax in an elimination process that comes in the form of who-stays-and-who-goes process.

This documentary follows these sailors for six months as they embark on a 2,300-mile sailing ordeal, which starts in Los Angeles and ends in Honolulu.

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Created by Wolfgang Petersen, The Perfect Storm is a blockbuster that's big on visuals and depicts an action-packed escapade on the water as Captain Billy Tyne and his crew set on a fishing expedition aboard a ship known as Andrea Gail.

They're soon caught up in a catastrophic destructive storm when they decide to risk the storm and have to deal with a very powerful hurricane. At the height of their fishing expedition, their ice machine breaks down and the only way to ensure that their catch doesn't go stale is by hurrying back to the shore to sell their catch. This is exactly why they decide to risk their lives and it doesn't turn out as they expected.

Captain Phillips (2013)

When Captain Richard Phillips takes command of an unarmed container ship known as MV Maersk Alabama from the port of Salalah in Oman, they anticipate that they'll be attacked by Somali Pirates on their way to Mombasa, Kenya.

They attack the ship and Captain Phillips has to use his wits and diplomacy to negotiate with the pirates and save his crew. 

Maiden (2018)

As the saying goes; what a man can do a woman can do even better. This is exactly what's depicted by this sailing movie that follows the life of Tracy Edwards as she leads the first all-female crew when competing in the Whitbread Round the World Race.

Covering 33,000 miles and lasting for nine months, this is a truly grueling race that depicts the corrosive sexism that still exists in the sailing world as well as the ocean terrors that sailors have to deal with during voyages or competitions. 

Chasing Bubbles (2016)

This is a captivating documentary that follows the journey of Alex Rust who is a free spirit who gives the normal life to sail around the world. Alex is brought up as a farm boy but becomes a stock trader in Indiana. At the age of 25, he decides to abandon his life in Chicago, buys a modest sailboat known as Bubbles and embarks on a very unique free-spirited voyage. It takes him three years to sail around the world and to quench his insatiable curiosity while meeting great people and fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a free soul.

This is a breathtaking travelogue that depicts the sailing life of a truly absorbing character.

180° South (2010)

Directed by Chris Malloy, this is a sailing documentary that covers the journey of Jeff Johnson as he travels from Ventura, California to Patagonia in Chile. He does this to retrace the same trip covered by Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins in 1968.

While the two initial explorers made the journey on the land, Johnson travels by sea using a small boat.

Deep Water (2006)

This movie follows the true-life story of Donald Crowhurst, an inexperienced British sailor who enters the Golden Globe, which is the first nonstop boat race in the world. Donald puts up his home as collateral to gain financial backing to compete in the race but soon finds himself on the wrong end of things as he enters the race under-prepared.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Atlas & Boots

The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog

25 sailing movies for when you’re knot shore what to watch

We share some of our favourite best sailing movies, from Hollywood blockbusters and indie films to illuminating documentaries

I still hang on to the rather fanciful notion of sailing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race . Until I pluck up the courage (and the funds), I’ve been busying myself with more realistic nautical escapades.

From  tall ship sailing off the west coast of Scotland  to  sailing the Whitsunday Islands  in Australia , more and more of our travels have taken place on the water.

However, until I make the leap from weekend warrior to blue water sailor, I’ll have to make do with films, books and daydreams.

With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of the best sailing movies I’ve seen. What follows is a broad mix of modern and classic, indie and feature, drama and documentary film. Whatever their style, these flicks are thoroughly wet and wonderful.

And, I’m sorry about the pun, but you know, ship happens.

best sailing movies

Listed in no particular order, these nautical movies include terrifying ordeals of tragedy, inconceivable stories of survival, turbulent tales of adventure and wild journeys of discovery – perfect for a night in on a dry and comfy sofa.

1. Kon-Tiki (1950) Let’s start with one of the best sailing movies ever made. In 1947, Heyerdahl and five others sailed from Peru on a balsa wood raft. This is the classic Academy Award winning documentary of their astonishing journey across 4,300 miles of the Pacific Ocean.

Watch on Amazon Rotten Tomatoes IMDB

2. Red Dot on the Ocean (2014) Once labelled a ‘youth-at-risk’, 30-year old Matt Rutherford risked it all in an attempt to become the first person to sail solo non-stop around North and South America. Red Dot on the Ocean is the story of Matt’s death-defying voyage and the childhood odyssey that shaped him.

3. The Dove (1974) Produced by Gregory Peck, this coming-of-age adventure is based on the true story of Robin Lee Graham . At 16, he set sail in a 23ft sloop determined to be the youngest person to sail around the world.

4. Wind (1992) In over 140 years of competition, the US has lost the America’s Cup just once. This is a fictional story of the American challengers intent on winning back sailing’s top prize. A tale of money, power, love and ambition follows… oh, and some sailing.

5. Morning Light (2008) A riveting true-life adventure aboard the high-tech sloop Morning Light. Fifteen rookie sailors have one goal in mind: to be part of her crew, racing in one of the most revered sailing competitions in the world, the Transpac Yacht Race .

6. Between Home – Odyssey of an Unusual Sea Bandit (2012) An independent filmmaker’s account of his solo voyage from the UK to Australia, negotiating the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans en route. A trip that eventually takes over two years to complete.

Watch on Amazon IMDB

7. Styx (2019) When a lone yachtswoman comes across a sinking ship of refugees, she is torn away from her idyllic trip and tasked with a momentous decision. Should she act when authorities tell her to sail away?

8. Captain Ron (1992) After inheriting a yacht, a Chicago businessman enlists long-haired, one-eyed low-life Captain Ron to pilot the yacht from the Caribbean to Miami. During the voyage, the sailor frequently loses his way while becoming a hit with the businessman’s family. Goofy comedy starring Kurt Russell and Martin Short widely recognised as one of the funniest sailing movies ever made.

9. Maidentrip (2013) This riveting documentary chronicles the life and adventures of 14-year-old Laura Dekker who set out on a two-year voyage in pursuit of her dream to be the youngest person ever to sail solo around the world.

10. Kon-Tiki (2012) A well-crafted retelling of the epic original and one of the best sailing movies ever made. This dramatised version is a throwback to old-school adventure filmmaking that’s exciting and entertaining in spite of its by-the-book plotting.

“But you can’t navigate a raft,” he added. “It goes sideways and backwards and round as the wind takes it.” – Thor Heyerdahl, Kon-Tiki

11. Abandoned (2015) Four men set sail on the trimaran yacht Rose Noelle . It capsizes in a storm, trapping the crew in a space the size of a double bed. After 119 days adrift, the yacht washes ashore. The crew’s story is extraordinary, but doubt is cast on their claims and they face hostility from the media and authorities.

12. Adrift (2019) There are far better films on this list, but Adrift is just about worth a watch. Based on true events, a young couple embark on an adventure of a lifetime that brings them face to face with one of the worst hurricanes in recorded history.

13. The Perfect Storm (2000) A skipper insists that his crew go out on a final fishing trip before winter sets in. Unknown to them, a brutal storm is on its way. While the special effects are excellent for the time, the film falls a little  short on characterisation.

14. Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World (2016) The vessel is Infinity, a 120ft hand-built sailboat, crewed by a band of miscreants. The journey, an 8,000-mile Pacific crossing from New Zealand to Patagonia with a stop in Antarctica .

15. Turning Tide / En Solitaire (2013) Franck Drevil is a star skipper, having won the latest Vendée Globe , the most prestigious round-the-world single-handed yacht race. However, with this year’s race approaching, a sudden accident forces Franck to withdraw.

16. Knife in the Water (1962) When a young hitchhiker joins a couple on a weekend yacht trip, psychological warfare breaks out as the two men compete for the woman’s attention. A storm forces the small crew below deck and tension builds to a violent climax.

17. Dead Calm (1989) This tense thriller tells the story of an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill) whose yacht cruise is violently interrupted by the mysterious lone survivor (Billy Zane) of a ship whose crew has perished.

18. The Riddle of the Sands (1979) A classic British swashbuckling yarn based on the early English spy novel of the same name. In 1901, two British yachtsmen visit Germany’s Frisian Islands and accidentally discover a German plot to invade England.

19. Maiden (2019) The story of Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook on charter boats, who became the skipper of the first-ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989.

20. White Squall (1996) Based on a true incident from 1960, White Squall is the story of the tragic sinking of the Albatross , a prep school educational two-masted schooner, during a Caribbean storm. Starring Jeff Bridges.

21. The Mercy (2017) Starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz, this is certainly no heroic tale. Instead, it’s the dramatisation of the bizarre story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst and his attempt to pull off one of the greatest hoaxes of our time: pretending to be the first to sail singlehandedly around the world!

22. Deep Water (2006) Following on from the above, Deep Water is a British documentary about the remarkable story of the first Golden Globe round the world yacht race , focusing on the psychological toll it took on its competitors – particularly one Donald Crowhurst.

23. Captains Courageous (1937) A spoiled brat who falls overboard from a steamship gets picked up by a fishing boat, where he’s made to earn his keep by joining the crew in their work. Based on the 1897 novel by Rudyard Kipling.

24. Open Water 2: Adrift (2006) A silly premise, but entertaining nonetheless. Six friends jump off a yacht without lowering the ladder first. With no way to climb aboard, it’s only a matter of time before bickering turns to terror.

25. Master and Commander – The Far Side of the World (2003) During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain (Russell Crowe) pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel.

“Do you not know that in the service one must always choose the lesser of two weevils?” – Capt. Jack Aubrey, Master and Commander

Readers’ suggestions

Here’s what our readers have added to the list of the best sailing movies.

• Masquerade (1988)
• Violets are Blue (1986)
• Kill Cruise (1992)
• Message in a Bottle (1999)
• High wind in Jamaica (1965)
• Caddyshack (1980)
• O Mundo em Duas Voltas (The World in Two Round Trips) (2007)
• One Crazy Summer (1986)
• Coyote: The Mike Plant Story (2018)
• The Weekend Sailor (2017)
• Harpoon (2019)
• Waterworld (1995)
• Around Cape Horn (1929)
• Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
• Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
• The Bounty (1984)
• All Is Lost (2013)

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

The Ultimate List of the 17 Best Sailing Movies

Nothing can inspire dreamers quicker than an evening of streaming old sailor movies. Sailing adventure movies can be terrifying survival stories or inspirational documentaries about sailors pushing their limits. Unfortunately, Hollywood blockbusters are rarely sailing-related, but there are a few examples out there that will get the seawater in your veins pumping.

Table of Contents

Waterworld (1995), white squall (1996), wind (1992) – the story of the world’s biggest sailing prize, captain ron (1992), pirates of the caribbean (2003-2017), black sails (2014-2017) – a series with great sailing scenes, master and commander – far side of the world (2003), kon tiki (2012), the bounty (1984), all is lost (2013), adrift (2018), the mercy (2018), maiden (2018), chasing bubbles (2016), sea gypsies: the far side of the world (2017), red dot on the ocean (2014), maidentrip (2013), which are your favorite top sailing movies.

Feature Films and Big Productions – Best Sailing Films of All Time

In no particular order, here are my top picks for the best sailboat movies. Good sailing movies can be divided into two categories. Most are about survival at sea, less a sailing movie and more of a drama set on a sailboat. Others are feature films, sailor movies complete with sailing action and exploration. Let’s start with those.

It’s the year 2500, and the ice caps have melted, and sea level rise has claimed the world. The Mariner (Kevin Costner) lives as a wandering nomad on the oceans in his custom-built trimaran. Chased by thugs on jet skis, he leads a search for a mystical place called the “Dryland.”

Ok, it’s ridiculous, and it was a complete flop at the box office when it was released. But Costner’s trimaran is pretty cool. And what cruising sailor doesn’t envy him, with his sad little tomato plant and total freedom?

Based on a true story, White Squall is the story of the brigantine Albatross and her crew of college-aged men. Directed by Ridley Scott and staring Jeff Bridges as the salty Skipper, the movie is captivating and authentic.

The Albatross was a teaching vessel, and Skipper was there to teach the men discipline and how to survive as a team. Drama unfolds as the crew gets to know one another, and even more drama ensues when the brigantine encounters a freakish white squall offshore.

Even cruising sailors will love this inspirational story of an underdog attempt to take back the America’s Cup. For the uninitiated, the America’s Cup is the most prestigious trophy in sailing and the oldest trophy in competitive sports.

The movie features incidents taken from real competitions and fictionalized into the plot. Peter Gilmour, who sailed in the 1987 America’s Cup, was the “Sailing Master” for the film. Many of the yachts used in filming were actual boats from America’s Cup races. Best brush up on those points of sail and sailing terms before watching–this movie is as authentic as it gets!

Overall, the movie has the over-the-top romanticism of movies of the era, like Top Gun but set on the water. But just like Top Gun , this movie is as entertaining today as it was back then.

Absolutely no list of sailing movies is complete without including Captain Ron . And love it or hate it, it deserves to be in top place. Sure, it’s goofy, silly, and a bit dated. But this story of a straight-laced midwestern family throwing in the towel to live on a sailboat in the Caribbean resonates with dreamers and sailors like no other film does.

What makes the movie so special is Kurt Douglas’s portrayal of the singular Captain Ron Rico. Who else could’ve given us these quotes, which will live on, quoted repeatedly on sailboats everywhere?

“If anything is going to happen, it’s going to happen out there!” “A diesel loves her oil like a sailor loves his rum.” “If we get lost, we’ll just pull in somewhere and ask directions!” “Yeah, incentives are important. I learned that in rehab.” Captain Ron Rico

And then there’s the boat. The Formosa 51 ketch Wanderer was the perfect boat for this movie. Its dilapidated condition and lack of seaworthiness are sure to make every boat owner laugh out loud. But, like any good boat, with a little elbow grease, she got them through it.

There are tons of rumors and fables surrounding this film in sailing circles. But consider this. It accurately details two real types of characters. The Harvey family, led by the indomitable Martin Short, is like many starry-eyed Americans who fled to the Caribbean for a life afloat. And Captain Ron? He’s based on a real person . The real one even had a peg leg, but the movie producers thought that would be too over the top!

For a movie series based on a hokey 1960’s Disney Land ride, the Pirates of the Caribbean films have made a name for themselves. It’s the 15th highest-grossing film series of all time, and two movies have grossed more than $1 billion. There have been five films to date, but rumors are a sixth may be in the works.

So, Pirates is a fun series of movies, but how’s the sailing connection? Well, the Black Pearl is a sailing ship, sort of. It’s more of a ghost ship. And it’s all set at sea or on pirate-plagued islands in the Caribbean, so that’s neat. Overall, I wouldn’t rate these films as sailing ship movies, but they certainly are fun to watch.

It’s not a movie per se, but who doesn’t like a binge-worthy series? Combine Game of Thrones with a realistic pirate story, and you get the idea. It’s dirty, gritty, and historically accurate. Black Sails aired on Starz Network for four seasons and can be streamed on Hulu, Amazon Prime, and others.

The series is a prequel to Treasure Island and provides a backstory for pirates Long John Silver and Captain Flint. Unfortunately, Robert Louis Stevenson didn’t go into much detail about the notorious Flint, so the show used some artistic license to combine these fictional characters with the real pirates of the Caribbean.

More specifically, the stories are set in Nassau during its period as the “Pirate Republic” before England sent Woods Rogers to govern the island in 1718 and drive the pirates out. Yes, this is all there, and many real-life pirates are depicted in the show. The story tells the tales of Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, Charles Vane, Israel Hands, and even Blackbeard. What a show!

And, of course, the ships and the action packed battle scenes are amazing to watch.

This movie is based on the novels by Patrick O’Brian about Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), commander of the British man-of-war HMS Surprise during the Napoleonic Wars. The story follows the chase and battle with the French privateer Acheron , who they follow around Cape Horn to the Galapagos Islands, where drama ensues.

The characters in the movie and novels are fictionalized, as are the precise events. But the author drew from real events that occurred during the Napoleonic Wars. The film draws from three different novels in O’Brian’s series.

The film is exceedingly accurate, with all shooting taking place on real ships. Ten days of filming were done at sea, while the rest was shot in the same 20-million-gallon seawater tank in Baja California where Titanic was shot.

The Kon-Tiki Expedition was a 1947 raft journey to prove people from South America could have populated the Polynesian Islands. At the time, most theories believed that the Polynesian people settled from west to east, not east to west. The expedition was led by Norwegian writer Thor Heyerdahl, who wrote the book about it. There was also an Academy Award-winning documentary made by the same name in 1950.

The 2012 version is dramatized but follows the events closely. Heyerdahl’s opponents, at the time, countered that no expedition would likely be successful in reaching Polynesia from Chile. To prove them wrong, he builds a balsawood raft with the same materials and techniques that people would have 1,500 years prior. The 4,300 nautical miles journey doesn’t go smoothly, as you might imagine. But then, I don’t want to give away the movie!

You can’t talk about sea stories without including a good mutiny. And while there are plenty of good tails, few stand the test of time better than the character-driven plot of William Bligh and Fletcher Christian of the HMS Bounty . The story was portrayed in the 1962 MGM film Mutiny on the Bounty and again in 1984 in The Bounty starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. Both films used extremely accurate replica ships.

Sailing Movie Stories of Survival at Sea

It can’t be denied that many good sea stories revolve around the conflict of man against the elements. The sea is the ultimate element, so many movies about sailing turn toward a darker survival story.

Most sailors dislike this movie immensely. It has so many flaws that the story takes on more water than the boat in the movie does. But putting those facts aside, it’s a gripping tale of one man (Robert Redford), alone on a sinking cruising boat in the middle of the ocean, struggling to survive.

In 1983, a young couple was asked to ferry a yacht from the South Sea islands, through the sailing routes across the Pacific , to the US. But things go poorly when they run head-first into Hurricane Raymond, a late-season Category 4 storm.

The boat is knocked down and dismasted, and the man is washed overboard. The movie is based on the 2002 book Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldham Ashcraft, the sole survivor. In other words, it’s a true story.

Another true story follows amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth), a dreamer who sets out to enter the 1968 Golden Globe single-hand around-the-world race. The only problem? He doesn’t own a boat or know how to sail. So he gets some sponsors, builds a trimaran, and leaves his home and family behind. Then, as you might suspect, drama ensues.

Documentary Sailing Movies

Sailing documentary films aren’t for everyone and seldom make for a light-hearted date night. But there are some great sailing movies in this genre for those looking for inspiring true stories without all the big-movie hubbub.

This movie tells the tale of the all-woman crew in the 1989-1990 Whitbread Round the World Race. It features interviews with Captain Tracy Edwards, who formed the team.

This YouTube documentary is about the true story of the (self-described) worst sailor to ever sail around the world. At 25, Alex Rust left his life as a day trader in Chicago to sail the world. With a sailboat he buys on Craigslist, Rust finds adventure during his four-year journey.

Sea Gypsies is the story of the sailing ketch Infinity , a 120-foot hand-built vessel on a never-ending nomadic voyage. The crew of 16 “wandering miscreants” set out from New Zealand in 2014 during one of the worst winters on record. They stopped in Antarctica on the way to Patagonia, 8,000 miles away. The film has won numerous awards at global film festivals.

You can rent Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World on Venmo or Amazon Prime in the US.

Another story about a young man risking it all to find freedom on the ocean, Red Dot on the Ocean tells the story of Matt Rutherford. At age 17 and in jail, Rutherford became inspired and turned his life around. He bought a pocket cruiser sailboat on the internet and cruised from the US to Europe, West Africa, and back to the Caribbean.

He was then inspired by Artic explorers like Shackleton and set out to transit the Northwest Passage by boat. That led to his desire to become the first sailor to circumnavigate the American continents, a 27,000-mile journey.

You can purchase Red Dot on the Ocean on Venmo, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV. You can also hear some great interviews with Rutherford on the On the Wind podcast from 59 North Sailing .

Maidentrip is a movie about sailing around the world, as done by Laura Dekker. In 2009, Dekker decided she would become the youngest person to circumnavigate single-handedly. At one point, the Dutch courts stepped in and prohibited her from leaving. But with legal hurdles cleared, she departed in 2010 for the 518-day voyage.

Dekker sailed the 40-foot ketch Guppy on her trip. She was inspired by Tania Aebi, author of Maiden Voyage and person who previously held the record as the first American woman and youngest person to circumnavigate solo.

Whether you’re in the mood for hardcore action binging Black Sails or a light-hearted escape to the Caribbean with Captain Ron , there’s a little something for everyone. From docs to laughs, there’s a sailing movie to make everyone in your crew happy.

But the best is Captain Ron , seriously.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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15 Best Sailing Movies You Can’t Miss

A true sailing enthusiast suffers when forced to stay at home… So here we are to help you, presenting our selection of the best sailing movies that a sailor absolutely cannot miss. We discussed, because the world of cinema and TV (just think of Netflix) give us an almost infinite catalogue. We finally succeeded and we are happy to present you our favorite sailing movies. Which is your favorite?

1. 180° SOUTH (2010)

“180° South” is a 2010 adventure documentary film directed by Chris Malloy. The film follows the journey of Jeff Johnson as he retraces the steps of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia, Chile. Along the way, Johnson encounters a variety of challenges, including navigating rugged terrain and dealing with extreme weather conditions. The film also explores themes of environmental conservation and the importance of protecting natural resources. It features stunning cinematography and is narrated by actor/musician/environmentalist Jack Johnson.

2. All is lost (2013)

“All Is Lost” is a 2013 survival drama film directed by J.C. Chandor. The film stars Robert Redford as an unnamed man who is stranded at sea after his sailboat is damaged by a shipping container. The man must use all of his survival skills and resourcefulness to stay alive in the face of increasingly dire circumstances. The film is notable for its minimalist approach, with no dialogue and minimal music, and Redford’s performance as the only actor on screen. It was praised for its technical achievements and the acting of Redford.

3. Captain Ron (1992)

“Captain Ron” is a 1992 comedy film directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Kurt Russell as the titular character, a slovenly, irreverent sailor who is hired to help a family sail their yacht from the Caribbean to Miami. Along the way, they encounter a variety of mishaps and adventures, including pirates and a hurricane. The film also stars Martin Short as the head of the family, Mary Kay Place as his wife, and Benjamin Salisbury and Meadow Sisto as their children. “Captain Ron” is known for its silly and irreverent humor and the strong performances of its cast. We have to be honest: Captain Ron is our favourite between the sailing movies of this list!

We discussed, because the world of cinema and TV (just think of Netflix) give us an almost infinite catalog of sailing films

4. Chasing Bubbles (2016)

“Chasing Bubbles” is a documentary about the journey and spirit of Alex Rust , a farm boy turned day trader from Indiana who, at 25, abandoned his life in Chicago, bought a modest sailboat (called Bubbles) and set out to sail around the world.

5. Dead calm (1989)

Dead Calm is a 1989 Australian psychological thriller film directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane. The screenplay by Terry Hayes was based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Williams; the film represents the first successful film adaptation of the novel after Orson Welles struggled for years to complete his own film based on it titled The Deep . Filmed around the Great Barrier Reef, the plot focuses on a married couple, who, after tragically losing their son, are spending some time isolated at sea, when they come across a stranger who has abandoned a sinking ship. A must see among sailing movies!

6. Deep Water (2006)

“Deep Water” is a 2006 documentary film directed by Jerry Rothwell and Louise Osmond about the history of the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race , a solo sailing race around the world that was held in 1968. The film follows the stories of the race’s participants, including Donald Crowhurst, a British sailor who became embroiled in a scandal when it was revealed that he had falsified his position in the race. The film also explores themes of adventure, ambition, and the human cost of pushing oneself to the limits. It was well-received by critics and audiences and won a number of awards.

7. Maidentrip (2013)

“Maidentrip” is a 2013 documentary film about the life of Laura Dekker , a Dutch sailor who, at the age of 14, became the youngest person to sail solo around the world. The film follows Dekker’s journey as she navigates the challenges and dangers of her voyage, including rough seas, equipment failures, and isolation. It also explores Dekker’s background and her motivations for embarking on such a risky and ambitious journey. “Maidentrip” was praised for its intimate and engaging portrayal of Dekker’s journey and for its powerful depiction of the human spirit and determination.

8. Master and commander (2003)

During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America. The naval action in the Mediterranean is  closely based on the real-life exploits of Lord Cochrane , including a battle modelled after Cochrane’s spectacular victory in the brig HMS Speedy over the vastly superior Spanish frigate El Gamo.

9. Morning light (2008)

Fifteen young sailors… six months of intense training… one chance at the brass ring. This documentary tells the story of a group of intrepid and determined young men and women, on the cusp of adulthood, as they embark on life’s first great adventure. Fifteen young men and women prepare for the adventure of their lives when they enter the TRANSPAC, one of the world’s most prestigious open-ocean sailing competitions. They begin their training in Hawaii with world-class teachers, but it is the race itself, a 2,300-mile ordeal featuring top professionals, that molds them into a cohesive whole.

10. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” is a 2003 adventure film directed by Gore Verbinski and based on the popular Disney theme park attraction of the same name. The film stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, a wily and unpredictable pirate who teams up with a blacksmith named Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and a Governor’s daughter named Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) to rescue Elizabeth’s father and defeat the cursed pirate captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). The film also features an ensemble cast of supporting characters and is known for its action, humor, and special effects. It was a commercial and critical success and spawned a successful film franchise.

11. The Mercy (2018)

The Mercy is a British biographical drama film , directed by James Marsh and written by Scott Z. Burns. It is based on the true story of the disastrous attempt by the amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst to complete the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in 1968 and his subsequent attempts to cover up his failure.

12. The Odyssey (2016)

The Odyssey is a movie which chronicles the life of the great Jacques Cousteau. Jacques Cousteau is perhaps one of the most famous French persons in the world due to his pioneering work on scuba diving, underwater exploration and film-making which introduced a whole generation to the wonders of reef and marine life in the ocean.

13. Turning Tide – En solitaire (2013)

It tells the story of Yann Kermadec whose dreams suddenly come true when he has to replace the DCNS star skipper at the last minute before the start of the Vendée Globe (a round-the-world non-stop single-handed yacht race). After several days of racing, Yann, who is in the lead, has to stop to repair a damaged rudder. This will disrupt his round-the-world journey…

14. White squall (1996)

Teenage boys discover discipline and camaraderie on an ill-fated sailing voyage. It is a coming of age film in which a group of high school and college-aged teenagers sign up for several months of training aboard a sail ship, a brigantine, and travel around half the globe when suddenly they are challenged by a severe storm.

15. WIND (1992)

Will Parker, played by Matthew Modine, loses the Americas Cup, the worlds biggest sailing prize, to the Australians and decides to form his own syndicate to win it back. In 1983, yacht sailor Will Parker (Matthew Modine) leads an American crew financed by millionaire Morgan Weld (Cliff Robertson) to defeat during the America’s Cup race against an Australian crew. Determined to get the prize back, Will convinces Morgan to finance an experimental boat designed by his ex-girlfriend Kate’s (Jennifer Grey) new beau, Joe Heisler (Stellan Skarsgard). When the boat is completed, the Americans head to Australia to reclaim the cup.

Finally, what do you think about our 15 sailing movies to watch at least one time in your life?

The 7 most beautiful bays in the mediterranean sea, top 15 places sailing around mediterranean sea this summer, 10 sailing tips essentials to make you a better sailor, taking your sailboat on holiday: a comprehensive guide to boat shipping, live your passion, subscribe to our mailing list.

Maiden Voyage. Round the world race by first all female crew.

What about “Maiden”. Terrific women’s movie, but good for all.

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Finding Fun in Michigan & Beyond

13 Of the Best Sailing Movies, You Can Watch Again and Again

I’m a recreational sailor. I’ve been sailing on Saginaw Bay since I was a little kid. We started off sailing Snarks and Sunfish. Our family loved sailing movies, and we watched them all. In the early 1970s, my dad took advantage of a marketing campaign by Kool cigarettes where we could purchase a Snark with the white and green KOOL logo on the sail. We still have this old boat and manage to bring her out to play with from time to time. One of the things that irk me is the lack of movie entertainment that revolves around my favorite pastime. I’ve managed to collect a few examples of movies with sailboats here.

Sometimes you can find these sailing movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.

White Squall (1999)

The true story of a bunch of boys, a ship, and the sea.

The movie White Squall is based on the 1961 sinking of a brigantine named the Albatross—a two-masted sailing vessel with a fully square-rigged foremast—White Squall is an exciting tale of adventure, friendship, and tragedy. This sailing movie stars Jeff Bridges as Captain Christopher “Skipper” Sheldon, who takes his charges on an epic voyage around the world on the Albatross.

Along the way, the boys learn how to sail and how to work together as a team. They also develop life-long friendships and forge incredibly tight bonds that they can only get from being in such close quarters with each other.

But then tragedy strikes: A white squall appears out of nowhere, sending massive waves crashing down upon their beloved ship. With their lives on the line and all hope of survival seeming lost, Skipper urges his boys to keep fighting for their lives—and trust each other above all else, no matter what happens next.

Wind (1992)

Wind is a 1992 film directed by Carroll Ballard that follows Will Parker, played by Matthew Modine as he loses America’s Cup, the world’s biggest sailing prize, to the Australians and decides to form his own syndicate to win it back. Will hires Kate Bass, played by Jennifer Grey, to help him with his PR campaign.

The film co-stars Cliff Robertson as Morgan Weld, a businessman who offers to sponsor the team and pays for their yacht. Rounding out the cast is Jack Thompson as Michael “Brue” Brindley, a sailor who found success in racing and now manages an Australian team; Stellan Skarsgård as Bjorn Ericson, a Swedish sailor who sails for an American syndicate; and John McGlinn as Frank Hennessy, an Australian businessman who is investing in the Australian team.

All is Lost (2013)

All is Lost is one of the most harrowing survival stories ever committed to film, All is Lost is a minimalist exploration of a man’s struggle for survival in the face of adversity. In this case, “adversity” means “the Indian Ocean.”

The story begins with Robert Redford waking up halfway through a solo voyage across the Pacific. He finds that he has struck a floating shipping container, and his boat is filling with water.

Redford’s character is never given a name, but we do get to know him through his actions. He doesn’t panic when he discovers the leak; instead, he sets about repairing it as best he can. He rigs a jury-rigged sail to help him stay afloat while he waits out a storm. When the radio fails, there’s no bemoaning his fate; instead, he puts on his best poker face and keeps going. Each time he faces down yet another crisis and finds a solution, we learn more about him—and the stakes just keep getting higher.

Dead Calm (1989)

A young couple on a yacht trip in the South Pacific encounters a damaged ship and its only living inhabitant. He is looking for a ride home, so he can return to his wife and kids. The captain is suspicious and refuses to take him on board. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the stranger was responsible for slaughtering the other crew members and that his wife may not be waiting for him at all.

The director depicts this story in an original way, shot completely on a boat, as it sails through the Pacific Ocean. Although the story is fictitious, it still gives us some real sailing skills and challenges of open water navigation.

This movie Dead Calm stars Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, and Billy Zane.

Morning Light (2008)

Morning Light is a documentary that follows the youngest crew ever to compete in the Transpac sailing race. All crew members were between 18 and 23. The film follows the development of the Morning Light sailing team, their six months of sea training, and finally, the weeklong race across the Pacific between Los Angeles to Honolulu.

The film follows the young sailors as they develop their teamwork and learn to navigate under pressure and in high winds. The film also gives viewers a glimpse of the athletes’ personal lives: one woman struggles to find childcare so she can attend training while several others struggle with homesickness or the physical and emotional toll of leaving their families behind for months at a time.

The young sailors operate under incredible pressure: they are working hard to impress their sponsors (who have provided them with $2 million worth of equipment), they have only six months to learn how to sail, and they are constantly being compared to more experienced crews. They also must contend with a strict coach who pushes them harder than they’ve ever been pushed before.

Adrift (2018)

When you’re out on the open sea, you never know what fate may bring.

For Tami and Richard, it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure—and one they’ll never forget.

Adrift is the true story of their journey to love and their battle with Hurricane Raymond in 1983, considered one of the most destructive storms ever recorded. Tami wakes up in the aftermath of the storm to find Richard seriously injured and their sailboat in shreds and sinking. Now, Tami must summon all her will and strength to save herself… and Richard, with no possibility of rescue.

Starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin, Adrift is an incredible tale for anyone who’s ever felt like they were fighting against the world.

Kon-Tiki (2012)

It’s not often that you can come away from a movie with a new appreciation for the world around you—but that’s precisely what happened when I watched Kon-Tiki!

The movie is based on an actual expedition led by Thor Heyerdahl, a famous Norwegian explorer, and ethnographer, in 1947. Thor theorized that South Americans had settled parts of the South Sea Islands, and he wanted to prove his point. So, after months of preparation, he and five other guys set sail from Peru on a balsa-wood raft. They planned to use natural elements (like stars and ocean currents) to navigate their way through the sea.

It sounds impossible, right? But they did it! And they didn’t even have modern equipment like GPS or maps—just a radio. It’s one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. You should watch this movie; it leaves you feeling inspired about what you can accomplish if you believe in your aspirations.

Maidentrip (2013)

The documentary, Maidentrip , chronicles the two-year journey of Laura Dekker as she attempts to become the youngest person to sail around the world. The video, directed by Jillian Schlesinger, is a testament to the human spirit and what can be accomplished when one pursues one’s ambition and works hard to attain it.

Dekker is depicted as a free-spirited outsider who finds her utopia in a never-ending sea. She is shown spending time with friends, getting tattoos, and enjoying life on her boat. While she does occasionally use bad language in the video, it never interferes with her message that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you are willing to work hard and overcome obstacles that may arise along the way.

The Endurance (2000)

The Endurance tells the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-1916 journey to Antarctica, which is considered one of history’s greatest survival stories. Following the terrible death of legendary English polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott on his journey to the South Pole, Shackleton embarked on his third voyage.

Shackleton assembled a 27-man crew aboard his ship, Endurance, and set out in search of a new route across Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea. The expedition was thwarted by ice near the Weddell Sea, and Endurance was trapped for nearly a year before being crushed by the ice and sinking. The men escaped with their lives onto the floes, where they remained for another five months before reaching Elephant Island. Five men stayed behind at the site of their camp as Shackleton sailed in a small boat with five others in search of help. He sailed 800 miles through dangerous seas to reach South Georgia Island, where he arranged for a rescue ship to save his stranded crew members. All 27 men survived this ordeal, which is considered an epic feat in polar exploration history.

Sea Gypsies: Far Side of the World (2017)

Picture this: a gang of roving miscreants, with no licenses or insurance and an almost non-existent budget, is bound towards the most perilous seas on the planet.

This is almost the polar opposite of what you may have learned in your sailing classes. But for the crew of “Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World,” their story is one of adventure, courage, and determination.

In this heart-pounding documentary, a group of friends takes on the challenge of a lifetime: sailing from New York to Japan without any formal training, using only an old wooden boat that they built themselves.

“We knew it was crazy,” says Timmy Sniffles, one of the participants. “But we threw ourselves at it anyway.”

With three cameras on board to capture every moment and a host of experts who explain the dangers, they faced along the way, “Sea Gypsies” is a real-life thriller that will keep you glued to your seat.

The Old Man and The Sea Return to Cuba (2018)

Finbar Gittleman is a 75-year-old master sailor. He has a mythical position among sailors in Key West and the Caribbean after living a rough and perilous life at sea. As he returns to Havana, Cuba for the first time since Castro’s revolution, this is his narrative.

The Old Man and The Sea Return to Cuba : Finbar Gittleman takes you on an adventure of sailing, perseverance, and self-discovery.

In this video, Finbar recounts his life at sea and how he came to be in Florida. He also shares some of the hardships he faced along the way as he struggled to make a living in the harsh environment of Key West.

He then describes the day when he decided to sail back home – through the dangerous reefs of Cuba – with nothing but his old boat, a compass, and some provisions.

The Mercy (2018)

Featured on the Today Show and in the New York Times, this extraordinary narrative of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst’s effort to solo around the world in the first race of its type, the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, is told in “The Mercy.”

Crowhurst was an amateur sailor who dreamed of winning the race. Struggling with his business and family life, he decided to enter the race. He convinced a local businessman to support him and set about building a boat for the race.

The race was ill-fated from the start: one competitor died at sea and another disappeared without a trace. Crowhurst became increasingly unstable as he sailed around the world; radio transmissions from him became more erratic as he sailed on.

He finally returned to England, where he was declared the winner of the race due to his competitors’ fates. However, it was discovered that he had never made it past the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and had falsified his log entries. He returned home in disgrace and committed suicide shortly after his return.

The Weekend Sailor (2016)

It’s not often that a story like this comes along. “ The Weekend Sailor ” is a documentary about Ramon Carln, a Mexican man who, in 1974, wins the first crewed around-the-world sailing race on his boat Sayula II. The race is now known as The Volvo Ocean Race, and it takes place every three years.

The reason this story is so captivating? Carln wasn’t your typical sailor. He had very little experience with sailing, and he won the race with a crew of family and friends.

The film follows Carln’s journey: from his humble beginnings as a young boy when he began to dream of being a sailor, to his later years when he competed in the race and then won it (overcoming many obstacles along the way). It’s an inspiring story of determination and drive that you’ll want to watch with your whole family!

Related to Sailing Movies and Other Stuff

Upper Thumb Boating and Sailing – Here is another wonderfully produced video from LIVE Huron. This one focuses on Huron County boating and sailing opportunities with some great shots of Caseville harbor and breakwall

Interview with Author Jacki Howard – I reached out to Jacki Howard to see what she has done since the book was published 10 years ago. She is still involved with the book, but life has moved on. Like so many in the Thumb region, we are distant cousins. While we have never personally met, we found common ground with our interest in the “Dying Sparlings” Here is our exchange.

Boat Names – Transom Charm – The boat name you select may not seem like an important thing, but most of us feel that selecting the right name for our boat is important.

A Kool Little Cigarette Sailboat – In 1971 KOOL Cigarettes ran a unique marketing campaign. Magazines around the country ran an ad that if you sent in $88 and one box end from a carton of Kool cigarettes that this fully functional sailboat would be shipped to your door.

Michigan Monday – Saginaw Poet Theodore Roethke – Regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential poets of his generation, Roethke won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book The Waking.

The Amazing Michigan Photography of Steven Donahue – Steven was born and grew up on his family farm near Port Hope. He moved away and started studying the arts, including photography, in Chicago. He was in the military during the Vietnam War and became an MP. Part of his job was to photograph deaths and burials. A job I’m sure was not pleasant.

Michael Hardy

Michael Hardy is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. Michael was born in Michigan and grew up near Caseville. In 2009 he started this fun-loving site covering Michigan's Upper Thumb. Since then, he has authored a vast range of content and established a loyal base of 60,000 visitors per month.

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3 thoughts on “ 13 of the best sailing movies, you can watch again and again ”.

Substitute “Captain Ron” for “All is lost” and I am all aboard.

Charlie St Cloud was a recent movie with some sailing focus.

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17 Best Sailing Movies & Documentaries

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Not much beats a good movie binge – so I’ve compiled a list of some of the best sailing movies and documentaries to inspire and humble even the saltiest sailors.

The best movies about sailing tug at the lines in our hearts and leave us yearning for life on the water. They also remind us of the power of the ocean.

I’ve personally watched the 17 movies on this list to give you a movie overview from a sailor’s perspective and my thoughts on why you should watch them!

I’ve also included links to the great sailing movies below if they are available on a streaming service such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Tubi, and more. Let’s get started!

Sailing Adventure Movies

These films about sailing tell stories of true adventure on the high seas. Packed with action and the occasional twists and turns, you will definitely be in for hours of entertainment.

1. All is Lost (2013)

With only one cast member and just 51 spoken words, this Robert Redford sailing movie represents what managing a crisis alone on the open ocean looks like.

A survival sailing film, the plot of All is Lost follows a solo sailor as he manages the fallout after a collision with a shipping container damages his sailboat.

You’ll see everything unfold step-by-step as this resourceful sailor handles the growing damage to his boat. Whether or not he makes the correct choices or if the situations are accurate is somewhat criticized by the sailing community. 

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:  Even if you find the sailor’s circumstances less than accurate, the portrayal of a silent character as he faces his mortality is a very unique approach for a sailing film. The emotional performance by Redford is surprisingly relatable, and the plot will leave you unsure of the character’s fate until the very end.

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME | WATCH ON TUBI

2. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

A sailing film based on a series of 19th-century navel novels, it’s one of the most underrated and historically accurate films of its era.

Master and Commander is set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows the Royal Navy Captain Jack Aubrey and his crew aboard the HMS Suprise.

The film’s incredible casting includes Russell Crowe as the ship’s confident and respected captain and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, the onboard surgeon and captain’s confidant.

Rather than retreat to England, the captain opts for an ocean chase around South America as the Surprise seeks to repair damages while also outmaneuvering the superior French vessel to complete its mission.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: From start to finish, you feel like one of the crew. All scenes follow the vessel, giving an especially real depiction of the aftermath of battles, factors in the decision-making, and the incredible loyalty and patriotism of the crew as they sail thousands of miles from home, fighting for their country.

The plot begins as the Surprise is given the order to capture a French privateer. The initial battle leaves the Surprise at a disadvantage when it’s revealed that the French ship is both bigger and faster than the Royal Navy vessel.

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME

3. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003 – 2017)

This popular movie series based on the ride at Walt Disney World has had an incredible run starting with the first movie in 2003,  The Curse of the Black Pearl .

The film stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. True to Depp’s style, the actor defined the character from day one, and the uniqueness has made the series what it is.

From pirate curses to Davy Jones’ locker – this is a wild ride you want to be on. Get ready to binge! 

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:  Even though Pirates of the Caribbean has become a pop culture series, we love the thrill of this sailing adventure and still get chills when Jack Sparrow delivers the line, “Now… bring me that horizon”.

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME | WATCH ON DISNEY+

Sailing Comedy Movies

These adventure comedy sailing films are great movie night choices for a fun time and a few good laughs.

4. Captain Ron (1992)

Thirty years after its debut, Captain Ron is still a popular cult classic. This film has to be one of the top sailing movies on this list. The hilariously wild plot makes it enjoyable whether or not you are a skilled sailor.

This sailing comedy starring Kurt Russell is about a carefree captain for hire and a Chicago suburban father (Martin Short) seeking a real adventure for his family.

When the father inherits a sailing yacht in the Caribbean, he decides his family should sail it back to Florida to sell it. They hire the incompetent Captain Ron to help them sail the boat to Miami.

A slew of crazy mishaps follows, including the consequences of the captain’s questionable past and pursuit by pirates through the Caribbean.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Although this is one of Kurt Russell’s only comedic roles, after watching the film, you can’t imagine anyone else as the easygoing Captain Ron. This movie not only makes you laugh but also includes plenty of sailing nostalgia that will have you planning your next Caribbean Charter.

5. the life aquatic with steve zissou (2004).

This Wes Andersen film features an oceanographer who is a washed-up documentary filmmaker, Steve Zissou (played by Bill Murray), and his search for revenge on a rare shark that killed his friend and crewmate. 

Zissou sets out on his voyage with a quirky crew, including a pregnant oceanic reporter (Cate Blanchett), his estranged wife (Anjelica Huston), and a man who he recently discovered might be his son (Owen Wilson).

As the story unfolds, a series of unfortunate events lead to unexpected developments with the characters and ultimately bring them together for a spectacular ending that will delight ocean lovers.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:   The Life Aquatic is a Wes Andersen film for marine lovers. If you’re a sailor who likes Wes Andersen’s style, you’ll be left completely satisfied at the end of this wet and wild story.

True story sailing movies.

These sailing movies based on true stories take you on a journey with the sailboat crews that experienced extraordinary situations on the ocean.

6. Adrift (2018)

As far as sailing survival films go, this film is one of our favorites.

Adrift is the true story of Tami Ashcraft and Richard Sharp. Two adventurous people who find love on their travels and then face a deadly hurricane on a sailing yacht delivery across the Pacific.

The movie opens with Tami, played by Shailene Woodley, waking up in the hull of a very damaged sailboat. As she frantically searches for Richard, she goes on deck to realize that his tether has broken.

Cut to five years earlier, where we meet Tami getting off a charter vessel. As the movie progresses, we bounce back and forth between the story of the couple’s meeting and Tami trying desperately to stay alive.

You can find the highly recommended book on this story (and many other books on which these movies were based) on our list of books for sailors .

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Although the book of this tale (authored by Tami) is arguably better – our sailing soul still relates to the romanticized parts of this sailing survival movie, as well as the pain and loss that come with the tragedy at sea.

7. white squall (1996).

White Squall is a sailing movie based on the true story of a group of college-age boys in the 1960s who spent a semester on a tall ship in the Ocean Academy sailing halfway around the world. 

This movie starring Jeff Bridges, is about an old salt captain whose job is to build the character of this group of boys. Some were sent to him for discipline, some an escape, and various other reasons.

We follow the young men as they come together as a crew and ultimately face a terrible unpredicted storm on the sea.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Sailors will love the nostalgia that comes with a tall ship as the primary setting for the film. More than that, this story is about a group of misfits coming together to achieve a goal that bonds them for life.

8. the perfect storm (2000).

This movie is based on a non-fiction book that recounts the “Perfect Storm” or “No-Name Storm” that hit North America in the fall of 1991.

The Perfect Storm is somewhat loosely based on the book but follows the events of the swordfishing vessel Andrea Gail and her crew.

George Clooney plays Billy Tyne, the vessel’s captain with something to prove. The film also stars Mark Wahlberg as Tyne’s right-hand man.

After coming back to port with a disappointing catch, the crew heads back out late in the season only to be caught in one of the most devastating storms in history.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Sailors will find Captain Tyne’s passion and love for the sea completely relatable. You’ll also get a rarely portrayed image of what it’s like for the people who work on the ocean for weeks or months at a time – often risking their lives for their work.

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME | WATCH ON HULU (Also on MAX)

9. Captain Phillips (2013)

Captain Phillips is the true story of a 2009 hijacking of a U.S. container ship off the coast of Africa by Somalian pirates.

The movie follows the decisions of Captain Phillips and his crew leading up to the hijacking and the intense series of events that unfold after the ship is under the pirates’ control.

It’s reported that although Hollywood’s version of the story casts Phillips as a hero, in reality, it was a more straightforward hostage situation. Even so, we love watching Tom Hanks in the role of Captain Phillips.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:  This is an action thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat as the captain, crew, and U.S. navy work to resolve an intense situation. 

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME | WATCH ON NETFLIX

10. True Spirit (2023)

This Netflix original movie is based on the true story of an Australian teen, Jessica Watson, who in 2009 set out to be the youngest person to sail unassisted and nonstop around the globe.

True Spirit follows the sixteen-year-old girl’s journey and her family and coach as they monitor her circumnavigation back home in Sydney.

We see the struggles unfold for everyone involved during the 23,000 nautical mile sail, as well as the challenges Jess and her family face with the doubting views of the local media.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Despite some of the cringe-worthy visual effects in this film, the story holds up and does a great job of communicating the emotional aspect of this young sailor’s journey. You really feel the moments of solitude and intensity during the storms, and you’ll be rooting for Jess the whole way.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

11. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

In the Heart of the Sea is an adventure film directed by Ron Howard based on the story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820, which inspired the novel “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville.

The film follows the crew of the Essex, led by Captain George Pollard Jr. and first mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), as they set out from Nantucket, Massachusetts on a perilous voyage hunting whales for their oil.

After venturing to remote whaling grounds off South America, they encounter a massive and vengeful white sperm whale. The crew is stranded at sea for 90 days, facing hunger, dehydration, and extreme weather conditions.

The film is framed as a flashback, with Melville interviewing Thomas Nickerson, the last surviving member of the Essex crew, about the events that took place. 

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:   In the Heart of the Sea is a gripping tale of maritime survival, exploring the complexities of human nature under extreme circumstances. The film also highlights the brutality of the whaling industry and its devastating impact on the sailors and the whales.

12. kon-tiki (2012).

Kon-Tiki is the true story of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s daring 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean on a balsawood raft.

This film takes audiences on a thrilling journey as Heyerdahl and his small crew set out on a balsawood raft from Peru to prove his theory that ancient South American civilizations could have reached Polynesia by sea and settled the area.

The film beautifully captures the awe-inspiring vastness of the ocean and the camaraderie of the crew as they battle against treacherous storms, sharks, and their own doubts about the expedition.

Kon-Tiki  delves into the complexities of Heyerdahl’s determination, faith, and the audacity of his scientific pursuit, making it a thought-provoking cinematic experience.

This movie is based on the 1950 Oscar-winning documentary Kon-Tiki, directed by Thor Heyerdahl himself.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: With its gripping narrative and meticulous attention to historical accuracy,  Kon-Tiki  immerses you in the harrowing challenges Heyerdahl and his crew faced during their 101-day journey of 4,300 miles across the Pacific. I personally really enjoyed this film.

13. the mercy (2018).

The Mercy is a drama film that brings to life the remarkable true story of British amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst’s ill-fated attempt to compete in the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.

Directed by James Marsh, the film delves into the complexities of ambition, moral dilemma, and the fear of failure. 

Crowhurst’s desperate voyage, driven by the desire for fame and fortune, takes a dark and tragic turn as he faces isolation and the harsh realities of the open sea.

Colin Firth delivers a compelling performance, capturing the gradual unraveling of Crowhurst’s sanity and the inner turmoil of a man caught between his family’s well-being and his own obsession for adventure.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:   The Mercy  explores the emotional and ethical challenges accompanying extended solitary voyages as dreams clash with the brutal forces of nature. It’s a compelling narrative if you’ve never heard the story. However, it’s similar to witnessing a captivating but tragic event unfold.

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME | WATCH ON PLEX

Best Sailing Documentaries

These are a few of our favorite sailing documentaries about some of the most memorable sailboat races and adventures.

14. Maiden (2018)

This sailing documentary is the story of 26-year-old Tracy Edwards and an all-female crew that entered the Whitbread Round the World yacht race in 1989.

A former charter boat cook, Tracy defied the odds when she fixed up a second-hand boat and put together a team to enter a race no female boat skipper had ever entered before.

Not only is this an extraordinary story of overcoming inequality, but it’s a reminder of how courageous, determined, and resourceful the women’s sailing community can be.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:   Maiden is an inspirational story of a group of incredible women who overcame tremendous odds and doubts to complete a nine-month, 33,000-mile sailing race.

WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME | WATCH ON HULU

15. Maidentrip (2013)

Maidentrip is a documentary that follows Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old Dutch girl, as she becomes the youngest person to sail alone around the world. 

The film depicts how Laura faced not only opposition from nature, but resistance from the Dutch government and child welfare organizations who tried to prevent her solo trip.

The film recounts her two-year journey as she navigates through rough seas and equipment failures and experiences the beauty and isolation of being at sea. 

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: During this true coming-of-age story, you’ll be inspired by Laura’s strength and determination to pursue her dreams. We also love how the film reminds us of the spirit of adventure that drives people to explore it.

16. chasing bubbles (2016).

This sailing movie documentary is about a young man named Alex Rust, who quit his office job in Chicago, bought a small sailboat, and jumped headfirst into adventure.

The documentary recounts Alex’s experience as he teaches himself to sail, meets new people, and sets out on what would be a four-year sailing trip over thousands of miles.

Alex’s wild adventures take him to some of the most remote places on the planet. Chasing Bubbles shows the unexpected impacts he has on the many people that sail with him and the communities he visits along the way.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:  Alex’s appetite for adventure will nudge that little piece inside you that tells you to forget everything and sail away into the great unknown. 

WATCH ON VIMEO

17. Deep Water (2006)

This documentary, narrated by Tilda Swinton, recounts the 1968 Golden Globe Race from the perspective of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst.

Crowhurst enters this non-stop solo sail race with an unseaworthy boat and much financial pressure. What follows is a series of events that lead to a hopeless situation.

The Deep Water documentary includes images, interviews, and other media pieces from the era, including audio from Crowhurst himself.

In addition to this documentary, a movie was released in 2018 titled  The Mercy  starring Colin Firth as Donald Crowhurst.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:  This story is not just about the events or happenings of one man’s experience but a dive into the psychological impacts of a nine-month solo sail in some of the deadliest waters on the planet.

Wrapping up the best sailing films.

We hope you found some good sailing movies to fill your passion and desire for cruising on the open sea! If you didn’t find what you were looking for, we’ve listed a few more of our favorite sailor movies below. Fair winds and happy watching!

More of the Best Movies About Sailing

• Dead Calm (1989)
• Moana (2016)
• Waterworld (1995)
• Styx (2018)
• Moby Dick (1956)
• The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

More Sailing Movies Inspired by True Stories

• Wind (1992)
• Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

More Documentaries About Sailing

• Morning Light (2008)
• Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World (2017)
• Losing Sight of Shore (2017)
• 180° South (2010)
• Kon-Tiki documentary (1950)

YouTuber Documentaries About Sailing

• Untie the Lines (2018), a documentary from White Spot Pirates, watch on Vimeo
• 80 North: Sailing on Top of the World (2020), documentary from SV Delos, 80northseries.com
• After watching this list of movies, head over to our Sailing YouTube Channels list for more binge-worthy sailing videos.
• You may also like our post, Ultimate Sailing Songs for Inspiration and Life on the Water .
• Or check out our sailing-inspired post 50 of the Best Sailing Quotes to Live By .

Want to find more sailing inspiration?

Check out our lists of sailing quotes, songs, books, and more that inspire this lifestyle.

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest for later.

Or view our web story.

Morgan, the founder of The Home That Roams, has been living nomadically for over five years. She began her journey traveling across the U.S. in a motorhome and cruising on a liveaboard sailing catamaran. Currently, she lives full-time in a travel trailer, sharing resources on RV living and boat life to help others downsize their lives and thrive in an alternative lifestyle.

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Home / Features / 25 best boat movies ever

25 best boat movies ever

Boats aren’t just good for ferrying people from one mass of land to another or for catching fish, they can provide the backdrop for great films, too. Here are 25 best boat movies ever, in no particular order.

Titanic (1997)

“Jack, this is where we first met.” Well, of all the stupid things to say when your ticket to America starts looking like a one-way fare to a watery grave. Even so, James Cameron’s retelling of the historic Titanic disaster as an epic romance (with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet at Cupid’s helm) turned out to be a big-budget awards magnet and it’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer scale of the production.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Peter Weir’s seafaring epic should have made off with a treasure chest of Oscars, but for one pesky detail – it came out in the same year as Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. None the less, it flies the flag as one of the best boat movies ever made, with Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany leading a stellar crew through stormy waters. A long-expected sequel is yet to materialise.

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

Sean Connery goes off-mission in an undetectable Soviet sub – the titular Red October – causing the CIA’s Alec Baldwin to give chase… in person. The Russians are (figuratively) on board with the hunt, but things hot up below deck when Baldwin (literally) joins the Red October and some unlikely alliances are formed. A masterful piece of Tom Clancy-penned sub-aquatic suspense.

The Boat (1921)

Artful out-to-sea comedy from Buster Keaton, who builds a boat in his house without planning how to get it out. The ensuing project to take said vessel (plus wife and two Keaton juniors) to the water leaves the family homeless, carless and barely afloat in a storm. What’s the joke? Damfino. (Yeah, you probably need to watch this 25-minutes short to get that.)

The Perfect Storm (2000)

A nice spot of fishing, this ain’t. George Clooney leads a crew of fishermen, including Mark Wahlberg, on a late season deep sea rod-and-line trip. But things turn nasty when, as they retreat for the shoreline, their boat, the Andrea Gail, gets caught in gale force winds, tempestuous seas and all sorts of bother. Based on a true story, The Perfect Storm’s ominous reviews were stilled by box office success.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

The plot’s in the title, but Mutiny on the Bounty could also have been called Who Moved My Cheese (On My Boat). Marlon Brando and Richard Harris have their patience tested first by their captain’s light-fingered approach to cheddar, but things turn uglier as Captain Bligh (Trevor Howard) drives his crew with increasingly uncompromising fervour. In reality, it was Brando’s on-set antics that nearly caused a mutiny.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Johnny Depp threw away the Errol Flynn book of swashbuckling pirates, instead borrowing heavily from ragged Rolling Stones axeman Keith Richards for the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. Despite his scene stealing antics, the cast was peppered with talent and Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Geoffrey Rush also turned in ace performances to make Pirates of the Caribbean’s first outing one of the finest pirate movies ever made. Three (disappointing) sequels followed.

The African Queen (1951)

As war breaks out, Humphrey Bogart – a coarse delivery man – rescues prim Methodist missionary Katherine Hepburn and the pair make an unlikely alliance aboard the African Queen. Bogart won an Oscar for his steer on the lead role, though the script had to undergo a rewrite after it transpired he couldn’t pull off the cockney accent the part originally required.

The Abyss (1989)

Although The Abyss is perhaps more at home in our list of the 25 best alien movies ever, it does have lots of boats in it, and we can’t forgo the opportunity to include a bit of sea-borne sci-fi. Fun fact: James Cameron’s original water movie was shot not in the sea, but in an unfinished nuclear power station’s containment building.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Airport, The Towering Inferno, Earthquake… the early 1970s were rich with star-studded disaster movies. The Poseidon Adventure is the icing on that suspenseful cake, with the SS Poseidon running into suitably troubled waters. On board, the Rev Frank Scott (Gene Hackman) asks God to help him deliver survivors into the safe hands of the rescue party. Who he holds accountable for the unfavourable sailing conditions is never properly addressed.

Das Boot (1981)

The ironically dry title (The Boat, in English) belies the epic wetness of this WWII submarine movie, credited with some of the most claustrophic cinematography ever committed to film. Robert Redford and Paul Newman were considered for the lead role, but plans to bring in an American director and star were ditched in favour of an all-German cast directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

Errol Flynn stars as the eponymous Peter Blood, a man with a penchant (funnily enough) for swashbuckling antics. Sold into slavery and at his wit’s end, Blood must plot his escape and avenge his capturer. And get laid, obviously. Boats, naturally, are crucial to the ensuing plot, as they were in many of our other 25 best pirate movies ever.

The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

There’s not much Hollywood hasn’t thought of through the years, and if you thought boats and time travel hadn’t been successfully combined, you haven’t watched The Philadelphia Experiment. Disappearing boats are one thing, but we can’t help feeling the protagonists’ disbelief (on arriving from 1944) that Ronald Reagan is president was shared by plenty of non-time travellers in 1984.

Moby Dick (1956)

Sci-fi don Ray Bradbury was drafted in to pen a screen adaptation of Herman Melville’s novel, with Gregory Peck starring as Captain Ahab. Everyone knows the most famous non-Biblical whale story of all time, but not everyone knows Moby Dick was played in the film by a 12 tonne, 75ft bit of rubber specially made by Dunlop in Stoke-on-Trent. He had an appetite for 80 drums of compressed air and was lost at sea during filming. Pity the fisherman who finds him.

Knife in the Water (1962)

The movies have always taken a dim view of the hitchhiking fraternity, and Roman Polanski’s feature debut is no exception. It’s a taut drama with a cast of three, and a cautionary tale about taking strangers on sailing trips. Especially if you don’t trust your wife.

1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

Christopher Columbus sets sail to discover… well, he doesn’t know. That’s sort of the point of Ridley Scott’s discovery movie, in which Gerard Depardieu plays the New World explorer and Sigourney Weaver puts in a turn as Queen Isabella I. It flopped at the box office, but the central motif of the soundtrack was adopted by the Portuguese Socialist Party, which has kept it ever since.

Cape Fear (1991)

Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Martin Balsam all had roles in the original 1962 Cape Fear, and each got a reprisal cameo in the remake starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange. The usual boat and storm combo is drilled up for the finale, with a psychopathic rapist, bent on vengeance, thrown in for good measure. Do not file under rom-com.

The Sea Hawk (1940)

Errol Flynn stars as (guess what?) a privateer. Based around the time of the Spanish Armada, it sees Flynn jacking the Spanish ambassador’s boat and chatting up his wife. Being that it was released during the Second World War, there’s some pretty heavy jingoism going on, but it’s still worth a watch. If you must be a purist, track down the 1924 silent version, which is more faithful to Rafael Sabatini’s novel.

Under Seige (1992)

Steven Seagal cooks up a storm in the galley of the USS Missouri when Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones try to hijack the boat’s weaponry for sale on the black market. But what the baddies don’t realise is that Seagal is (of course) not really a ship’s cook, but a highly trained former Navy SEAL. Uh-oh. Under Seige was a massive success, and so impressed was Harrison Ford with Andrew Davis’ film, he signed up for the director’s next outing, 1993’s The Fugitive, on the strength of it.

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Ernest Hemingway’s novella set sail for the big screen with Spencer Tracy at the helm, a role for which he would pick up an Oscar nomination. The story of a down-on-his-luck fisherman looking for one big catch was brought to life with a pioneering new film technology, the bluescreen. Cutting edge stuff.

Waterworld (1995)

It’s the future and rising sea levels have done away with most of Earth’s land. Enter Kevin Costner on his trimaran to become embroiled in a plot about a missing orphan, pirates called Smokers and the search for Dryland (yes, really). Eventually, Cossie upgrades to a jetski for his assault on the pirates home turf (an optimistically intact Exxon Valdez).

The Caine Mutiny (1954)

In boat movies, things generally get out of hand for three reasons: adverse weather (The Poseidon Adventure, The Perfect Storm), petty misdemeanours (Mutiny on the Bounty, Knife in the Water) and war (Master and Commander, The Hunt for Red October, The African Queen). In The Caine Mutiny, it’s all three – with a violent storm, the theft of some strawberries and enemy fire conspiring against the crew’s brief. Throw in an ace performance form Humphrey Bogart, and there’s little reason not to navigate towards the play button.

Dead Calm (1989)

The plot of this Aussie thriller (which also made our list of the 25 best Australian movies ever) has more tacks than the Sydney-Hobart boat race. An idyllic yachting getaway runs aground when a homicidal maniac (Billy Zane) joins the party of two (Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman). Cue the suspenseful action, including novel uses of harpoon and flare guns.

White Squall (1996)

What could possibly go wrong on a school sailing trip? Ridley Scott set out to discover in this based-on-a-true-story retelling of the Albatross, which sank in 1961. Jeff Bridges is the teacher who trains the boys in the ways of the waves. The white squall of the title refers to a sudden sea storm that appears without the usual foreboding clouds.

Lifeboat (1944)

If there was one thing Alfred Hitchcock liked, it was having a small stage (Rope, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window). For Lifeboat, that stage was the particularly cramped titular escape vessel. It all starts off genially enough, but needless to say tempers wear thin when there are limited rations and even more limited chance of rescue. If there was another thing Hitchcock liked, it was a twist. But we wouldn’t like to spoil the ending.

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home

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The Top 12 Best Sailing Movies of All Time

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We love all things sailing, especially movies. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top 12 best sailing movies of all time. Whether it’s brutal battles between warships or a dramatic tale of man vs sea, we’ve got it covered. Keep reading below to be inspired for your next movie night or when you just can’t seem to get off of dry land. Looking to be more than inspired? Book your next sailing holiday with Borrow A Boat! But for now, keep reading!

1 2 . The Life Aquatic

This Wes Anderson classic is one of our favourite films at Borrow A Boat! Did you know our name is actually inspired by Steve Zissou? He is the character adaptation of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the French oceanographer, conservationist, filmmaker, scientist, and author. The movie follows the adventure of Steve Zissou (Bill Murray), who sets out on an oceanic mission to document the destruction of the ‘jaguar shark’ that ate his partner, Esteban. It’s artsy, witty, animated, and it has an amazing soundtrack. In short, what more could you ask for in a sailing movie?

Live the life aquatic, check out our Gulet charter !

1 1 . Captain Ron

Captain Ron follows the misadventures of the titular character portrayed by Kurt Russell, who is hired by an upper-middle class father, Martin Harvey, and his family to guide their yacht through the Caribbean. The voyage isn’t as straightforward as the family expects it to be, as Captain Ron knows only how to steer the family into trouble. The movie is mixture of adventure, madness and the importance of family. While you wouldn’t want to be involved in many parts of the boat ride, others seem so fun that you’d like to leave everything behind for a while and simply jump on a boat.

10. White Squall

Based on a true story, this movie follows a group of school boys, who are educated on discipline and a hard work ethic aboard a ship by a strong-willed skipper. The ship eventually sets sail, but things take a violent turn when they encounter a white squall storm. The boys must then use everything that the skipper has taught them to try and survive the ordeal. So the big question is: Will they make it out safely?

9. Deep Water

Deep Water is a critically acclaimed documentary telling the story of the disastrous 1968 round-the-world yacht race. Battling threatening seas and psychological ruin, amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst attempts a nine-month, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. To summarize, the results are terrifying. It is not simply a documentary about a sailor who didn’t have the experience needed to go on a voyage such as the one Crowhurst participated in, but it explores the limits of human perseverance.

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8. The African Queen

The African Queen is a small boat adventure film released in 1951. Humphrey Bogart won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film. Together with his co-star, Katherine Hepburn, they lead us through the African jungle, navigating through the battles of WWI. In this film, Bogart plays a rough and drunken riverboat captain, which is perfectly juxtaposed by Hepburn who is a posh, strait-laced missionary. Of course you can imagine how they’re chemistry plays out in the movie.. but see for yourself!

Prepare for your first adventure at sea with our first-timer sailing checklist !

7. Between Home

Between Home is a moving and poetic adventure documentary about Nick Jaffe, an amateur sailor. During the film, he attempts a solo oceanic journey from Europe to his native Australia. He chronicles his three-year transformation from inexperienced sailor to expert. Through scenes filmed both onboard and on dry land, we watch him battle the sea, wind, and severe isolation as he follows his dreams. He is not a wealthy man embarking on an adventure, but rather ordinary and with limited means. While watching the documentary, you will be rooting for him more than once in times of trouble.

Follow your dreams, check out the best sailing destinations around the globe!

6. Dead Calm

Dead Calm stars Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane, and a beautiful 60 ft ketch. The film is a thriller that is sure to get your blood pumping. It was filmed almost entirely at sea in the Whitsundays Islands of Australia. The combination of dangerous sailing conditions, isolation, and the threat of a villain onboard creates a fantastic thriller film that will haunt you for a few days after watching it.

Sailing down under can be thrilling, check out all of our boat rental in Australia !

5. Lifeboat

Lifeboat is a classic Alfred Hitchcock film. During WWII, in the middle of the Atlantic, a ship and a German U-boat clash and destroy each other. The group of five survivors find refuge in a lifeboat. However, trouble starts when they rescue a survivor who is in the opposition. This is a nail-biting film you don’t want to miss.

If Hitchcock doesn’t dissuade you, then read our guide to sailing the high seas !

4. Kon-Tiki

Filmed on the island of Malta, Kon-Tiki is a historical drama based on the story of Thor Heyerdahl and his 1947 Kon-Tiki exploration expedition. It is the first time a Norwegian film has been nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. Still today, it is the highest grossing film in Norway. In the movie, Thor Heyerdahl sets out on his epic journey to cross the Pacific Ocean. During the course of his trip, he hopes to prove that South Americans could settle in Polynesia during pre-Columbian times. The dramatic events that follow are gripping!

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3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Directed by the talented Peter Wier, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World  tells a dramatic story set during the Napoleonic wars. Russell Crowe plays an arrogant captain who pushes his ship and crew to their limits while attempting to capture a French warship. The action-packed battle scenes keep us on the edge of our seats. Gripping scenes of ships and the sea have us in awe. During the film, we learn about the stories of the men on the ship and their struggle to make it through alive. It is more than a story on battles on the sea, but an insight into human psychology in terms of crisis and struggle.

No need to struggle at sea! Find yourself a crewed motor boat for your next holiday.

Wind tells the story of Will Parker, a sailor who tragically loses the America’s Cup race. The race is considered the world’s biggest sailing prize. After the loss, he decides to form his own crew to reclaim the prize. A mix of both adventure and romance, it’s inspired by the real events of the 1983 America’s Cup. The cast is comprised of real sailors, making the sailing scenes incredibly realistic. So, if you’re looking for some serious sailing battles this movie is for you.

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1. All is Lost

Lastly, All is Lost stars Robert Redford as a solo sailor who meets disastrous circumstances out at sea. It is then that he has a tiring battle fighting for his life. Man-and-boat-against-the-sea is a classic theme in sailing movies, and Redford and director J.C. Chandor do just that. Redford ends up in a storm that almost destroys his little boat and leaves him only with the choice of staying or going out on a little rubber raft to save his life. It is a quiet film, sometimes difficult to watch, but absolutely worth it. The storyline is a simple yet frightening tale of a man alone on the water.

Solo sailors out there might want to consider taking your dog on a boat

Our list of the top 12 best sailing movies of all time is sure to inspire the captain in everyone. Have we missed one of your favourites? Let us know in the comments below. We’d loved to hear what you’re watching next. Feeling extra adventurous? Book a boat holiday today with Borrow A Boat. You can be your very own lead starring in the next best sailing movie of all time.

For more information about all things nautical, check out our sailing routes .

Top List of Helpful Sailing Websites for Beginners

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Best sailing films on Netflix, Prime and more

• June 29, 2023

Fancy sitting back and enjoying some dramatic sailing footage from the comfort of your sofa? We pick the best sailing films on Netflix, Prime and more

Recent years have seen a proliferation of sailing films arriving on streaming platforms, with Netflix taking the lead on producing original content but there are many other sailing films on offer on the streaming services that can fulfil your sailing addiction from the couch.

So if you are looking for a documentary about the America’s Cup , thrilling dramas based on true life events then look no further (And just because I was banned from mentioning it in full, here by my fellow staff, you can find Waterworld for rent on Amazon , or on Netflix in some territories… just sayin’)

Best sailing films on Netflix

Untold: The Race of the Century

Another big Netflix production to be released last year, this documentary on the 1983 America’s Cup is bursting with iconic footage and up-close interviews with major players. The story of the 1983 America’s Cup is legendary to those with even a passing interest in sailing, seeing John Bertrand’s Australia II crew beating Dennis Connor’s American Liberty crew to wrest the America’s Cup from the New York Yacht Clubs grasp for the first time in 132 years – the longest winning streak in sporting history. 

Even though we all know what happens, it’s still edge of the seat stuff and you can’t help but be reminded (or introduced to) the dizzying drama, which so captured the world and the Australian nation that it led the then Prime Minister of Australia, Bob Hawke to claim: “Any boss who sacks someone for not turning up to work today is a bum,” following the famous victory.  

This unflinching documentary film tells the story of Tracy Edwards ’ all-female Whitbread Round the World Race campaign, through raw interviews telling of the personality clashes and huge pressures the team were placed under.

It’s an emotional watch, with fantastic footage from the maxi fleets racing mid-ocean: highly recommended.

True Spirit

The latest sailing film from the streaming giant, True Spirit , takes a look at the story of Jessica Watson one of the the most famous sailors from the late Noughties and early 2010’s phenomenon of multiple teenagers bidding to become the youngest sailor to sail around the world.  Jessica Watson, who set off from Sydney in 2009 aged 16, completed her loop of Antarctica – and a dip north across the Equator in the Pacific Ocean – to return an all-Australian hero after 210 days at sea.

The film is a dramatic retelling of Watson’s story and attempts to tread the fine line between staying true to her story and picking drama out of the narrative. Watson’s story is undoubtedly intriguing and any film taking on the challenge of conveying he long, slow, and arduous experience of the solo adventurer is always going to struggle to weigh realism with drama. But for the most par this stays true enough to the story to make for a satisfying viewing experience.

Adrift  is based on the book  Red Sky in Mourning  – Tami Oldham Ashcraft’s true account of sailing into a Pacific hurricane, dismasting, and then sailing solo under jury rig for 41 days alone to Hawaii.

The true story is astounding but the film plays pretty fast and lose with the facts. For pure entertainment it is still well worth hunting out and the terror of the extreme conditions does come across on the screen. You get to marvel as Tami manages to solve the catalogue of near voyage-ending disasters – no matter how implausible some of it might seem.

Pure escapism, and a reminder that when the chips are down there is usually a way out.

Best sailing films on Prime

This critically acclaimed documentary, by the makers of Touching the Void , tells the tale of the 1968 Golden Globe Race and how Donald Crowhurst falsified his position before mysteriously disappearing. There are impressive amounts of original footage to enjoy over 50 years later.

The 2017 cinematic telling of the 1968 Golden Globe Race , in which Colin Firth delivers a stand-out performance as the complex maverick entrant Donald Crowhurst. There’s a strong emphasis on the family narrative to draw in non-sailing viewers, but the yachting scenes were carefully researched and convincing.

It stands above many other sailing films as a pure viewing experience – helped along by Firth’s considerable talents. For those of us who already know the tragic story of Crowhurst there nothing here to fill in any of the gaps, as you’d expect from a broad-appeal drama, but you cannot help but be moved to relive the story once again.

Morning light

This was a real revelation when it came out and remains a solid documentary.

Fifteen young sailors embark on six months of training with the ultimate aim to sail a TP52 across the Pacific Ocean taking part in the TRANSPAC.

The premise is that this young, inexperienced crew (made up of 18-23 year olds) sailing  Morning Light  race the 2,300 miles against some of sailing’s top professionals.

The whole thing was funded by Roy Disney and remains a stunning testament to the rigours of racing and sailing offshore, and how much can be achieved by young sailors give a chance.

Best sailing films elsewhere

Chasing tokyo.

Chasing Tokyo is available to stream from the RYA and is an emotional watch. Filmed over a full year, it follows the British Sailing Team athletes as they readied themselves for the strangest Olympic Games in history – and the parents and partners who were left behind when the sailors headed out to Tokyo.

The film crews had unprecedented access to the sailors as they navigated lockdowns, covid testing, and disrupted preparations, and the medal hopefuls candidly shared their dreams and fears. It’s an insightful view of the strange balance of tension and monotony, life-changing highs and soul-crushing lows, of life as an Olympic athlete.

The documentary gives an intriguing glimpse inside the ‘medal factory’, the machinery of the British Sailing Team which has made it consistently the most successful Olympic sailing team in the world. The legacy of London 2012, and the importance of the team’s home base in Portland – with all its quirks and characters – stands out.

Must watch viewing for anyone with an interest in the physical and mental toll the Olympics can take on professional athletes.

This one takes a bit of detective work to find, but the full documentary is hosted online and well worth a watch. In contrast to True Spirit , it’s made up of real videos shot by teen Laura Dekker as she sailed around the world in 2010.

Without cinematic production and following Dekker’s stopping route it’s a much less dramatic view of sailing around the world, though no less gripping for it, and a fascinating insight into a remarkable teen. Those who came away from True Spirit frustrated by some of the dramatic license taken may well want to watch this.

It’s impossible to watch  the Untold: The Race of the Century story – or indeed any America’s Cup film – without referring back to Wind , the 1992 movie telling of how America lost, and won back the Cup.

Like any Hollywood interpretation there are a few cringeworthy moments, and I wouldn’t recommend watching it with a sailmaker, but it’s a warm-hearted film with some great 12-Metre race scenes, and the memorable catchphrase “Hoist the Whomper!”.

If you enjoyed this….

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10 Best Boat Movies of All Time

Top 10 Best Boat Movies to Binge-Watch

• Captain Ron (1992)
• Maiden (2019)
• Adrift (2018)
• The Mercy (2017)
• White Squall (1996)
• Wind (1992)
• Dead Calm (1989)
• Jaws (1975)
• Captain Phillips (2013)
• Lifeboat (1944)

Find a Boat for Your Next Adventure

Captain Ron

Mandatory watching for any sailor, Captain Ron with Kurt Russell is remarkably accurate from a technical standpoint except for one glaring piece of silliness as it relates to sailboats. See if you can spot it. Any sailor worth his/her salt has most of the key lines memorized and despite its goofiness, there are a few scenes in this film that will ring remarkably true for anyone who’s spent time on an old boat.

A fascinating 2019 documentary about Tracy Edwards and her all-woman crew in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Race. You can’t beat this true story for sheer grit and an important history lesson. There’s a bit of humor as well if just in the great fashions and bad mustaches of the times.

Loosely based on a true story from 1983, Adrift is the tale of a young couple on a yacht delivery. They become dismasted when they sail into the path of a hurricane and the rest is the story of the sheer will to survive. Shailene Woodley does an impressive acting job in this tale with a twist. Watch this one alone if you ever want your significant other to go distance cruising.

A fictionalized tale of the very real and very disturbed Donald Crowhurst, this 2017 film centers on the 1968 Golden Globe Race, the first singlehanded, non-stop circumnavigating competition. Colin Firth captures the misery of impending failure and the film puts the rigors of sailing in context as Crowhurst faces the open ocean and an uncertain future alone.

White Squall

Not exactly a chuckle fest, White Squall is based on a real tragedy from the 1960s. Jeff Bridges as the stalwart captain in charge of a training vessel and a bunch of wealthy newbie sailors relies on discipline to keep an orderly ship. When disaster strikes, it’s an uncomfortable study of what it means to be a captain.

A mixed cast of real America’s Cup racers and thespians like Mathew Modine and Jennifer Grey act their hearts out in this tale of competitive drama. The plot is thin, the dialogue is stilted and the acting is at times cringe-worthy, but the cinematography is phenomenal. You can’t beat this movie for sheer beauty.

More in the horror genre is Dead Calm with Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill cruising a remote stretch of the South Pacific when they come across the evil Billy Zane. This one’s full of completely improbably scenarios, sailing inaccuracies and a young Kidman’s bizarre perm, but it’s a bit of twisted fun that will put the Academy Awards in perspective.

Spielberg’s major directorial debut couldn’t be more iconic and quotes from Jaws can be entertaining at any happy hour. If you get a chance, watch the two-hour making of this film as well to appreciate the end product. Not everyone sees this movie as a comedy but if you watch closely, you’ll see a bit of humor.

Captain Phillips

In 2009, the US-flagged container ship Maersk Alabama was taken over by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks convincingly plays the captain during this hostage drama that was made into an award-winning feature film in 2013. This is a portrayal of leadership during its most taught moments.

Finally, a classic thriller from Alfred Hitchcock based on a John Steinbeck novel. After a German U-boat sinks a passenger ship, the survivors crowd into a lifeboat along with a German officer they pull from the water. You’ll not find a more convincing study of group dynamics and human nature than this well-crafted 1944 award winner.

There are probably 50 other nautical films that are well worth watching, so start with these and you may soon become a seafaring movie buff.

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The Best Boat Movies of All Time

Looking for the best boat movies of all time for movie night? We round up the best movies about sailing, including adaptions of our favourite boat books , to watch in your home cinema or the outdoor cinema on board your superyacht.

Titanic (1997)

It’s evident from this film's setting that director James Cameron has long been a fan of boats. Based on the true story of the sunken RMS Titanic , Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet portray young lovers travelling aboard the ill-fated ship.

Adrift (2018)

Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin star as a couple who sail from Tahiti to Hawaii aboard a sailing yacht named Hazaña . Based on a true story, the film shows how the characters deal with life at sea after a hurricane passes through their path.

Wind (1992)

Inspired by the events leading up to the 1987 Americas Cup, this yachting film features several of the 12-metre class yachts that participated in the actual races held off the coast of Western Australia. Need to brush up on your America's Cup knowledge first? Head over to our dedicated America’s Cup page .

Life of Pi (2012)

Adapted from the book by Yann Martel, the film follows the adventures of Pi Patel who must survive at sea after a shipwreck. Floating in the Pacific Ocean with a raft full of animals, Pi encounters some of the natural wonders only experienced by sailors such as bioluminescent plankton and flying fish.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

Marlon Brando plays the infamous Lieutenant Fletcher Christian in this classic film inspired by true events. The film follows the crew of HMS Bounty as they travel to French Polynesia and then mutiny against their Captain, William Bligh.

Captain Phillips (2013)

Tom Hanks stars as the eponymous hero in this thriller based on a real-life hijacking of the MV Maersk Alabama by Somali Pirates.

Maiden (2019)

This insightful documentary tells the story of the all-female crew of the 18 metre racing yacht Maiden , as they compete in the 1989–1990 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Pirates of the Caribbean Series (2003-2017)

Captain Jack Sparrow's swashbuckling tales should lift the mood and keep family members of all ages entertained during a period of social-distancing. From the Black Pearl to the Flying Dutchman , each movie brings to life some of the spookiest ghost ships stories in maritime culture.

Jaws (1975)

This well-known Spielberg classic tells the story of a man-eating shark that is hunted down by the team on board the  Orca . Although the coastal town terrorised by the shark is fictional, filming largely took place in Martha’s Vineyard. The scenic summer colony is one of the best movie locations to visit by superyacht .

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

This Oscar-winning film offers a faithful a representation of life on board a 19th century Royal Navy frigate. Starring Russell Crowe, the film portrays a voyage around Cape Horn and the Galapagos Islands during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

An all-star cast including Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland and Ben Whishaw play the crew of a whaling ship called the Essex . The plot is inspired by the true sinking of the ship in 1820 and the story is suggested to be the basis for Herman Melville's book Moby-Dick .

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10 Best Sailing Movies of All Time

• By Cruising World Staff
• March 19, 2024

Making a list of the 10 Best Sailing Movies of All Time is kind of like making a list of the 10 best ways to eat chocolate. Some people prefer the chomp of a candy bar. Other people love the miniature chips baked into cookies. Still other people go for temperature, reaching for ice cream or for a bomb to drop into a hot mug of milk.

For us, the 10 Best Sailing Movies of All Time are the ones we’re happy to go back and watch again and again. Each of them captures something special about being out on the water, and gives us a memorable insight into the human spirit that sailing brings alive.

Here’s a list of our favorites. We look forward to hearing from you in the comments about your favorites, too.

10. White Squall

Ridley Scott, more recently known for the hits Napoleon and The Martian , directed this 1996 movie about teenage boys who discover discipline and camaraderie after facing a severe storm while training aboard a brigantine. The story is based on real events aboard the Albatross , which sank in 1961. Jeff Bridges stars as “Skipper,” teaching the boys through tough love and discipline.

9. Morning Light

This 2008 documentary focuses on the sloop Morning Light and 15 rookie sailors who want to crew in the Transpac Yacht Race. All the crew members were between 18 and 23 years old. Filming took place during training and the actual sailing of the race aboard Morning Light in 2007. Roy E. Disney held a private screening for US Sailing prior to the film’s release.

8. Kon-Tiki

Thor Heyerdahl’s epic 4,300-mile crossing of the Pacific on a balsawood raft in 1947 is the subject of this 2012 film—which was 2012’s highest-grossing film in Norway. It was an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, and for a Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe, marking the first time a Norwegian film was nominated for both major Hollywood prizes.

Released in 2018, Adrift focuses on a couple facing a catastrophic hurricane. The story is based on the 2002 book Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldham Ashcraft, and is set in 1983, during Hurricane Raymond. The film stars Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin, who end up adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, trying to get to Hawaii with a damaged boat and no radio.

6. True Spirit

This 2023 drama is about Australian teenager Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo nonstop around the world. As the reviewer for the Sydney Morning Herald wrote: “This is a family-friendly picture, wholesome and tailored for the American market—although I suspect that director Sarah Spillane also shaped it to inspire teenage girls, in particular.”

This 2018 documentary tells the story of Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook on charter boats who became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. They finished second in Maiden ’s class, winning two out of six individual legs of the race. In 1990, Edwards detailed her story in the book Maiden , co-written by Tim Madge.

4. Captain Ron

You know you love this 1992 comedy just as much as we do. Kurt Russell stars as a quirky sailor with a questionable past who takes Martin Short and his family through the Caribbean on an inherited sailboat. We know it’s fiction, but we see a lot of reality in this film. If you’ve spent even a little bit of time on boats in the islands, then we’re guessing you see it, too.

3. All Is Lost

Robert Redford stars in this 2013 film about a resourceful sailor who collides with a shipping container at sea, and ends up face-to-face with his own mortality. Redford is the only cast member in the entire film, which includes just fifty-one spoken words. The title of the film is a nod to E. W. Hornung’s observation that when courage is lost, all is lost.

2. The Mercy

The story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst and his solo attempt to circumnavigate the globe are at the heart of this 2018 film. The struggles he confronted on the journey while his family awaited his return are one of the most enduring mysteries of recent times. Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz star as Donald and Clare Crowhurst.

1. In the Heart of the Sea

This 2015 film recounts how a whale sank a New England whaling ship in 1820, later inspiring the novel Moby-Dick . It’s directed and produced by Ron Howard, based on the book In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex . The film’s stars include Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy and Tom Holland, a who’s who of today’s biggest Hollywood names.

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Best Boat Movies: Top 20 Best Boating Movies Of All Time!

Many massive blockbusters focus on epic space ship battles. With special effects showing us crafts capable of time travel across different realities, it’s no wonder we love a good space movie. With this in mind, it’s easy to forget the more humble vessels here down on earth.

Let’s take the unpresuming “boat” as an example. Except this is not a modest vessel and has indeed played the center of some truly awe-inspiring tales over the years. The importance of “the boat” as a means of transportation, is historic in itself. Without boats, how would we have discovered new lands?

The time has come to celebrate this indispensable craft. A vessel that carries people over thousands of miles of wild ocean.

In honor of “the boat,” we give you a collection of some great movies set on, or around, boats of all shapes and sizes.

In in our unbiased opinion, the best boat movies from 20 to 1:

20) Under Siege

Arguably Steven Seagal’s best. Under Siege had everything you could want from a 90’s action movie, set on a boat.

• Terrorist attack: Check.
• Missing nuclear warheads: Check.
• Only one man can stop them: Check.

Add to this mix some iconic actors, such as Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey. Their eccentric and explosive villainous performances are well worth the price of admission. But, can only add to the result of a solid action story.

The USS Missouri is an iconic ship. It saw combat during World War II, again in the Korean War, and yet again in the 1991 Iraq War. Finally, the battleship retired. Only to become a boat museum in the infamous Pearl Harbor. At the time of the film, the Missouri was not yet decommissioned. This resulted in all shots, other than the opening scene, to be filmed upon the USS Alabama. Don’t worry, you won’t notice the difference.

19) Juggernaut

A movie inspired by a real-life bomb threat to the Elizabeth II ship, in 1972. This tense and explosive thriller did a great job of keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s a classic ransom demand scenario. A team of crack bomb disposal experts must find and disarm several bombs hidden on the SS Britannic.

The onboard suspense is matched neatly with dry-land detectives. These roles come in the form of Anthony Hopkins and John McLeod. Their job is to unravel the mystery of who’s behind it all.

A fast-paced thriller that is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

18) Pirate Radio

Pirate radio broadcasts were all the rage in 1966, Great Britain. Some took the concept literally and broadcast from way out at sea. These were the rebels who played rock music that no BBC radio station would touch. With liberated speech, they announced things that you’d never hear from any respectable DJ on air. That’s exactly what made them so wildly popular.

In this vein, the movie features a ragtag bunch of DJs and their staffers. This is a team that follows no rules but their own. As they swear on the radio, get drunk and generally have a good time, you will be riveted.

So, why were they so successful?

Their soundtracks were amazing, just as they are in this movie.

17) The Caine Mutiny

The movie that gave Michael Caine his stage name.

The Caine Mutiny; is still recognized as having one of the best courtroom scenes of all time. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, by Herman Wouk, it depicts a mutiny aboard the fictional World War II vessel, The USS Caine.

Other actors of fame also influence the movie. Try the infamous Humphrey Bogart who plays Lieutenant Commander Phillip Francis Queeg. His role is considered one of the best villains in American movie history. Queeg’s paranoid delusions and bullying demeanor, inspire his men to remove him from power.

Thanks to the all-round incredible performances, this is a screenplay that will keep you on your toes.

The Caine Mutiny is as thrilling as any movie set out at sea.

16) Houseboat

Houseboat, is a story of romance and intrigue. A widower and his three children live in a dilapidated houseboat. Along with the family is their new nanny. Nanny comes in the form of an Italian socialite, in disguise, trying to escape an overbearing father.

This is a movie that manages to juggle the themes of loss, and a child’s reaction to divorce. Though, it never loses its warmth or its comedic value.

The kids are delightful and Cary Grant is, as always, utterly charming. For those of you who have always dreamt of living on a boat, probably don’t want to pick a boat like this one.

15) Dunkirk

If you ask ten people what Great Britain’s finest military hour is, you’ll get ten different answers. What you can be sure of is, that at least one of them will be the “Miracle of Dunkirk.”

This is a story of 338,000 soldiers rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk. As that is happening, the German armies advance on their position. It’s a feat that could never have been achieved without the courage and willingness of sacrifice. With 850 civilian boats that sailed to the rescue, The Little Ships of Dunkirk won the day.

Christopher Nolan gives us an epic performance. He encapsulates the desperation of the British and French soldiers trapped on the Beach. Exhausted and hungry, they were also terrified they would never see home again. This is a tale of bravery from the hundreds of volunteer captains willing to risk everything for their compatriots.

What makes this so amazing, is that it’s real!

14) Life of Pi

Heart-breaking and uplifting, all at once. A movie that tells the story of an Indian man named “Pi,” and his faithful friend, Richard Parker. Their ship to Canada sinks in the Mariana Trench. And, so begins their struggle to survive on a lifeboat drifting upon the vast ocean. It’s also a tale with a twist: Richard Parker is, in fact, a Bengal tiger.

Along their arduous journey of survival, they face many hardships and difficulties together. The result is an unbreakable bond that is as beautiful as it is unexpected.

Ang Lee won the Academy Award for Best Director in Life of Pi, and it was well deserved. This is a movie that allows you to enjoy a powerful experience of friendship and life, out in a boat upon the high seas.

13) Dead Calm

Is there a better setting for a psychological thriller than out on the open seas?

Isolated and alone with no help for miles around, is not an ideal situation for running into a deranged serial killer!

This is what befalls John and Rae Ingram, a married couple trying to escape a tragic truth. They hope to experience the calmness and serenity of life on the open waters. Instead, they’re confronted by a vicious killer who takes over their yacht. The couple must use every ounce of their cunning and survival instincts to overcome him.

Let’s hope it doesn’t put you off owning your own yacht!

12) All is Lost

Robert Redford gives a powerhouse performance in a role with very little dialogue. Like many great films set on boats, “All is Lost” is about the will to survive. One must use one’s own ingenuity in utilizing every available resource to overcome the fatal situation. Along with the constant need to keep your head above water (pun intended).

Redford is credited simply as “Our Man.” Watching him scramble about his stricken yacht as he fights to keep it seaworthy, is, frankly, exhausting.

A unique viewing experience, and one that any lover of the oceans should take the time to watch.

11) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

What a cultural phenomenon this movie was when released in 2003. The series went on to span six films that grossed over 4.5 billion dollars worldwide. Sure, they went downhill as the sequels kept coming, but the first few films are outstanding.

It’s hard to imagine that all this came from a theme park ride!

A swashbuckling tale that contains everything you could want from a Pirates’ movie. It gives you a leering pantomime villain, a beautiful and capable damsel, and a hero with a heart of gold. And, of course, there’s the indefinable Captain Jack Sparrow. A role widely regarded as one of the best movie characters of all time.

The Black Pearl itself is a beautifully rendered ship. A ship that will have any pirate aficionados cooing.

10) Captain Phillips

Captain Richard Phillip’s cargo ship, the “MV Maersk Alabama,” was hijacked by Somalian pirates in April 2009. This is the incredible tale of real-life bravery in a dangerous situation.

Captain Phillips finds himself held hostage by pirates. They are trying to escape the US Navy in his hijacked ship. Paul Greengrass brings his distinctive directing style to this movie. He pairs a heart-stopping thriller with an interesting take on globalization.

The excellent Tom Hanks brings a real vulnerability to his role. Newcomer, Barkhad Abdi’s performance, as the pirate leader Muse, earned him an Oscar nomination. A movie with outstanding acting.

9) The Poseidon Adventure

Disaster flicks are a much-enjoyed genre in Hollywood. The movie, The Poseidon Adventure, does not disappoint.

A nightmare scenario that drives the ship’s passengers and crew, as they find themselves trapped in an upside ship.

The S.S. Poseidon is an ocean liner on a New Year’s Eve party cruise. As passengers celebrate they are oblivious to a tsunami causing an undersea earthquake. That is until it hits the ship, turning it the wrong way around. A group of survivors make their way through the capsized ship, in a mission to escape through the “hull.”

Braving terrors, such as flooding corridors and raging infernos hit them around every corner. The cast does a remarkable job of conveying such terror. Gene Hackman received a Bafta for his role. Shelley Winters earned a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.

The cinematography convinces the audience to feel the claustrophobia on a sinking ship. Best of all, it works a treat.

8) African Queen

Set in Africa at the onset of World War I, The African Queen is a steam-powered boat sailing down the Ulanga River. In an attempt to escape the German forces, the captain is inspired by a passenger to attack a German warship.

This is one of those, “against the odds,” kinda mission.

This is exactly the kind of underdog story that inspired so many to victory during the two world wars.

Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn are at the height of their Hollywood careers in this dramatic war story.

7) The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway’s final fictional masterpiece, before he died in 1961.

A story of a Cuban fisherman, who’s caught nothing for 84 days. On the 85th day, he manages to hook the largest Marlin he’s ever seen. Unable to control the beast, it drags him out to sea and there the adventure begins. As he leaves behind the land, the Old Man reminisces upon his life.

Man vs Nature is often depicted as an epic battle, but this is far more nuanced, and a take on the power of the sea. Spencer Tracy is excellent in the leading role, being nominated for an Oscar.

6) The Perfect Storm

Based on a real event, this is a combination of several storms that hit the East Coast of the US, killing thirteen people. The terrible deaths include six fishermen on their boat, the Andrea Gail. The fishermen and their boat form the focal point of the movie.

It depicts a chillingly, realistic version of life on a fishing boat during a horrific storm. The unique special effects make you feel as if you’re there, right inside the eye of the storm.

The cast performs admirably, with raw emotions displayed for all to see. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg contribute to the inevitable ending. Which makes it all the more devastating for knowing such brave characters.

5) Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Russel Crowe plays Jack Aubrey, a real-life captain of the HMS Surprise. The corvette is in service during the Napoleonic Wars. Aubrey has the seemingly impossible task of sinking the Archeron, a far bigger and faster vessel. The tale plays out in the Atlantic Ocean, off South America.

This movie is praised as a near-perfect portrayal of sea life, and British Naval protocol. Be prepared for spectacular battle sequences. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in naval warfare.

4) The Bounty

The third movie to depict the real-life mutiny aboard the HMS Bounty in 1789, but this one is regarded as the best.

Anthony Hopkins brings a level of flair and complexity to the role of William Bligh. His unyielding commitment to duty is highlighted above all else. Hopkins heads an all-round brilliant cast. You will experience strong performances from Mel Gibson, Bernard Hill, Liam Neeson, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

A beautifully shot movie with stunning cinematography. You can practically feel the warmth of the sunlight on your skin.

3) Battleship Potemkin

Shot by Soviet director, Sergei Eisenstein. Battleship Potemkin is a masterpiece of International Cinema.

Depicted, in five parts, it is about a mutiny aboard the Russian battleship, Potemkin, in 1905. When a serviceman complains of maggots in his soup, he is promptly executed. This leads to an uprising in nearby Odessa, against the Tsarist government.

A movie about revolutionary spirit. Top that off with fighting against unjust and corrupt systems, and overcoming a centuries-old corrupt regime.

This is one of the most celebrated pieces of historical cinema in history. Truly, a stunning piece of work.

A suspense-filled blockbuster by Steven Spielberg.

A monster movie that is so much more.

A move that changed the face of cinema forever, and made many think twice before swimming in the sea.

When a huge great white shark roams the sea around Amity Island, it appears to indiscriminately kill and eat humans. The local sheriff leads three men on a Fishing boat, called Orca, to capture and kill the beast.

Jaws was so terrifying that it was credited with creating an irrational fear of sharks. A panicked terror, that has lingered on for decades after its release.

The Titanic was an absolute mammoth of a ship. It seems only fitting that a movie adaptation is also done on such a huge scale. A movie that earned over 2 billion dollars in cinemas worldwide. The Titanic is still is the third-highest box office movie of all time.

The story of the RMS Titanic is indisputably the most notorious of any ship that has sailed. It includes a love tale as epic as Romeo and Juliet. Though the two lovers are doomed from the beginning. It turns out that they have more than their secret love for one another to worry about.

James Cameron expertly recreates the Titanic in all its elegance. From the majestic ballrooms to the luxurious cabins. Moving down to the less glamorous decks for the underclasses. Finishing deep down in the underbelly, where coal trimmers toiled in unbearable heat. These workers powered the gargantuan vessel.

Titanic is an emotionally powerful depiction that pulls no punches. A movie that left many in tears, but also in awe.

Conclusion: The Best Boat Movies

And there you have it…

From real-life tales of inspiring resilience. To horror stories where the protagonist faces insurmountable odds.

There have been many powerful movies set on boats drifting on the tides of emotion as they set out upon the high sea. In many such movies, the boat can easily be mistaken as the protagonist itself. A vessel sailing out into the vast ocean sets a scene that is unlike no other. Such a powerful panorama stimulates feelings of freedom and wonder, while simultaneously creating an atmosphere of terror and isolation.

Needless to say, if you’re looking for a movie set on a boat, there are plenty of quality options to choose from.

Happy sailing!

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Greatest Sailing Movies – Check Out our Top List

For every true sailor passionate about sailing and all things connected with the ocean or sea, having a list of best sailing movies is definitely on the „to do“ list. Furthermore, tragic and inconceivable stories of survival, unbelievable adventure, and wild journeys or just real everyday documentary stories make nautical movies not only interesting to watch but very educational for every person in love with the sea. That is the main reason why we decided to update our list of top ten sailing movies. If you have missed any of these films, make sure to change that!

List of the Top 10 Sailing Movies:

Other Honorable Mentions

10. maidentrip (2013).

Maidentrip is a beautiful documentary about Laura Dekker’s year and a half voyage to be the youngest person ever to sail around the world. Dekker, born in Holland, set sail from Gibraltar in 2010 and made the journey in a year and a half, finishing a few months after her 16th birthday. Her route took her to St. Martins, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, and back. This inspiring documentary will leave you amazed first because of the premise – that a girl, 14, would even try such an amazing task. In 2009, only 13 years old, she sailed across the English Channel from Holland and back by herself. When it became known that she intended to sail around the world, Dutch authorities attempted to remove her from her father’s custody to keep her from making the trip. After a court victory, she was cleared and free.

Movie Cover

Cast & Crew

Laura Dekker

Jillian Schlesinger

9. Kon-tiki (1950)

“Kon-Tiki” was the name of a wooden raft used by six Scandinavian scientists, led by Thor Heyerdahl , to make a 101-day journey from South America to the Polynesian Islands. The purpose of the expedition was to prove Heyerdahl’s theory that the Polynesian Islands were populated from the east rather than from the west as had been the theory for hundreds of years. Heyerdahl made a study of the winds and tides in the Pacific and, by simulating conditions as closely as possible to those he theorized the Peruvians encountered, he set out on the voyage.

Thor Heyerdahl, Herman Watzinger, Erik Hesselberg, Knut Haugland, Torstein Raaby, Bengt Danielsson

Thor Heyerdahl

8. Knife in the Water (1962)

The first Polish film to be nominated for a Foreign Language Oscar, Roman Polanski’s “Knife in the Water” is considered one of the most impressive director’s debuts . The story is simple. A wealthy couple on their way to spend a weekend on the yacht picks up a young and attractive hitchhiker. The middle-aged husband, a successful and cynical sportswriter invites the young man on board, perhaps to show off his nice yacht, his seamanship, and eventually, his superiority. On the other hand, his young and sexy wife does not say much but as their yacht journey proceeds and tension between the two men rises, she seems to enjoy the presence of a passenger and the obvious competition between them for her attention.

Leon Niemczky, Jolanta Umecka, Zygmunt Malanowicz

Roman Polanski

7. The Riddle of the Sands (1979)

In the early years of the 20th Century, two British yachtsmen (Michael York and Simon MacCorkindale) stumble upon a German plot to invade the east coast of England in a flotilla of specially designed barges. They set out to thwart this terrible scheme but must outwit not only the cream of the German Navy but the feared Kaiser Wilhelm himself.

Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Alan Badel, Simon MacCorkindale

Tony Maylam

6. Wind (1992)

Will Parker, played by Matthew Modine, loses America’s Cup, the world’s biggest sailing prize, to the Australians and decides to form his own syndicate to win it back. The loss of America’s Cup by the USA to Australia in 1983 broke the longest ever running winning streak in world sports history. Everyone who is in love with the sea and sailing will surely hold this movie as a classic.

Matthew Modine, Jennifer Grey, Cliff Robertson, Jack Thompson, Rebecca Miller

Carroll Ballard

5. Dead Calm (1989)

Dead Calm, directed by Phillip Noyce , is one of those thriller movies you just can’t stop watching. It follows the story of John and Rae Ingram, a married Australian couple whose sailing adventure was interrupted by a stranger who has abandoned a sinking ship. As it turns out, this seemingly harmless survivor is actually a psychopath and they are stuck with him on the open sea. Despite a lot of sailing scenes in difficult and dangerous conditions, this movie offers thrill and excitement as well.

Nicole Kidman, Sam Neil, Billy Zane, Rod Mullinar, Joshua Tilden

Phillip Noyce

4. White Squall (1996)

White Squall is a true story about the sailing voyage of the small group of American teenagers whose sailboat Albatross sank in 1960. This touching film about sailing and boys’ teamwork, discipline, and courage was directed by Ridley Scott, a famous British director nominated for 4 Academy Awards . Hence, this 8 months long sailing voyage definitely deserves to be on our list of best sailing movies.

Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, John Savage, Scott Wolf, Jeremy Sisto

Ridley Scott

3. All is lost (2013)

Our list of ten sailing movies can’t be completed without this outstanding film starring Robert Redford alone, a man lost at the sea. It is very interesting to note that Redford is the only cast member and the film has just a few spoken words. For this role, he was nominated for Golden Globe and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor.

Robert Redford

J. C. Chandor

2. Deep Water (2006)

This interesting British documentary tells a story of the first around the world yacht race focusing on one competitor in particular – Donald Crowhurst. Deep Water is not just about solo non-stop sailing, it shows how this hard challenge can affect the life of any person. Furthermore, this film presents how nine months of solitude definitely alter the state of the mind, so this movie is a must-see for anyone interested in sailing. Therefore, Deep Water had to be on our list of top ten sailing movies.

Tilda Swinton, Donald Crowhurst, Jean Badin, Simon Russell Beale, Ted Hynds

Louise Osmond, Jerry Rothwell

1. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

On top of our list of best sailing movies is Master and Commander , a beautiful film that tells the story of a British captain who is in pursuit of a French Warship around South America. The whole plot is set during the Napoleonic wars. This beautiful action film won two Oscars. Moreover, movie critics agree that this role of Captain Jack Aubrey was one of the best performances ever played by Russell Crowe .

Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, Chris Larkin, Max Pirkis

The Perfect Storm (2000)

This sailing movie is based on a true story. In October 1991, a confluence of weather conditions combined to form a killer storm in the North Atlantic. Caught in the storm was the sword-fishing boat, Andrea Gail. Magnificent foreshadowing and anticipation fill this true-life drama with minute details of the fishing boats, their gear, and the life-threatening weather.

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane

Wolfgang Petersen

Captain Ron (1992)

A family in Chicago inherits the yacht formerly owned by Clark Gable. Then ty decide to sail it from the Caribbean island of Saint Pomme de Terre to Miami. They sail with the assistance of the vivid character Captain Ron and, even though their whole life changes, it all works itself out in the end. Thus Captain Ron is a sailing movie the whole family can enjoy.

Kurt Russell, Martin Short, Mary May Place, Benjamin Salisbury

Thom Eberhardt

The Dove (1974)

This sailing movie is a true story of a 16-year-old who sailed alone around the world. He was sailing in his 23-foot sloop named “ The Dove “. During his journey, he meets and falls in love with a young woman who is also traveling around the world. To sum up, the story follows Robin around the world to many beautiful locations, as he grows from a boy to a man, finds himself, and finds the love of his life.

Joseph Bottoms, Deborah Raffin, John McLiam, Robin Lee

Charles Jarrott

Morning Light (2008)

Fifteen young sailors, six months of intense training, one chance at the brass ring. This documentary tells the story of a group of intrepid and determined young men and women, on the cusp of adulthood, as they embark on life’s first great adventure. Racing a high-performance 52-foot sloop in the TRANSPAC, the most revered of open-ocean sailing competitions, the crew of “ Morning Light ” matches wits and skills in a dramatic 2300 mile showdown against top professionals.

Chris Branning, Graham Brant – Zawadzki, Chris Clark, Roy Edward Disney

Mark Monroe

The Life Aquatic (2004)

With a plan to exact revenge on a mythical shark that killed his partner, Oceanographer Steve Zissou rallies a crew that includes his estranged wife, a journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son.

Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston

Wes Anderson

1 thought on “Greatest Sailing Movies – Check Out our Top List”

a fascinating documentary on the first nonstop singlehanded sailing race around the world, the sunday times golden globe race held in 1968-69, before gps and most satellite communications. the race was open to all comers regardless of experience. what started as a grand adventure ended tragically for most of the 9 contestants. if u don’t know this heartbreaking story already i don’t want to spoil it so enough said.

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• Top 10 Boat Movies: Best Sailing Films to Watch
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Gearing up for your summer holiday? Or maybe you're looking for inspiration for your next sailing trip? Get in the mood with one of our favorite sailing flicks—from adventure to comedy to romance, these boat movies will have you hankering for a few weeks at sea. 

Here are our top ten picks for movies about sailing:

1. 180° South (2010)

2. wind (1992), 3. captain ron (1992), 4. morning light (2008), 5. the dove (1974), 6. moby dick (1956), 7. wild caribbean (2007), 8. maidentrip (2013), 9. the new swiss family robinson (1998), 10. the love boat (1977-1987).

Have adventure on the mind? Kick off a movie marathon with this documentary on the epic 1968 journey of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins. 

Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and his best friend Tompkins took off on a whirlwind sailing journey to, yes, Patagonia in 1968. Along the way, they do some serious surfing but also discover the beauty of experiencing pure, raw nature. In this documentary, one of Chouinard's fans, Jeff Johnson, retraces the duo's steps to discover the thrill of sailing in nature for himself. 

For those looking for some sporty action, the 1992 flick is one of the most exciting of yacht movies. 

After losing the America's Cup (i.e., the biggest sailing race in the world), Matthew Modine makes it his ambition to win back the coveted title. Also following Modine's romance with Kate Bass, an aeronautical engineering graduate student, this boat movie is equal parts sporty and romantic—a one-two punch for a good movie night. 

Watch the trailer!

1992 was the year of the movies about boating! 

Also this year, Kurt Russell and Martin Short starred in Captain Ron , a comedy adventure about a man from Chicago who inherits an old yacht. The flick follows Short’s character, Martin Harvey, as he takes his wife and children to the Caribbean for a sailing adventure—which quickly turns into more than Harvey bargained for with Captain Ron (Russell) at the helm. 

Can’t get enough racing action? Neither can we. 

For a different twist on a movie about ships, try Morning Light . This documentary follows fifteen young sailors as they embark on six months of intensive training. Their goal? Race a high-performance 52-foot sloop in the Transpacific Yacht Race. From Hawaii to the high seas to the daring competition against the world's top professionals, this is one of the boat movies you don't want to miss. 

When it comes to movies about boating, real life is truly often more exciting than fiction. 

This 1974 film recounts the true story of 16-year-old Robin Lee Graham who embarks on a solo trip around the world in The Dove , his 23-foot sloop. Along the way, he meets a young woman who is on her own journey around the globe. With a dramatic biography that needs no embellishment, this film follows the adventures of Graham in life and love as he sails around the world from adolescence to adulthood.

You can't talk about boat movies without mentioning perhaps the most classic of them all: Moby Dick . 

In this legendary tale, the eminent Gregory Peck stars as Captain Ahab, an old fishing captain obsessed with hunting down and killing the white whale who robbed him of his leg years ago. If you want to take a break from the comedies and romantic yacht movies, Moby Dick is one of the renowned classics that will surely make you feel the thrill of the sea. 

Daydreaming about a holiday to the Caribbean? 

Us, too. That's why we have yachts available for charter across the islands—from Antigua to St. Lucia to Martinique. Before setting sail, get a taste of the Wild Caribbean with this four-part documentary series on the Caribbean islands and sea. Talk about some major travel inspiration! 

Check it out!  

For those who can't get enough of sailing documentaries, this is one of the movies about sailing you must add to your list. 

Maidentrip follows Laura Dekker as she sets out to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone—at the age of 14. The documentary takes us back before the start of her two-year voyage, from her early childhood sailing in New Zealand to life preparing for her epic feat. 

If you're planning a sailing holiday for the family, there's no better way to get the kids excited for the upcoming travel than with this boat movie. 

This cult classic follows Angelino Jack Robinson as he sails with his family from Hong Kong to Sydnery. From pirates to hidden treasure and more, this is one of the best sailing movies for families. While a private yacht charter won't get you tangled up with wild pirate chases and searches for buried treasure, this family film will certainly bring out the adventurer in you before your own sailing trip. 

Nautical movies not enough for you? If you're looking for a great binge watching session to satisfy your craving for sailing, try The Love Boat . 

This classic TV show follows the comedies, romances, and adventures of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess. Starring Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Lauren Tewes, and Gavin MacLeod, this retro sitcom was based off of Jeraldine Saunder's novel, which was inspired by her years working as a cruise ship hostess. 

Have these boat movies left you with a serious craving for the sea? 

If you want to live your life like you're the hero in your own movie, charter a yacht this year . Our yacht charter experts can make your favorite movie a real-life memory.

Get a free & non-binding quote

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12 Top Boat Movies To Inspire Nautical Adventures

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As someone who watches a lot of travel-inspiring films, I love watching movies set in far-flung destinations. But as the saying goes, “It’s about the journey, not the destination” so I’m focusing on a mode of travel in this post. Everyone else might focus on planes, trains, and automobiles but I’ve created a list of the top boat movies instead!

Boating movies, ship movies, sailing movies… They all sound similar but there are so many different types of boat movies!

Many are ship disaster movies with sea creatures, storms, and iceberg crashes. Some of the best boat movies are about the stormy seas within. Others are plain old swash-buckling adventure movies, and we love those too.

There are honestly too many movies with boats to mention, but I’ve done my best. I feel like that “Boats! Boats! Boats!” character on season six of How I Met Your Mother , I’ve written the word so many damn times.

Without further delay, here is my boat and ship movies list complete with boat movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more.

List of Top Boat Movies

1. lifeboat (1944).

English | 97m | 90% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on a novella written by John Steinbeck, Lifeboat  was always going to be a brilliant boat movie.

It’s a story set during World War II about British and American citizens fleeing to lifeboats after their U-boats sink a passenger vessel. Because it was sympathetic to German soldiers and released while the war was still ongoing, many viewers didn’t rate this claustrophobic drama too highly!

Luckily, with the passage of time, the film holds up as one of the great boat films of all time.

2. The African Queen (1951)

English, German, Swahili | 105m | 96% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Winning four Academy Awards including Best Actress for Katherine Hepburn,  The African Queen  is one of the best movies about sailing. Many think it’s a true story, but it’s a fictional tale set at the start of World War I with Hepburn playing a British missionary in German East Africa .

After the war breaks out, she is forced to flee on a little postal boat named African Queen with boat captain Humphrey Bogart. It’s one of the top classic movies about boats that stands the test of time.

Although set in the former German East African territories ( Burundi , Rwanda , the Kionga Triangle , and parts of Tanzania and Mozambique ), it was filmed in entirely different places.

Studio filming was carried out in  Shepperton Studios  in the  UK . On-location filming was in places like the Ruiki River and Ponthierville Falls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other scenes were shot in Lake Albert, Port Butiaba, and other beautiful destinations in Uganda .

3. Moby Dick (1956)

English | 116m | 84% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Love to watch movies about boats sinking and movies about sailing ships? You’re in luck, Moby Dick  is both!

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is an American classic (one I still need to read). It’s a tale told from the point of view of a sailor called Ishmael. He’s sailing on a Nantucket whaling ship called Pequod run by Captain Ahab. The captain has an obsession with killing a white whale called Moby Dick, even if it puts his crew in danger.

Moby Dick  is directed by John Huston and stars Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab and Orson Welles as Father Mapple. There have been several other TV and film adaptations of the 1851 novel, but out of all of these movies about ships at sea, this version is still the best.

4. Jaws (1975)

English | 124m | 97% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Like  Jaws  wasn’t going to be on the list, right? Sure, it would be more at home on a list of thrillers or monster movies than a list of boating movies, but it definitely falls under the  nautical  movies banner. And the, “we’re going to need a bigger boat” line is iconic.

Jaws  is Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster mega-hit about a great white shark that is terrorising the fictional New England beach town of Amity Island . It was mostly shot at Martha’s Vineyard . Three men (played by Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw) hunt down the shark on a boat called Orca .

It was just big enough to accomplish the task of taking down the great white (spoilers, I guess?) but not so big for everyone to survive.

5. Dead Calm (1989)

English | 95m | 83% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Dead Calm is an Australian psychological thriller starring Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman as a couple grieving the loss of their young son. While sailing through the Great Barrier Reef , they pick up a sailor (Billy Zane) who claims he is the sole survivor of a sinking sailboat.

They sail a 23-meter Bermudian ketch although I’m not sure of its name. But  Dead Calm  is one of the best boat trip movies with sailboats if you’re in the mood for a thriller. Plus, it’s not the only boats movie on this list with Billy Zane playing a bad guy!

6. The Hunt for Red October (1990)

English, Russian | 135m | 88% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

I don’t know if I would’ve put  The Hunt for Red October  on a list about ships in movies considering it’s about submarines, but it’s just too popular to leave out. Specifically, it’s about an undetectable typhoon-class ballistic missile submarine with a caterpillar drive.

The Hunt for Red October  is based on the Tom Clancy novel set during the Cold War. It stars Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, a CIA agent who suspects the captain of the Red October sub, Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) of being a Russian defector. 

He must find the captain and confirm his suspicions before Ramius’s submarine is targeted by either the Americans or Russians.

Many movies about ships are naturally full of suspense and The Hunt for Red October  is no different. Hopefully, this is one of the better ship movies so you’ll forgive the fact that it’s a submarine! Unless submarines are ships?! Honestly, I’m not the person to ask.

7. Captain Ron (1992)

English | 100m | 26% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Here’s one of the few films about ships on this list that is a comedy! Kurt Russel stars as the titular character in  Captain Ron . Martin Short’s character inherits a Formosa 51 sailing boat docked in the Caribbean and he enlists Captain Ron to sail the vessel to Miami for him.

The only trouble is that Captain Ron is what I would call a ‘bit of a character’ and not everything is plain sailing when he’s at the steering wheel.

Is this one of the best sailing ship movies of all time? Probably not, but if you’re in the mood to watch lighthearted, travel-inspiring movies on boats then you could do worse.

8. Forrest Gump (1994)

English | 142m | 71% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Okay, so  Forrest Gump  is a film set on a boat entirely, but in my opinion, it does have one of the most famous boats in movies! Forrest’s Beaufort shrimp boat called Jenny is an icon. And, of course, all of the other Jennys that Forrest adds to his fleet of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. boats.

Forrest is a hapless, affable human who just happens to live an extraordinary life. He becomes a shrimping boat captain after promising his army friend Bubba (who dies while fighting in the Vietnam War) that they would start the company together.

After a rocky start, a storm grounds all of the other shrimping boats in the area allowing the Jenny to thrive.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve watched Forrest Gump. 10 times? Maybe more? It’s not perfect, but I watch it whenever I want to travel around the US or just be inspired by a beautiful story.

9. Titanic (1997)

English | 195m | 88% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

Yes, you knew  Titanic  would be on this list of movies with ships somewhere! James Cameron directed not only one of the most successful films at the box office (as only James Cameron can) but one of the best Hollywood ship movies ever.

Titanic  uses the real-life disaster of the RMS Titanic, a White Star Line passenger liner and now one of the most famous movie ships. It hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean while sailing from Southampton to New York City . The movie follows a wealthy Rose (Kate Winslet) and the lower-class Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) as they find love against the odds.

It really is one of the best ship-sinking movies for many reasons. One is that in the extended cut, the Titanic takes just as long to sink in the film as it did in real life.

10. The Perfect Storm (2000)

English | 130m | 46% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Amazon Prime

One, while it’s not one of the best films with boats,  The Perfect Storm  is a true story. And despite getting mixed reviews, it was a commercial success at least.

It tells the tale of ‘Andrea Gail’, a commercial swordfishing boat that got caught up in one of the worst storms in modern history back in 1991. Three fierce weather fronts collided creating, some might say, the perfect storm.

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and John C. Reilly lead an all-star cast of fishermen caught up in this monumental storm somewhere between Gloucester, Massachusetts, and the  Flemish Cap . Slight spoilers, but The Perfect Storm comfortably falls within the ‘boat sinking movies’ category.

I hope you aren’t an optimist and you hoped that a small fishing boat would be able to survive one of the worst storms ever, right?

11. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

English | 143m | 80% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Disney+

Based on a ride at some of the  Walt Disney   theme parks,  Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl  is the first in a successful (yet mixed) fantasy franchise. Thinking about the movie, it has a much more complicated plot to explain than I first expected!

Basically,  Curse of the Black Pearl  stars Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, a pirate captain without a ship who arrives in Port Royal in the Caribbean . Orlando Bloom as blacksmith Will Turner and Keira Knightley as the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swan also star.

The Black Pearl is a ship manned by undead pirates who are in need of Will’s blood, and a coin in Elizabeth’s possession to break their curse.

It’s a family-friendly, fun adventure movie and by far the best of the series. And who doesn’t love a pirate film?! 

12. True Spirit (2023)

English | 109m | 79% Rotten Tomatoes | Watch on Netflix

You don’t have to resort to watching amateur sailing videos on YouTube to satiate your desire to watch free boat movies. If you have a Netflix subscription,  True Spirit  is one of the best boating movies on Netflix!

Based on a memoir of the same name, True Spirit  is about a 16-year-old Australian sailor. She wants to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Naturally, she must deal with tons of challenges and face her greatest faces (one of them being a horrendous death, I assume).

Although there aren’t many sailing movies Netflix has made as an original production, this one is a really great one. She sails a S&S 34 Ella’s Pink Lady and goes through some unbelievably scary moments.

Other Top Boat Movies on Ships: Overboard (1987), Hook (1991),  The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou  (2004), The Boat That Rocked/Pirate Radio  (2009),  Life of Pi  (2012), All Is Lost (2013),  The Mercy  (2017),  Dunkirk  (2017),  Adrift  (2018)

Top Boat Movies: That’s a Wrap!

Those are some of my favourite boat movies and ship Movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other platforms.

Have you watched any of these films or have any more recommendations? Let me know in the comments below!

75+ Best Travel Movies To Inspire Your Wanderlust

Hey! I wrote this. And I'm the human (and hair) behind Almost Ginger. I live for visiting filming locations, attending top film festivals and binge-watching travel inspiring films. I'm here to inspire you to do the same! Get in touch by leaving a comment or contacting me directly: [email protected] .

4 thoughts on “ 12 Top Boat Movies To Inspire Nautical Adventures ”

Wonderful list Rebecca. So many of these I love. Lifeboat is in my list of top 10 Hitchcock films, and Jaws is an all-time fav of mine. Nice to see Dead Calm make the list – a top-notch, edge-of-your-seat thriller. I must check out Captain Ron, Kurt Russell is great but this one has passed me by.

Thanks, Dan! There are so many great ones, and so many more I need to check out and add to the list!

I love this post. So many good ones. Jaws is by far my favorite on this list. So much of the fun of that film is the boat itself. I feel like I know every detail of it.

I would put Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World on a list like this. Impeccably well-made and almost entirely on a ship. I also have Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo on my mind. That is how you work with a boat on a film set.

Thanks Kevin! 🙂 Funnily enough I’d thought of Fitzcarraldo but I’d JUST included it in a list of movies about Peru so I thought it would be a bit much considering it’s a more obscure film. I can’t say if heard of the others but I do actually need to watch Jaws again, it’s been aaaages

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Best boat movies

1. The Bounty

2. Mutiny on the Bounty

3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

5. Mutiny on the Bounty

8. Lifeboat

9. All Is Lost

10. In the Heart of the Sea

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Kevin Costner Took A Boat To The Horizon 2 Premiere In Venice And It’s Giving More James Bond Than Cowboy

Kevin Costner is a real James Bond in Venice.

Playing a cowboy has always been a good look for Kevin Costner . We’ve seen him don the high-crowned hat while riding a horse in Silverado, Wyatt Earp, Open Range, Yellowstone, and Horizon: An American Saga . While heading for the Venice premiere of Horizon 2 in a fancy boat , the Hollywood actor gave me more James Bond vibes than a cowboy.

Kevin Costner may ride a horse very well on the big screen. But at the end of the day, the Field of Dreams star is a Hollywood actor with his own means of transportation. An Instagram post revealed Costner decided to travel to the premiere of Horizon 2 using a luxury boat. As you see Costner cruising in Venice, see if you’re getting James Bond vibes watching compared to a cowboy:

A post shared by Kevin Costner (@kevincostner) A photo posted by on

Doesn’t Kevin Costner look so happy riding that boat on the shores of Venice? The summertime landscape looks so beautiful that it makes me wish I was sailing in that boat too. Back on August 6th attending the Magna Graecia Film Festival in Italy, the Yellowstone actor showed us in an Instagram photo that he met a new match in Pardo Yachts chilling with his shades in front of the Italian sun. It looks like the Emmy Award winner is getting the ideal Italy experience many wish they could have:

Watching Kevin Costner in his luxury boat escorting himself to the Venice premiere of Horizon 2, he looks more like James Bond than his traditional cowboy look. Costner may not be on a mission to save the world like the British secret agent, but he looks thrilled to get to his film premiere to see the movie he's proud to make.

When you look back at your favorite James Bond movies , the 007 agent and boats tend to go hand-in-hand with each other. In one of the best action scenes from the series , thrilling stunts and breathtaking scenery occur during Bond’s boat chase in Live and Let Die. The British spy is also dodging enemy fire with great speed on a boat in other Bond films like Moonraker, The World is Not Enough, Quantum of Solace, and more. Costner may not be using his fancy boat to jump over cars and escape dark forces, but he still looks wicked cool sailing through Italy.

After a disappointing box office result from Horizon: Chapter One, its second chapter lost its August 16th release date . This is all the more reason why it’s great news that Chapter Two will make its world debut at the 81st Venice Film Festival for Italian filmgoers to see. Not to mention, an exciting update about parts three and four had Kevin Costner reveal that he hopes to shoot the final movies back-to-back with bits of Chapter Three already filmed. So it shows that hope is not lost on the Academy Award winner’s passion project.

While Kevin Costner may not be attending the film premiere of Horizon 2 as a cowboy on horseback, he’s still traveling in style sailing the shores of Venice on his fancy boat going there. It’s hoped that North American audiences will get a chance to see Part Two of the Western saga sometime later this year. Until then, you can see Chapter One available now on your Max subscription .

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Pensioner ‘raped 92 times by 72 men after husband drugged her’

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A pensioner drugged his wife so she could be raped nearly 100 times by 72 men over the space of 10 years, a court has heard.

Gisele P, 72, has ‘no recollection’ of the ten years of abuse, which she discovered in 2020 after police found hundreds of images of her on her husband’s phone .

She was seen unconscious, mostly in a foetal position, in the pictures and videos alleged to show dozens of rapes at the couple’s home in Mazan, near Avignon, France.

They had moved to the village from Paris , two years after the abuse is believed to have started in 2011.

Dominque P. is alleged to have used an online forum to recruit strangers to visit their home, according to police who found chats on a site called coco.fr, which they have since shut down.

A forklift driver, fire brigade officer, company boss and a journalist are among the 51 other men on trial accused of participating in the 71-year-old’s scheme, in which no money changed hands.

Most of the mix of single, married and divorced men, aged between 26 and 74, are accused of raping her once, while some took part up to six times.

Dominique P, who allegedly took part in the rapes himself, is also accused of filming them while encouraging men to use degrading language, prosecutors said.

In their defence, the men claim they were helping the couple live out their fantasies.

But Dominique P. admitted to investigators that he had drugged his wife with tranquilisers like anxiety-reducing drug Temesta without her consent.

One expert described Gisele’s state as ‘closer to a coma than to sleep’.

Three men left promptly after arrival without having sex with his wife, Dominique P told prosecutors.

Police found the 71-year-old’s stash of images after a security guard caught him secretly filming under the skirts of three women in a shopping centre.

The 71-year-old, who claims he was raped by a male nurse when he was nine, is ready to face ‘his family and his wife’, his lawyer Beatrice Zavarro said.

For Gisele, however, this trial will be a ‘horrible ordeal’ as it is the ‘first time she will have to live through the rapes that she endured over 10 years’, her lawyer said.

Gisele, now aged 72, could have opted for a trial behind closed doors, but ‘that’s what her attackers would have wanted’, Camus said.

But that hasn’t stopped her from waving her right to a trial behind closed doors, which she believes ‘her attackers would have wanted’, Camus said.

She will be supported by her three children, while present at the trial in Avignon, which is due to last until December 20.

Dominique P. has also been charged with murder and rape in 1991, which he denies, and an attempted rape in 1999, which he admitted after DNA testing.

Experts, who said the man does not appear mentally ill, concluded that he had a need to feel ‘all-powerful’ over the female body, according to assessments included in court documents.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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The 10 best donna dixon movies & tv shows ranked.

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The 10 Best Brigette Lundy-Paine Movies & TV Shows Ranked

Saving private ryan's half-track ambush with miller's team gets perfect score from historian, mark hamill's 10 best roles outside star wars.

Donna Dixon was a staple of 1980s comedies, frequently appearing alongside her husband, Dan Aykroyd, in some of the decade's classics. Dixon began her career as a model, winning Miss Virginia USA in 1976 and competing in both Miss USA 1976 and Miss World USA 1977 (via 2Paragraphs ). She began her acting career in 1980, with a starring role in the early Tom Hanks vehicle Bosom Buddies . Her Miss USA looks, and modeling background naturally had Dixon cast as romantic leads or girls next door, but that belied her real talent as a multidimensional actor.

In her first film, Doctor Detroit , Dixon met Dan Aykroyd, and the pair married that same year. The ever-funny Dan Aykroyd and the charming Dixon made a great pair in the next three films they made together. They also had three children together; Danielle, Belle, and Stella. In April 2022, after 39 years of marriage, Dixon and Aykroyd announced they would be separating , though remaining legally married and staying close friends (via People ). The news came a few years after her retirement in 2020, but she has retired before, so there's no telling if she'll decide to return again.

Brigette Lundy-Paine rose to mainstream attention with their role in I Saw the TV Glow, but the actor has other notable performances on their resume.

10 The Love Boat (1977-1987)

Dr. jill mcgraw (2 episodes, 1981), the love boat.

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The Love Boat is a romantic comedy television series that aired from 1977 to 1986. The show is set on the fictional cruise ship Pacific Princess, where the crew and passengers navigate love, relationships, and personal growth while sailing to exotic destinations.

The Love Boat was an ABC romantic comedy-drama set on the cruise ship MS Pacific Princess . The series followed the crew of the ship and in particular their Captain, Merrill Stubing (Gavin MacLeod). Guest actors would frequently appear on the show to play the new visitors on the boat, who had all variety of romantic, humorous, and thrilling adventures.

Plenty of big names appeared in the series, including Scott Baio, Kathy Bates, Ed Begley Jr., and more. To be a part of the historic show is a feather in anyone's cap. And so it is for Donna Dixon, who played Dr. Jill McGraw in season 5, episodes 1 and 2. There isn't all that much for Dixon to do in the episode, but she fits in well with the comedic-dramatic tone of the series and her presence alone was an important indication that she was on the right track career-wise .

9 Wayne's World (1992)

Dream woman, wayne's world.

Penelope Spheeris takes the classic Saturday Night Live recurring sketch and expands it into its own film with Wayne's World, a comedy film that stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth. The movie follows the two music fans as they begin to climb the ladder of success by taking their public access show in their basement to a worldwide audience after "selling out," leading the two stuck in a situation where they lose creative control of their passion project - and must find a way to take it back.

Though the classic comedy is over 30 years old at this point, Wayne's World is still a milestone in Mike Myers and Dana Carvey's careers, as well as proof that The Blues Brothers was not a one-off success for SNL movies. Based on the sketch of the same name, Wayne's World follows Wayne Campbell (Myers) and Garth Algar (Carvey), two rock enthusiasts who host their own public-access TV show.

This "Dream Woman", as she's titled, is played by Donna Dixon, and she does fit the bill as the type of girl-next-door who would have a dorky guy like Garth tongue-tied.

While Wayne is outgoing, Garth is much more stereotypically nerdy and can't even bring himself to talk to the cute girl who works at Stan Mikita's Donuts. This "Dream Woman", as she's titled, is played by Donna Dixon, and she does fit the bill as the type of girl-next-door who would have a dorky guy like Garth tongue-tied. It's an extra fun role for Dixon because her husband, Aykroyd, is SNL royalty, and he starred in the first SNL movie, The Blues Brothers . It's only fair his wife would get a role in the show's second movie.

8 The Couch Trip (1988)

Laura rollins.

The Couch Trip is the last movie that featured both Donna Dixon and Dan Aykroyd. The movie follows John W. Burns, Jr. (Aykroyd), a man staying at a psychiatric hospital who is brought to see Dr. Lawrence Baird (David Clennon). A series of coincidences leads John to impersonate Lawrence and travel to Los Angeles to appear regularly on a therapy radio show.

There, he meets Dr. Laura Rollins (Dixon), an assistant of the doctor who runs the radio show. The film was not a huge hit upon release and has only some mildly amusing jokes and gags that make it feel more like a waste than anything. Dixon is perfectly capable in her role as Laura. She plays a beleaguered, hard-working employee who starts to enjoy the change of pace John's antics bring to the radio station.

7 Speed Zone (1989)

Speed Zone , also known as Cannonball Run III and set in the same universe and chronology as the Burt Reynolds films, sees a new race about to run with a new cadre of drivers. This time, curmudgeonly police chief Spiro T. Edsel (Peter Boyle) arrests the racers the night before the event, forcing the sponsors to find amateur replacements quickly. Donna Dixon plays one of these replacements, Tiffany, a Marilyn Monroe-like actress who doesn't have much in the way of racing skills or common sense.

The film was also known as Cannonball Fever , One for the Money , and Speedzone Fever .

Tiffany is teamed up with a talented parking valet, Charlie Cronan (John Candy), for the race. Speed Zone met nowhere near the same acclaim as the first two Cannonball Run films, but Candy and Dixon's scenes are a highlight . Cronan's "aw shucks" personality combined with Tiffany's naive and hyper-Hollywood glam makes for a very funny "odd couple" combination.

6 Who's the Boss? (1984-1992)

Lauren sullivan (1 episode, 1986), who's the boss.

Who's the Boss is a sitcom that ran from 1984 to 1992 and was created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter. The series stars Tony Danza, Alyssa Milano, and Judith Light. The premise follows a former Major League Baseball player who moves in as a housekeeper for an advertising executive.

In Who's the Boss , a former Major League Baseball player, Tony Micelli (Tony Danza), takes a job as a live-in housekeeper in Fairfield, CT for the high-powered Angela Bower (Judith Light) so he can move his daughter out of the chaotic New York City. Donna Dixon appears in season 2, episode 26, "Charmed Lives", as Lauren Sullivan, a photographer on the set of a commercial Angela is working on. Joyce (Fran Drescher) is set to star in the commercial, but Lauren is suddenly picked for the part.

Angela, caught in the middle, has to mediate, just like Tony usually has to do for the children back at home. Watching Drescher and Dixon go to war against one another with an exasperated Light caught in the middle makes for a lot of funny moments. This episode was also a backdoor pilot for a Charmed Lives series , starring Dixon and Drescher, though it never materialized.

5 Twilight Zone: The Movie (1982)

Jr. flight attendant, twilight zone: the movie.

Twilight Zone: The Movie is a science fiction horror anthology film directed by John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller. The film features four separate stories, each based on an episode of the original Twilight Zone series, with a framing device that connects the segments. The film explores themes of reality, morality, and the supernatural, featuring an ensemble cast including Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, and Vic Morrow.

Donna Dixon co-stars in the fourth segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie , a remake of the famous episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", directed by George Miller. Dixon plays a junior flight attendant responsible for trying to calm down a passenger, John Valentine (John Lithgow), who believes he sees a gremlin on the wing of the plane. It's one of the most famous Twilight Zone episodes and Miller, Dixon, and everyone else help give it its proper due.

Tragically, the sad events that occurred while filming Twilight Zone: The Movie necessarily overshadow the film itself. The deaths of Vic Morrow and child actors Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen led to an overhaul of movie set safety and cemented the film in the history of Hollywood forever after. Donna Dixon, for better or worse, is now a part of that history too.

4 Spies Like Us (1985)

Karen boyer.

Spies Like Us is a Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd-led comedy that follows Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chase) and Austin Millbarge (Aykroyd). These two bumbling members of the US spy apparatus are elevated to high clearances so they can act as unwitting decoys on a mission to the Soviet Union. Donna Dixon plays Karen Boyer, one of the real members of the Soviet Union infiltration team, and the only surviving operative.

Spies Like Us was only lukewarmly received but has since gained a bit of cult appreciation.

Calm, cool, and collected, Karen is a bit underwhelmed to find that only Emmett and Austin are here to help her. Dixon does an excellent job playing the straight woman to Aykroyd and Chase and never feels outclassed on-screen, even with the two comedy legends firing off one-liners back and forth. Spies Like Us was only lukewarmly received but has since gained a bit of cult appreciation.

3 Doctor Detroit (1983)

Monica mcneil.

Doctor Detroit was Donna Dixon's feature film debut and the set on which she met Dan Aykroyd, who would later become her husband of over four decades . In the film, a shy college professor, Clifford Skridlow (Dan Aykroyd), is roped into a turf war between a pimp, "Smooth" Walker (Howard Hesseman), and a Chicago mob boss, "Mom" (Kate Murtagh). Clifford poses as "Doctor Detroit", a pimp, to protect Smooth's sex workers, including Monica McNeil (Dixon).

This is the first film Dan Aykroyd made after the death of his long-time screen partner John Belushi.

It's a flashy and fun part from Dixon, who is clearly having fun in the role, playing up the wilder parts of her character. Watching the introverted Clifford having to pretend to enjoy the party life is hilarious and while some parts of the movie are a mess, it's a very enjoyable mess. The chemistry between Dixon and Aykroyd is also palpable, which is understandable considering they married soon after.

2 Lucky Stiff (1988)

Cynthia mitchell.

Lucky Stiff , a strange and relatively unknown black comedy, is Donna Dixon's only starring film role. In the film, Ron Douglas (Joe Alaskey) is a hopeless romantic whose second wedding has just fallen apart after his bride left him at the altar. He retreats to the mountains to be alone. There he meets the beautiful Cynthia (Donna Dixon), who takes a shine to him and invites him to her family's home for Christmas. It's there he learns the family are the descendants of the Donner Party, and he's not over for dinner, he is the dinner .

It's a wild concept, but Dixon knows exactly what type of film she's in and plays the sweet girl-next-door and hungry cannibal with equal energy and dedication.

It's a wild concept, but Dixon knows exactly what type of film she's in and plays the sweet girl-next-door and hungry cannibal with equal energy and dedication. The film allows Dixon to explore a much wider range than her more one-note characters usually do. Lucky Stiff has since become a cult favorite. While the story may be a bit too much, the light tone and happy ending keep things more festive than the plot would suggest.

1 Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)

Sonny lumet (37 episodes, 1980-1982), bosom buddies.

Bosom Buddies is an American sitcom that aired from 1980 to 1982, starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari. The series follows two men who disguise themselves as women to live in an affordable, women-only apartment complex. Their deception leads to a series of comedic situations as they navigate their unique living arrangement while maintaining their professional careers in advertising. The show blends humor with themes of friendship and identity.

Before he became a movie star, Tom Hanks had a starring role in the sitcom Bosom Buddies as Kip Amos Wilson. Kip and his pal, Henry Desmond (Peter Scolari) disguise themselves as women in order to pay dirt cheap rent at the Susan B. Anthony hotel, which only serves women. One of the occupants is Sonny Lumet, played by Donna Dixon, who becomes Kip's love interest.

While Bosom Buddies is decidedly outdated, it still has some great performances from Hanks, Scolari, and Dixon. Sonny is funny and intelligent and helps carry the two seasons, being one of the few actors not replaced or written off the show. The series featured a quirky sense of humor that Donna Dixon slid easily into, and it was in this early role where it became obvious how well she could balance comedic and romantic moments.

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Angelina Jolie Delivers the Performance of Her Career in the Ravishing Maria

It took absolutely everything I had to make it to the Venice Film Festival ’s final screening of Maria . Pablo Larraín’s hotly anticipated tribute to the extraordinary life of opera legend Maria Callas premiered on the Lido on the starry showcase’s second day—but I wouldn’t be arriving until the third. I was due to land at 9 a.m., and the release was set to be played for festival audiences for the final time at 11.15 a.m. Could I get there in time? It seemed unlikely—but I had to try. So, as soon as my flight hit the tarmac, I hightailed it to the dock, faced an anxious wait for the water bus, jumped onto a shuttle as soon as I arrived on the island, dropped my suitcase off at left luggage, collected my festival pass, and literally sprinted to the venue alongside 20 or so other festivalgoers who, I assume, were in the same boat as me. And I made it—if only just .

Was it worth it? Well, yes and no. Maria is a deliberately strange and beguiling film—when it soars it, like the extraordinary woman at its center, seems entirely transcendent; and when it falters it, like the soprano at the very end of her life, cowers into a heap. And that is exactly where we begin: in Callas’s resplendent Parisian apartment, as the lauded diva lies dead from a heart attack, aged just 53. In a flurry of sepia-toned flashbacks—of a younger, happier, more radiant Maria—the clock is then turned back by a week. The signs, we see, were already there: gliding through her grand residence, the New York-born Greek soprano has a habit of breaking into song (her voice—recordings of Callas mixed with Jolie’s own singing—still extraordinary and goosebump-inducing), but she’s also erratic with her staff, addicted to pills, haunted by memories, and appears to be planning a doomed comeback.

This isn’t, of course, a conventional biopic—it’s exactly what you’d expect from Larraín, whose Jacqueline Kennedy (Natalie Portman) wanders through the White House in sumptuous ball gowns feasting on wine and medication in Jackie , and whose Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) has visions of Anne Boleyn and gobbles down the pearls that have fallen into her pea soup in Spencer .

In Maria , our tormented heroine is visited by Mandrax, an interviewer played by an oily Kodi Smit-McPhee, who seems to exist only in her head and is named after the sedative she most depends on. When she meets with her sister (Valeria Golino) in real life, she wonders if she’s hallucinating. She sees the ghost of her former lover, Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer). She swans around her rails of opulent clothes, stuffing pills into the pockets of fur coats. She keeps asking her beleaguered butler (Pierfrancesco Favino) to move her piano around the house, despite his bad back. And she is frequently lost in reveries, revisiting her most famous performances. “The stage is in my mind,” she purrs. To wit, when she strolls through the autumnal streets of 1970s Paris, she imagines a crowd of men belting out an operatic classic in front of the Eiffel Tower, an ensemble of geishas surrounding her as she performs Madama Butterfly , and, later, an orchestra filling her apartment.

As her health worsens, her voice begins to falter and recollections from her childhood—especially a memory of her mother forcing her and her sister to sing for, and then pleasure, German officers—become oppressive, she spirals in spectacular fashion.

Jolie is extraordinary throughout, embodying the musical icon’s delicious imperiousness, dry humor and sphinx-like charm, as well as her quiet shame and fragility. In one sequence, when a doctor tells her that she’ll die if she tries to keep singing, anguish flashes across her eyes, her lips crinkle, and a sharp intake of breath tells you everything you need to know. She’s also adept at delivering Steven Knight’s cryptic, frequently hilarious, intentionally stilted dialogue, while in the mouths of some of her co-stars, the lines feel overly mannered. (When we first meet Bilginer’s Aristotle Onassis, for instance, he sounds as if he’s reciting his own Wikipedia entry.)

In the end, there were a few too many Onassis-focused interludes for my liking—all presented in a washed-out black and white which removes you from the rich and vivid opulence of the present, and offers little real insight into the tycoon. There’s also a preoccupation with John F. Kennedy, Jackie (whom Onassis famously left Callas for), and Marilyn Monroe which doesn’t really go anywhere. The result is something that feels a bit messy and, at its conclusion, rather anticlimactic, especially because we know exactly where this tale is headed from the very beginning. There’s a certain flatness to the storytelling, too, which makes it feel like the pilot episode of an extended exploration of her life—except, this is it.

Still, there’s so much ravishing beauty in Maria that it’s hard not to swoon over it. Paris glows with an otherworldly light, as does Maria’s home, a Marie Antoinette -adjacent, Wes Andersonian dream piled high with dusty tomes and Roman busts—they stare at her and she stares back. This is a film about the artifice of performance, about being watched, constantly observing ourselves, and how some people continue to play to the crowd even when no one is left in the proverbial audience. In a later shot, we see Maria staring into the middle distance while her face is reflected and refracted by a number of mirrors: she’s a woman made up of fragments, someone who needs adulation reflected back at her in order to construct her sense of self. Which is why, having lost the ability to sing for her adoring fans, she finds herself entirely at sea.

All of which to say, Larraín’s artistry is in full view, though it’s difficult to imagine it working without Jolie, who has never been better, and could very well squeeze onto the best-actress Oscar shortlist come 2025. And the opportunity to witness this performance before much of the rest of the world? It certainly justified the mad dash across town.

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Disney Dream luxury cruise liner is returning to Liverpool next week

The Disney Dream plays classic movie music as it sets sail

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The Disney Dream luxury cruise liner is returning to Liverpool on Wednesday, September 11. The magical experience is filled with classic Disney characters, endless activities and daily entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

The Disney Dream arrives in Liverpool on day four of its seven-night British Isles cruise. The voyage begins and ends in Southampton with stops in Greenock, Cork, Portland and two days at sea.

Last year, hundreds of Disney and cruise ship fans stood along Princes Parade just to catch a glimpse of the magnificent liner. As the cruise set sail, visitors were treated to classic Disney music playing from the cruise's speakers.

What's the Disney Dream cruise itinerary?

Day 1: Southampton, England

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• Aboard: 4pm

Day 2: Day at sea

Day 3: Greenock (Glasgow & Edinburgh), Scotland

• Ashore: 7am. Aboard: 6pm

Day 4: Liverpool, England

• Ashore: 8am. Aboard: 5pm

Day 5: Cobh (Cork), Ireland

• Ashore: 8:30am. Aboard: 4pm

Day 6: Portland (Stonehenge), England

• Ashore: 10:30am. Aboard: 8pm

Day 7: Day at sea

Day 8: Southampton, England

• Disembark: 8am

What food options are there on Disney Dream?

Guests can enjoy table service breakfast, lunch and dinner with quick service bites and 24-hour room service available when needed. For those wanting an additional treat, soft-serve ice cream and unlimited tea, coffee and soda are available at no additional cost.

Restaurants include the Royal Palace inspired by princess films, the Enchanted Garden filled with flowers and greenery, and the Animator's Palate where guests can immerse themselves in a colourful environment.

Exclusive adult dining options include the Palo and Remy rooms which can be found aboard all ships and the Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy cruises respectively. These come at an additional charge.

Disney Dream activities for kids

Children, tweens and teens can enjoy everything from Broadway-style shows featuring classic Disney tracks to the water park featuring AquaDuck, a 3-story “water coaster." There is also a sports area on the promenade deck, parties, movie nights and fireworks at sea.

Disney Dream activities for adults

Adults can escape to the privacy of exclusive places throughout the ship—from exciting nightclubs and an adults-only pool area to intimate restaurants and a luxurious spa.

Disney Dream accommodation and transportation

All passengers benefit from spacious sitting areas, split bathrooms, television, storage space and a range of helpful items such as hairdryers, shower products and a refrigerator.

Can I make a booking on the Disney Dream?

There is still a range of rooms available however you won't be able to board from Liverpool, you will have to travel to Southampton for the liner's first sailaway on Sunday, September 8.

You can book the Disney Dream here.

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Lady Gaga and Fiancé Michael Polansky Enjoy Date Night at ‘Joker 2’ Premiere in Venice

It was a glamorous date night for Lady Gaga and her fiancé, Michael Polansky .

On Monday, September 2, the couple arrived via boat to the premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux at the Venice International Film Festival.

Gaga, 38, who stars in the hotly anticipated Joker sequel, sported a black minidress with white polka dots, sheer black tights and black heels. She wore her long, platinum blond hair pulled back in a half updo, and though it was evening, she accessorized her look with opaque black sunglasses. Polansky, 46, donned dark shades as well to complete his all-black outfit.

After docking at Hotel Cipriani, the twosome were photographed kissing and holding hands. Polansky stepped to the side as Gaga snapped a selfie with a fan.

Related: Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky's Relationship Timeline

Earlier this summer, Gaga confirmed her engagement to the businessman while attending the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Footage shared via Instagram on July 28 showed her speaking to Gabriel Attal , the Prime Minister of France, and introducing Polansky as “my fiancé, Michael.”

Gaga sparked engagement rumors in April when she was spotted in West Hollywood wearing a giant diamond on her left ring finger. She and Polansky were first linked in December 2019 and subsequently quarantined together during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The following year, she told The Hollywood Reporter that her “dogs and the man that I love are my whole life.” 

However, in early 2023 rumors began to circulate that she and Polansky had hit a rough patch in their partnership. That November, a   exclusively told Us that the pair had faced “some issues” but were back on track. “They’re in a much better place now and feel comfortable socializing as a couple,” the insider shared.

Gaga has experienced highs and lows in her love life over the years, ending two engagements before connecting with Polansky. Her splits from ex-fiancés Taylor Kinney and Christian Carino inspired her to “take it slow” with Polansky, a source previously told Us .

Related: Everything to Know About the ‘Joker’ Sequel

“[He] brings real stability to her life,” the source said of Polansky in January 2021, adding that the couple were “beyond smitten with each other” and that Gaga’s “fame” was of no interest to him. “When they’re together, they are always touching, giggling and it’s obvious they really love each other,” the insider noted.

Professionally, Gaga returns to the big screen as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux , which hits theaters on October 4. The ensemble cast includes Joaquin Phoenix , Brendan Gleeson , Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz .

Ahead of the film’s release, casting director Francine Maisler revealed that Gaga wasn’t her first choice for Quinn, crediting director Todd Phillips with the idea to cast her opposite Phoenix, 49, who plays the titular supervillain.

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“She’s so good in [the film], you guys. She’s going to blow your mind,” Maisler said during a panel at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July, noting, “I saw it and I was really surprised.”

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