Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- grotesque
- rowdy
- campy movie night
- adventure double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film’s vivid atmosphere and production design while finding its plot and action weak, resulting in generally unfavorable reviews.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The pirate ship, Spanish galleon, and forced consumption of a boiled rat emphasize deliberately disgusting comic atmosphere.
Captain Red turns captivity into mutiny and repeatedly relies on inventiveness to control hostile crews.
The kidnapping of María-Dolores creates the central leverage between Captain Red, the Spanish authorities, and the pirate crew.
The story moves between a hardy pirate ship and a Spanish galleon, with mutiny, capture, and shipboard action foregrounded.
Films like Pirates, and why
The Crimson Pirate
shared pirate adventure setting, broad comedy, and swashbuckling spectacle
The Princess Bride
shared sea-faring adventure, comic tone, and flamboyant pirate escapades
The Pirate Movie
shared period piracy, irreverent humor, and theatrical adventure energy
Movie Details
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Release Date
- 1986-05-08
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (325)
Cast
- Walter Matthau
- Cris Campion
- Damien Thomas
- Olu Jacobs
- Charlotte Lewis
- Roy Kinnear
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths
- David Kelly
- Michael Elphick
- Ferdy Mayne
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pirates about?
- A filthy, flamboyant pirate captain turns captivity, mutiny, and a governor’s kidnapped niece into a wildly comic seafaring escapade.
- What is Pirates like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pirates as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Pirates violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Pirates as mild.
- What did critics think of Pirates?
- Critics broadly admired the film’s vivid atmosphere and production design while finding its plot and action weak, resulting in generally unfavorable reviews.
- Which films are like Pirates?
- Films with a similar feel include The Crimson Pirate, The Princess Bride, and The Pirate Movie.
- How long is Pirates?
- Pirates runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pirates?
- In United States, Pirates is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.
