Treasure Island

In this two-part miniseries adaptation of the classic adventure novel, young Jim Hawkins is the only one who can direct a schooner to an island known for buried treasure. But aboard the ship is a mysterious man whose true motives challenge Jim's trust in the entire crew.

Treasure Island (2012) is a British-Irish miniseries adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel, broadcast on Sky One and created by Steve Barron. Young Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo) is the only crew member able to steer a schooner toward an island rumored to hold buried pirate gold, and his journey turns into a test of loyalty. Aboard the ship, the charming and dangerous Long John Silver (Eddie Izzard) makes every crew member wonder whose side he is really on, while the stern Captain Smollett (Philip Glenister) and the doctor David Livesey (Daniel Mays) try to keep order. Donald Sutherland appears as the legendary Captain Flint, and Elijah Wood plays the marooned Ben Gunn. The story unfolds across two ninety-minute parts, built from sea voyages, shipboard tension, and the lure of a treasure map. The tone is adventurous and warm with a steady undercurrent of suspicion and betrayal, a family-friendly swashbuckler in the vein of classic pirate films and Black Sails for fans who enjoy nautical adventure with a morally complicated villain at its heart.

Critics were mixed on this two-part adaptation, admiring its swashbuckling adventure and handsome production while finding its take on the classic novel uneven.

• Treasure Island (1990)family friendly swashbuckling adventure, pirate ship setting, coming of age through treasure hunt
• Black Sailspirate adventure, treasure hunting, mysterious shipboard antagonist, nautical adventure tone
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlyoung protagonist, nautical adventure, swashbuckling action and classic literary adaptation

Created by

Steve Barron

Release Date

2012-01-01

Episode runtime

90 min

Rating

6.2 / 10 (108)

What is Treasure Island about?

A young Jim Hawkins must navigate a schooner toward buried treasure while suspecting that a mysterious man aboard holds hidden motives.

What is Treasure Island like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Treasure Island as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Treasure Island violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Treasure Island as mild.

What did critics think of Treasure Island?

Critics were mixed on this two-part adaptation, admiring its swashbuckling adventure and handsome production while finding its take on the classic novel uneven.

Which shows are like Treasure Island?

Shows with a similar feel include Treasure Island (1990), Black Sails, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

How long is Treasure Island?

Treasure Island: 1 season, 2 episodes.

Is Treasure Island still running?

No, Treasure Island has ended.