12 Fun (and Sometimes Even Fabulous) Films and TV Series with Pirates

 

FILMS

Against All Flags

Errol Flynn, Maureen O’Hara, and Anthony Quinn

The Sea Hawk and Captain Blood

Based on the books by Rafael Sabatini. Starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Captain Blood features a swordfight between Flynn and Basil Rathbone, as the historical French pirate Levasseur. This was a precursor to their famous swordfight in The Adventures of Robin Hood three years later.

Both directed by Michael Curtiz, with scores from Erich Wolfgang Korngold.


Pirates of the Caribbean (skip the fourth film)

When I was 14, I rode this ride at Disney over and over for an entire day. It made me want to be a pirate.

On my writing desk.

Muppets Treasure Island

Music by Hans Zimmer and Tim Curry as (arguably the best) Long John Silver and Billy Connolly as Billy Bones. “Donate your compass and get a full share!”

Treasure Island

Charlton Heston as Long John Silver, with Oliver Reed and Christopher Lee as Billy Bones and Old Blind Pew. With a young Christian Bale. Directed by Heston’s son Fraser. AND a soundtrack by The Chieftains!

                                                 

The Pirates of Penzance

Gilbert and Sullivan musical with Rex Smith, Linda Ronstadt, and a standout performance by Kevin Kline as the Pirate King

Cutthroat Island

Geena Davis, Frank Langella, and Matthew Modine


TV SERIES AND MINISERIES

Black Sails (4 seasons)

A prequel to Treasure Island with a great cast, solid writing, and a terrific score by Bear McCreary

Crossbones (miniseries)

Based on Colin Woodward’s The Republic of Pirates, features a pre-The Crown Claire Foy and a bald and nearly beardless John Malkovich as Blackbeard

Treasure Island (miniseries)

Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver.

Blackbeard (miniseries)

Angus MacFadden as Blackbeard makes this worth a watch.

For my lists of favorite fiction and nonfiction books about pirates:

https://joeymadiastoryteller.blogspot.com/2025/05/twelve-fiction-books-about-pirates.html

https://joeymadiastoryteller.blogspot.com/2025/05/must-read-nonfiction-books-about-pirates.html

For information on my historical education and fiction work about the pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy:

https://joeymadiastoryteller.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-cannon-and-quill-golden-age-of.html

For information on my work as an historical education scholar and performer:

https://joeymadiastoryteller.blogspot.com/2025/02/my-work-as-chautauqua-scholar-and.html

 

 

 




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