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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