Pirate adventures are great fodder for cinematic action. With a touch of the fantastical and the open sea as a limitless setting, pirate films have been produced since the early days of the movies. In that time, some movies leaned toward the romance of The Princess Bride or favored the dramatic set pieces of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. However, the subject matter is also quietly perfect for kids, who can have a deep-seated appreciation for chaotic, little adventurers setting out into the great unknown.
Some of the best pirate adventures tweak the formula and take to the skies or even space. Others are sillier riffs on the genre that will get the whole audience laughing. Just Watch is the perfect map for families looking for hidden treasures they might not have found yet. Here are the 10 best pirate movies for the whole family, and where you can find them on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+!
Hook (1991)
Any kid of the ’90s has a deep-seated love for Robin Williams, and one of his best family-friendly adventures is the imaginative and colorful Hook. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Hook bursts with energy as it explores a grown version of Peter Pan who has to rediscover his youthful spirit when Captain Hook kidnaps his children.
Coming out at the height of William’s cultural impact, alongside films like Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire, Hook is a treat for anyone who appreciates William’s quiet vulnerability and madcap impulses. Every kid I knew grew up with loved this movie (myself included), and its timeless qualities make it perfect for an entire new generation to grow up with, too.
The Pirates of Penzance (1983)
A classic of the musical genre for a reason, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance got a perfectly cheery and theatrical film adaptation in 1983’s version. Bolstered by scene-stealing performances by Angela Lansbury and Kevin Kline, The Pirates of Penzance hides a lot of sly wordplay and clever turns behind broad performances and catchy music.
Unapologetically silly and quietly perfect for younger audiences who love Disney musicals but want a live-action touch, The Pirates of Penzance is pure whimsy, filtered through one of the benchmarks of the satirical opera.
Treasure Planet (2002)
An undersung classic of the post-Disney Renaissance, Treasure Planet is one of Walt Disney Animation’s boldest genre swings. While the result is a little messy, adapting Treasure Island into a sci-fi setting proves a clever way of experimenting with new animation styles and CGI. This, along with Atlantis: The Lost Empire, represents a brief direction from Disney that played with the adventure fantasy genre in exciting ways. Plus, there’s no way you can watch this movie and not want to see more alien pirates, rocket skating, and cosmic warships at play.
I may not be able to call Treasure Planet the best film by directors John Musker and Ron Clements (that’s what you get when you also helm Aladdin and Moana), but Treasure Planet has a lot of visual flair that will marvel the kid next to you (or the kid inside you) when you watch it on Disney+.
Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
Muppet Treasure Island is a delight. Come on, you love the Muppets; I love the Muppets; everyone loves the Muppets! The wacky comedy icons are best when fully committed to a bit, such as the mystery caper of The Muppets Take Manhattan or the fully sincere adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous novel with The Muppet Christmas Carol. Muppet Treasure Island is another such case, a literary classic reimagined through the chaotic and musical eye of the Jim Henson Company.
This was one of the reasons I actually got interested in reading Robert Louis Stevenson books as a kid, with just enough of the original’s menace (mostly thanks to a perfectly cast Tim Curry as Long John Silver) to make for a genuinely compelling pirate adventure. In a perfect world, you’d be able to find plenty more films like this on Disney+, but at least we’ve got this one.
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! (2012)
From the same studio that made Wallace & Gromit icons of the stop-motion scene, Aardman’s The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists is a wacky and heartfelt take on the seafaring adventurers. Rooted in a mix of British history and a competitive field of pirates aspiring for fame and fortune, The Pirates! never lets up with the jokes or creative twists.
With Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, and David Tennant at the forefront of a quietly stacked cast, The Pirates! is the biggest and broadest swing from the studio. It’s also one of its funniest, making it a brilliant showcase of Aardman’s blend of comforting and sophomoric humor. It’s not often that you see the monkey playing the straight man, but the deadpan comic sensibilities of The Pirates! make a delightful watch for anyone who has ever been touched by the antics of Wallace & Gromit or Chicken Run from Aardman Animation.
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
While Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas has a somewhat messy legacy, the animated epic is worth a watch for its better qualities and adventurous spirit. The last traditionally animated film by DreamWorks, the film stars Brad Pitt as the titular pirate captain as he travels the sea to recover a mystical artifact for Eris, the Goddess of Discord. While the story itself suffers, the film boasts some impressive animation and an intriguing antagonist (voiced by Michelle Pfeiffer).
Legend of the Seven Seas is definitely one of the more fantastical entries on this list, especially compared to the more openly comedic or classic adventure pirate films like Hook. It’s playing with the same kind of romantic love triangles amid swashbuckling action as the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (albeit not going nearly as violent or sexy in the process). While it may be among the worst bombs in DreamWorks history, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas is still a fun watch for curious animation fans and younger audiences who love sea-faring adventures.
Peter Pan (2003)
One of the best cinematic adaptations of the classic fantasy novel, Peter Pan is a great adventure for pirate fans. While there have been many Peter Pan adaptations over the years (including Peter Pan & Wendy, which takes certain cues from this version), the Jeremy Sumpter-led movie from 2003 remains a perennial favorite for fantasy fans who grew up in the era.
With the right balance of wonder and danger, Peter Pan leans into the lush environment with a sense of full-throated sincerity. This fantasy adventure film will appeal to anyone under 13. However, it’s a fantastical love letter to childhood adventure that is so well done, it can break the kid out of every adult’s heart, too. Released in the era where Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings franchises dominated the box office, Peter Pan serves as a fitting reimagining of the fantasy classic.
The Goonies (1985)
A classic of 1980s kids movies (and one of the influences on modern hits like Stranger Things), The Goonies is a time capsule movie that remains as entertaining now as it did when it debuted 40 years ago. Bursting with charm thanks to a pitch-perfect cast of young actors like Sean Astin and Ke Huy Quan, The Goonies has a snarky streak that can’t hide the genuine sense of adventure at the core of the film.
The Goonies is the kind of movie that speaks to the natural spirit of adventure that comes from childhood, whether you’re enjoying it or reflecting on it in nostalgia. Anyone who loves the kind of tense danger and sense of humor you might find in something like the Indiana Jones franchise will have a great time watching The Goonies.
Castle In The Sky (1986)
The debut film of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky is a lot of things. An early showcase for the legendary filmmaker’s eye for character and craft, Castle in the Sky is a lovely film that always retains a genuine sense of danger even as the fusion of storybook watercolors and throwback inventions creates a wonderfully unique setting.
One of the best aspects of Castle in the Sky is the lovable cast of roughnecks that the heroes find themselves working alongside: A pirate crew that completes the perfect arc for a family-friendly film. Kids who love the comically abrasive and genuinely sweet vibes of Gru and his Minions in the Despicable Me movies will get a kick out of the crew of lovable and dangerous sky pirates. Like all of Studio Ghibli’s films, Castle in the Sky can be found on HBO Max.
Porco Rosso (1992)
Another Miyazaki film, Porco Rosso is a perfect example of how the pirate archetypes can be transferred into something else while still retaining an honorable, silly, and romantic spirit. Set against the backdrop of relative peace between World Wars, Porco Rosso follows a bounty hunter, the titular Porco, as he tracks down air pirates over the Mediterranean.
The air pirates are a hilarious bunch of characters who will steal plenty of laughs, especially as they reveal a surprising side of themselves over the course of the film. It’s a charming adventure with the right amount of low-key charm and craft to be pure comfort filmmaking. While this aerial pirate adventure might not seem like it at first glance, it’s a perfect match for the timeless fantasy of The Princess Bride. There’s a natural charm that makes this movie one of Studio Ghibili’s unsung classics and perfect for anyone who enjoyed the studio’s other films like Spirited Away. Porco Rosso is one of cinema’s most charming adventures, a pirate adventure that may take to the skies but never loses sight of the romanticism and wonder of the open sea.
