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Captain Phillips (2013)

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The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

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(screenplay), (based upon the book "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea" by) | 1 more credit »
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636 ( 448)
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 138 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

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SEAL Commander
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Nemo
Mohamed Ali ...
Issak Farah Samatar ...
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Storyline

Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is - through director Paul Greengrass's distinctive lens - simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller, and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy Award®-winner Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips' unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. Written by Sony Pictures Entertainment

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Out here survival is everything


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sustained intense sequences of menace, some violence with bloody images, and for substance use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

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Country:

Language:

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Release Date:

11 October 2013 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

A Captain's Duty  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$25,718,314 (USA) (11 October 2013)

Gross:

$107,100,855 (USA) (28 February 2014)
 »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, Ron Howard was on board as the director in development stage for Captain Phillips (2013). Howard though would eventually swap feature film projects with Paul Greengrass who was set to direct Rush (2013) during its developmental stage at the time. Howard came on to helm Rush (2013) instead as Greengrass went on board to helm Captain Phillips (2013) in replacement of Howard. See more »

Goofs

The story takes place in April 2009. When the Navy Seals are arriving at the base in the black SUVs the Virginia state vehicle inspection sticker on the windshield shows a date of 5/13. (May 2013). See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Andrea Phillips: Okay.
[Andrea and Richard get in car and start driving]
Andrea Phillips: You all right?
Captain Richard Phillips: Yeah.
Andrea Phillips: You'd think these trips would get easier, but it's just the opposite.
Captain Richard Phillips: Well, I feel the same way, Ange.
Andrea Phillips: I know this is what we do. This is our life. But it just seems like... the world is moving so fast... right now things are changing so much.
Captain Richard Phillips: They sure are. I'll tell you something. It's not gonna be easy for our kids. They'll be going into a different world than the one you and I came into.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Anna Kendrick/Pharrell Williams (2014) See more »

Soundtracks

Wonderful Tonight
Written and Performed by Eric Clapton
Courtesy of Polydor Records Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
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Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Taut, thrilling and surprising empathetic
10 October 2013 | by (Northern Ireland) – See all my reviews

What a stunning film - the imminent threat of deadly violence tempered with the tragic circumstances that drive people to such desperate actions made for a very human story.

If Hanks is nominated for an Oscar for this, then Barkhad Abdi deserves a nomination too, because their scenes together were electric - never once did Abdi appear the junior party, every bit Hank's equal as two cunning foes trying to outfox one another.

The best lines in the film were perhaps when Phillips beseeched of Muse: "Surely there's something other than fishing and kidnapping people you could do?"

To which Muse replied, sombrely: "In America, maybe".

It's a must see, the best film I've seen this year.


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All about american superiority.... Wiserommer
Captain Phillips is reponsible for what happened to him SevyGee
Up to how many kidnappers are we ok to kill, to save one innocent life? LetoMoon
Very Touching moment by Navy Medic imdbmovie
What no Token female? TheSkyMaster
The part I don't get... jTube
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