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IMDbPro

Pirates

  • 1986
  • PG-13
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
Pirates (1986)
The adventures of pirate Captain Red and his first mate Frog.
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
66 Photos
ActionAdventureComedy

The adventures of pirate Captain Red and his first mate Frog.The adventures of pirate Captain Red and his first mate Frog.The adventures of pirate Captain Red and his first mate Frog.

  • Director
    • Roman Polanski
  • Writers
    • John Brownjohn
    • Gérard Brach
    • Roman Polanski
  • Stars
    • Walter Matthau
    • Cris Campion
    • Damien Thomas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    9.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Roman Polanski
    • Writers
      • John Brownjohn
      • Gérard Brach
      • Roman Polanski
    • Stars
      • Walter Matthau
      • Cris Campion
      • Damien Thomas
    • 63User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 32Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:29
    Watch Trailer

    Photos66

    Walter Matthau and Cris Campion in Pirates (1986)
    Charlotte Lewis and Anthony Dawson in Pirates (1986)
    Roman Polanski in Pirates (1986)
    Walter Matthau and Roman Polanski in Pirates (1986)
    Walter Matthau in Pirates (1986)
    Cris Campion in Pirates (1986)
    Pirates (1986)
    Walter Matthau in Pirates (1986)
    Walter Matthau in Pirates (1986)
    Pirates (1986)
    Pirates (1986)
    Pirates (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red
    Cris Campion
    Cris Campion
    • The Frog - Jean-Baptiste
    Damien Thomas
    Damien Thomas
    • Don Alfonso de la Torré
    Olu Jacobs
    • Boomako
    Ferdy Mayne
    Ferdy Mayne
    • Captain Linares
    David Kelly
    David Kelly
    • Surgeon
    Tony Peck
    Tony Peck
    • Spanish Officer
    • (as Anthony Peck)
    Anthony Dawson
    Anthony Dawson
    • Spanish Officer
    Richard Dieux
    • Spanish Officer
    Jacques Maury
    • Spanish Officer
    José Santamaría
    • Master at Arms
    • (as Jose Santamaria)
    Robert Dorning
    • Commander of Marines
    Luc Jamati
    • Pepito Gonzalez
    Emilio Fernandez
    • Angelito
    Wladyslaw Komar
    Wladyslaw Komar
    • Jesus
    • (as Wladislaw Komar)
    Georges Trillat
    • Pockmarked Sailor
    Richard Pearson
    Richard Pearson
    • Padre
    Charlotte Lewis
    Charlotte Lewis
    • María-Dolores de la Jenya de la Calde
    • Director
      • Roman Polanski
    • Writers
      • John Brownjohn
      • Gérard Brach
      • Roman Polanski
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie was the Opening Night Film at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival (where it was screened out of competition). To promote the film, Roman Polanski had the ship "Neptune" sail into the Cannes harbor on the festival's opening day, with all the movie's stars on deck in their pirate costumes. But after Pirates (1986) died at the box office, the "Neptune" remained in Cannes for 16 years, anchored next to a stone jetty in the harbor, because no one was sure what to do with it. In 2002, it was finally moved to Genoa, Italy, where it is now a floating museum in the city's port, near the "Molo Veccio" ("Old Pier").
    • Goofs
      When Jean-Baptiste escapes the shark at the beginning of the film, it is quite visible that the "shark" is just a fin in the water.
    • Quotes

      The Frog - Jean-Baptiste: Gold would be your ruin, Captain. It would cost us our heads.

      Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red: It's easier to live without a head than without gold, you numbskull!

      The Frog - Jean-Baptiste: I fight for hatred of the spanish! I fight for glory; not gold.

      Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red: Man fights for what he lacks the most!

    • Alternate versions
      16 secs were cut from the UK theatrical version by the BBFC and the 1987 Warner video was pre-cut by 1 min 30 secs with edits to the attempted rape of María-Dolores in order for the film to receive a PG certificate. The uncut version was released in 1996 with a "15" certificate.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Vamp/Pirates/Aliens/A Great Wall (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      The Maid of Amsterdam (A-Rovin')
      (uncredited)
      Traditional sea shanty
      Performed by Walter Matthau and crew

    User reviews63

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Excellent dark pirate adventure/comedy
    Pirate movies are few and far between. Its hard to get people to buy off on a script containing ~40 minutes of "Arrrr" and "Aye Matie".

    However, Pirates is just a great fun romp through being a nasty, dirty, pirate. This is one of Walter Matthau's best roles. He literally becomes Captain Red. At no moment do you associate this man w/ any of this other roles.

    Too many jokes and gags to list, but not a comedy in the traditional sense. It is an adventure first with humor thrown in.

    Less of a comedy and more adventure than Yellowbeard. Darker, deeper, better, and less glitzy than Cutthroat Island. All around, a great classic pirate movie and virtually defines the genre.
    helpful•51
    9
    • iqof20
    • Feb 12, 2003

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 18, 1986 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Tunisia
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Roman Polanski's Pirates
    • Filming locations
      • Malta
    • Production companies
      • Carthago Films S.a.r.l.
      • Accent Films
      • Cominco
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,641,825
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,035,447
      • Jul 20, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,641,825
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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