7.4/10
103,808
237 user 191 critic

Pirate Radio (2009)

The Boat That Rocked (original title)
R | | Comedy, Drama, Music | 13 November 2009 (USA)
Pirate Radio Poster
Trailer
2:20 | Trailer
A band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves.

Director:

Richard Curtis

Writer:

Richard Curtis

Stars:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost | See full cast & crew »
Watch on Prime Video included with Prime
58
Reviews
Popularity
2,275 ( 171)
1 win & 9 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

See all 2 videos  »

Photos

See all 44 photos »
Learn more

More Like This 













◄ Prev 6 Next 6 ►

Next »
Love Actually (2003)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

Director: Richard Curtis
Stars: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson
Next »
Almost Famous (2000)
Adventure | Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A high-school boy is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.

Director: Cameron Crowe
Stars: Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson
Next »
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.

Director: Mike Newell
Stars: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, James Fleet
Next »
The Full Monty (1997)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

Six unemployed steel workers form a male striptease act. The women cheer them on to go for "the full monty" - total nudity.

Director: Peter Cattaneo
Stars: Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy
Next »
About Time I (2013)
Comedy | Drama | Fantasy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.

Director: Richard Curtis
Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy
Next »
Capote (2005)
Biography | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

In 1959, Truman Capote learns of the murder of a Kansas family and decides to write a book about the case. While researching for his novel In Cold Blood, Capote forms a relationship with one of the killers, Perry Smith, who is on death row.

Director: Bennett Miller
Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Clifton Collins Jr., Catherine Keener
Next »
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Comedy | Drama | Fantasy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

An I.R.S. auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.

Director: Marc Forster
Stars: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman
Next »
About a Boy (2002)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

A cynical, immature young man is taught how to act like a grown-up by a little boy.

Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Stars: Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette
Next »
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)
Biography | Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.4/10 X  

A British writer struggles to fit in at a high-profile magazine in New York City.

Director: Robert B. Weide
Stars: Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox
Next »
Ladies in Black (2018)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.7/10 X  

Adapted from the bestselling novel by Madeleine St John, Ladies in Black is an alluring and tender-hearted comedy drama about the lives of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney.

Director: Bruce Beresford
Stars: Julia Ormond, Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor
Next »
Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
Biography | Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Next »
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

The adventures of high school and junior high students on the last day of school in May 1976.

Director: Richard Linklater
Stars: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Hadley Michael Hadley ... Mr. Roberts
Charlie Rowe ... James
Lucy Fleming ... Mrs. Roberts
Philip Seymour Hoffman ... The Count
Tom Sturridge ... Carl
Ian Mercer ... Transfer Boatman
Bill Nighy ... Quentin
Will Adamsdale ... News John
Tom Brooke ... Thick Kevin
Rhys Darby ... Angus Nutsford
Nick Frost ... Dave
Katherine Parkinson ... Felicity
Chris O'Dowd ... Simon
Ike Hamilton ... Harold
Stephen Moore ... Prime Minister
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

This movie is an ensemble comedy in which the romance takes place between the young people of the '60s and pop music. It's about a band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves. The Count, a big, brash, American god of the airwaves; Quentin, the boss of Radio Rock - a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea that's populated by an eclectic crew of rock and roll DJs; Gavin, the greatest DJ in Britain who has just returned from his drug tour of America to reclaim his rightful position; Dave, an ironic, intelligent and cruelly funny co-broadcaster; and a fearsome British government official out for blood against the drug takers and lawbreakers of a once-great nation. Written by Production office

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

pirate radio station | pirate radio | pirate broadcasting | jumping from height | loss of virginity | See All (81) »

Taglines:

They rocked. They rolled. Then they sank. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and some sexual content including brief nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK | France | Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 2009 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Pirate Radio See more »

Filming Locations:

Gambardella's Cafe, Blackheath Standard, London, England, UK See more »
Edit

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,904,380, 15 November 2009

Gross USA:

$8,017,917

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$36,348,784
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS (as dts)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie is very loosely based on Radio Caroline, a popular pirate radio ship with a similar history and style. It was Writer and Director Richard Curtis' intention to weave a fictional story around the many pirate stations of that era, rather than base the story on fact. See more »

Goofs

"Jumping Jack Flash" playing on Radio Rock in 1966 in the movie wasn't recorded until 1968. See more »

Quotes

Harold: [the crew has decided to stay on the ship and keep broadcasting having nowhere else to go, Harold is the last one left] I *do* have somewhere else to go
[pause as crew looks at him. Quentin gives an "alright" shrug]
Harold: But it's Peckham so I'm staying
[all start backslapping and saluting]
See more »

Crazy Credits

There is an additional scene after the credits have ended. See more »

Alternate Versions

US distributor, Universal have chosen to re-title the film as "Pirate Radio" and release it under Focus Features in US territories. This new version will be edited for length by director Richard Curtis after some European reviewers cited its 135 minute running time as a factor in its diminished success. See more »

Connections

References The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

Adagio
from "Nimrod (Variation IX)" (1898-9)
from "Enigma Variations"
Written by Edward Elgar (as Sir Edward Elgar)
Performed by The London Metropolitan Orchestra
Conducted by Andy Brown
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is "The Boat That Rocked" based on a book?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Right Fun Time
24 August 2009 | by mzmorpheus09 – See all my reviews

What a cute flick! As a (former) film reviewer I have absolutely no desire to dissect or critique this movie. I'm just taking it at face value. It's fun, uplifting and witty. It's obvious the cast had a hell of a good time making it (even the 'bad' guys). Hoffman and Nighey are in top form. The gags are good, even when they tank. And the ending gave a surprising increase in the tension/suspense.

Really can't find anything terribly wrong with this aside from the mild sexism but it's so subtle, I hardly noticed.

I've been going through a really rough time personally and watching this cheered me. What more could you hope for?
100 of 131 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 237 user reviews »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page

Free Movies and TV Shows You Can Watch Now

On IMDb TV, you can catch Hollywood hits and popular TV series at no cost. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free!

La La Land
Big Fish
Groundhog Day
Sing Street
Freebird... The Movie

Browse free movies and TV series

Stream Popular Action and Adventure Titles With Prime Video

Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.

Start your free trial


Clear your history

Recently Viewed