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    Pirate Radio

    Original title: The Boat That Rocked
    • 20092009
    • RR
    • 1h 57min
    IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    108K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,126
    195
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    A comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960s
    Trailer2:20
    2 Videos
    99+ Photos
    ComedyDramaMusic

    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.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.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.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.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
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Richard Curtis
    • Writer
      • Richard Curtis
    • Stars
      • Philip Seymour Hoffman
      • Bill Nighy
      • Nick Frost
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 242User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos2

    Pirate Radio
    Trailer 2:20
    Pirate Radio
    The Boat That Rocked
    Trailer 2:14
    The Boat That Rocked

    Photos424

    Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Philip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Sturridge, Tom Wisdom, Rhys Darby, Talulah Riley, Tom Brooke, and Katherine Parkinson in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Richard Curtis in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Will Adamsdale, Ralph Brown, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Tom Wisdom, Tom Brooke, and Katherine Parkinson in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Kenneth Branagh, Jack Davenport, and Sinead Matthews in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    January Jones, Richard Curtis, and Chris O'Dowd in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Emma Thompson and Bill Nighy in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Nick Frost and Gemma Arterton in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Will Adamsdale, Bill Nighy, Tom Sturridge, and Rhys Darby in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    January Jones in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Boat That Rocked (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    • The Countas The Count
    Bill Nighy
    Bill Nighy
    • Quentinas Quentin
    Nick Frost
    Nick Frost
    • Daveas Dave
    Michael Hadley
    • Mr. Robertsas Mr. Roberts
    Charlie Rowe
    Charlie Rowe
    • Jamesas James
    Lucy Fleming
    Lucy Fleming
    • Mrs. Robertsas Mrs. Roberts
    Tom Sturridge
    Tom Sturridge
    • Carlas Carl
    Ian Mercer
    Ian Mercer
    • Transfer Boatmanas Transfer Boatman
    Will Adamsdale
    Will Adamsdale
    • News Johnas News John
    Tom Brooke
    Tom Brooke
    • Thick Kevinas Thick Kevin
    Rhys Darby
    Rhys Darby
    • Angus Nutsfordas Angus Nutsford
    Katherine Parkinson
    Katherine Parkinson
    • Felicityas Felicity
    Chris O'Dowd
    Chris O'Dowd
    • Simonas Simon
    Ike Hamilton
    Ike Hamilton
    • Haroldas Harold
    Stephen Moore
    Stephen Moore
    • Prime Ministeras Prime Minister
    Kenneth Branagh
    Kenneth Branagh
    • Sir Alistair Dormandyas Sir Alistair Dormandy
    Michael Thomas
    • Sandfordas Sandford
    Bo Poraj
    • Fredericksas Fredericks
    • Director
      • Richard Curtis
    • Writer
      • Richard Curtis
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This movie is an ensemble comedy in which the romance takes place between the young people of the 1960s 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 (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a big, brash, American god of the airwaves; Quentin (Bill Nighy), 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 (Rhys Ifans), the greatest DJ in Britain who has just returned from his drug tour of America to reclaim his rightful position; Dave (Nick Frost), 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. —Production office
    pirate radio stationpop musicpirate radio1960spirate broadcasting76 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • 1 Boat. 8 DJs. No Morals.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Music
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language, and some sexual content including brief nudity
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was loosely based on Radio Caroline, a popular pirate radio ship with a similar history and style. It was executive producer, 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.
    • Goofs
      The characters frequently use vernacular that was not made popular until much later than 1966. Characters refer to protection as 'condoms,' which were much more commonly called 'Johnnies' in the 60s. Also, Young Carl is told that when dealing with Thick Kevin, it was important to "think outside the box," a term not coined in general use until the early 90s.
    • Quotes

      The Count: To all our listeners, this is what I have to say - God bless you all. And as for you bastards in charge, don't dream it's over. Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place. But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song. Nothing important dies tonight, just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship. The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there'll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play. But, believe you me, they will still be written, they will still be sung and they will be the wonder of the world.

      Gavin Cavanagh: Hit it!

    • Crazy credits
      This film is dedicated to all who worked and broadcast on the pirate stations - all those wonderful years, all day and all of the night.
    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      All Day and All of the Night
      Written by Ray Davies

      Performed by The Kinks

      Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.

      Under license from Universal Music Operations Ltd.

    User reviews242

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A showcase for some great music.
    Anyone looking for a plot or decent script should write their own.

    I saw this under the title "Good Morning England" in Paris last night and it reminded me somewhat of "Across the Universe" another film based on its fabulous sound track.

    It is a Good Old Boys type of film with women delegated to minor paper thin caricatures of sex-starved sixties rock fans, devoid of motivation or depth. One particular scene is particularly yucky as it involves one of the main characters, an innocent, plotting to secretly rape a woman.

    The pirate station resembled nothing of what was prevalent on the air waves in my teen years and the boat was far too heavily populated. But it was a great premise for a film and the cast looks as if it is having a ball. Philip Seymour Hoffman, always appearing as if he was one day overdue for a good hosing down, is marvellous, as is Bill Nighy - can any other actor do understated elegance like he can? - in the role of the Radio Station's owner, living, of course, on the ship. None of these characters have any domestic or home lives and we know next to nothing about them. Thin as onion skin characterizations. Emma Thompson is terrific (and uncredited) and barely recognizable in a key role, as is Kenneth Branagh overplaying an overblown heavy.

    Go for the music only and suspend any expectation of a good story. The ending signals from two miles away but everyone is having such a rollicking good time that it is hard not to laugh and share their glee. Be sure to stay till after the credits have rolled.

    7 out of 10, the sound track is a must buy.
    helpful•26
    22
    • wisewebwoman
    • Jun 10, 2009

    FAQ1

    • Is "The Boat That Rocked" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Germany
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Boat That Rocked
    • Filming locations
      • Gambardella's Cafe, Blackheath Standard, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • StudioCanal
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,017,917
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,904,380
      • Nov 15, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $36,348,784
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 57min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1
      • 2.39 : 1

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