Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Boat That Rocked

  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
111K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,811
291
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, and Talulah Riley in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
A comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960s
Play trailer2:20
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Music
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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
111K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,811
291
  • 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
    • 245User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos2

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

    Photos426

    Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, and Rhys Darby 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
    Bo Poraj
    • Fredericksas Fredericks
    • Director
      • Richard Curtis
    • Writer
      • Richard Curtis
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Death at a Funeral
    7.3
    Death at a Funeral
    Run Fatboy Run
    6.6
    Run Fatboy Run
    The Full Monty
    7.2
    The Full Monty
    Paul
    6.9
    Paul
    Pirate Radio USA
    8.1
    Pirate Radio USA
    Four Weddings and a Funeral
    7.1
    Four Weddings and a Funeral
    Billy Elliot
    7.7
    Billy Elliot
    The Men Who Stare at Goats
    6.2
    The Men Who Stare at Goats
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    6.7
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    I Love You Phillip Morris
    6.6
    I Love You Phillip Morris
    Frost/Nixon
    7.7
    Frost/Nixon
    How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
    6.4
    How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene in which Young Carl sulks about Marianne was originally supposed to be about eight seconds long and contain nothing but Tom Sturridge sitting on a bench and looking sad. Will Adamsdale and Ike Hamilton happened to be there, so executive producer, writer, and director Richard Curtis told them to have a go at what they would have done if their friend was in the same situation. He put on "So Long, Marianne" and they came up with everything that remains in the scene.
    • 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 reviews245

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A good-humoured and moving British comedy as a tribute to pop-rock
    If you think of "Four weddings and a Funeral" or "Notting Hill", you will be a little disappointed, being here the overall tone not so brilliant, dialogues not so sparkling, however, the both humorous and moving atmosphere of Richard Curtis's comedies is still recognizable.

    I think the real protagonist in "The boat that rocked" is music, that sound pop-rock that in the 60's began to move the world, and to be opposed by the establishment as a dangerous weapon in the hands of the multitudes, as a threat to a well consolidated but no longer valid system. Among unreal situations, a totally-lacking plot, among odd and eccentric characters, what only matters is that power of music to revive one's spirits, to give voice to the most uncontrolled, animal, ancestral instincts of man. And thus becomes, in my opinion, the most vivid scene that of those hundreds of records floating on the water, the symbol of a generation, of an era that was then ready to explode, and that no strict establishment could have wiped away, even once illegal radio stations were shut down.

    No revolutionary message is conveyed: it's a good-humoured and at intervals melancholic tribute to a generation who, maybe ingenuously, but deeply, and truly believed in out of time-values, friendship, respect, love, and believed that music was a strong, and powerfully effective means to convey them. Even if you don't belong to that generation, each of us has experienced, one or more times in one's life, the communion of a piece of music with the most sensitive chords of our soul: it's about something emotional, but also physical and that's what the director just wants to celebrate.

    If you are fond of music, or simply you have once in your life been moved by a song, you will like this movie, or at least enjoy it for what it is, without the necessity of too much criticism.
    helpful•67
    35
    • yris2002
    • Jun 18, 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
      • Pirate Radio
    • 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
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, and Talulah Riley in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
    Top Gap
    What is the Brazilian Portuguese language plot outline for The Boat That Rocked (2009)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.