So you’ve watched the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise more times than you can count and now you’re itching for more pirate adventures on the high seas. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. From swashbuckling swordfights to buried treasure and ghost ships, there are plenty of movies to satisfy your inner buccaneer.
Whether you’re looking for more Johnny Depp or just exciting seafaring tales of plunder and peril, we’ve rounded up 10 movies similar to Pirates of the Caribbean guaranteed to thrill any scurvy dog. Grab your cutlass, your tricorne hat and a bottle of rum, and come aboard for rip-roaring voyages and pirate escapades to rival Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Yo ho, yo ho, it’s a pirate’s life for thee!
The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
The first film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Curse of the Black Pearl is a swashbuckling adventure classic. Released in 2003, this movie introduced the world to Captain Jack Sparrow, the rum-loving pirate played by Johnny Depp.
When Elizabeth Swann is kidnapped by Captain Barbossa and his cursed pirate crew, her childhood friend Will Turner teams up with Jack Sparrow to rescue her. They travel to the cursed Isla de Muerta and fight skeleton pirates along the way.
Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
The second installment in the Pirates franchise, Dead Man’s Chest is just as action-packed and entertaining as the first. This time around, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann are arrested for helping Captain Jack Sparrow escape, and the only way out is to get Jack’s compass for Lord Cutler Beckett.
While trying to track down Jack and his compass, Will becomes entangled in a mess with Davy Jones and his killer crew. To save himself, Will has to find a way to get Jack out of debt to Jones. Meanwhile, Jack is on a quest for the key to the Dead Man’s Chest, which contains the still-beating heart of Davy Jones.
At World’s End (2007)
The third instalment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, At World’s End, picks up right where Dead Man’s Chest left off. Captain Barbossa, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Captain Jack Sparrow and the crew must sail to the edge of the map to a place where the ghostly ship of Captain Sao Feng can be found.
You’ll journey with the characters to Singapore and join the Brethren Court, comprised of nine pirate lords from around the globe. Together they must stand up to the threat of the powerful East India Trading Company which seeks to eliminate piracy for good. Like the previous films, At World’s End is filled with humour, action, adventure and sword fights on the high seas.
On Stranger Tides (2011)
The fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, On Stranger Tides follows Captain Jack Sparrow on another swashbuckling adventure. This time, Jack is on a quest to find the legendary Fountain of Youth. He crosses paths with someone from his past, the pirate Blackbeard, and joins Blackbeard’s crew. However, Jack has ulterior motives and is not just interested in the Fountain of Youth’s magical waters.
On this voyage, Jack sails to exotic locales, gets into dangerous sword fights, and faces mythical creatures. Like the other Pirates of the Caribbean films, On Stranger Tides is full of humour, excitement and fantastical elements. It has the same fun, over-the-top tone and spirit of adventure that made the original trilogy so entertaining.
Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
The fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales brings Captain Jack Sparrow back for another adventure on the high seas. Set years after the previous film, Jack’s luck seems to have run out until he crosses paths with Henry Turner, the son of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Henry is on a quest to find the Trident of Poseidon, which can break the curse of keeping his father bound to the Flying Dutchman.
Jack agrees to help Henry find the trident in exchange for his compass back. They set sail to track down the artefact, but they’re not the only ones after it. Captain Salazar, a deadly ghost pirate, has escaped the Devil’s Triangle and is bent on killing every pirate at sea, especially Jack Sparrow. Salazar blames Jack for cursing him and his crew to an afterlife as vengeful spirits.
Treasure Island (1950)
This adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous pirate adventure novel Treasure Island is considered a classic. If you love the idea of swashbuckling adventure and treasure hunting, you’ll surely enjoy this film.
Jim Hawkins is a young boy who discovers a map of a remote island where notorious pirate Captain Flint hid his treasure. Jim sets sail on the Hispaniola to find the loot, but the crew is full of pirates in disguise. The memorable Long John Silver, played by Robert Newton, leads Jim’s expedition to the island, but his true motive is to find the treasure for himself.
The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies is a fun, family-friendly adventure in a similar vein to Pirates of the Caribbean. Set in Astoria, Oregon, the story follows a group of kids known as the Goonies who go on an adventure to save their neighbourhood from demolition.
When developers threaten to tear down their homes to build a golf course, the Goonies embark on a treasure hunt to find the long-lost fortune of “One-Eyed” Willie in hopes of saving their neighbourhood. Led by Mikey and his older brother Brand, the ragtag group of misfits stumble upon an underground cavern filled with traps, tricks and adventure.
Cutthroat Island (1995)
Cutthroat Island is a swashbuckling pirate adventure with a lighthearted and fun vibe. It stars Geena Davis as a pirate captain named Morgan Adams searching for lost treasure.
On her quest, Morgan deals with danger, swordfights, sea battles and double-crosses much like Captain Jack Sparrow. The tropical settings, pirate ships and treasure hunting will also feel familiar to PotC fans. However, the plot centres around Morgan trying to find a legendary hidden treasure on Cutthroat Island before her evil uncle does.
Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time (2010)
The 2010 action-adventure film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. Set in ancient Persia, the story follows Prince Dastan, a street urchin who was adopted by the king. After Dastan is framed for the murder of his father, he teams up with Princess Tamina to prove his innocence and stop the unleashing of the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that can reverse time.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the charismatic Dastan, who has wit and charm reminiscent of Jack Sparrow. The movie is full of larger-than-life characters, fantastical elements of magic and mystery, and a sense of escapism into an exotic time and place.
Van Helsing (2004)
Van Helsing is an action-adventure film starring Hugh Jackman as the legendary monster hunter Abraham Van Helsing. Set in 1887 Transylvania, Van Helsing is on a quest to hunt down and destroy Count Dracula. Along the way, he encounters Frankenstein’s monster and a family of werewolves.
If you enjoy the fantastical piracy elements, mythical beasts, magic and adventure, you’ll surely appreciate Van Helsing. Van Helsing is a charismatic hero with wit and skill. The movie is filled with over-the-top fight sequences, chase scenes and feats of derring-do as Van Helsing battles foes human and otherwise.
There we have it, our list 0f 10 best movies about piracy and adventure. What do you think about our picks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below: