The Pirate Movie (1982)

9% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(9,843 ratings)

An introverted girl who yearns for popularity (Kristy McNichol) attends a pirate festival in her seaside community, featuring a swordplay demo led by a curly haired hunk (Christopher Atkins). After selecting Mabel (McNichol) to participate in the act, the instructor invites her aboard his boat for a… More An introverted girl who yearns for popularity (Kristy McNichol) attends a pirate festival in her seaside community, featuring a swordplay demo led by a curly haired hunk (Christopher Atkins). After selecting Mabel (McNichol) to participate in the act, the instructor invites her aboard his boat for a real ride on the high seas -- at which point a gaggle of her catty acquaintances latches on for the trip. Sent to get hamburgers for the outing, Mabel is "accidentally" left behind when one of her "friends" pulls the anchor prematurely. Determined not only to fit in, but to track down her dream guy, Mabel steers a tiny sailboat into stormy waters in pursuit, and gets shipwrecked. Thus begins a fantasy in which the unconscious Mabel imagines herself in a real pirate adventure, complete with her dashing pirate hero, a legion of his crusty shipmates, and dozens of unwed sisters who must rise to the altar before she can. The fantasy mixes film parodies, love songs, animation, and the score of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. The story also loosely follows the structure of said operetta. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Ken Annakin
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 6, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Mar 22, 2005
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
lurches from almost-unwatchable to so-awful-it's-fascinating. Next to this, even such notorious '80s epics as 'Grease 2' and 'Xanadu' look like high-class affairs.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Atkins and McNichol are cute and engaging, but that's hardly enough to allow the viewer to overlook the various atrocities on display.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a wonderfully, jaw-droppingly bad early '80s guilty pleasure
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
Christopher Atkins is in it. I rest my case.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A fun musical comedy based on a play, and it's also a teen movie, I really enjoyed it.
Lafe F

It surpasses Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean on the fun-scale! I'm fond of this great 80's teen pop movie with singing and dancing pirates, girls and policemen. It's cheesy, but good-spirited and fun. Favorite Scene: When Mabel (Kristy McNichol) demands that… More
It surpasses Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean on the fun-scale! I'm fond of this great 80's teen pop movie with singing and dancing pirates, girls and policemen. It's cheesy, but good-spirited and fun. Favorite Scene: When Mabel (Kristy McNichol) demands that everybody have a "Happy Ending".
Alexander W

Pretty cute pirate of penzance comedy musical. The jokes are really bad and so is everything else, i don't even know if your kids will like this. Actually I don't know of anyone who would like this but I did watch it all and didn't complain so it can't be too bad.
Steve K

Should be indefensible, but the music is relentlessly catchy. Fun on a no-brainer level.
Dean M

Worst Aussie musical film - bloody bored and dumb.
Angela A

I've never before seen Pirates of Penzance in such an 80s light. Scary, yet compelling.
RJ M

Talk about a guilty pleasure. This hormonally charge update of The Pirates Of Penzance stars 80's teen idold Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins. The movie was made in 1982. Pirate movies were not profitable then, nor were musicals. So whoever gave this production the green… More
Talk about a guilty pleasure. This hormonally charge update of The Pirates Of Penzance stars 80's teen idold Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins. The movie was made in 1982. Pirate movies were not profitable then, nor were musicals. So whoever gave this production the green light, probably didn't have a job too long after that. Atkins plays a pirate who wants to give up that life, and McNichol is the object of his affection. However Atkins is pursued by The Pirate King and his crew. When they find him, McNichol, her sisters, her father The Major General, and an squad of Keystone Cops..well...music ensues. Sound like a disaster? Of course it is. But it's one you can't turn away from. It's brightly shot, and the locations are beautiful. The whole movie is lighthearted, and doesn't even attempt to take itself seriously. The acting is what it is, and given the nature of the movie, it works well enough. The leads are likeable, and while they have no real romantic chemistry, they keep you involved in the movie. Plus I have to admit a MAD 80's crush on Kristy McNichol. Ted Hamilton, on the other hand, is a riot as the Pirate King. Then there's the music. For and 80's musical, it's really pretty good. Atkins even scored a top 40 hit with "How Can I Live Without Her?". It's a broad comedy with as many hit laughs, as misses. But any movie that manages to parody both Star Wars AND Indiana Jones, is a winner in my book. The movie is several levels of cheese...the writing, directing, acting...all grade A cheese. That's why I like it so much.
Marion R

Worst musical I ever sat through..