20 Great Pirate Movies that will Make Learning an Adventure

When September rolls around, you may hear a hearty “Arrr!” or two, because Talk Like a Pirate Day is on the calendar. It is the perfect excuse to gather your crew for a family movie night with a swashbuckling twist. But pirate movies can be more than sword fights and buried treasure-they can also open doors to history, literature, geography, and even modern-day issues on the high seas.

If you are looking for pirate movies for families that combine entertainment with a spark of learning, we have you covered. Whether you want lighthearted fun for younger kids, thrilling adventures for teens, or documentaries about real pirates and naval history, this list will keep your family engaged. From Long John Silver to Captain Jack Sparrow, from classic films starring Errol Flynn to animated favorites with Muppet characters, these picks invite curiosity and conversation.

And because learning is always more fun with a hands-on twist, check out our Print & Go! section featuring a pirate hat craft your kids can color and assemble, plus a Pirate Adventure Choice Board with 12 activities to make movie night a hands-on learning experience.

Pirate Movies for Younger Kids

1. The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie (2008, G)

This animated feature brings the beloved VeggieTales characters into a pirate adventure full of slapstick humor and catchy musical numbers. While it is lighthearted, kids can still pick up on themes of courage, friendship, and choosing to do what is right-even when it is hard.

Springboard Learning Idea: Make your own “pirate code” of values as a family. Discuss what it means to be brave and kind, just like the VeggieTales crew learns.

2. Jake and the Never Land Pirates (2011-2016, TV-Y)

This Disney Junior series puts preschoolers in the middle of swashbuckling fun with Jake, Izzy, Cubby, and their parrot Skully as they face off against Captain Hook. With music, teamwork, and problem-solving challenges, it is ideal for younger learners. While technically a TV series rather than a standalone movie, we couldn’t resist including it on our list.

Springboard Learning Idea: Try simple map activities. Let your kids create their own treasure maps of your home or backyard, complete with “X marks the spot.”

3. Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (2006, G)

Scooby and the gang find themselves on a spooky pirate ship in this made-for-TV movie. It has all the classic Scooby antics-mystery, costumes, and comic scares-that younger kids love, with a pirate twist.

Springboard Learning Idea: Talk about the difference between real pirates and the fictional kind. Create a Venn diagram comparing pirate myths with historical facts.

4. Peter Pan (1953, G) 

A beloved Disney animated film that introduces audiences to Neverland, Captain Hook, Wendy Darling, and the Lost Boys. With colorful animation and adventurous themes, it captures the magic of childhood imagination while also showing the challenges of growing up.

Springboard Learning Idea: Read J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and compare how the story differs in the book and animated movie. Create a map of Neverland and label the settings where different characters live.

Family-Friendly Pirate Adventures

5. Hook (1991, PG)

This live-action sequel to the Peter Pan story stars Robin Williams as Peter Banning, a grown-up Peter Pan who must return to Neverland to save his children from Captain Hook, played by Dustin Hoffman. It blends humor, heart, and swashbuckling adventure, making it appealing for older kids and parents alike.

Springboard Learning Idea: Talk about the theme of remembering childhood imagination. Kids can write a journal entry about how they would keep their sense of wonder as they grow up.

6. Muppet Treasure Island (1996, G)

A cult classic featuring Muppet characters alongside Tim Curry as Long John Silver, this movie is both hilarious and surprisingly true to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. It blends musical numbers, adventure, and humor in a way the whole family can enjoy.

Springboard Learning Idea: Read a few chapters of Treasure Island as a family and then compare to the Muppet version. How do the Muppet characters change the story?

7. Treasure Planet (2002, PG)

This Disney animated film takes Treasure Island into space. With flying ships, alien planets, and a young Jim Hawkins, it combines sci-fi with classic literature. Themes of coming-of-age and mentorship make it especially meaningful for tweens.

Springboard Learning Idea: Explore maps of both the sea and the stars. Compare traditional treasure maps to modern star charts.

8. The Princess Bride (1987, PG)

While not strictly a pirate film, the character of Dread Pirate Roberts makes this fairy-tale adventure fit right in. With sword fights, booby traps, and witty dialogue, it offers both fun and a gentle spoof of classic pirate tropes.

Springboard Learning Idea: Talk about what makes a hero or a villain. Compare the idea of a “pirate captain” in fiction versus history.

9. The Pirates of Penzance (1983, G) 

This movie a musical adaptation of the classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. With over-the-top characters, witty lyrics, and lighthearted satire, it pokes fun at pirates, duty, and even the British navy. The humor may feel a bit English and old-fashioned since it was written in the 1800s, but for musical lovers, it is delightful and full of energy. (I first came to love this show when my daughter performed as one of the daughters in a high school production, and it’s been one of my favorite pirate movies ever since.)

Springboard Learning Idea: Explore the history of operettas and musicals. Compare musical numbers from Pirates of Penzance to other pirate-themed movies. Older kids can even write their own parody song or create a comic opera scene.

10. Swiss Family Robinson (1960, G)

This Disney classic tells the story of a family stranded on a deserted island who must fend off a band of pirates. It blends survival skills, creativity, and family teamwork with swashbuckling adventure.

Springboard Learning Idea: Research real deserted islands and the survival skills needed. Let your kids design their own island shelter with household supplies.

Print & Go: Hands-On Pirate Fun

Take the adventure off-screen with these fun, hands-on pirate activities your kids can do while watching, creating, and exploring.

Pirate Movies for Older Kids and Teens

11. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003, PG-13)

Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow became iconic in this film, the original Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which kicked off the entire franchise. With thrilling adventure, cursed treasure, and the infamous Flying Dutchman, the story continues in bonus movies including Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides, and Dead Men Tell No Tales. Together, these films bring pirate myths and high-seas adventure to life for the whole family.

Springboard Learning Ideas:
If your family decides to sail through the whole Pirates of the Caribbean series, use these options to make every movie a learning opportunity.

• Geography of the Caribbean: Study locations like Port Royal, Jamaica, and the West Indies, where many pirate stories are set. Compare maps from the 17th and 18th centuries to today’s Caribbean.
• Legends and Mythology: Explore the legend of the Flying Dutchman. Discuss why sailors created ghost stories, compare myth versus fact, and look at how legends influence movies and literature. Older kids can research other famous maritime myths and create a “mythical map” of the seas.
• History and Naval Life: Investigate the real pirates, privateers, and naval battles that inspired the films. Talk about ship design, daily life aboard a vessel, or the role of the Royal Navy.

12. Captain Blood (1935, NR)

Starring Errol Flynn in his first big role, this black-and-white classic follows Dr. Peter Blood, wrongly enslaved and turned pirate. It is a thrilling adventure full of sword fights, naval battles, and themes of justice.

Springboard Learning Idea: Learn about the real Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard, who fought against pirates like Blackbeard. Compare fiction with history. Compare fiction with history and explore how real pirate battles shaped the Caribbean and North American coast.

For a hands-on experience, families can visit a state or national park where interpretive programs highlight Blackbeard, pirate history, and colonial naval life. Kids can walk along historic beaches, learn about shipwrecks, and see exhibits about piracy in the region.

13. The Sea Hawk (1940, NR)

Another Errol Flynn swashbuckler, this one pits English privateers against the Spanish Armada under King James II. It mixes high seas adventure with a dash of political intrigue.

Springboard Learning Idea: Map out naval battles of the era. Talk about the role of the Spanish Armada in shaping world history.

14. The Crimson Pirate (1952, NR)

Burt Lancaster stars in this colorful adventure full of acrobatics and comic flair. It is pure swashbuckling fun, with larger-than-life characters and plenty of action.

Springboard Learning Idea: Compare pirate films of the 1950s to modern-day pirate movies. How do costumes, sets, and storytelling differ?

15. Cutthroat Island (1995, PG-13)

One of the few pirate films with a female lead, this movie follows a young girl who inherits part of a treasure map. It is action-packed, with ship battles and a band of misfits along for the ride.

Springboard Learning Idea: Research real female pirates like Anne Bonny or Mary Read. Create a mini biography of one of them.

16. Porco Rosso (1992, PG)

This Studio Ghibli animated film isn’t about traditional pirates but follows an ex-fighter pilot turned bounty hunter battling air pirates over the Adriatic Sea. With beautiful animation and deeper themes, it works well for older tweens and teens.

Springboard Learning Idea: Study aviation history between WWI and WWII. Compare sea piracy with the idea of “air pirates.”

17. Black Swan (1942, NR)

This Technicolor classic stars Tyrone Power as a swashbuckling pirate caught between duty and adventure. It is considered one of the greatest pirate movies of Hollywood’s golden age.

Springboard Learning Idea: Explore how Hollywood portrayed pirates in the 1940s. What myths were emphasized?

Documentaries and True Life Pirate Films

18.  Captain Phillips (2013, PG-13)

Based on the true story of Somali pirates hijacking a U.S. ship, this Tom Hanks film offers a modern look at piracy. While intense, it is a powerful way for teens to understand that piracy is not just history-it still affects trade and safety today.

Springboard Learning Idea: Dive into the real story behind the movie and learn about modern-day piracy off the coast of Somalia. Explore how shipping crews stay safe today, what international navies and the coast guard do to protect trade routes, and how real-life pirates are different from the ones in movies.

19. Francis Drake: World’s Most Controversial Pirate (National Geographic, TV-14)

Step aboard to learn about Sir Francis Drake, a hero in England but a controversial figure elsewhere. This documentary shares his globe-trotting adventures, daring battles, and some of the choices that make his story complicated-perfect for older teens curious about the real people behind pirate legends.

Springboard Learning Idea: Compare Drake’s real-life adventures to how he’s shown in stories and movies. Talk about why some historical figures are celebrated while others are criticized, and what that teaches us about history.

20. What Was Hygiene Like On Pirate Ships? (YouTube)

Ever wonder how pirates stayed “fresh” on long sea voyages? This fun, short video explores the messy reality aboard pirate ships, from limited bathing to battling disease, giving kids a peek at life at sea beyond the treasure and adventure.

Springboard Learning Idea: Investigate the daily life of sailors and pirates-what they ate, how they stayed healthy, and what challenges they faced. Compare life on a pirate ship to life on a modern boat or cruise.

Lights, Camera, Learning on the High Seas

Pirates have fascinated people for centuries-from the golden age of piracy in the West Indies to modern tales of Somali pirates. Movies capture both the myths and the realities, giving families the chance to learn together.

Whether you are introducing your preschooler to Jake and the Never Land Pirates, laughing along with the Muppet characters, or exploring naval history through Errol Flynn classics, each movie can spark curiosity. Add a Springboard Learning Idea, and suddenly your family movie night becomes a history lesson, a geography exploration, or a chance to reflect on courage and justice.

So the next time Talk Like a Pirate Day comes around on September 19th (or any day you want to sail into adventure) choose one of these pirate movies for families. Hoist the sails, pop the popcorn, and let learning be the hidden treasure you discover together.