Sailing has been a subject of fascination in cinema, often serving as a backdrop for tales of adventure, survival, and self-discovery. Films about sailing can encompass a wide array of genres, including action, drama, romance, and documentaries. They typically feature aspects of human endeavor against the elements, the beauty of the open sea, and sometimes the technicalities of sailing craft and tactics. The open ocean serves as a canvas for storytelling, where characters might be tested by storms, isolation, or the sheer majesty of the marine environment.
Below is a list of notable films about sailing, each offering a unique take on this captivating theme:
“All Is Lost”, 2013
Director: J.C. Chandor
Starring Robert Redford as the sole character, this survival drama focuses on a man lost at sea after his sailboat collides with a shipping container. The film is a gripping, nearly dialogue-free exploration of human resilience.
Starring: Robert Redford;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: adventure, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 101 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “All Is Lost” on the website imdb.com
“Dead Calm”, 1988
Director: Phillip Noyce
A psychological thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, and Billy Zane, the story revolves around a married couple on a sailing trip who encounter a distressed stranger and find themselves fighting for survival on the open water.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane, Rod Mullinar, Joshua Tilden, George Shevtsov, Michael Long, Lisa Collins, Paula Hudson-Brinkley, Sharon Cook;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 96 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Dead Calm” on the website imdb.com
“Wind”, 1992
Director: Carroll Ballard
This film is about a group of sailors determined to win the America’s Cup sailing competition. The story focuses on the intricacies of sailing techniques and the teamwork required to achieve success in the sport.
Starring: Matthew Modine, Jennifer Grey, Cliff Robertson, Jack Thompson, Stellan Skarsgård, Rebecca Miller, Ned Vaughn, Peter Montgomery, Elmer Ahlwardt, Saylor Creswell;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: action, drama, sport;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “Wind” on the website imdb.com
“White Squall”, 1995
Director: Ridley Scott
Based on a true story, this adventure drama directed by Ridley Scott features Jeff Bridges as the captain of a school ship who leads a group of teenage boys on a character-building sailing expedition that goes awry when they encounter a disastrous storm.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, John Savage, Scott Wolf, Jeremy Sisto, Ryan Phillippe, David Lascher, Eric Michael Cole, Jason Marsden, David Selby;
Production year: 1995;
Genre: drama, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
“Life of Pi”, 2012
Director: Ang Lee
While not entirely about sailing, Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's novel includes significant portions where the young protagonist, Pi Patel, finds himself stranded in the Pacific Ocean and must survive in a lifeboat along with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.
Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irfan Khan, Ayush Tandon, Gautam Belur, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Ayaan Khan, Mohd. Abbas Khaleeli, Vibish Sivakumar, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: fantasy, drama, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “Life of Pi” on the website imdb.com
“Maiden”, 2018
Director: Alex Holmes
This documentary film follows Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook on charter boats, who became the skipper of the first-ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989.
Starring: Frank Bough, John Chittenden, Bruno Du Bois, Pat Edwards, Tracy Edwards, Bob Fisher, Howard Gibbons, Jo Gooding, Nancy Harris, Angela Heath;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: documentary, biography, sport;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “Maiden” on the website imdb.com
“Captain Ron”, 1992
Director: Thom Eberhardt
A comedy film featuring Martin Short and Kurt Russell, where an inept and zany skipper, Captain Ron, guides a Chicago family through a series of misadventures on a sailing trip in the Caribbean.
Starring: Kurt Russell, Martin Short, Mary Kay Place, Benjamin Salisbury, Meadow Sisto, Sunshine Logroño, Jorge Luis Ramos, J.A. Preston, Tanya Soler, Raúl Estela;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: comedy, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,8;
More information about the film “Captain Ron” on the website imdb.com
“Morning Light”, 2008
Director: Mark Monroe
A documentary produced by Roy E. Disney which follows a group of young sailors as they compete in the Transpac Yacht Race aboard the sloop Morning Light.
Starring: Chris Branning, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Chris Clark, Roy Edward Disney, Charlie Enright, Jesse Fielding, Robbie Kane, Steve Manson, Chris Schubert, Kate Theisen;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: documentary, sport;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,7;
More information about the film “Morning Light” on the website imdb.com
“The Mercy”, 2017
Director: James Marsh
Starring Colin Firth, this biographical drama follows the true story of Donald Crowhurst, an amateur sailor who attempted to circumnavigate the globe alone during the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
Starring: Colin Firth, Eleanor Stagg, Rachel Weisz, Zara Prassinot, Oliver Maltman, Mark Gatiss, Simon McBurney, Sam Hoare, Avye Leventis, Finn Elliot;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: drama, detective, adventure, biography;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6;
These films each approach sailing from different angles, whether it is through grand adventure, intense survival, or historical storytelling, offering something for a variety of audiences interested in the thrills and trials of seafaring.
In conclusion, films about sailing capture the indomitable spirit of human adventure and the unpredictable nature of the sea. These films offer audiences a glimpse into a world where courage meets the raw elements, where characters find themselves both literally and metaphorically navigating treacherous waters. Whether it is in the triumphs of overcoming formidable oceanic challenges or in the introspective personal journeys embarked upon amidst the backdrop of the vast, open water, sailing films consistently manage to enthrall and inspire. They remind us of our smallness against the expansive horizons and at the same time, celebrate the strength and resilience that allows us to rise with the tides. Through the lens of these narratives, viewers are invited to hoist their sails and embark on cinematic voyages that echo the timeless allure of the ocean's call.
