Whether you’re stuck on land or planning your next voyage, sailing movies are the perfect way to stay inspired. At Borrow A Boat, our passion for all things sailing extends to storytelling on the high seas. Explore our curated 2025 movie night list featuring epic adventures, thrilling rescues, and heart-pounding sea battles. After the credits roll, live out your own sailing dreams with Borrow A Boat.
The Top 12 Best Sailing Movies of All Time
12. The Life Aquatic (2004)
Director: Wes Anderson
IMDb Score (2025): 7.3/10
A quirky, colorful story of Steve Zissou’s quest to find the mythical “jaguar shark.” Perfect for fans of indie films, adventure, and nautical whimsy. The movie follows the adventure of Steve Zissou (Bill Murray), who sets out on an oceanic mission to document the destruction of the ‘jaguar shark’ that ate his partner, Esteban. It’s artsy, witty, animated, and it has a legendary soundtrack including David Bowie songs in Portuguese. In short, what more could you ask for in a sailing movie?
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11. Captain Ron (1992)
Director: Thom Eberhardt
IMDb Score (2025): 5.9/10
Captain Ron follows the misadventures of the titular character portrayed by Kurt Russell, who is hired by an upper-middle class father, Martin Harvey, and his family to guide their yacht through the Caribbean. The voyage isn’t as straightforward as the family expects it to be, as Captain Ron knows only how to steer the family into trouble. The movie is mixture of adventure, madness and the importance of family. While you wouldn’t want to be involved in many parts of the boat ride, others seem so fun that you’d like to leave everything behind for a while and simply jump on a boat. Great family movie night choice full of laughter and tropical vibes. 2025 Tip: Watch it before planning your own Caribbean charter adventure!
10. White Squall (1996)
Director: Ridley Scott
IMDb Score (2025): 6.7/10
Based on a true story, this movie follows a group of school boys, who are educated on discipline and a hard work ethic aboard a ship by a strong-willed skipper. The ship eventually sets sail, but things take a violent turn when they encounter a white squall storm. The boys must then use everything that the skipper has taught them to try and survive the ordeal. So the big question is: Will they make it out safely?Themes of leadership, resilience, and survival against nature. A visually powerful coming-of-age film on the high seas. Perfect pick for viewers seeking emotional, action-packed storytelling.
9. Deep Water (2006)
Directors: Louise Osmond and Jerry Rothwell
IMDb Score (2025): 7.8/10
Deep Water is a critically acclaimed documentary telling the story of the disastrous 1968 round-the-world yacht race. Battling threatening seas and psychological ruin, amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst attempts a nine-month, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. To summarize, the results are terrifying. It is not simply a documentary about a sailor who didn’t have the experience needed to go on a voyage such as the one Crowhurst participated in, but it explores the limits of human perseverance. Explores mental endurance, isolation, and human frailty. Highly recommended for fans of real-life sailing challenges.
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8. The African Queen (1951)
Director: John Huston
IMDb Score (2025): 7.7/10
Awards: Humphrey Bogart won Best Actor at the Academy Awards.
WWI-era adventure featuring mismatched companions navigating African rivers. Romance, danger, and classic Hollywood chemistry make it unforgettable.
The African Queen is a small boat adventure film released in 1951. Humphrey Bogart won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film. Together with his co-star, Katherine Hepburn, they lead us through the African jungle, navigating through the battles of WWI. In this film, Bogart plays a rough and drunken riverboat captain, which is perfectly juxtaposed by Hepburn who is a posh, strait-laced missionary. Of course you can imagine how they’re chemistry plays out in the movie.. but see for yourself!
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7. Between Home (2012)
Director: Jack Rath
IMDb Score (2025): 7.0/10
Between Home is a moving and poetic adventure documentary about Nick Jaffe, an amateur sailor. During the film, he attempts a solo oceanic journey from Europe to his native Australia. He chronicles his three-year transformation from inexperienced sailor to expert. Through scenes filmed both onboard and on dry land, we watch him battle the sea, wind, and severe isolation as he follows his dreams. He is not a wealthy man embarking on an adventure, but rather ordinary and with limited means. While watching the documentary, you will be rooting for him more than once in times of trouble. Celebrates perseverance, minimalism, and the pure spirit of adventure. A must-watch for anyone dreaming of long-distance sailing.
6. Dead Calm (1989)
Director: Phillip Noyce
IMDb Score (2025): 6.8/10
Dead Calm stars Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, Billy Zane, and a beautiful 60 ft ketch. The film is a thriller that is sure to get your blood pumping. It was filmed almost entirely at sea in the Whitsundays Islands of Australia. Chilling exploration of isolation, danger, and survival at sea. Perfect choice for suspense and thriller fans.
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5. Lifeboat (1944)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
IMDb Score (2025): 7.6/10
Lifeboat is a classic Alfred Hitchcock film. Survival drama set entirely aboard a lifeboat in WWII-era Atlantic. A Hitchcockian masterpiece of psychological tension and moral dilemmas. During WWII, in the middle of the Atlantic, a ship and a German U-boat clash and destroy each other. The group of five survivors find refuge in a lifeboat. However, trouble starts when they rescue a survivor who is in the opposition. This is a nail-biting film you don’t want to miss. Fascinating for students of classic cinema and history lovers alike.
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4. Kon-Tiki (2012)
Directors: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg
IMDb Score (2025): 7.2/10
Awards: Oscar and Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.
Filmed on the island of Malta, Kon-Tiki is a historical drama based on the story of Thor Heyerdahl and his 1947 Kon-Tiki exploration expedition. It is the first time a Norwegian film has been nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. Still today, it is the highest grossing film in Norway. In the movie, Thor Heyerdahl sets out on his epic journey to cross the Pacific Ocean. During the course of his trip, he hopes to prove that South Americans could settle in Polynesia during pre-Columbian times. The dramatic events that follow are gripping! Celebrates exploration, courage, and early Polynesian seafaring theories.
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3. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Director: Peter Weir
IMDb Score (2025): 7.4/10
Directed by the talented Peter Wier, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a naval drama set during the Napoleonic wars, featuring breathtaking battles. Russell Crowe plays an arrogant captain who pushes his ship and crew to their limits while attempting to capture a French warship. The action-packed battle scenes keep us on the edge of our seats. Gripping scenes of ships and the sea have us in awe. During the film, we learn about the stories of the men on the ship and their struggle to make it through alive. It is more than a story on battles on the sea, but an insight into human psychology in terms of crisis and struggle. Highly praised for its historical accuracy and spectacular ocean cinematography.
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2. Wind (1992)
Director: Carroll Ballard
IMDb Score (2025): 6.4/10
Wind tells the story of Will Parker, a sailor who tragically loses the America’s Cup race. The race is considered the world’s biggest sailing prize. After the loss, he decides to form his own crew to reclaim the prize. A mix of both adventure and romance, it’s inspired by the real events of the 1983 America’s Cup. Features real sailors, stunning boat racing sequences, and intense drama. Great pick for sports enthusiasts and sailing competition fans.
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1. All is Lost (2013)
Director: J.C. Chandor
IMDb Score (2025): 6.9/10
Lastly, All is Lost stars Robert Redford as a solo sailor who meets disastrous circumstances out at sea. It is then that he has a tiring battle fighting for his life. Man-and-boat-against-the-sea is a classic theme in sailing movies, and Redford and director J.C. Chandor do just that. Redford ends up in a storm that almost destroys his little boat and leaves him only with the choice of staying or going out on a little rubber raft to save his life. It is a quiet film, sometimes difficult to watch, but absolutely worth it. Minimalist storytelling highlighting pure survival and perseverance. Essential viewing for sailors, adventurers, and fans of powerful cinema.
Why Sailing Movies Inspire Us
Sailing films connect us to timeless themes of bravery, freedom, and resilience. Whether fiction or documentary, they reveal humanity’s relationship with the sea. Watching these films fuels real-life dreams of setting sail and exploring new horizons. Borrow A Boat offers the opportunity to live the adventure beyond the screen in 2025!
Ready to turn movie dreams into real-life adventures? From thrilling chases to serene voyages, each film reminds us why life is better on the water. Don’t just watch the journey, live it.
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