Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Pirate adventure blends Victorian history, high-seas fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say the movie features beautiful stop-motion animation and clever humor, but it is criticized for its overt sexism and some intense scenes that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While older children might appreciate the humor and story, many parents find the portrayal of female characters and the presence of dark themes problematic and potentially confusing for kids.
- sexism
- intense violence
- beautiful animation
- adult humor
- mixed reviews
- inappropriate portrayal
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 33 kid reviews
Kids say this animated swashbuckler is a hilarious adventure filled with lovable characters, witty humor, and action-packed scenes, making it enjoyable for children aged 5 and up. However, parents should be aware of mild profanity, cartoonish violence, and brief scary moments, which may not be suitable for very young viewers.
- humorous characters
- mild violence
- suitable for kids
- clever animation
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Every year, the Pirate Captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) enters the prestigious Pirate of the Year contest and loses because his crew prefers to lie low and enjoy the simpler pleasure of "Ham Night" rather than engage in the bloody but profitable work of hardcore pirateering. When the contest's other contenders for 1837's title -- Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek), Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven), and Peg Leg Hastings (Lenny Henry) -- poke fun at the Pirate Captain, he decides to embark on an aggressive campaign to take over other ships. But the plan is a failure ... until the captain storms the ship of Charles Darwin (David Tennant) and is told that his pet parrot is actually the thought-to-be-extinct Dodo bird. Darwin convinces the Pirate Captain and his crew to make landfall in London so the Dodo can win "untold riches" at an annual science conference. But what it really does is bring the pirates to the attention of the pirate-hating Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton), who has her own surprisingly nefarious reasons to want to keep the Dodo.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of Aardman Studios' signature style of stop-motion clay animation (a la Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit), will find this movie absolutely delightful. It's a fun mix of swashbuckling pirate adventure, Charles Darwin biography, and twisted Victoriana lesson. This isn't the kind of Queen Victoria anyone has ever seen before; this one is young, angry, and ready to squash anyone who gets in her way -- especially those dirty, outdated pirates. Tennant's Darwin is particularly hilarious and Machiavellian (which perhaps is in keeping with the legendary naturalist's theories) in his quest to control the Dodo bird. But the real scene-stealer is Darwin's trained butler, a monkey called Mr. Bobo who communicates via a series of index cards. "Uh" and "oh," he holds up whenever danger is imminent.
In his first voice-acting role, Grant is perfectly suited to his part as the Pirate Captain with a "luxuriant beard" and well-appointed pirate garb. His misfit crew includes an albino (Anton Yelchin), a "surprisingly curvaceous" pirate (Ashley Jensen) who's actually a woman with a fake beard, and a pirate with gout (Brendan Gleeson). The animation is what you'd expect from the detailed animators behind Wallace & Gromit, but it's the inventive story that makes The Pirates! so much fun for parents and kids alike. It's got plenty of grown-up jokes (mostly historical ones), but the humor is still accessible to little mateys, although those who've heard of Darwin will be in for a particularly "plunderful" treat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why pirate movies are so popular. What is it about pirate tales that continues to be so compelling for movie audiences? How are the crew members in The Pirates! different than other movie mateys?
How does the movie depict Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria? Do you think that the characters are portrayed accurately? Is it OK for filmmakers to take liberties with historical figures for the sake of humor?
Some of the movie's jokes are specifically aimed at grown-ups; do you think too much of the humor is historical or for adults? Do you think jokes for parents are necessary in kids' movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 27, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : August 28, 2012
- Cast : Hugh Grant , Jeremy Piven , Salma Hayek
- Directors : Jeff Newitt , Peter Lord
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Animation
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Pirates
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild action, rude humor and some language
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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