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The Boat That Rocked

Original title: Pirate Radio
  • 2009
  • R
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
118K
YOUR RATING
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, and Talulah Riley in The Boat That Rocked (2009)
A comedy about an illegal radio station in the North Sea in the 1960s
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
99+ Photos
Coming-of-AgePeriod DramaComedyDramaMusic

A band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves.A band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves.A band of rogue DJs that captivated Britain, playing the music that defined a generation and standing up to a government that wanted classical music, and nothing else, on the airwaves.

  • Director
    • Richard Curtis
  • Writer
    • Richard Curtis
  • Stars
    • Philip Seymour Hoffman
    • Bill Nighy
    • Nick Frost
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    118K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Curtis
    • Writer
      • Richard Curtis
    • Stars
      • Philip Seymour Hoffman
      • Bill Nighy
      • Nick Frost
    • 259User reviews
    • 111Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Pirate Radio
    Trailer 2:20
    Pirate Radio

    Photos429

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    + 423
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    Top cast55

    Edit
    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    • The Count
    Bill Nighy
    Bill Nighy
    • Quentin
    Nick Frost
    Nick Frost
    • Dave
    Michael Hadley
    • Mr. Roberts
    Charlie Rowe
    Charlie Rowe
    • James
    Lucy Fleming
    Lucy Fleming
    • Mrs. Roberts
    Tom Sturridge
    Tom Sturridge
    • Carl
    Ian Mercer
    Ian Mercer
    • Transfer Boatman
    Will Adamsdale
    Will Adamsdale
    • News John
    Tom Brooke
    Tom Brooke
    • Thick Kevin
    Rhys Darby
    Rhys Darby
    • Angus Nutsford
    Katherine Parkinson
    Katherine Parkinson
    • Felicity
    Chris O'Dowd
    Chris O'Dowd
    • Simon
    Ike Hamilton
    Ike Hamilton
    • Harold
    Stephen Moore
    Stephen Moore
    • Prime Minister
    Kenneth Branagh
    Kenneth Branagh
    • Sir Alistair Dormandy
    Michael Thomas
    • Sandford
    Bo Poraj
    Bo Poraj
    • Fredericks
    • Director
      • Richard Curtis
    • Writer
      • Richard Curtis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews259

    7.3118.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8birkir16

    A simple "feel good" movie

    I'm going to keep this short. Watched it, loved it.

    It's a simple, "feel good" movie with the greatest music of the 60's and 70's that will make you smile. Sure it's not realistic when it comes to peoples communications and reactions to certain incidents but thats the charm of it. It even has a little twist of drama but not enough to ruin the comedy.

    It was amazing to me how the soundtrack just managed to get better and better, endless amount of rock/pop singles, thoughts like "aaaa i love that song" and " ohh man i had forgotten that one" often occurred to me.

    I thought the characters and the actors were great although some of the characters we're a bit useless i liked them after i was about 20 min into the film.

    I think we could use some pirate rock stations where i live, stations that will play and say what ever they please.

    Final words. A movie witch is fun to watch.
    7LieneMik

    Uplifting, above all else

    Entertaining. Hilarious. Cheesy at moments and not always historically accurate, but so uplifting! A solid feel-good film. That's how I would describe „The Boat that Rocked". The film is set in the late 60s and its story follows young Carl, who is sentenced by his mom to go live on a ship, where his uncle works. As he steps on board, he takes a spin on a carousel ride that will flip his life upside down. The ship shelters an illegal radio station, its eccentric DJs and a few other, but, just as important, characters. As Richard Curtis is a well known director, he's managed to gather one of the most exceptional casts I've seen for a while. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy and Nick Frost add another great performance to their list of already impeccable work. Tom Sturridge, supposedly the main character of the film, is a new discovery. You can see that the cast had great fun filming this movie. The one thing that makes this ride truly rock is the music. If you haven't fallen in love with the 60s music, you will after this film. The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, The Who and Jimi Hendrix, these are just a few of the artists which form its amazing soundtrack. Many diss this film for its historical inaccuracies, for the partly anachronistic music that is used. This film is flawed, no doubt. There is no revolutionary message hidden in it or a strong plot. And it weirdly consists of mainly subplots. Despite all that, the film makes you want to join the cast dancing on board. It is a film of friendship and love. It is lighthearted and makes you smile like a dork even at the cheesiest moments. Even its very predictable ending doesn't take away much of that. I dare to say that this film will give energy to both the young and the old. Do not watch it for the plot or in search for accurate facts. Watch it for the characters and the emotions. Just lay back and enjoy the party.
    8MaxBorg89

    Let's rock!

    There are two recurring elements in Richard Curtis' filmography (besides Hugh Grant and loads of swearing, that is): awkward romances and great soundtracks. While the former has always been the best known, Curtis now tries to rectify it with his second directorial effort, The Boat that Rocked, which firmly places the emphasis on music. With the occasional romantic moment along the way.

    Partly based on real events, the movie deals with the struggles faced by rock and pop music to emerge in England in the early '60s, when the BBC only played one hour of that music per day. The solution: pirate radio stations, situated in the North Sea, playing rock music 24/7. The young protagonist of the film, one Carl (Jim Sturridge) is sent to help on the boat that broadcasts Radio Rock, and ends up sharing experiences with the eccentric manager (Bill Nighy) and the DJs, which include the sardonic Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the philandering Gavin (Rhys Ifans) and the weirdly lovable Doctor Dave (Nick Frost). Their biggest problem: the British government, specifically an uptight minister (Kenneth Branagh) who intends to shut down pirate radio for good.

    With romance taking a step back (albeit with enough room for a fun subplot or two), The Boat that Rocked is an affectionate and irreverent tribute to a lost era, deftly blending the right tunes - "Wouldn't It Be Nice" plays during a scene that gleefully spoof Titanic - and a mix of sweet and raunchy comedy, with the latter having a more prominent spot in this very guy-centric picture (a scene involving the use of the F-word on the radio also serves as satire, given the picture itself, released almost 50 years after the events, is R-rated for its liberal use of expletives). Strangely enough, though, the political bit of the story, while benefiting from a brilliantly stiff-upper-lipped Branagh, is the weaker section of the film, if only because Curtis, famously unable to restrain himself at times, overplays the joke of an assistant (Jack Davenport) being named Twatt - a poor hangover from the fourth Blackadder series that becomes grating after the first few times.

    Then again, such issues are compensated by a lively pace, creative camera work and energetic performances. Sturridge does a good job as the audience surrogate getting us acquainted with the team, but the show is inevitably stolen by the more consummate players and, despite Hoffman's riotous work, the best laughs are inevitably British, with Nighy and Ifans delivering their customary Curtis-inspired performances and Frost proving he doesn't need Simon Pegg to shine. And for all the male-dominated atmosphere, fun cameos by January Jones and Emma Thompson make for some truly funny moments.

    In other words, The Boat that Rocked isn't exactly as good as Curtis' biggest hits (then again, not many films can match Four Weddings and a Funeral), but as a piece of excellently scored and foul-mouthed escapism it's quite brilliant on its own terms. Only a real Twatt wouldn't want to watch it.
    Gordon-11

    A film that rocks

    This film is about a pirate rock radio station in British North Sea in the 1960's.

    I have watched several movies about British music history, and I have enjoyed none of them. So it was a pleasant surprise when I watched "The Boat That Rocked", as I find it very enjoyable.

    The plot emphasises on the the character's interpersonal dynamics, their passion for music and their strive to rebel. It is a well written and well told story. Character development is excellent, each of them have different charisma and charm. They engage me throughout to the point that I feel what the characters feel. The film is very good, you have to see it to believe it.
    7big_bea

    the film that rocked

    I have been wanting to see this movie since I saw the trailer for the very first time. Today I finally got the opportunity. The plot sounded interesting and I was hoping to see a comedy that wasn't as predictable and forced romantic as a lot of comedies are. I wasn't disappointed. Sure, this isn't the most profound story ever told, but I wanted to have fun, and this movie definitely gave it to me. Another bonus is the great soundtrack, which carries the whole movie. After leaving the cinema you will want to listen to the songs featured in this film, just so you can enjoy the feeling of it a little longer. This film is funny from the beginning to the end, and there were moments when I couldn't stop laughing. If you want to see a feel-good movie with a plot that was, at least as far as I know, not used before, than this is the right film for you.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene in which Young Carl sulks about Marianne was originally supposed to be about eight seconds long and contain nothing but Tom Sturridge sitting on a bench and looking sad. Will Adamsdale and Ike Hamilton happened to be there, so executive producer, writer, and director Richard Curtis told them to have a go at what they would have done if their friend was in the same situation. He put on "So Long, Marianne" and they came up with everything that remains in the scene.
    • Goofs
      The characters frequently use vernacular that was not made popular until much later than 1966. Characters refer to protection as 'condoms,' which were much more commonly called 'Johnnies' in the 60s. Also, Young Carl is told that when dealing with Thick Kevin, it was important to "think outside the box," a term not coined in general use until the early 90s.
    • Quotes

      The Count: To all our listeners, this is what I have to say - God bless you all. And as for you bastards in charge, don't dream it's over. Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place. But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song. Nothing important dies tonight, just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship. The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there'll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play. But, believe you me, they will still be written, they will still be sung and they will be the wonder of the world.

      Gavin Cavanagh: Hit it!

    • Crazy credits
      This film is dedicated to all who worked and broadcast on the pirate stations - all those wonderful years, all day and all of the night.
    • Alternate versions
      US distributor, Universal have chosen to re-title the film as "Pirate Radio" and release it under Focus Features in US territories. This new version will be edited for length by director Richard Curtis after some European reviewers cited its 135 minute running time as a factor in its diminished success.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      All Day and All of the Night
      Written by Ray Davies

      Performed by The Kinks

      Courtesy of Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.

      Under license from Universal Music Operations Ltd.

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    FAQ21

    • How long is The Boat That Rocked?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "The Boat That Rocked" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 2009 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Pirate Radio
    • Filming locations
      • Gambardella's Cafe, Blackheath Standard, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • StudioCanal
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,017,917
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,904,380
      • Nov 15, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $36,352,467
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1
      • 2.39 : 1

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