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The Bounty

Play trailer Poster for The Bounty PG 1984 2h 12m Adventure Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.
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The Bounty

The Bounty

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Critics Consensus

Thanks in large part to its cast, and Anthony Hopkins in particular, The Bounty's retelling of the mutiny on the HMS Bounty is an intelligent, engaging adventure saga.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
An intelligent, firstrate, revisionist telling of the famous tale of Fletcher Christian's mutiny against Captain Bligh. Go to Full Review
Geoff Andrew Time Out Feb 9, 2006
It's all a brave try, though Gibson is perhaps not up to the demands of a Christian's progress from naive rating to self-loathing exile, and Donaldson's direction often verges on the stolid. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Oct 23, 2004
4/4
A great adventure, a lush romance, and a good movie. Go to Full Review
Jim Schembri Cinema Papers May 13, 2020
For a film that tries so hard to follow a 'mass appeal' format, The Bounty fails to consolidate properly each of the formula's ingredients to offer anything special or memorable to the audience it is so eager to capture. Go to Full Review
Jason Wilson Under the Radar Apr 23, 2019
The Bounty ultimately tries to do too much ... it's a missed opportunity that needs trimming in some areas and extra time in others. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Apr 8, 2015
3/4
[UPDATED 2019 BLU-RAY REVIEW] An intelligent retelling that relates the historic mutiny through an altered prism. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 1 day ago The Bounty is a 3.5 star Movie so why is somebody giving this a *5* star rating??? See more Chris C @chrisc5 Oct 23, 2026 One of the most enjoyable and atmospheric movies I have ever seen. Excellent acting, scenery and that enchanting cosmic music. See more HipHo H @HipHo May 3, 2026 Quite the interesting take on the Bounty. An epic feel with great performances all round. Quite a chilling score which is used when needed and not used when not. Saw that somebody described it as stolid, maybe in some parts it feels detached but it's a story being told with adequate detachment. Likely one of the best seafaring films there is alongside films such as Master and Commander (I would probably need to get into older films to mention more, not usually my remit. The take of the films has been done quite a few times and it looks as though this 80s version has been the most underrated, seemed to underperform at the oscars which is a shame. See more Blake- N @PBSAniDom Apr 21, 2026 The Bounty (1984) is a solid historical drama that offers a more nuanced take on the familiar story of Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian, inspired by Richard Hough’s novel. Instead of painting things in simple good-versus-evil terms, the film leans into the complexity of their relationship, making the conflict feel more grounded and believable. The performances are a major strength, giving both men depth and humanity rather than turning them into caricatures. The film also benefits from its detailed period setting, which helps immerse you in the harsh realities of life at sea. At times, the pacing can feel a bit slow, and it doesn’t always maintain strong momentum throughout. Still, its thoughtful approach and strong character focus make it a worthwhile watch. Overall, it’s a good adaptation that respects its source material. I’d rate it a 7/10. See more Gail B @RT28413376 Jan 18, 2026 Anthony Hopkins elevates this from a simple remake to a noteworthy reimagining. See more grassblade2 T @Grassblade2 Dec 16, 2025 You’re not going to get much nearer than this. It’s on my repeat list. Very little bothers me that much. Its character study, its atmosphere, its cast…yes I know it shouldn’t matter but the cast is spot on too… all make it just about as ‘real’ as you’re gonna get. Oh…and the soundscore? Don’t even get me started…I simply refer Your Lord & Ladyships to the above reference to Atmosfear. If…you can empathise. See more Read all reviews
The Bounty

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The Bounty

The Bounty: Official Clip - Stolen Coconuts The Bounty: Official Clip - Stolen Coconuts 1:54 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Mutiny The Bounty: Official Clip - Mutiny 2:27 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Land, Ho! The Bounty: Official Clip - Land, Ho! 2:02 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Mixing With the Natives The Bounty: Official Clip - Mixing With the Natives 2:02 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Exonerated The Bounty: Official Clip - Exonerated 2:27 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - The Loyalists Are Castaway The Bounty: Official Clip - The Loyalists Are Castaway 2:14 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Gag Them Both The Bounty: Official Clip - Gag Them Both 2:11 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Divvying Up the Spoils The Bounty: Official Clip - Divvying Up the Spoils 1:42 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Lost At Sea The Bounty: Official Clip - Lost At Sea 2:14 Now Playing The Bounty: Official Clip - Second in Command The Bounty: Official Clip - Second in Command 2:12 Now Playing View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.
Director
Roger Donaldson
Producer
Bernard Williams
Screenwriter
Richard Hough, Robert Bolt
Distributor
Orion Pictures, Video Classics
Production Co
Bounty Productions Ltd., Dino De Laurentiis Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 4, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
2h 12m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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