Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Rotten Tomatoes Newsletter

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

  • Upcoming Movies and TV shows
  • Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
  • Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

  • About Rotten Tomatoes®
  • Login/signup

movie sailboat no ladder

Movies in theaters

  • Opening This Week
  • Top Box Office
  • Coming Soon to Theaters
  • Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

  • Fandango at Home
  • Prime Video
  • Most Popular Streaming Movies
  • What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

  • 83% Speak No Evil Link to Speak No Evil
  • 77% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
  • 95% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge

New TV Tonight

  • 90% The Penguin: Season 1
  • 88% High Potential: Season 1
  • 40% Frasier: Season 2
  • 17% Emmys: Season 76
  • 78% American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez: Season 1
  • -- Agatha All Along: Season 1
  • -- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Season 2
  • -- Twilight of the Gods: Season 1
  • -- Tulsa King: Season 2
  • -- A Very Royal Scandal: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

  • 61% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
  • 74% Kaos: Season 1
  • 67% The Old Man: Season 2
  • 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
  • 100% Dark Winds: Season 2
  • 100% Slow Horses: Season 4
  • 88% How to Die Alone: Season 1
  • 99% Shōgun: Season 1
  • Best TV Shows
  • Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

  • 95% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1 Link to Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1
  • All-Time Lists
  • Binge Guide
  • Comics on TV
  • Five Favorite Films
  • Video Interviews
  • Weekend Box Office
  • Weekly Ketchup
  • What to Watch

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Weekend Box Office: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Holds on to Top Spot

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

  • Trending on RT
  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • Spanish-Language Movies
  • Re-Release Calendar

Open Water 2: Adrift

Where to watch.

Watch Open Water 2: Adrift with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Susan May Pratt

Richard Speight Jr.

Niklaus Lange

Cameron Richardson

More Like This

  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Highlight Links

movie sailboat no ladder

Follow TV Tropes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Adrift2006

Adrift (2006)

Adrift (2006) (Film)

Adrift is a 2006 survival thriller film directed by Hans Horn. The film was inspired by a short story of the same name by Japanese author Koji Suzuki, from which it took its title, but its promotional material claimed the film was based on actual events.

The film is about a group of friends who go on a boating holiday, only to find themselves trapped in the ocean next to their yacht, unable to climb back aboard as they forgot to put the boarding ladder down. They spend their time alternating between bickering and trying to look for a solution before they all drown.

Due to its similar plot to the movie Open Water , the film was marketed under the title Open Water 2: Adrift in some countries to capitalize on the original's success, although the productions are not related . The movie later received a Portuguese remake in 2016 under the name Perdidos .

This film provides examples of:

  • Didn't Think This Through : Yes , jumping off a boat while the boat does not have a bolt in ladder will backfire hard .
  • Bittersweet Ending : The Portuguese ending is far more logical than the 2006 film: Ana (Amy's Portuguese counterpart) and her son (Sarah's Portuguese counter part) end up being the only survivors of the trip and they both are saved by a fisherman, but it's clear that Ana, while happy to be reunited with her son, is very much in a bad state of mind after what happened .
  • Improbable Infant Survival : Played with and seemed unlikely, but baby Sarah does survive by the end of it and found by some fishermen, although crying either out of hunger or being left alone again due to her mother leaving her and undergoing an implied Gainax Ending .
  • Karma Houdini : Dan is a Jerkass who grabs aquaphobic Amy and jumps with her into the water (thus kicking off the ordeal), pops Michelle's dolphin floatie, botches the swimsuit-rope attempt and ends up mortally wounding Zach trying to protect a boat he lied about owning. Naturally he survives, and only after an 11th hour suicide attempt where Amy has to face her worst fear just to rescue him.
  • In Name Only : Adrift was rebranded, post-production, as Open Water 2: Adrift to cash in on the original's popularity. It in turn was followed by another unofficial sequel, Open Water 3 .
  • Last Grasp at Life : As seen in the poster.
  • Mr. Fanservice : At one point the characters in Adrift remove their swimwear to fashion a crude rope. Lots of male nudity ensues.
  • No Antagonist : Given the film's nature as a Dolled-Up Installment of Open Water , one might be expecting sharks or something similarly scary to show up and menace the protagonists. Nope, it's just them being trapped on the open sea and not being able to get back on their boat or get help in time. Although there's a false alarm at least once, the real threat isn't something trying to eat them but drowning.
  • Only Sane Man : James is the only one who doesn't act like a complete idiot at some point, having gone into the water after friends. He later tries to break off a piece of the propeller to use that and the knife to get back up on the boat. He ends up fracturing his skull, which sadly brings him down to everyone else's intelligence level before ultimately killing him.
  • Threatening Shark : Actually averted as they don't encounter any sharks, although there is still tension due to the possibility that one will show up, which leads to a Jump Scare .
  • All the characters in Adrift , especially the idiot who grabbed the woman who was afraid of water and jumped in without putting the ladder down first. Some of the others (James, Lauren) could be excused because there were other people on the boat when they went into the water.
  • And when they're actually in the water, not one of them considers the obvious solution: Lift one of the smaller, lighter women up onto the boat and have them lower the ladder. Dan and Amy do eventually do this, but it's the last plan that they come up with as opposed to the first.
  • The Unreveal : We never learn what happened to Lauren after she swam away.
  • Ace of Aces
  • German Films
  • Agnes and His Brothers
  • Films of 2005–2009
  • After the Wedding
  • Sea Stories
  • Adrift (2018)

Important Links

  • Action Adventure
  • Commercials
  • Crime & Punishment
  • Professional Wrestling
  • Speculative Fiction
  • Sports Story
  • Animation (Western)
  • Music And Sound Effects
  • Print Media
  • Sequential Art
  • Tabletop Games
  • Applied Phlebotinum
  • Characterization
  • Characters As Device
  • Narrative Devices
  • British Telly
  • The Contributors
  • Creator Speak
  • Derivative Works
  • Laws And Formulas
  • Show Business
  • Split Personality
  • Truth And Lies
  • Truth In Television
  • Fate And Prophecy
  • Image Fixer
  • New Articles
  • Edit Reasons
  • Isolated Pages
  • Images List
  • Recent Videos
  • Crowner Activity
  • Un-typed Pages
  • Recent Page Type Changes
  • Trope Entry
  • Character Sheet
  • Playing With
  • Creating New Redirects
  • Cross Wicking
  • Tips for Editing
  • Text Formatting Rules
  • Handling Spoilers
  • Administrivia
  • Trope Repair Shop
  • Image Pickin'

Advertisement:

movie sailboat no ladder

movie sailboat no ladder

  • Movies & TV
  • Featured Categories

Amazon prime logo

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

  • Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
  • Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
  • Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
  • A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
  • Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
  • Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-whole { font-size: 28px !important; } #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-fraction, #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-symbol { top: -0.75em; font-size: 13px; } $10.51 $ 10 . 51 FREE delivery Sunday, September 22 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Peak Royal

Return this item for free.

We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.

  • Go to your orders and start the return
  • Select your preferred free shipping option
  • Drop off and leave!

Save with Used - Good #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-whole { font-size: 28px !important; } #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-fraction, #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-symbol { top: -0.75em; font-size: 13px; } $6.21 $ 6 . 21 FREE delivery Sunday, September 22 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Prime Goods Outlet

Image unavailable.

Open Water 2 - Adrift (Widescreen Edition)

  • Sorry, this item is not available in
  • Image not available
  • To view this video download Flash Player

movie sailboat no ladder

Open Water 2 - Adrift (Widescreen Edition)

  • Prime Video $3.79 — $7.99
Additional DVD options Edition Discs New from Used from

February 20, 2007
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy

Purchase options and add-ons

Genre Horror
Format Closed-captioned, NTSC, Widescreen, Dolby, Multiple Formats, Subtitled, Color
Contributor Alexandra Raach, Collin McMahon, Hans Horn, Cameron Richardson, Alfred Cuschieri, Kelly Wagner, Adam Kreutner, Niklaus Lange, David Mitchell, Susan May Pratt, Luca Gabaretta, Ali Hillis, Eric Dane, Wolfgang Raach, Richard Speight Jr., Mattea Gabarretta
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 34 minutes

Frequently bought together

Open Water 2 - Adrift (Widescreen Edition)

Customers who bought this item also bought

Open Water

Product Description

When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ LGT20919DVD
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Hans Horn
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Closed-captioned, NTSC, Widescreen, Dolby, Multiple Formats, Subtitled, Color
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 34 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ February 20, 2007
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight Jr., Niklaus Lange, Ali Hillis, Cameron Richardson
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Spanish
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Lionsgate
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000LC3IE2
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Adam Kreutner, Collin McMahon, David Mitchell, Richard Speight Jr.
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • #3,203 in Horror (Movies & TV)
  • #4,099 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV)
  • #12,918 in Drama DVDs

Customer reviews

  • 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 63% 13% 12% 6% 6% 63%
  • 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 63% 13% 12% 6% 6% 13%
  • 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 63% 13% 12% 6% 6% 12%
  • 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 63% 13% 12% 6% 6% 6%
  • 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 63% 13% 12% 6% 6% 6%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

  • Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

movie sailboat no ladder

Top reviews from other countries

movie sailboat no ladder

  • Amazon Newsletter
  • About Amazon
  • Accessibility
  • Sustainability
  • Press Center
  • Investor Relations
  • Amazon Devices
  • Amazon Science
  • Sell on Amazon
  • Sell apps on Amazon
  • Supply to Amazon
  • Protect & Build Your Brand
  • Become an Affiliate
  • Become a Delivery Driver
  • Start a Package Delivery Business
  • Advertise Your Products
  • Self-Publish with Us
  • Become an Amazon Hub Partner
  • › See More Ways to Make Money
  • Amazon Visa
  • Amazon Store Card
  • Amazon Secured Card
  • Amazon Business Card
  • Shop with Points
  • Credit Card Marketplace
  • Reload Your Balance
  • Amazon Currency Converter
  • Your Account
  • Your Orders
  • Shipping Rates & Policies
  • Amazon Prime
  • Returns & Replacements
  • Manage Your Content and Devices
  • Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
  • Registry & Gift List
 
 
 
 
     
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Notice
  • Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

  • Start a new list…
  • Add all films to a list…
  • Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Open Water 2 : Adrift

Where to watch

Open water 2 : adrift, open water 2: adrift.

Directed by Hans Horn

Fatigue. Hypothermia. Death.

A weekend cruise on a luxurious party yacht goes horribly wrong for a group of old high-school friends when they get stuck in the water many miles from shore and a happy reunion turns into a fight for survival.

Susan May Pratt Eric Dane Richard Speight Jr. Niklaus Lange Ali Hillis Cameron Richardson

Director Director

Producers producers.

Dan Maag Philip Schulz-Deyle Hendrik Holler

Writers Writers

Adam Kreutner David Mitchell

Original Writer Original Writer

Kōji Suzuki

Casting Casting

Nancy Nayor Kelly Wagner

Editor Editor

Christian Lonk

Cinematography Cinematography

Bernhard Jasper

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Hendrik Holler

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Stephan Barth

Production Design Production Design

Visual effects visual effects.

Sebastian Faber

Stunts Stunts

Wolfgang Raach

Composer Composer

Gerd Baumann

Sound Sound

Alexander Buck Emil Klotzsch Guido Zettier

Peter Rommel Productions Orange Pictures UFA Shotgun Pictures

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

French German Spanish English

Releases by Date

10 jul 2006, 03 aug 2006, 09 aug 2006, 10 aug 2006, 18 aug 2006, 07 sep 2006, 28 sep 2006, 20 feb 2007, 27 jun 2007, 28 jul 2007, 28 feb 2007, 02 sep 2008, releases by country.

  • Physical DVD
  • Theatrical 12
  • Theatrical 15

Netherlands

  • Physical 12 DVD
  • TV 12 RTL 7
  • Theatrical M/14
  • Theatrical R

94 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

soupydoupyy

Review by soupydoupyy ★★ 8

About 4 years ago I ran into my Aunt Linda at a family event. Naturally, I made the conversation about movies. "Have you seen any good ones lately?", I asked. Immediately she told me of a movie about people trapped in the ocean because they forgot to put the ladder down of their yacht. "It's a sequel to a big movie, but it doesn't really have anything to do with the first one", she said....."That's a good sign", I thought as I rolled my eyes. "Is it Open Water 2?" "Yes! You NEED TO SEE IT!" I said I would try and see it, without really wanting to. As the years went by my Aunt Linda would ask if I…

neve

Review by neve ★

why did no one get on someone’s shoulders until 1 hour and 18 minutes into the film ??? like ??? that would be my first thought ???

Olivia

Review by Olivia ★

the heteros have done it again

Asim P.

Review by Asim P. ★½

the sharks be like “ I think we’ll sit this one out”

nyloraced ✨

Review by nyloraced ✨ ★★

All this nonsense because they forgot to put down a ladder?????

alibrarianslib

Review by alibrarianslib ★★ 1

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

One of the chick's had a freaking life vest. My first thought is "Hmmmm, why don't we put the life vest on a dude and have a girl stand up on his back and grab the railing."

No one should have died.

eva

Review by eva ★ 1

what the hell was the ending lmao

joshrowley

Review by joshrowley ★★ 3

Claire Ginocchio

Review by Claire Ginocchio ½

There is nothing terrifying about a bunch of idiots dying in the ocean merely because they are stupid.

Blaze the Action Junkie

Review by Blaze the Action Junkie ★★½

Promotions claim this film is based on actual events. This is false according to Google. The actual script is an adaptation of Koji Suzuki's short story Adrift, a piece of fiction. It matters little to me, most of the film's stress is centered on a mother stuck in the water just out of reach of her screaming baby, and true or not that made for a bit of a cringe-fest. I don't think I'd call the film bad for that fact, just kind of grating in a stressful thriller aspect. The acting and tension were solid for what the film is, but I thought the characters left a lot to be desired with how they were written in this one. The situation was also kind of dumb, as was the ending. Maybe if they had added sharks to the movie it could have been better..

2006 Ranked 2000’s Ranked Horror Ranked Horror in the 2000’s Ranked Open Sea Ranked

mikey v

Review by mikey v ★★★

these type of movies r all i want to watch now they all suck so much i love it

✯ Miloš⑬ 💀↯

Review by ✯ Miloš⑬ 💀↯ ★★★★

It's about a group of friends jumping into the water from their boat, forgetting to lower the ladder, realizing they're too far up, and getting stuck in the water many miles from shore.

I get that people found the characters annoying, but honestly, the idea of the movie is pretty exciting to see what will happen. I enjoy the atmosphere and the mid-2000s film editing, with the ending giving me goosebumps. It took me a moment to realize that the driver was played by Eric Dane, lol.

Overall, I think it's an exciting horror/thriller without any sharks, with solid acting and tons of enjoyable moments.

Related Films

Open Water

Similar Films

The Reef

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster, upgrade to remove ads.

Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account —for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example ), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!

Open Water 2: Adrift

Cast & crew.

Susan May Pratt

Richard Speight Jr.

Niklaus Lange

Cameron Richardson

  • Average 4.4

Information

© 2006 Orange Pictures/ Shotgun Pictures/ Peter Rommel Productions/ Universum Film

Accessibility

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

Eye For Film

  • COMING SOON
  • OUT NOW - US
  • COMING SOON - US

DVD

  • COMPETITIONS

News

Eye For Film >> Movies >> Adrift (2006) Film Review

Adrift

Reviewed by: Jennie Kermode

When one reveals that one works as a film critic, people always say that it must be a wonderful job. Sometimes it's more of a public service. People like me go to see films like Adrift so that people like you don't have to.

Adrift is the story of a group of six former college friends who meet up to celebrate a birthday aboard a luxury yacht. Some miles out into the ocean, four of them decide to go for a swim. Young mother Amy declines, terrified of water after a traumatic incident in her childhood. In an attempt to cure her fear, loudmouth Zach grabs hold of her and dives overboard with her. As he forgets to let down the ladder before doing so, the six then find themselves stranded in the water, unable to get back aboard. And that's pretty much it.

Copy picture

With so many characters, we know from the start that they're not all going to make it, but the ways in which they manage to come to grief are almost as ridiculous as their inability to use the many simple methods available for regaining access to the boat (it would help if they were a little less stupid - letting the heaviest guy climb up something which he's already torn once is really imbecilic, as is throwing things away when they fail to be of use on the first attempt). One of them gives up and swims away, looking for help, much like several of the critics in my press screening. One cannot help but long for them to hurry up and drown and get it over with.

Aiming to fill the 90 odd minutes which will make this (at least look like) a feature film, the scriptwriters have the stranded characters engage in what might have been supposed to be soul-searching discussion, with awkward revelations and macho stand-offs aplenty, yet despite this almost all the characters are underdeveloped. Only Susan May Pratt convinces, as Amy, though Ali Hillis works impressively hard with the fewest lines of all. Cameron Richardson's Michelle is never allowed to be anything more than a dumb blonde, giving the impression that even the writers don't care about these people. It's difficult for anyone else to care when they do nothing but whine and pointlessly make their situation worse. If you can't find anything better to do with an hour and a half than watch this film, you might as well go and drown yourself.

del.icio.us

Read more Adrift reviews:

Director: Hans Horn

Writer: Adam Kreutner, Collin McMahon

Starring: Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight Jr., Niklaus Lange, Ali Hills, Cameron Richardson, Eric Dane, Mattea Gabarretta

Runtime: 95 minutes

Country: Germany

Search database:

If you like this, try:

  • News & Features

movie sailboat no ladder

  • Trending on RT

movie sailboat no ladder

24 Movies Trapped At Sea

movie sailboat no ladder

Water, water everywhere, and not a damn way to get home. That’s this week’s gallery theme: Movies where we see people trapped on the open seas, inspired by  Adrift , starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as two young lovers whose boat is incapacitated after sailing directly into a catastrophic hurricane (and with Claflin’s character suffering from a life-threatening injury). Likewise, the movies in this gallery see heroes under immense pier pressure when their boats get hijacked, destroyed, or worse of all, disappeared all together.

Note: Because a lot of movies fall under this theme, we’re not including submarine movies ( Das Boot ,  Below ,  Black Sea ) or movies where the heroes can generally head home at any time ( Jaws ,  The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou ).

movie sailboat no ladder

Related News

56 Worst Sequels of All Time

All James Cameron Movies Ranked

All 55 Billion-Dollar Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

More 24 Frames

24 Predictions For 2019 (According To The Movies)

24 Best Movie Posters of 2018

24 Great Monster Movie Posters

December 31, 2018

December 27, 2018

August 7, 2018

Related News & Interviews

August 19, 2024

August 16, 2024

August 11, 2024

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

Weekend Box Office: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Holds on to Top Spot

September 16, 2024

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

Top Headlines

  • 30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming –
  • 25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming –
  • 50 Best New Action Movies of 2024 –
  • Toronto Film Festival 2024: Movie Scorecard –
  • Netflix’s 100 Best Movies Right Now (September 2024) –
  • 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time –

movie sailboat no ladder

In September, 1983, Tami Oldham Ashcraft and her fiance, Richard Sharp , were hired to take a 44-foot yacht on a 4,000-mile journey from Tahiti to San Diego. About halfway through their cross-Pacific journey, they ran into Hurricane Raymond, a tropical storm which had been building in power for a couple of weeks. They struggled to control the yacht in 145-knot winds, and Sharp was washed overboard, lost in the mountainous seas. Ashcraft had a head injury, and the yacht was badly damaged, but she managed to jerry-rig a sail and then navigated her way—manually, using a sextant and a watchover 1,500 miles to Hawaii. It took her an astonishing 41 days. She survived on peanut butter. In 2002, Ashcraft wrote a book about her experience, Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss and Survival at Sea . “Adrift,” the film adaptation directed by Baltasar Kormákur , wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s not just a story of an incredible feat of survival. It’s also a love story, presented with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. 

When Richard ( Sam Claflin ) and Tami ( Shailene Woodley ) meet in Tahiti, she’s working in a marina, a girl already somewhat “adrift” but not really worried about it yet, and he is a yacht-owner who wants to sail around the world. Their love story involves jumping off cliffs, random laughter, and a conversation about flowers. There’s not much substance to it, and the script (by Aaron Kandell , Jordan Kandell , David Branson Smith —apparently, there wasn’t one female writer in a 4,000-mile radius who contributed to this story of a woman alone at sea) is low on subtext. The two speak their feelings bluntly (“I sailed half the world to find you”), with music swelling up on cue. All of this is pretty standard stuff, and forgivable, really. Nobody’s looking for intricate relationship subtlety in a movie like this. What we’re waiting for is the storm. 

The film starts with Tami lying injured in the interior of the yacht after the storm. The cabin is filled with water and debris. She staggers onto the deck, only to find Richard’s safety line dangling overboard. She thinks she sees Richard floating on a dinghy in the distance. Filled with determination to get to him, she mends the yacht as well as she can, pumping water out of the cabin, fixing the sail. She eventually makes it to the dinghy, and—with a superhuman effort, drags the injured Richard through the water back to the boat, and somehow (Kormákur doesn’t show us how) pulls him up the ladder onto the deck. His ribs are collapsed, his leg is badly wounded. Because this is a true story, we know Richard was swept off the boat, never to be seen again. So it’s not clear at first if they have decided to fictionalize the story, or if she is having some kind of sustained hallucination. 

“Adrift” flips back and forth between their burgeoning romance on Tahiti and the increasingly dire situation after the storm, as Tami struggles to keep herself and Richard alive. It is she who makes the decision to turn north and try to reach Hawaii, as opposed to continuing on to San Diego. It is she who rations out the food. When problems arise, she has to figure out solutions. She hovers over maps, peers through the sextant, makes calculations, all while battling dehydration (and possibly a lingering concussion from her head injury). “Adrift” shares many similarities with “ All Is Lost ,” the 2013 film starring Robert Redford , with some crucial differences. Redford is the only person in “All Is Lost.” There is no dialogue. He doesn’t talk to himself, to let us in on his thought process. There is no “ Wilson ” like in “ Cast Away ,” a device allowing the stranded character to verbalize his feelings. “All Is Lost” takes place in a vast and eerie silence. We don’t know anything about the character, we don’t know why he’s out there alone, we don’t know his onshore life. All we do is see him try—step by gritty step—to survive another day. “Adrift” avoids many of the challenges “All Is Lost” faces head on. 

Kormákur is drawn to stories about feats of survival (“ Everest ,” “The Deep”), and the sea and its storms feature strongly in his work (much of which takes place in his home country, Iceland). He’s on familiar turf. Cinematographer Robert Richardson , a frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino , Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone , does tremendous work with “Adrift.” The frequent aerial shots of the tiny yacht surrounded by immense ocean are chilling: the frame looks almost existentially empty. There’s one dizzying scene in Tahiti where first Tami and then Richard leap off a cliff into a deep pool below, and it seems like Richardson must be perched out in mid-air beside the cliff (and when Richard jumps, the camera follows him all the way down). The sunsets ooze fiery colors, with the yacht in black silhouette in the foreground. 

This must have been an extremely rigorous shoot for all involved, and Kormákur has maintained remarkable control over the images. Shots match, even as they’re filming out in open ocean: the weather, the sky, the height and dip of the waves in any given sequence, all maintain consistency. The storm, when it finally comes, is an extraordinary piece of filmmaking and effects. In an interview when her book came out, Tami Ashcraft was asked about whether or not the storm depicted in the film adaptation of “ The Perfect Storm ” was an accurate depiction of what such a storm is like. She replied, “There wasn’t enough spray and the wall of water was a little hokey.” There’s nothing hokey about the storm in “Adrift” ( Dadi Einarsson  supervised the visual effects). As the yacht surfs up the side of a mountain of water, the entire background of the screen is filled with heaving ocean. There’s no sky in sight, just flailing waves the size of three-story buildings. And they clearly listened to Ashcraft, because the air is filled with spray, splashing against the camera. It’s chaos. The entire scene is a screaming nightmare come to life. 

There’s minimal chemistry between the two actors, who aren’t given much to go on in terms of who these characters are. It’s hard to “buy into” the Great Love they’re “selling” here. But there’s a fascination in stories like these, stories like “ Touching the Void ” or “And I Alone Survived.” What human beings will do to survive, facing a Mother Nature who seems to have a vested interest in killing them, is, yes, awe-inspiring. It makes you think, “How would I face such challenges? Would I be as resourceful as Tami? Or would I give up?”

movie sailboat no ladder

Sheila O'Malley

Sheila O’Malley received a BFA in Theatre from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s in Acting from the Actors Studio MFA Program. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

movie sailboat no ladder

  • Grace Palmer as Deb
  • Elizabeth Hawthorne as Christine
  • Luna Campbell as Tahitian Paddler
  • Shailene Woodley as Tami Oldham
  • Jeffrey Thomas as Peter
  • Sam Claflin as Richard Sharp
  • Aaron Kandell
  • David Branson Smith
  • Jordan Kandell
  • Baltasar Kormákur
  • John Gilbert

Director of Photography

  • Robert Richardson
  • Volker Bertelmann

Leave a comment

Now playing.

Transformers One

Transformers One

American Crime Story: Aaron Hernandez

American Crime Story: Aaron Hernandez

Speak No Evil (2024)

Speak No Evil (2024)

Saturday Night

Saturday Night

My Old Ass

The Killer’s Game

Girls Will Be Girls

Girls Will Be Girls

Here After

The 4:30 Movie

The Critic

Sweetheart Deal

Latest articles.

movie sailboat no ladder

TIFF 2024: Table of Contents

movie sailboat no ladder

TIFF 2024: Village Keeper, 40 Acres, Flow

movie sailboat no ladder

TIFF 2024: The Shadow Strays, Friendship, The Shrouds

movie sailboat no ladder

TIFF 2024: Babygirl, All We Imagine as Light, Queer

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

  • 12 Mighty Orphans
  • 12 Years a Slave
  • 15:17 to Paris, The
  • 300: Rise of an Empire
  • 80 for Brady
  • A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
  • A Journal for Jordan
  • A Million Miles Away
  • A Small Light
  • Against the Ice
  • All Eyez on Me
  • All My Life
  • American Gangster
  • American Hustle
  • American Made
  • American Sniper
  • American Underdog
  • Amityville Horror (1979)
  • Amityville Horror (2005)
  • Annabelle: Creation
  • Antwone Fisher
  • Arthur the King
  • Bad Education
  • Battle of the Sexes
  • Beanie Bubble, The
  • Beautiful Boy
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Being the Ricardos
  • Best of Enemies, The
  • Big Lebowski
  • Big Short, The
  • Big Sick, The
  • Bikeriders, The
  • BlacKkKlansman
  • Bleed for This
  • Blind Side, The
  • Bling Ring, The
  • Blue Miracle
  • Boardwalk Empire
  • Bohemian Rhapsody
  • Boston Strangler
  • Boys Don't Cry
  • Boys in the Boat, The
  • Breakthrough
  • Brian Banks
  • Bridge of Spies
  • Burial, The
  • Butler, The
  • Bye Bye Man, The
  • Calendar Girls
  • Can You Ever Forgive Me?
  • Captain Phillips
  • Case for Christ, The
  • Catch Me If You Can
  • Charlie Wilson's War
  • Chasing Mavericks
  • Cocaine Bear
  • Concrete Cowboy
  • Conjuring 2, The
  • Conjuring, The
  • Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The
  • Courier, The
  • Crowded Room, The
  • Current War, The
  • Danish Girl, The
  • Danny Collins
  • Darkest Hour
  • Dear Edward
  • Death of Stalin, The
  • Deepwater Horizon
  • Deliver Us From Evil
  • Devil Wears Prada, The
  • Disappointments Room, The
  • Disaster Artist, The
  • Dolemite Is My Name
  • Donnie Brasco
  • Downton Abbey
  • Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
  • Dream Horse
  • Dropout, The
  • Eddie the Eagle
  • Emancipation
  • End of the Tour, The
  • Erin Brockovich
  • Exorcism of Emily Rose, The
  • Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
  • Eyes of Tammy Faye, The
  • Fabelmans, The
  • Farewell, The
  • Fault in Our Stars, The
  • Favourite, The
  • Fighter, The
  • Fighting with My Family
  • Finding Neverland
  • Finest Hours, The
  • Five Days at Memorial
  • Flamin' Hot
  • Florence Foster Jenkins
  • Ford v Ferrari
  • Founder, The
  • Free State of Jones
  • Freedom Writers
  • Gigi and Nate
  • Girl from Plainville, The
  • Glass Castle, The
  • Goldbergs, The
  • Good Nurse, The
  • Good on Paper
  • Goodbye Christopher Robin
  • Gran Turismo
  • Greatest Beer Run Ever, The
  • Greatest Showman, The
  • Gridiron Gang
  • Hacksaw Ridge
  • Hands of Stone
  • Haunting in Connecticut, The
  • Heaven is for Real
  • Hidden Figures
  • Hillbilly Elegy
  • Hollywoodland
  • House of Gucci
  • Hurricane, The
  • I Am the Night
  • I Can Only Imagine
  • I Saw the Light
  • I Still Believe
  • I Wanna Dance with Somebody
  • Imitation Game, The
  • Infiltrator, The
  • Inventing Anna
  • Irishman, The
  • Iron Claw, The
  • Jerry and Marge Go Large
  • Jersey Boys
  • Jesus Revolution
  • Jimi: All Is by My Side
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Kill the Messenger
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • King Arthur
  • King Richard
  • Lady in the Lake
  • Last Duel, The
  • Last Full Measure, The
  • League of Their Own, A
  • Lone Survivor
  • Lost City of Z, The
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
  • Maggie Moore(s)
  • Man Who Invented Christmas, The
  • Masters of the Air
  • Mauritanian, The
  • McFarland, USA
  • Megan Leavey
  • Men of Honor
  • Military Wives
  • Million Dollar Arm
  • Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The
  • Miracles from Heaven
  • Molly's Game
  • Monuments Men, The
  • Mothman Prophecies, The
  • Mrs. America
  • Munich: The Edge of War
  • My All American
  • Next Goal Wins
  • Not Without My Daughter
  • Old Man & the Gun, The
  • On a Wing and a Prayer
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
  • One and Only Ivan, The
  • Only the Brave
  • Operation Finale
  • Operation Mincemeat
  • Oppenheimer
  • Ordinary Angels
  • Outlaw King
  • Outpost, The
  • Pain & Gain
  • Pain Hustlers
  • Passion of the Christ, The
  • Patch Adams
  • Patriots Day
  • Pawn Sacrifice
  • Penguin Bloom
  • People v. O.J. Simpson, The
  • Pianist, The
  • Pope's Exorcist, The
  • Prayer Before Dawn, A
  • Promise, The
  • Public Enemies
  • Pursuit of Happyness, The
  • Queen of Katwe
  • Quiet Ones, The
  • Railway Man, The
  • Remember the Titans
  • Rescued by Ruby
  • Revenant, The
  • Richard Jewell
  • Right Stuff, The
  • Rookie, The
  • Saving Mr. Banks
  • Saving Private Ryan
  • Schindler's List
  • Serpent, The
  • Slender Man
  • Social Network, The
  • Society of the Snow
  • Soul Surfer
  • Sound of Freedom
  • Staircase, The
  • Survivor, The
  • Tender Bar, The
  • Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The
  • Texas Rising
  • Theory of Everything, The
  • Thing About Pam, The
  • Thirteen Lives
  • To Write Love on Her Arms
  • Top Gun: Maverick
  • Trees of Peace
  • Trial of the Chicago 7, The
  • True Spirit
  • United Kingdom, A
  • United States vs. Billie Holiday, The
  • Unsung Hero
  • Upside, The
  • Victoria and Abdul
  • Walk the Line
  • Watcher, The
  • We Own This City
  • We Were the Lucky Ones
  • Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
  • Welcome to Marwen
  • When the Game Stands Tall
  • When They See Us
  • White Boy Rick
  • White House Plumbers
  • Wicked Little Letters
  • Wolf of Wall Street, The
  • Woman in Gold
  • Woman King, The
  • Young Woman and the Sea
  • Zookeeper's Wife, The

Adrift: History vs. Hollywood

REEL FACE: REAL FACE:

November 15, 1991

Simi Valley, California, USA

March 23, 1960
San Diego, California, USA

June 27, 1986

Ipswich, Suffolk, England, UK

1949
England, UK
October 12, 1983, Pacific Ocean

When did the events depicted in the Adrift movie take place in real life?

In researching Tami Oldham and the Adrift true story, we discovered that the real-life events depicted in the 2018 movie spanned the months of September, October and November 1983. 23-year-old Tami Oldham and her British fiancé, Richard Sharp (34), had been pleasure sailing his 36-foot sailboat, the Mayaluga, for the previous six months. They made the decision to accept a job delivering a 44-foot yacht, the Hazana, from Tahiti to San Diego where it would be received by a new owner. They had been less than three weeks into their 4,000-mile trip when Hurricane Raymond hit. -Chicago Tribune Top: The real Tami Oldham and fiancé Richard Sharp prior to the trip.   Bottom: Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as Oldham and Sharp in the Adrift 2018 movie.

Did they try to escape the hurricane?

Yes. Tami and Richard knew a storm was coming, but they didn't know it would be that bad. They tried to outrun Hurricane Raymond by sailing north, battling 140 knot winds and 40-foot waves as they did their best to keep the yacht afloat. The relentless category 4 hurricane showed no signs of calming. It changed direction and stayed on their tail like a predator. -Mirror Online

Did Tami Oldham's fiancé Richard Sharp survive the hurricane in real life?

No. In real life, as they continued to battle Hurricane Raymond on October 12, 1983, Richard Sharp sent his fiancée Tami below deck to rest. He used a safety line to tether himself to the yacht in an attempt to ride out the storm and keep the boat afloat. The yacht capsized and Tami hit her head when she was thrown against the cabin wall. The force of the blow knocked her out, and the last thing she can remember hearing was Sharp screaming, "Oh my God!" She didn't wake up for 27 hours, and when she did, she went above deck and discovered Richard's safety line hanging off the edge of the boat. Her fiancé was lost at sea. She would never see him again. -Chicago Tribune Tami Oldham remained unconscious for 27 hours after hitting her head when the boat capsized during the hurricane. The severe head injury is visible on Shailene Woodley's character in the 2018 movie. At first, the Adrift movie seems to unfold differently than the true story. Tami wakes up and finds an injured Richard floating in the water as he clings to a small overturned lifeboat that had fallen off the yacht. She gets him back to the yacht where she cares for his broken ribs and shattered leg as he reassures her that she can get them home, despite him describing himself as being "dead weight". However, paying close attention to the movie's trailer reveals a couple other clues to the likely reality of this situation. When Tami (Shailene Woodley) and Richard (Sam Claflin) are having dinner on his boat, he talks about the challenge of sailing and says that "you're either sleep deprived or seasick, and after a few days there's the hallucinations." This clue seems to foreshadow things to come. Coupled with Tami's bad head injury sustained during the storm, it's not hard to start wondering if Richard is merely a figment of Tami's imagination. Clues to this are also found in Tami's memoir Red Sky in Mourning . The Adrift movie's ending will undoubtedly reveal the answer. Tami's memoir , originally titled Red Sky in Mourning , provided the basis for the Adrift movie.

Did she hear a voice when she was stranded on the boat?

Yes. In her book Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea , she talks about hearing a voice, but not that of her lost-at-sea fiancé Richard Sharp. Instead, she described it as an "inner voice" that was audible to her externally three times. It's certainly possible that her head injury and blood loss caused her to believe that she was hearing such a voice. Others believe it was God speaking to her. "I needed guidance and the voice was a real phenomenon," says Tami. "Three times it was audible externally. I've asked the voice to come back, but I never heard from it again. ... The voice kept me on track. I just followed it." -Mirror Online

Was the yacht badly damaged like in the Adrift movie?

Yes. The Adrift  movie true story reveals that nearly everything on the Hazana (pictured below) was broken and strewn about. The masts had snapped off, and like in the 2018 movie, the sails were waterlogged and floated nearby. The cabin was half-filled with water. The engine and radio were broken. The radio device used to indicate the boat's emergency position was down as well, and the electronic navigation system wasn't functional either. -Mirror Online Top: The real Hazana yacht in 1983 after the ordeal at sea.   Bottom: Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin on the movie's version of the yacht. The biggest noticeable difference is the ladder placement.

How long was the real Tami Oldham adrift at sea?

Fact-checking the Adrift movie reveals that after Hurricane Raymond struck and claimed the life of her fiancé Richard Sharp, Tami Oldham remained stranded at sea on the damaged yacht for 41 days. -Mirror Online

How did Tami Oldham survive being stranded for a month and a half on the yacht?

In 2003, she told the Chicago Tribune that she ate canned food and peanut butter, consuming everything from fruit cocktail to sardines.

How did Tami manage to find her way to land?

With the yacht's navigation system broken by the storm, Tami used a sextant to help her find her way home. A sextant is a navigational instrument that can be used to measure the angle of the sun (or another astronomical object) above the horizon. "It saved my life," says Tami. She was then able to work out her latitude using nautical maps. To remember what got her home, Tami wears a triangular-shaped sextant pendant encrusted with a diamond. The only navigational instrument that wasn't broken during the hurricane was a sextant, which measures the angle of the sun (or other astronomical object) above the horizon. It saved her life. Being able to successfully navigate was only part of the challenge; she also needed to keep the yacht afloat and get it moving. She fashioned a pump to prevent the cabin down below from flooding and created a makeshift sail from a broken spinnaker pole and spare storm jib. She eventually managed to get the boat into a position where she could use currents that would hopefully take her to Hawaii. -Mirror Online

Did she stitch the wound on her head?

No. In the film, we see her using sutures to self-stitch the wound shut. "There were sutures on board," Tami wrote in her book, "but I couldn’t bring myself to sew my head shut." Instead, she drew the long wound together and adhered several large butterfly bandages as pus and blood oozed out.

Did Tami consider suicide while stranded at sea?

Yes. Weak, starving, injured, and let down after mistakenly thinking she saw an island on the horizon, at one point during her journey Tami loaded a rifle that was on board and stuck it in her mouth. The internal voice she heard during her journey convinced her to stop. This intense moment is not depicted in the film. While exploring the Tami Oldham true story, we learned that it wasn't the only time her despair had led her to thoughts of suicide. -Mirror Online Tami dealt with years of grief by eventually writing her story down and penning the book Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea . She is pictured on the left more than a decade after the tragedy.

How far did Tami Oldham sail before she reached land?

Tami navigated approximately 1,500 miles over a span of 41 days before reaching Hilo, Hawaii. As she approached the harbor, she saw a large ship on its way out. She shot off several flares before the 200+ foot vessel flashed its running lights and altered course. The ship pulled up alongside the Hazana. The crew lowered down coffee and someone tossed her an apple. They towed her inside the reef and a Coast Guard Auxiliary towed her the rest of the way. Similar to the Adrift movie's ending, as she pulled into the Big Island's Hilo Harbor, she cried tears of joy. -Mirror Online The Adrift movie ends similar to the real-life story.

Did Tami Oldham suffer any lasting injuries?

Yes. When the boat capsized, she struck her head so hard that she couldn't read a book for the next six years. The words leapt off the page as she tried to focus on them. -Mirror Online

Did Tami Oldham continue sailing after surviving being stranded at sea?

Yes. The tragedy she endured didn't stop her from continuing to enjoy sailing. She got right back into it. "I just love it," Tami told the Chicago Tribune . "I'm passionate about it. I kind of parallel [the hurricane] to being in a car accident. You get back in the car or, like they say, back on the horse." She went on to become a "100-ton licensed captain with more than 50,000 offshore miles" to her credit. Tami did struggle with grief and nightmares, and she spent the first eight years after the accident unable to heal. When she was able to read again, she began to deal with some of her feelings by writing her story down, eventually penning the book Red Sky in Mourning , which inspired the movie. She self-published the book in 1998, and it was later picked up by Hyperion Press and published widely in 2002. Tami says that she never went to counseling but wishes someone would have suggested it. "I definitely had some severe post-traumatic stress syndrome," she stated. "I really wish I had taken the time to do that." -Chicago Tribune Despite the tragedy, Tami never stopped sailing and became a 100-ton licensed captain. She is pictured here prior to the Adrift movie's 2018 release.

Did Tami Oldham ever marry?

Yes. Ten years after losing fiancé Richard Sharp at sea and surviving the ordeal, Tami met a blue-eyed man at a dance. They married in 1994, had two children, and live on San Juan Island, Washington. Tragically, their 22-year-old daughter, Kelli Ashcraft, was taken from them in 2017 as the result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dive deeper into the Adrift true story by watching the Tami Oldham Ashcraft movie interview below.

 Tami Oldham "Adrift" Interview
 Adrift Movie Trailer
  • Official Adrift Movie Website

Scoop movie

movie sailboat no ladder

  • Movies That Make You Scared to Go in the Water
  • If You Fall Off a Cruise Ship
  • Disappearances from Cruise Ships
  • Cruises Ruined by Brutal Crimes
  • Mysterious Messages In Bottles
  • The Creepiest Places In The Ocean
  • Sailors And Ocean Enthusiasts Describe The Cree...
  • 21 Unnerving Photos That Made Us Want To Avoid ...
  • What It's Like to Be a Rescue & Recovery Diver
  • The Worst Cruise Ship Disasters
  • People Who Fell Off Cruise Ships
  • The Bermuda Triangle Is Really NBD
  • 20 Horror Stories From Deep Sea Divers That Fil...
  • The Creepiest Bodies Of Water From Around The W...
  • Deep Sea Divers Describe The Creepiest Thing Th...
  • Ways The Ocean Can Kill You
  • People Who Served On Submarines Share Small Det...
  • 16 Terrifying Stories Where People Learn Exactl...
  • A Beautiful American Lake May Hide Countless, E...

The 40+ Best Lost At Sea Movies

Ranker Film

The best lost at sea movies of all time chart a course through the uncharted territories of human endurance, capturing the imagination with tales of survival, isolation, and the indomitable human spirit. Set against the vast, unforgiving expanse of the ocean, these films weave narratives that are as deep and poignant as the waters they traverse. They invite viewers into stories where the sea is more than just a setting—it's a character, challenging the protagonists in ways both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

Among these cinematic voyages, Cast Away stands out with its compelling portrayal of solitude and survival, anchored by Tom Hanks' unforgettable performance. Equally stirring, Adrift captivates with its harrowing true story of love and endurance against the merciless Pacific Ocean. These films, among others, beautifully navigate the tumultuous waters of hope, despair, and redemption, offering viewers an unforgettable journey into the heart of the human spirit.

This list wasn't cast adrift without direction; it was meticulously curated by a crew of movie experts who delved into the vast ocean of film to fish out the true pearls. From there, it was up to the watchers, those aficionados of the silver screen, to cast their votes and help steer this collection into the harbor of the must-watch, the best lost at sea movies of all time.

Cast Away

In this enthralling survival drama, director Robert Zemeckis captures the desperate struggle of Chuck Noland (played by Tom Hanks), a FedEx employee who gets stranded on a remote island after a plane crash. As the narrative unfolds, the audience bears witness to Chuck's intense emotional journey as he seeks to stay alive in an unforgiving environment – from his frantic attempts to signal rescue, to his bond with the enigmatic volleyball Wilson. The film's gripping blend of isolation and existentialism makes it a quintessential tale of being lost at sea.

  • Released : 2000
  • Directed by : Robert Zemeckis

Adrift

Based on a harrowing true story, Adrift follows the lives of young couple Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) as they embark on a sailing adventure across the Pacific Ocean. When they encounter a catastrophic hurricane, the pair must confront their own mortality and fight against all odds for survival. With its stunning visuals and exceptional performances, Adrift is a poignant and heart-wrenching take on love, loss, and resilience at sea.

  • Released : 2018
  • Directed by : Baltasar Kormákur

Titanic

James Cameron's epic disaster romance Titanic revisits the infamous sinking of the RMS Titanic, blending historical events with the fictional love story of upper-class Rose (Kate Winslet) and working-class Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio). The film's groundbreaking special effects and set design transport viewers into the heart of the disaster, while the compelling narrative keeps them hooked. Regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, Titanic remains a testament to the power of love amidst chaos and the indomitable human spirit.

  • Released : 1997
  • Directed by : James Cameron

The Perfect Storm

The Perfect Storm

Director Wolfgang Petersen brings Sebastian Junger's bestselling novel to life in The Perfect Storm , a thrilling drama about the ill-fated fishing vessel Andrea Gail and its crew during the “storm of the century.” Starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, the film's relentless action and palpable tension make it a must-watch for fans of high-seas adventure. The gripping storyline, bolstered by a talented ensemble cast, ensures that The Perfect Storm is a stormy voyage worth taking.

  • Directed by : Wolfgang Petersen

Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips

Paul Greengrass' thrilling biographical drama, Captain Phillips , recounts the incredible true story of the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking – the first American cargo ship hijacking in over 200 years. Tom Hanks delivers a powerful performance as the titular character, whose resourcefulness and bravery in the face of danger make him an unlikely hero. With its gripping narrative, stellar performances, and intense action, Captain Phillips is an enthralling portrayal of survival and human resilience in the open sea.

  • Released : 2013
  • Directed by : Paul Greengrass

All Is Lost

All Is Lost

Robert Redford delivers a tour de force performance in J.C. Chandor's minimalist drama All Is Lost , playing an unnamed man who becomes stranded at sea after his sailboat collides with a shipping container. With virtually no dialogue, the film relies heavily on Redford's emotive acting and Chandor's masterful storytelling to convey the protagonist's desperation, resourcefulness, and resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. All Is Lost stands as a testament to the power of cinema to tell a compelling, human story with the barest of elements.

  • Directed by : J.C. Chandor

Life of Pi

Adapted from Yann Martel's novel, Ang Lee's visually stunning and spiritually resonant Life of Pi tells the extraordinary tale of Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma), a young Indian man who survives a shipwreck only to find himself sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. As they embark on a fantastical journey through a captivating oceanic world filled with wonder, peril, and self-discovery, Lee seamlessly weaves elements of magical realism, religion, and philosophy into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Life of Pi 's breathtaking visuals and profound themes make it an essential viewing for anyone seeking solace or enlightenment in a sea of uncertainty.

  • Released : 2012
  • Directed by : Ang Lee

In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea

Ron Howard's visually striking and ambitious adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick's nonfiction book, In the Heart of the Sea , delves into the harrowing true story that inspired Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick . The film chronicles the brutal journey of the whaling ship Essex as it encounters a monstrous sperm whale, leaving the crew stranded in a merciless ocean with dwindling resources and a terrifying foe. With its stellar cast – including Chris Hemsworth star performance – and captivating storytelling, In the Heart of the Sea is a chilling and visceral tale of survival and bravery in the face of insurmountable challenges.

  • Released : 2015
  • Directed by : Ron Howard

The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure

A seminal disaster film from the 1970s, The Poseidon Adventure follows the struggle for survival aboard the SS Poseidon after the luxury liner capsizes due to a massive tidal wave. Directed by Ronald Neame and starring an all-star ensemble cast – including Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelley Winters – the film combines high-stakes action and gripping interpersonal drama, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. For fans of classic cinema and maritime thrillers, The Poseidon Adventure is a must-see.

  • Released : 1972
  • Directed by : Ronald Neame, Irwin Allen

Open Water

Loosely based on actual events, Open Water follows a couple left stranded in shark-infested waters after their scuba-diving excursion mistakenly leaves them behind. The film's gritty, low-budget approach captures the raw intensity of their struggle for survival, creating an unsettling sense of claustrophobia and dread. Directed by Chris Kentis, Open Water is a nerve-wracking, nail-biting thriller that serves as a sobering reminder of the perils of venturing into the unknown.

  • Released : 2003
  • Directed by : Chris Kentis

The Finest Hours

The Finest Hours

Based on the incredible true story of the Coast Guard's daring rescue attempt during the 1952 New England nor'easter, The Finest Hours , directed by Craig Gillespie, captures the courageous efforts of four men who risked their lives to save more than 30 stranded sailors. Featuring an exceptional ensemble cast led by Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, this film expertly weaves together thrilling action sequences and poignant character moments to tell a timeless tale of heroism and sacrifice. The Finest Hours ' gripping narrative and emotional resonance make it an unforgettable maritime adventure.

  • Released : 2016
  • Directed by : Craig Gillespie

Unbroken

Angelina Jolie's gripping biopic Unbroken tells the extraordinary true-story of Olympian and war hero Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O'Connell) and his unimaginable ordeal; from crashing into the Pacific Ocean during World War II to surviving 47 days adrift, only to be captured by the Japanese Navy. The film's powerful themes of perseverance, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit make it an inspiring and emotional watch. With its captivating narrative and standout performances, Unbroken is a compelling exploration of survival and redemption in the most trying of circumstances.

  • Released : 2014
  • Directed by : Angelina Jolie

Dead Calm

Phillip Noyce's suspenseful thriller Dead Calm follows a grieving couple, played by Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman, as they seek solace on a sailing trip, only to encounter a psychotic man (Billy Zane) who has left a trail of destruction in his wake. As tensions rise and allegiances shift, the characters battle for survival in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse. Dead Calm 's intense atmosphere, strong performances, and unpredictable twists make it an unforgettable addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 1989
  • Directed by : Phillip Noyce

Ghost Ship

In this chilling horror film, a salvage crew discovers the derelict ocean liner, SS Antonia Graza, and quickly becomes entangled in a web of supernatural terror. Directed by Steve Beck, Ghost Ship masterfully blends elements of maritime adventure and spine-tingling horror to create a uniquely terrifying experience. With its eerie atmosphere, tight pacing, and compelling story, Ghost Ship is perfect for those in search of a thrilling, ghostly adventure at sea.

  • Released : 2002
  • Directed by : Steve Beck

Poseidon

The 2006 remake of the classic disaster film, Poseidon focuses on a group of passengers aboard a luxury cruise liner who must fight for their lives when the ship is capsized by a colossal wave. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, who also helmed The Perfect Storm , this film boasts a talented ensemble cast and impressive special effects. Though the remake may not hold the same classic status as its predecessor, Poseidon still delivers high-stakes action and suspense, making it an enjoyable addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 2006

Moby Dick

The definitive cinematic adaptation of Herman Melville's classic novel, John Huston's 1956 film Moby Dick captures the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab (Gregory Peck) to seek vengeance on the great white whale that destroyed his ship and cost him his leg. With its stunning visuals, exceptional performances, and haunting score, this film dives deep into themes of obsession, revenge, and the unfathomable power of nature. Moby Dick is not only a timeless tale of maritime adventure but also a profound exploration of the human psyche.

  • Released : 1956
  • Directed by : John Huston

The Reef

Based on a true story, The Reef follows a group of friends whose sailing trip takes a horrifying turn when their boat capsizes, leaving them at the mercy of a man-eating great white shark. Directed by Andrew Traucki, the film utilizes real shark footage to create a truly unnerving and authentic experience. With its relentless tension and harrowing depiction of survival, The Reef is a gripping and intense addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 2010
  • Directed by : Andrew Traucki

White Squall

White Squall

Ridley Scott's nautical drama White Squall tells the true story of a group of teenage boys who embark on a six-month educational sailing expedition in the Caribbean, only to be caught in a devastating storm that tests their courage and unity. With its rich character development, breathtaking visuals, and heart-pounding action sequences, White Squall is both a thrilling high-seas adventure and a moving coming-of-age story that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.

  • Released : 1996
  • Directed by : Ridley Scott

The Guardian

The Guardian

In this gripping action-drama, Kevin Costner stars as a legendary Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer who takes on the challenge of training a young and reckless recruit, played by Ashton Kutcher. The film delves into the perilous world of search and rescue, showcasing the physical and emotional challenges faced by those sworn to protect lives at sea. Directed by Andrew Davis, The Guardian is an engaging and inspiring look at the sacrifices and bravery of those who risk it all in uncharted waters.

  • Directed by : Andrew Davis

Kon-Tiki

The inspiring true story of Thor Heyerdahl's daring 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft comes to life in this award-winning film directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg. With its engaging characters, stunning cinematography, and thrilling action, Kon-Tiki is both an exhilarating adventure and a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The film's rich historical context and captivating storytelling make it an essential viewing for fans of maritime cinema.

  • Directed by : Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

The Shallows

The Shallows

In this tense and visually striking survival thriller, a young surfer named Nancy (Blake Lively) finds herself stranded on a rock just 200 yards from shore with a great white shark circling her. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, The Shallows is a tightly-paced, edge-of-your-seat experience that expertly combines beautiful cinematography with nerve-wracking suspense. As Nancy battles against time, the elements, and a formidable predator, The Shallows delivers a thrilling and visceral tale of resilience and determination.

  • Directed by : Jaume Collet-Serra

The Boat

In Wolfgang Petersen's taut and claustrophobic thriller, a German U-boat crew faces the perils of World War II below the surface while struggling to maintain their sanity within the confined space of their submarine. As the crew members are pushed to their breaking point, The Boat explores the psychological toll of warfare and the bonds forged amid adversity. With its authentic portrayal of life aboard a U-boat and its engaging character dynamics, this film remains a compelling and unique entry in the lost at sea category.

  • Directed by : Winston Azzopardi

Satan's Triangle

Satan's Triangle

This 1975 made-for-television horror film follows an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle. The survivors of a shipwreck are faced with supernatural occurrences and demonic forces that challenge their sanity and survival. With its eerie atmosphere and unique blend of horror and maritime adventure, Satan's Triangle remains a cult favorite for those seeking something beyond the typical lost at sea narrative.

  • Released : 1975
  • Directed by : Sutton Roley

Triangle

In this mind-bending horror-thriller, a group of friends finds themselves trapped in a time loop while stranded on a seemingly abandoned ocean liner. Directed by Christopher Smith, Triangle combines elements of psychological horror and maritime adventure to create a haunting and disorienting cinematic experience. With its eerie atmosphere, complex narrative structure, and chilling twists, Triangle is an unconventional and unforgettable addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 2009
  • Directed by : Christopher Smith

K-19: The Widowmaker

K-19: The Widowmaker

Based on the harrowing true story of a near nuclear disaster aboard a Soviet submarine in 1961, K-19: The Widowmaker stars Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson as naval officers whose bravery and ingenuity are pushed to the limit in their desperate race against time. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this suspenseful and emotionally charged film delves into themes of duty, honor, and the sacrifices made in the name of global security. With its gripping narrative, strong performances, and historical resonance, K-19: The Widowmaker is an engrossing addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Kathryn Bigelow

Maidentrip

This inspiring documentary chronicles the remarkable journey of Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old sailor who sets out to become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe solo. Directed by Jillian Schlesinger, Maidentrip captures the beauty, loneliness, and triumph of Dekker's incredible adventure with breathtaking cinematography and intimate personal footage. A testament to the power of determination and self-reliance, Maidentrip is a captivating and empowering look at the transformative potential of life at sea.

  • Directed by : Jillian Schlesinger

Black Sea

In this gripping submarine thriller directed by Kevin Macdonald, Jude Law stars as a down-on-his-luck submarine captain who assembles a misfit crew to search for a sunken Nazi submarine rumored to be filled with gold. As tensions rise and alliances crumble, the crew finds itself battling for survival in the depths of the Black Sea. Packed with intense action, suspense, and top-notch performances, Black Sea is a taut and thrilling addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Kevin Macdonald

Open Water 2: Adrift

Open Water 2: Adrift

In this sequel to the chilling 2003 thriller, a group of friends on a yachting trip finds themselves stranded in shark-infested waters after neglecting to lower a ladder before diving into the ocean. As fear and desperation mount, the friends must confront their darkest fears and make life-altering decisions in their struggle for survival. Though lacking the raw intensity of its predecessor, Open Water 2: Adrift offers a suspenseful and nerve-wracking exploration of the human psyche in the face of overwhelming adversity.

  • Directed by : Hans Horn

Mary

Directed by Michael Goi, Mary tells the chilling story of a struggling family who buys an abandoned ship in the hopes of starting a new life, only to find that something sinister lurks within its depths. As the mysteries unfold and supernatural events occur, the film expertly weaves together elements of horror, suspense, and family drama to create a gripping and atmospheric maritime thriller. With its talented cast and eerie visuals, Mary offers a haunting journey into the heart of darkness at sea.

  • Released : 2019
  • Directed by : Michael Goi

Lifeboat

Directed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, this 1944 classic follows a group of survivors who find themselves confined to a small lifeboat after their ship is torpedoed during World War II. Hitchcock expertly manipulates the confined setting and tense character dynamics to create a suspenseful and engaging drama that explores themes of morality, survival, and the human capacity for cruelty and compassion in dire circumstances. A groundbreaking and thought-provoking entry in the lost at sea canon, Lifeboat remains an essential viewing for fans of the genre.

  • Released : 1944
  • Directed by : Alfred Hitchcock

The Deep

Based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, this suspenseful thriller follows a vacationing couple, played by Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset, who uncover a shipwreck filled with valuable treasures and become entangled in a deadly game of greed and betrayal. Directed by Peter Yates, The Deep expertly blends underwater adventure, gripping suspense, and riveting character drama to create a thrilling high-stakes journey into the depths of human ambition and desire. With its memorable performances, lush cinematography, and pulse-pounding action, The Deep (1977) remains an enduring entry in the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 1977
  • Directed by : Peter Yates

Nowhere

  • Released : 2023
  • Directed by : Albert Pintó

The Mercy

This compelling biographical drama, directed by James Marsh, tells the tragic true story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst (played by Colin Firth), who attempted to circumnavigate the globe solo in an ill-fated 1968 race. The film expertly captures the psychological torment and isolation experienced by Crowhurst as he grapples with the consequences of his actions and the unforgiving power of the sea. Featuring standout performances and a poignant exploration of the human capacity for hope and despair, The Mercy offers a moving and sobering look at the darker side of the lost at sea narrative.

  • Directed by : James Marsh

Two Came Back

Two Came Back

Based on a true story and directed by Dick Lowry, this made-for-television drama follows five young adults who embark on a sailing trip that goes awry when they are caught in a devastating storm, leaving them stranded at sea for weeks. As the desperate crew battles hunger, thirst, and their own mortality, the film delves into themes of friendship, resilience, and the power of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. With its gripping narrative and heartfelt performances, Two Came Back offers an inspiring and emotional addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Dick Lowry

A Hijacking

A Hijacking

Tobias Lindholm's tense and suspenseful drama A Hijacking follows the crew of a Danish cargo ship as they are taken hostage by Somali pirates, with the ship's cook serving as the primary focus of the story. As the tense negotiations between the ship owners and the pirates unfold, the film delves into themes of desperation, morality, and the human capacity for survival in extreme circumstances. A Hijacking 's realistic portrayal of modern-day piracy and its gripping narrative make it a must-watch addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Tobias Lindholm

Souls at Sea

Souls at Sea

This classic 1937 adventure film, directed by Henry Hathaway, stars Gary Cooper and George Raft as two sailing buddies trying to thwart a brutal slave trader's nefarious plans. With its engaging characters, exciting narrative, and historical context, Souls at Sea offers an entertaining and action-packed look at maritime heroism in the age of sail. Its timeless themes of friendship, bravery, and justice make it a captivating entry in the lost at sea canon.

  • Released : 1937
  • Directed by : Henry Hathaway

Blue Miracle

Blue Miracle

Based on a true story, Blue Miracle follows a group of orphans and their guardian as they enter a big fishing tournament in the hopes of saving their cash-strapped orphanage. Directed by Julio Quintana, the film focuses on the inspiring journey of the underdog team and their determination to overcome their circumstances. With its heartwarming story, strong performances, and uplifting message, Blue Miracle is a touching and uplifting tale of hope and perseverance at sea.

  • Released : 2021
  • Directed by : Julio Quintana

For Those in Peril

For Those in Peril

This critically acclaimed British drama, directed by Paul Wright, tells the haunting story of a young man who is the sole survivor of a fishing accident that claimed the lives of his brother and several other men from his close-knit community. As he grapples with guilt, grief, and ostracism, the film delves into themes of loss, redemption, and the isolating power of the sea. With its raw performances, moody atmosphere, and emotional resonance, For Those in Peril offers a poignant and thought-provoking addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Paul Wright

Deep Rising

Deep Rising

In this action-packed sci-fi horror film, a group of mercenaries who commandeer a luxury cruise ship finds themselves terrorized by a monstrous sea creature that begins picking them off one by one. Directed by Stephen Sommers, Deep Rising combines elements of adventure, horror, and humor to create an entertaining and thrilling high-seas escapade. For fans of creature features and maritime mayhem, Deep Rising delivers a rollicking and suspenseful journey into the unknown.

  • Released : 1998
  • Directed by : Stephen Sommers

Sweetheart

In this innovative and genre-defying survival horror film , a young woman named Jenn (Kiersey Clemons) becomes stranded on a remote island after a shipwreck, only to discover that she is not alone. As she faces off against a terrifying and mysterious creature, director J.D. Dillard masterfully blends elements of horror, adventure, and character-driven drama to create a unique and thrilling cinematic experience. With its strong performances, inventive storytelling, and chilling atmosphere, Sweetheart offers a fresh and engaging take on the lost at sea narrative.

  • Directed by : J.D. Dillard

The Deep

This Icelandic drama, based on true events, tells the harrowing story of a fisherman who miraculously survives a shipwreck off the frigid coast of Iceland, swimming miles back to shore in the treacherous waters. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, The Deep delves into themes of survival, the power of the human spirit, and the resilience of the human body in extreme conditions. With its gripping narrative, powerful performances, and stark cinematography, The Deep (2012) is a poignant and intense exploration of human endurance in the face of incredible odds.

Speed 2: Cruise Control

Speed 2: Cruise Control

In this high-octane sequel to the 1994 action hit Speed , Sandra Bullock reprises her role as Annie, who finds herself on a hijacked luxury cruise ship that is rigged to crash into an oil tanker. Directed by Jan de Bont, the film features thrilling stunts, non-stop action, and Willem Dafoe's formidable performance as the unhinged villain. Though it may not be as critically acclaimed as its predecessor, Speed 2: Cruise Control offers an entertaining and adrenaline-fueled adventure on the high seas.

  • Directed by : Jan de Bont

Sea Fever

In this atmospheric sci-fi thriller, a marine biology student aboard a fishing trawler encounters a mysterious and deadly creature lurking in the depths of the ocean. Directed by Neasa Hardiman, Sea Fever expertly blends elements of horror, suspense, and scientific intrigue to create a thought-provoking and chilling maritime adventure. With its strong performances, innovative storytelling, and eerie visuals, Sea Fever offers a unique and gripping take on the dangers lurking beneath the surface.

  • Directed by : Neasa Hardiman

The Sea Beast

The Sea Beast

This animated adventure film follows a group of misfit marine creatures who band together to rescue their captured friend and bring him home from a sinister aquarium. Directed by Adam Bierman and Evan Tramel , The Sea Beast delivers a colorful, fun-filled, and heartwarming journey through an underwater world filled with humor, friendship, and action. With its vibrant animation, lovable characters, and engaging story, The Sea Beast is a delightful addition to the lost at sea genre for younger audiences.

  • Released : 2022
  • Directed by : Chris Williams
  • Entertainment
  • Watchworthy

In the middle of the ocean, no one can hear you scream.

Movies That Make You Scared to Go in the Water

  • About/Contact
  • Terms of Service

Thumbwind Logo

Finding Fun in Michigan & Beyond

Sailing Movies

13 Of the Best Sailing Movies, You Can Watch Again and Again

I’m a recreational sailor. I’ve been sailing on Saginaw Bay since I was a little kid. We started off sailing Snarks and Sunfish. Our family loved sailing movies, and we watched them all. In the early 1970s, my dad took advantage of a marketing campaign by Kool cigarettes where we could purchase a Snark with the white and green KOOL logo on the sail. We still have this old boat and manage to bring her out to play with from time to time. One of the things that irk me is the lack of movie entertainment that revolves around my favorite pastime. I’ve managed to collect a few examples of movies with sailboats here.

Sometimes you can find these sailing movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.

White Squall (1999)

movie sailboat no ladder

The true story of a bunch of boys, a ship, and the sea.

The movie White Squall is based on the 1961 sinking of a brigantine named the Albatross—a two-masted sailing vessel with a fully square-rigged foremast—White Squall is an exciting tale of adventure, friendship, and tragedy. This sailing movie stars Jeff Bridges as Captain Christopher “Skipper” Sheldon, who takes his charges on an epic voyage around the world on the Albatross.

Along the way, the boys learn how to sail and how to work together as a team. They also develop life-long friendships and forge incredibly tight bonds that they can only get from being in such close quarters with each other.

But then tragedy strikes: A white squall appears out of nowhere, sending massive waves crashing down upon their beloved ship. With their lives on the line and all hope of survival seeming lost, Skipper urges his boys to keep fighting for their lives—and trust each other above all else, no matter what happens next.

Wind (1992)

movie sailboat no ladder

Wind is a 1992 film directed by Carroll Ballard that follows Will Parker, played by Matthew Modine as he loses America’s Cup, the world’s biggest sailing prize, to the Australians and decides to form his own syndicate to win it back. Will hires Kate Bass, played by Jennifer Grey, to help him with his PR campaign.

The film co-stars Cliff Robertson as Morgan Weld, a businessman who offers to sponsor the team and pays for their yacht. Rounding out the cast is Jack Thompson as Michael “Brue” Brindley, a sailor who found success in racing and now manages an Australian team; Stellan Skarsgård as Bjorn Ericson, a Swedish sailor who sails for an American syndicate; and John McGlinn as Frank Hennessy, an Australian businessman who is investing in the Australian team.

All is Lost (2013)

movie sailboat no ladder

All is Lost is one of the most harrowing survival stories ever committed to film, All is Lost is a minimalist exploration of a man’s struggle for survival in the face of adversity. In this case, “adversity” means “the Indian Ocean.”

The story begins with Robert Redford waking up halfway through a solo voyage across the Pacific. He finds that he has struck a floating shipping container, and his boat is filling with water.

Redford’s character is never given a name, but we do get to know him through his actions. He doesn’t panic when he discovers the leak; instead, he sets about repairing it as best he can. He rigs a jury-rigged sail to help him stay afloat while he waits out a storm. When the radio fails, there’s no bemoaning his fate; instead, he puts on his best poker face and keeps going. Each time he faces down yet another crisis and finds a solution, we learn more about him—and the stakes just keep getting higher.

Dead Calm (1989)

movie sailboat no ladder

A young couple on a yacht trip in the South Pacific encounters a damaged ship and its only living inhabitant. He is looking for a ride home, so he can return to his wife and kids. The captain is suspicious and refuses to take him on board. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the stranger was responsible for slaughtering the other crew members and that his wife may not be waiting for him at all.

The director depicts this story in an original way, shot completely on a boat, as it sails through the Pacific Ocean. Although the story is fictitious, it still gives us some real sailing skills and challenges of open water navigation.

This movie Dead Calm stars Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, and Billy Zane.

Morning Light (2008)

movie sailboat no ladder

Morning Light is a documentary that follows the youngest crew ever to compete in the Transpac sailing race. All crew members were between 18 and 23. The film follows the development of the Morning Light sailing team, their six months of sea training, and finally, the weeklong race across the Pacific between Los Angeles to Honolulu.

The film follows the young sailors as they develop their teamwork and learn to navigate under pressure and in high winds. The film also gives viewers a glimpse of the athletes’ personal lives: one woman struggles to find childcare so she can attend training while several others struggle with homesickness or the physical and emotional toll of leaving their families behind for months at a time.

The young sailors operate under incredible pressure: they are working hard to impress their sponsors (who have provided them with $2 million worth of equipment), they have only six months to learn how to sail, and they are constantly being compared to more experienced crews. They also must contend with a strict coach who pushes them harder than they’ve ever been pushed before.

Adrift (2018)

movie sailboat no ladder

When you’re out on the open sea, you never know what fate may bring.

For Tami and Richard, it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure—and one they’ll never forget.

Adrift is the true story of their journey to love and their battle with Hurricane Raymond in 1983, considered one of the most destructive storms ever recorded. Tami wakes up in the aftermath of the storm to find Richard seriously injured and their sailboat in shreds and sinking. Now, Tami must summon all her will and strength to save herself… and Richard, with no possibility of rescue.

Starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin, Adrift is an incredible tale for anyone who’s ever felt like they were fighting against the world.

Kon-Tiki (2012)

movie sailboat no ladder

It’s not often that you can come away from a movie with a new appreciation for the world around you—but that’s precisely what happened when I watched Kon-Tiki!

The movie is based on an actual expedition led by Thor Heyerdahl, a famous Norwegian explorer, and ethnographer, in 1947. Thor theorized that South Americans had settled parts of the South Sea Islands, and he wanted to prove his point. So, after months of preparation, he and five other guys set sail from Peru on a balsa-wood raft. They planned to use natural elements (like stars and ocean currents) to navigate their way through the sea.

It sounds impossible, right? But they did it! And they didn’t even have modern equipment like GPS or maps—just a radio. It’s one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. You should watch this movie; it leaves you feeling inspired about what you can accomplish if you believe in your aspirations.

Maidentrip (2013)

Amazon Prime Logo

The documentary, Maidentrip , chronicles the two-year journey of Laura Dekker as she attempts to become the youngest person to sail around the world. The video, directed by Jillian Schlesinger, is a testament to the human spirit and what can be accomplished when one pursues one’s ambition and works hard to attain it.

Dekker is depicted as a free-spirited outsider who finds her utopia in a never-ending sea. She is shown spending time with friends, getting tattoos, and enjoying life on her boat. While she does occasionally use bad language in the video, it never interferes with her message that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you are willing to work hard and overcome obstacles that may arise along the way.

The Endurance (2000)

movie sailboat no ladder

The Endurance tells the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-1916 journey to Antarctica, which is considered one of history’s greatest survival stories. Following the terrible death of legendary English polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott on his journey to the South Pole, Shackleton embarked on his third voyage.

Shackleton assembled a 27-man crew aboard his ship, Endurance, and set out in search of a new route across Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea. The expedition was thwarted by ice near the Weddell Sea, and Endurance was trapped for nearly a year before being crushed by the ice and sinking. The men escaped with their lives onto the floes, where they remained for another five months before reaching Elephant Island. Five men stayed behind at the site of their camp as Shackleton sailed in a small boat with five others in search of help. He sailed 800 miles through dangerous seas to reach South Georgia Island, where he arranged for a rescue ship to save his stranded crew members. All 27 men survived this ordeal, which is considered an epic feat in polar exploration history.

Sea Gypsies: Far Side of the World (2017)

movie sailboat no ladder

Picture this: a gang of roving miscreants, with no licenses or insurance and an almost non-existent budget, is bound towards the most perilous seas on the planet.

This is almost the polar opposite of what you may have learned in your sailing classes. But for the crew of “Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World,” their story is one of adventure, courage, and determination.

In this heart-pounding documentary, a group of friends takes on the challenge of a lifetime: sailing from New York to Japan without any formal training, using only an old wooden boat that they built themselves.

“We knew it was crazy,” says Timmy Sniffles, one of the participants. “But we threw ourselves at it anyway.”

With three cameras on board to capture every moment and a host of experts who explain the dangers, they faced along the way, “Sea Gypsies” is a real-life thriller that will keep you glued to your seat.

The Old Man and The Sea Return to Cuba (2018)

Prime Logo

Finbar Gittleman is a 75-year-old master sailor. He has a mythical position among sailors in Key West and the Caribbean after living a rough and perilous life at sea. As he returns to Havana, Cuba for the first time since Castro’s revolution, this is his narrative.

The Old Man and The Sea Return to Cuba : Finbar Gittleman takes you on an adventure of sailing, perseverance, and self-discovery.

In this video, Finbar recounts his life at sea and how he came to be in Florida. He also shares some of the hardships he faced along the way as he struggled to make a living in the harsh environment of Key West.

He then describes the day when he decided to sail back home – through the dangerous reefs of Cuba – with nothing but his old boat, a compass, and some provisions.

The Mercy (2018)

movie sailboat no ladder

Featured on the Today Show and in the New York Times, this extraordinary narrative of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst’s effort to solo around the world in the first race of its type, the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, is told in “The Mercy.”

Crowhurst was an amateur sailor who dreamed of winning the race. Struggling with his business and family life, he decided to enter the race. He convinced a local businessman to support him and set about building a boat for the race.

The race was ill-fated from the start: one competitor died at sea and another disappeared without a trace. Crowhurst became increasingly unstable as he sailed around the world; radio transmissions from him became more erratic as he sailed on.

He finally returned to England, where he was declared the winner of the race due to his competitors’ fates. However, it was discovered that he had never made it past the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and had falsified his log entries. He returned home in disgrace and committed suicide shortly after his return.

The Weekend Sailor (2016)

movie sailboat no ladder

It’s not often that a story like this comes along. “ The Weekend Sailor ” is a documentary about Ramon Carln, a Mexican man who, in 1974, wins the first crewed around-the-world sailing race on his boat Sayula II. The race is now known as The Volvo Ocean Race, and it takes place every three years.

The reason this story is so captivating? Carln wasn’t your typical sailor. He had very little experience with sailing, and he won the race with a crew of family and friends.

The film follows Carln’s journey: from his humble beginnings as a young boy when he began to dream of being a sailor, to his later years when he competed in the race and then won it (overcoming many obstacles along the way). It’s an inspiring story of determination and drive that you’ll want to watch with your whole family!

Related to Sailing Movies and Other Stuff

Upper Thumb Boating and Sailing – Here is another wonderfully produced video from LIVE Huron. This one focuses on Huron County boating and sailing opportunities with some great shots of Caseville harbor and breakwall

Interview with Author Jacki Howard – I reached out to Jacki Howard to see what she has done since the book was published 10 years ago. She is still involved with the book, but life has moved on. Like so many in the Thumb region, we are distant cousins. While we have never personally met, we found common ground with our interest in the “Dying Sparlings” Here is our exchange.

Boat Names – Transom Charm – The boat name you select may not seem like an important thing, but most of us feel that selecting the right name for our boat is important.

A Kool Little Cigarette Sailboat – In 1971 KOOL Cigarettes ran a unique marketing campaign. Magazines around the country ran an ad that if you sent in $88 and one box end from a carton of Kool cigarettes that this fully functional sailboat would be shipped to your door.

Michigan Monday – Saginaw Poet Theodore Roethke – Regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential poets of his generation, Roethke won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book The Waking.

The Amazing Michigan Photography of Steven Donahue – Steven was born and grew up on his family farm near Port Hope. He moved away and started studying the arts, including photography, in Chicago. He was in the military during the Vietnam War and became an MP. Part of his job was to photograph deaths and burials. A job I’m sure was not pleasant.

Michigan's Thumb ThumbWind

Michael Hardy

Michael Hardy is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. Michael was born in Michigan and grew up near Caseville. In 2009 he started this fun-loving site covering Michigan's Upper Thumb. Since then, he has authored a vast range of content and established a loyal base of 60,000 visitors per month.

You might also like

movie sailboat no ladder

A First and Exciting Saginaw Bay Sail

Caseville Harbor - Sailboat

Lowering the Mast of a Catalina 27

boat ready for summer

5 Easy Steps To Get Your Boat Ready For Summer [2024]

3 thoughts on “ 13 of the best sailing movies, you can watch again and again ”.

Substitute “Captain Ron” for “All is lost” and I am all aboard.

Charlie St Cloud was a recent movie with some sailing focus.

  • Pingback: A Simple Guide to Hosting the Perfect Fishing Birthday Party • Thumbwind – My WordPress

What do you think? Cancel reply

Discover more from thumbwind.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

SailNet Community banner

  • Forum Listing
  • Marketplace
  • Advanced Search
  • All Topics Sailing
  • General Sailing Discussions
  • SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

Open Water-Adrift (the movie)

movie sailboat no ladder

  • Add to quote

movie sailboat no ladder

heck, just swimming while on the boat is anchored it's hard to get back on the boat. I think a harness really would be the only way. Make it near impossible to fall off rather then wonder how to get back aboard? I have seen a few old timers in smaller boats trailing lines behind them. Pretty sure my boat would start circling if it's motoring. but under sail? don't know!  

movie sailboat no ladder

boarding strap I keep a homemade 2" strap with 3 foot loops rigged on the stern of the boat. I can reach it from the water, and have used it to get back into the boat when kedging out an anchor.  

That movie was painful to watch. Too many holes and leaps of logic for me to get into it. I know it would be difficult if not impossible to get back aboard a yacht that size without any tools...but they had plenty of tools. They had a knife, clothing, at least one PFD, several strong athletic men and several petit women who could have been hoisted to the rail. I know I know, they needed potential solutions to create some drama but I just couldn't stand to watch it in one sitting.  

Oh yeah, I almost forgot they had an anchor. Well, there was at least one shot in the movie that showed an anchor rode in the water. That may have been a blooper.  

Yea, it was not an Oscar worthy movie thats for sure, but I believe it was "based" on a true story? Have you ever tried jumping out of the water with nothing to push off of? Ain't easy, maybe for Phelps, but not me. Edit: All I could find about the truth of the story is yes, all the people on board jumped over before preparing the boarding ladder, all died, the rest of the movie was fiction. I would be curious how common that sort of thing happens though? Its not really my intention to debate the quality of the movie, the acting, the plot, etc etc...but to use it more as a topic of discussion related to ones safety aboard. It made me think more about how my wife and I conduct ourselves underway and the precautions we currently take and ones that maybe we should revisit?  

  • ?            
  • 176.4K members

Top Contributors this Month

movie sailboat no ladder

Ship disaster films

Graeme Revell, Chris Kentis, Laura Lau, Steve Lemme, Blanchard Ryan, Saul Stein, Daniel Travis, Estelle Lau, John Charles, Michael E. Williamson, and Cristina Zenato in Open Water (2003)

1. Open Water

Susan May Pratt in Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)

2. Open Water 2: Adrift

Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, and Frances Fisher in Titanic (1997)

5. Britannic

Cruise Into Terror (1978)

6. Cruise Into Terror

Rutger Hauer, Martin Sheen, and Max von Sydow in Hostile Waters (1997)

7. Screen One

Hostile waters.

Richard Harris, Omar Sharif, Shirley Knight, David Hemmings, Clifton James, and Roy Kinnear in Juggernaut (1974)

8. Juggernaut

Harrison Ford in K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

9. K-19: The Widowmaker

S.O.S. Titanic (1979)

10. S.O.S. Titanic

Trapped Beneath the Sea (1974)

11. Trapped Beneath the Sea

Melissa George in Triangle (2009)

12. Triangle

Poseidon (2006)

13. Poseidon

Lamerica (1994)

14. Lamerica

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)

15. Beyond the Poseidon Adventure

The Last Voyage (1960)

16. The Last Voyage

More to explore, recently viewed.

IMAGES

  1. 15 Best Sailing Movies You Can't Miss

    movie sailboat no ladder

  2. 7 Sailing Movies You Haven't Seen Yet

    movie sailboat no ladder

  3. 24 of the best sailing movies we've seen

    movie sailboat no ladder

  4. This and That: Bas Jan Ader and "The Truman Show"

    movie sailboat no ladder

  5. Top 10 Sailing Movies To Watch in 2020

    movie sailboat no ladder

  6. the best sailing movie ever

    movie sailboat no ladder

VIDEO

  1. Three’s a Crowd Secrets Event SCENE 19

  2. SailBoat 1

  3. Sailing

  4. UNDER THE BOARDWALK

  5. Light at the end of the tunnel with our sailboat.. no more leaking fuel !! #sailing

  6. Three’s a Crowd Secrets Event SCENE 4

COMMENTS

  1. Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)

    Open Water 2: Adrift: Directed by Hans Horn. With Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight Jr., Niklaus Lange, Ali Hillis. When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive.

  2. Open Water 2: Adrift

    Open Water 2: Adrift (also known simply as Adrift or Open Water 2) is a 2006 German English-language psychological horror thriller film [2] directed by Hans Horn [], starring Susan May Pratt, Eric Dane, Richard Speight, Jr., Niklaus Lange, Ali Hillis, and Cameron Richardson.The film was inspired by the short story Adrift by Japanese author Koji Suzuki, from which it took its original title ...

  3. Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)

    When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive. Amy, her husband James and their baby Sarah travel to Mexico to sail in the yacht of their reckless friend Dan with their common friends Zach and Lauren ...

  4. Open Water 2: Adrift

    Open Water 2: Adrift. Six long-time friends (Susan May Pratt, Richard Speight Jr., Niklaus Lange) try to stay afloat in the ocean after they forget to lower the ladder from a luxury yacht. Watch ...

  5. Adrift (2006) (Film)

    Adrift (2006) Adrift is a 2006 survival thriller film directed by Hans Horn. The film was inspired by a short story of the same name by Japanese author Koji Suzuki, from which it took its title, but its promotional material claimed the film was based on actual events. The film is about a group of friends who go on a boating holiday, only to ...

  6. Open Water 2: Adrift (2006)

    With the baby alone in the boat and stranded in the open sea, they panic and their desperation lead them to a tragic fight for survival. "Open Water 2 Adrift" is another great movie about surviving in the ocean. The direction and the acting are superb, and the good screenplay has an ambiguous and confused conclusion.

  7. Open Water 2

    When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive. Product details Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1

  8. Open Water 2 : Adrift

    It's about a group of friends jumping into the water from their boat, forgetting to lower the ladder, realizing they're too far up, and getting stuck in the water many miles from shore. I get that people found the characters annoying, but honestly, the idea of the movie is pretty exciting to see what will happen.

  9. Open Water 2: Adrift

    A weekend cruise aboard a luxury yacht goes horribly awry for a group of old high school friends who forget to lower the ladder before they jump into the ocean for a swim. The boat proves impossible to climb, leaving them adrift, miles from shore. What started as a joyful reunion becomes a fight for survival. Thriller 2007 1 hr 34 min. 45%. R.

  10. Adrift (2006) Movie Review from Eye for Film

    Adrift is the story of a group of six former college friends who meet up to celebrate a birthday aboard a luxury yacht. Some miles out into the ocean, four of them decide to go for a swim. Young mother Amy declines, terrified of water after a traumatic incident in her childhood. In an attempt to cure her fear, loudmouth Zach grabs hold of her ...

  11. This Movie Is Based On The True Story Of A Couple Who Were ...

    Set in 1983, the movie tells the story of Tami Oldham (played by Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin), a couple who sets out on a journey across the Pacific Ocean, only to end up sailing straight into a hurricane. Tami awakes in the aftermath of the storm to find their boat completely damaged and Richard badly injured. With no hope ...

  12. 24 Movies Trapped At Sea

    24 Movies Trapped At Sea. Water, water everywhere, and not a damn way to get home. That's this week's gallery theme: Movies where we see people trapped on the open seas, inspired by Adrift, starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as two young lovers whose boat is incapacitated after sailing directly into a catastrophic hurricane (and with ...

  13. Adrift movie review & film summary (2018)

    Filled with determination to get to him, she mends the yacht as well as she can, pumping water out of the cabin, fixing the sail. She eventually makes it to the dinghy, and—with a superhuman effort, drags the injured Richard through the water back to the boat, and somehow (Kormákur doesn't show us how) pulls him up the ladder onto the deck.

  14. Adrift Movie vs. the True Story of Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp

    In researching Tami Oldham and the Adrift true story, we discovered that the real-life events depicted in the 2018 movie spanned the months of September, October and November 1983. 23-year-old Tami Oldham and her British fiancé, Richard Sharp (34), had been pleasure sailing his 36-foot sailboat, the Mayaluga, for the previous six months.

  15. The 40+ Best Lost At Sea Movies

    With its relentless tension and harrowing depiction of survival, The Reef is a gripping and intense addition to the lost at sea genre. Released: 2010. Directed by: Andrew Traucki. Also ranks #30 on The Best Vacation Horror Movies, Ranked By Fans. Also ranks #27 on The Best Horror Movies About Deserted Islands.

  16. Adrift (2017)

    Adrift (2017) on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... Okay, the premise isn't that bad: a group of six friends make a pleasure cruise on a yacht and when in the middle of the ocean they go for a swim, the last one stupidly jumps in the water without hanging down the ladder first, so they cannot get out off the water since the sides of this big expensive yacht are too high to climb.

  17. 13 Of the Best Sailing Movies, You Can Watch Again and Again

    White Squall (1999) The true story of a bunch of boys, a ship, and the sea. The movie White Squall is based on the 1961 sinking of a brigantine named the Albatross—a two-masted sailing vessel with a fully square-rigged foremast—White Squall is an exciting tale of adventure, friendship, and tragedy. This sailing movie stars Jeff Bridges as ...

  18. Open Water 2: ADRIFT!1!

    Open Water 2 opens with the chilling tagline, "Based on true events". Meaning that somewhere, at some point, someone forgot to lower a ladder. If nothing else, this movie should serve as a cautionary tale that reminds people to lower the ladder before they jump off the boat. If just one life is saved, Open Water 2 will have been worthwhile.

  19. Open Water-Adrift (the movie)

    Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take. a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps. her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens.

  20. A Boy Called Sailboat (2018)

    Build 354a8eb (7815) A Hispanic family find hope in their extraordinary son named Sailboat when a personal gesture awakens a global desire. Armed with a "little guitar", Sailboat leads an offbeat cast into the miraculous story of the greatest secret never told.

  21. Ship disaster films

    Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre ... Based on the true story of two scuba divers accidentally stranded in shark infested waters after their tour boat has left. Director Chris ... 2006 1h 34m R. 5.2 (20K) Rate. When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded ...

  22. A group of friends can't get on their boat because they ...

    The movie is about six friends are swimming in the sea, the group realizes that Dan forgot to put the embarkation ladder and the freeboard makes impossible t...

  23. left the boat and forgot to lower the ladder : r/thalassophobia

    Here's a fun thought: Sometimes in the Indo-Pacific, boats will become beached along islands with no one on the boat or the island. The common conclusion is that the person fell off the boat while the boats engine/sails kept it on its course. Imagine the dread of falling off one's boat and seeing it slowly disappear in the distance while you ...