Movies About Boating Recommended by the Sea Tow Foundation

When you want to go boating, but can’t due to bad weather, rising fuel costs, illness, or local regulations that prohibit you from being able to go out, there is still a way to enjoy the boating life from home. The Sea Tow Foundation has curated a list of movies that the whole family can enjoy while waiting to get back on the water. There is nothing like a good film to take your imagination to distant shores.  Even though you might be watching these movies from the couch, this list below is sure to bring your mind back to the water.  To find these movies, simply search for them on your favorite streaming platform or look into checking them out of your local library or renting them online.

Based on a True Story:

The Perfect Storm (2000)

Based on the Perfect Storm of 1991, this drama tells the story of a fishing boat crew caught in a storm after ignoring warnings of a hurricane. This cautionary tale stars Mark Wahlberg and George Clooney.

The Mercy (2017)

The 1968 Golden Globe Race is the single-handed, non-stop circumnavigating competition. This is the true story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth) and his attempt to win the race.

White Squall (1996)

A group of schoolboys join a ship run by a strong-willed skipper. The boys learn about hard work ethic and discipline to succeed. Things take a dramatic shift when they face a white squall storm.

Classics:

Jaws (1975)

No list would ever be complete without Spielberg’s’ thriller: Jaws. A great white shark is terrorizing a town destroying their tourism industry. The police chief, a shark hunter, and a  biologist are tasked with saving the town and killing the vicious shark.

Captain Ron (1992)

Starring Kurt Russell and Martin Short, this comedy showcases the story of a family who inherits a yacht and a Navy veteran who cross the Caribbean together. Mishaps and adventure take place and it is sure to keep your crew laughing. 

Titanic (1997)

This classic film depicts the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912 and its doom as it sinks after hitting an iceberg. The movie also paints the love affair between a wealthy young woman and a poor artist.

Family Friendly (PG):

Life of Pi (2012)

The film tells the story of a 16-year-old who survives a shipwreck. Now stranded on a lifeboat with a tiger, he has lessons to learn and must figure out how to survive alone.

Moana (2016)

Disney’s Moana is a musical adventure telling the story of a strong-willed daughter who has a passion to sail the oceans and must save her island with a powerful demigod. The movie has won two academy awards and features the voices of Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho.

Overboard (1987)

A callous heiress (Goldie Hawn) takes advantage of a carpenter (Kurt Russell) who later is the first to find her after she falls off her yacht and gets amnesia. Out of revenge, he convinces her that she is his wife and the hilarity ensues.

Documentary:

Maiden (2019)

This documentary describes the journey of the all-woman crew of the 1989 Whitbreat Round the World Race. The journey to stand up for what you believe in is difficult, but with hard work, anything is possible.

Morning Light (2008)

In 2007, Roy Disney gave fifteen young people the chance of a lifetime: to compete in TRANSPAC, a 2,300 mile ocean race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. After 6-months of intense training, they had a chance to compete against the best in the race and fight against the elements to win.

Chasing Bubbles (2016)

Alex Rust, a farm boy from Indiana, left his life in corporate America to set sail around the world. He taught himself how to sail with the help of a ‘Sailing for Dummies’ book, and a 4-year adventure began.

What is your favorite movie about boating or that involves boats? Let us know in the comments below.