The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Name: The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family
Released: April 27, 2012
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 73

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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Pirates! Band of Misfits

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: April 27, 2012

Summary: In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side, and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz In The Pirates! Band of Misfits, the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side, and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz to the much coveted Pirate Of The Year Award. It’s a quest that takes our heroes from the shores of exotic Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London. Along the way they battle a diabolical queen and team up with a haplessly smitten young scientist, but never lose sight of what a pirate loves best: adventure! (Columbia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Jeff Newitt and Peter Lord

Genre(s): Adventure, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 88 min

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Awards & Rankings

89	#89 Best Movie of 2012

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Critic Reviews

Manohla Dargis

Apr 26, 2012

The movie is a curiosity cabinet of visual pleasures but so breezy and lightly funny that you may not realize at first how good it is. Read full review

Time Out David Fear

Apr 24, 2012

No one else has come close to translating England's homegrown blend of deadpan and madcap for a younger audience, much less with such impressive Claymated technique. You couldn't ask for better lesson in "Anglo-Absurdism for Beginners." Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Pete Hammond

Apr 27, 2012

The Pirates! Band of Misfits is one of the funniest animated films in years, or to put it in terms you scallywags can understand: it's a treasure trove of laughs. Read full review

The A.V. Club Tasha Robinson

Apr 25, 2012

Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. Read full review

Tom Russo

Apr 26, 2012

The movie could also teach something to the makers of "Pirates of the Caribbean" about delivering a story quirky enough to actually stick with you. Read full review

Movieline Michelle Orange

Apr 27, 2012

It's all rather casual - not unengaging, exactly, but lacking a narrative energy all its own. Read full review

New Orleans Times-Picayune Mike Scott

Apr 27, 2012

What you won't find amid the clashing cutlasses and flashing foils, however, is anything resembling a rapier wit. Read full review

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User Reviews

Knicksfan7

May 9, 2012

Watching this took me back to the good old days of being younger. I loved this movie, just like i loved Wallace and Gromit and Flushed Away, if you are a fan of Wallace and Gromit then you will love The Pirates! It was such a funny, wonderful film. The animation was beautiful and the voicesWatching this took me back to the good old days of being younger. I loved this movie, just like i loved Wallace and Gromit and Flushed Away, if you are a fan of Wallace and Gromit then you will love The Pirates! It was such a funny, wonderful film. The animation was beautiful and the voices were perfect. Just a great film all around. The Pirates is a film that won't disappoint, theres fun for everyone. 10/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BoogeeFilmGuy

Aug 27, 2015

Witty dialogue, fantastic animation, great voice acting and stunning visuals. There is a LOT of adult humour in this film, but a lot of jokes kids can laugh at too. A must-see.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Happymonk

May 15, 2012

Another hit for Aardman! While maybe not as good as Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit or Arthur Christmas, it is better than Flushed Away and holds it own very well against other animated films. It's animation is superb, it's dialogue (while not hilarious) is well written and funny, and theAnother hit for Aardman! While maybe not as good as Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit or Arthur Christmas, it is better than Flushed Away and holds it own very well against other animated films. It's animation is superb, it's dialogue (while not hilarious) is well written and funny, and the voice acting is good. There's something about it which didn't quite make it an instant classic, something which I can't quite put my finger on... This is a shame as obviously lots of love and hard work have gone into this film. If you haven't yet watched the film, do so, as everyone in your family will probably enjoy it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

TheDRauch

Sep 17, 2012

The Pirates! adds to the already impressive lineup of Aardman films with the studio's typical brand of cheeky, off-kilter humor and so much visual dazzle that it takes a few viewings to really appreciate the cleverness and eager-to-please attitude of the movie. Sure, in terms of depth andThe Pirates! adds to the already impressive lineup of Aardman films with the studio's typical brand of cheeky, off-kilter humor and so much visual dazzle that it takes a few viewings to really appreciate the cleverness and eager-to-please attitude of the movie. Sure, in terms of depth and character insight, there is little to chew on here. There is also a monkey that communicates through worded cards, lots of plundering, a katana wielding Queen Victoria ,and one very tastefully funny reference to 'The Elephant Man'. So, The Pirates! more than meets the standard of modern animation, if not sets the standard for claymation (although it's a tough bout between ParaNorman, but The Pirates! was a more solid effort overall). Overall, this should entertain anyone of any age and deliver visuals to marvel at in dull stretches.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kooto

May 17, 2012

Not much to this movie. Has funny moments, but it doesn't sustain them over the course of the movie. Plot is OK, but again, doesn't engage. I have a soft spot for children's movies, but this one does not succeed like, for instance, The Muppets, at speaking to all ages.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

StevieGJD

May 2, 2012

I love claymation. So I really appreciated the animation here. It had depth and texture that is often missing from computer animation. I was surprised to see songs that were considered very edgy and punk when I was 18-20 as being centerpieces (like Tenpole Tudor and the Clash). Shows youI love claymation. So I really appreciated the animation here. It had depth and texture that is often missing from computer animation. I was surprised to see songs that were considered very edgy and punk when I was 18-20 as being centerpieces (like Tenpole Tudor and the Clash). Shows you how times have changed. But I found the story a bit predictable and a little boring. Still it was fun.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

PaperThing

May 15, 2012

Rolling up to the theater, I realized at the time that the Avengers still wasn't out yet. Oh well, I thought, brimming with cheer on a warm Saturday afternoon, I can always watch "The Pirates! Band of Misfits", after all, I really liked their previous work. How wrong I was.

This movie isRolling up to the theater, I realized at the time that the Avengers still wasn't out yet. Oh well, I thought, brimming with cheer on a warm Saturday afternoon, I can always watch "The Pirates! Band of Misfits", after all, I really liked their previous work. How wrong I was.

This movie is utterly boring and camp. If you take your children to see this, you will be bored. None of the animation was interesting, and no jokes were funny. All of the jokes are childish and ridiculous slapstick and, the worst of all, telegraphed puns.

"Pirates! Band of Misfits" is not surprisingly funny like "Arthur Christmas" was, or genuinely funny or heartfelt like many of the "Wallace and Gromit" films. This film is frustratingly and soul-grindingly long.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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