Captain Phillips (2013)
A container ship captain faces down ruthless Somali pirates in a relentless, gritty, and suspenseful true story.
The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.
How intense is Captain Phillips?
Captain Phillips is mildly scary, with light gore and strong violence. Emotionally it is devastating. The pace is relentless, and it is a full-attention watch. Rated PG-13.
What Captain Phillips feels like
- Tone
- tensegrittysuspensefulearnest
- Pace
- Relentless
- Best for
- Full attention
- True story
- Yes, based on true events.
Where to stream Captain Phillips
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Captain Phillips for you?
Is Captain Phillips scary?
Only a little. Captain Phillips has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is Captain Phillips gory or violent?
Light gore (1 of 3) and strong violence (2 of 3).
Is Captain Phillips sad or heavy?
Yes. Emotional weight 3 of 3. It hits hard; do not plan anything light after.
Is Captain Phillips OK for kids?
It is rated PG-13. Intensity: scare 1, gore 1, violence 2, each out of 3. Your call for older kids.
How long is Captain Phillips?
Captain Phillips runs 2h 14m.
Where can I stream Captain Phillips?
Captain Phillips is streaming on Tubi.
Does Captain Phillips have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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