The Bounty

PG

Released May 4, 1984

2h 12m

Adventure

Drama

List

74%

19 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.

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Critics Consensus

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

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A.L.Jude P

Truly, a masterpiece went unnoticed by Oscars as usual.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Zinjx W

For once, you can't complain about a remake of an old classic or crowd pleaser. So definitely as good as the movie from 1935, and definitely better than the slightly empty picture book from 1962.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

Full Review

Peter W

Overall, The Bounty is a dramatic story about friendship, poor choices, friction, and trust. Performances from Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson are impressive, and this film stands firmly as an accurate depiction of mutiny which is incredible to witness. The costume work here is excellent, along with the locations, and the ship's look is stunning. The score by Vangelis is deeply effective but repetitive, and the film's second act drags on. Still, the opening and finale are touching, engaging, and the entire movie leaves a lasting experience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

Full Review

Kevin A

A star studded cast, & a truly remarkable tale, make for an excellent viewing experience. 85%.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/29/23

Full Review

Tyler B

One of the best and most underrated historical epics ever made. It says a lot to how strong 1984 in film was that this movie was considered a bust and ignored at Oscar time back then. If released now this would be reaccepted a lot better and been a true competitor to Amadeus. As far as it is IMO it's neck and neck with that movie, both are truly fantastic. This is another telling of the Bounty mutiny but this one is truly even filtered and not biased for one or the other. Captain Bligh is looked into and explored way more than before and Fletcher Christian isn't but he is. Like I said it's more even if that makes sense. Anthony Hopkins plays Bligh and Mel Gibson is Christian and they both nail the roles perfectly. Hopkins especially is amazing as Bligh as in the final half of the movie he gets to another level in terms of his presence and it makes the movie more fun. Gibson grows more likeable and then the mutiny happens. The final act is some of Hopkins's final acting and he steps into Oscar zone at this point.. it's a shame it ignored him. The side cast is all amazing. You get a young Liam Neeson and Daniel Day Lewis and they work amazingly well as rivals to each other, and you also get Oliver and Edward Fox as old time British Navy guys and they are solid too. Well cast all around. Special props to Vangelis who did an amazing job with the score which is imo superior to his Oscar winning score from Chariots of Fire. The fact he didn't even get nominated for this one blows my mind, imo it was miles and away the best score from 1984. Shame. Highly recommend this film to anyone.. it's less a historical epic and way more a human drama that sucks you in like the island of Tahiti did to the crewman of hat ship. It won't let you go and you'll wanna go back for more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

Full Review

jelisije j

An absolute masterpiece and probably the most historically accurate portrayal of one of the most famous mutinies in human history.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Roger Donaldson

Director

Mel Gibson

Fletcher Christian Master's Mate

Anthony Hopkins

Lieutenant William Bligh

Laurence Olivier

Admiral Hood

Edward Fox

Captain Greetham

Daniel Day-Lewis

John Fryer

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The Bounty: Official Clip - Stolen Coconuts

1:54

The Bounty: Official Clip - Mutiny

2:27

The Bounty: Official Clip - Land, Ho!

2:02

The Bounty: Official Clip - Mixing With the Natives

2:02

The Bounty: Official Clip - Exonerated

2:27

The Bounty: Official Clip - The Loyalists Are Castaway

2:14

The Bounty: Official Clip - Gag Them Both

2:11

The Bounty: Official Clip - Divvying Up the Spoils

1:42

The Bounty: Official Clip - Lost At Sea

2:14

The Bounty: Official Clip - Second in Command

2:12

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Variety Staff

Variety

An intelligent, firstrate, revisionist telling of the famous tale of Fletcher Christian's mutiny against Captain Bligh.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

It's all a brave try, though Gibson is perhaps not up to the demands of a Christian's progress from naive rating to self-loathing exile, and Donaldson's direction often verges on the stolid.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

A great adventure, a lush romance, and a good movie.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Jim Schembri

Cinema Papers

For a film that tries so hard to follow a 'mass appeal' format, The Bounty fails to consolidate properly each of the formula's ingredients to offer anything special or memorable to the audience it is so eager to capture.

May 13, 2020

Full Review

Jason Wilson

Under the Radar

The Bounty ultimately tries to do too much ... it's a missed opportunity that needs trimming in some areas and extra time in others.

Apr 23, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

While no match for the revered classic that earned the Best Picture Academy Award for 1935 (Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Clark Gable and Charles Laughton), this is an intelligent retelling that relates the historic mutiny through an altered prism.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 8, 2015

Full Review

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Synopsis

Captain Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) struggles to restore discipline among the crew of the HMS Bounty after the ship has an extended furlough in Tahiti. After the captain doles out floggings and other physical punishments, the crew mutinies, led by Bligh's former close friend, Fletcher Christian (Mel Gibson). Unable to return to their tropical paradise, the mutineers find themselves stranded, while Bligh and his faithful crew members embark on a dangerous journey to the Dutch East Indies.

Director: Roger Donaldson
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter: Richard Hough, Robert Bolt
Distributor: Orion Pictures, Video Classics
Production Co: Dino De Laurentiis Productions, Bounty Productions Ltd.
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 4, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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