The Bounty

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The Bounty

PG

Released May 4, 1984

2h 12m

Adventure

Drama

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Popcornmeter

74%

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19 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

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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Variety Staff

Variety

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

Mar 26, 2009

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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

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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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[UPDATED 2019 BLU-RAY REVIEW] An intelligent retelling that relates the historic mutiny through an altered prism.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 8, 2015

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James A

WOW, I'm blown away by the beauty of this film! I was looking for a period adventure piece like The New World or Master and Commander, and this was perfect. The shots at sea are gorgeous, the score by Vangelis is masterful and not too synthy or overdone. The native women and the world they find are so intoxicating, you fall in love with them alongside the crew. Amazing performances by a peak Mel Gibson, authentic Anthony Hopkins, Daniel Day Louis, Liam Neeson and even Lawrence Olivier make this an all time classic in my eyes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

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Alain E

Watchable, but nothing to be really impressed about. Lots of topless native women, that apparently is not a reason for the film to lose its PG rating.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

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Alec B

Gibson's performance is admittedly uneven (Hopkins is great though) but this is easily the best historical depiction of the famed mutiny. Instead of a Hollywoodized tale of overthrowing a tyrant this movie is about the horror of leadership and the inevitable consequences of having to make decisions for others. I also like that someone took advantage of the dramatic potential in the collapse of Christian and Bligh's friendship.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

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Sarfaraz A

Roger Donaldson directed this historical British film based on Richard Hough's book, Captain Bligh and Mr. Christian (1972). The film stars Mel Gibson as Fletcher Christian, Anthony Hopkins as William Bligh, and Liam Neeson and Daniel Day-Lewis. The film depicts a real-life mutiny on the HMS Bounty in the 18th century, which was commanded by William Bligh. Anthony Hopkins delivers an excellent performance in the film. The music composition by Vangelis heightens the tension and suspense throughout.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

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Danny R

Wonderful film, let down by Neil Morrissey who is at his pervy, talentless best

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

Michael Patrick M

No other Bounty film even comes close. The best Bligh and Christian I’ve ever seen. Captures the dynamic of initial friendship that goes south as the ship does the same. My only regret is that this film was not longer or better yet made into a trilogy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/24

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

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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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: Bernard Williams
Screenwriter: Richard Hough, Robert Bolt
Distributor: Orion Pictures, Video Classics
Production Co: Bounty Productions Ltd., Dino De Laurentiis Productions
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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