Cutthroat Island

PG-13

1995

2h 3m

Adventure

Action

Comedy

List

40%

42 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Feisty Morgan Adams (Geena Davis) inherits her late buccaneer father's galleon and one-third of a map to buried treasure located on Cutthroat Island. The map had been tattooed on her father's scalp, and to find the treasure, she must locate and scalp his two brothers. But Morgan's swashbuckling uncle, Dawg Brown (Frank Langella), wants the treasure for himself, and does battle with his headstrong niece and her unwilling accomplice, Latin-speaking physician William Shaw (Matthew Modine).

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Critics Consensus

Cutthroat Island may aspire towards the earnest thrills of classic swashbucklers, but a distinct lack of charm and stilted script make this adventure a joyless hodgepodge of the pirate genre's flotsam and jetsam.

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Chris S

I love this film, Davis is the best female pirate of all time. This movie was pulled down for stupid reasons which is a shame as I would of loved to see Davis reprise this role...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

Avtandil M

A Swashbuckling Escape Filled with Adventure and Wit. "Cutthroat Island" sails into the realm of classic adventure with a blend of action, humor, and spirited characters. Geena Davis takes the helm as Morgan Adams, a fearless pirate with her sights set on a hidden treasure. Davis's performance brings charisma and depth to the role, making Morgan a captivating protagonist to root for. The film embraces the essence of the pirate genre, delivering thrilling sword fights, daring escapes, and breathtaking ocean vistas. The chemistry between Davis and her co-star, Matthew Modine, adds a layer of camaraderie that elevates the story. Their banter and shared determination keep the energy high and the audience engaged. "Cutthroat Island" balances its action-packed sequences with moments of levity, offering a welcome respite from the high-stakes adventure. The family dynamic at play between Morgan and her treacherous uncle adds an intriguing layer of tension to the narrative, making the pursuit of treasure more personal. While the film may dance along familiar narrative tropes, it does so with a wink and a nod, injecting humor and unexpected twists into the formula. The stunning visuals and period details transport viewers to a world of exploration and daring exploits. The vibrant costumes and vivid locations contribute to the film's immersive atmosphere. In the end, "Cutthroat Island" is an entertaining escape that embraces its swashbuckling roots. Geena Davis's spirited performance, combined with a dash of family drama and a hearty dose of adventure, makes this film a worthy addition to any pirate-loving movie night. So if you're ready to set sail on a rollicking journey complete with action, camaraderie, and treasure hunting, "Cutthroat Island" is the cinematic voyage you've been waiting for!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/15/23

Full Review

Brigade M

Fell in love with the story!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

Full Review

Jen

The beginning was a bit off with pacing but I enjoyed the movie overall. I'm not sure what is with all the negative reviews. Mathew Modine was great. Frank Langella was great. Geena Davis worked her tail off as the lead. The set design and non stop action were painstakingly detailed. I don't think anyone can play a lady pirate as well as Geena. I would watch again simply for the technical mastery alone. They don't make this epic movies anymore.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

Jerod S

Geena Davis as a pirate just doesn't really work. It's 90s orange-filmed swashbuckling.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

It really is as bad as its reputation.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Renny Harlin

Director

Geena Davis

Morgan

Matthew Modine

Shaw

Frank Langella

Dawg

Maury Chaykin

John Reed

Patrick Malahide

Ainslee

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

What seemed like a dubious proposition on paper plays even more dubiously onscreen, as "Cutthroat Island" strenuously but vainly attempts to revive the thrills of old-fashioned pirate pictures.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

In this $90m revisionist swashbuckler, we get Geena Davis doing the all-action honours, and a hotchpotch script that seems to think pirate movies are so funny in themselves the need for more humour is superfluous.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

It's not possible to believe that Ms. Davis is the highly respected captain of a pirate ship, and it's not even fun to try.

May 20, 2003

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a larger-than-life (yet comfortably familiar) premise that is, at the outset, employed to engaging, briskly-paced effect...

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 28, 2023

Full Review

Paul Mount

Starburst

... A fitfully enjoyable, if frustratingly uneven and deeply flawed, attempt to create an unpretentious, thrills-and-spill adventure in the classic tradition.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 2, 2023

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

as a Saturday night frolic in ye olden style, Cutthroat Island is worth a visit

Rated: 3/5

Mar 24, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Feisty Morgan Adams (Geena Davis) inherits her late buccaneer father's galleon and one-third of a map to buried treasure located on Cutthroat Island. The map had been tattooed on her father's scalp, and to find the treasure, she must locate and scalp his two brothers. But Morgan's swashbuckling uncle, Dawg Brown (Frank Langella), wants the treasure for himself, and does battle with his headstrong niece and her unwilling accomplice, Latin-speaking physician William Shaw (Matthew Modine).

Director: Renny Harlin
Producer: Mario Kassar
Screenwriter: Robert King, Marc Norman
Production Co: Laurence Mark Productions, Canal+, Forge, Carolco Pictures Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure, Action, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.8M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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