The Island

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The Island

R

1980

1h 54m

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Skeptical journalist Blair Maynard (Michael Caine) is assigned to explore the area known as the Bermuda Triangle, where thousands of boats have disappeared in a three-year span. When he leaves the Florida coast with his adolescent son, Justin (Jeffrey Frank), their boat is shanghaied by a group of pirates led by the tyrannical John David Nau (David Warner). The pirates, who have lived undisturbed in the area for centuries, see father and son as new blood for their increasingly inbred clan.

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Martin Unsworth

Starburst

Opening with a shockingly gory slaughter, this adaptation of Peter Benchley’s novel (who also provides the screenplay) is a rollicking modern pirate adventure that, while not wholly successful, stands the test of time...

Rated: 4/5

Sep 27, 2024

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Tony Crawley

Starburst

Once these piratical hordes enter the picture, Caine stops talking — and acting... The Island actually makes The Deep look good.

Jul 26, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[UPDATED 2024 REVIEW] The biggest flaw is that the pirates aren't particularly frightening, coming off as Peter Pan's Lost Boys all grown up -- to riff from Kentucky Fried Movie, they aren't tough and ruthless so much as they're rough and toothless.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 17, 2013

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 3/5

Mar 9, 2008

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 23, 2005

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Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Another one of Caine's big bombs!!

Rated: 1/5

Mar 21, 2003

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Audience Member

The Island is a thrilling violent action movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

It's like a really cheesy episode of Star Trek the Original Series that just goes on & on.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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P. J

One of the greatest unseen, underrated adventure movies. Michael Caine's acting was excellent. Plane explosions, killer jellyfish, high sea adventure, a father son film...... and....Pirates, lots and lots of Pirates! This film had everything!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/20

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Audience Member

Excellent thriller with Caine in fine form (despite his stated dislike of the film). Director Michael Ritchie caught a lot of grief for the uneven quality and extreme tonal shifts, but this is a unique movie that defies logic. Scary and repulsive and worth a view.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

A good psychological-thriller from the creaters of JAWS.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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laurent b

The plot is simple, but at the same time, its developments are original and there's a lot of suspense that really works well. But the best feature of this movie is its weird atmosphere, and the fact that it succeeds in getting you having the feeling that you go on a strange trip, on a another time and place. Michael Caine is wonderful as always. One of my favorite movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Michael Caine

Blair Maynard

David Warner

John David Nau

Angela Punch McGregor

Beth

Frank Middlemass

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"Jaws" Author Peter Benchley Passes Away at 65

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Synopsis

Skeptical journalist Blair Maynard (Michael Caine) is assigned to explore the area known as the Bermuda Triangle, where thousands of boats have disappeared in a three-year span. When he leaves the Florida coast with his adolescent son, Justin (Jeffrey Frank), their boat is shanghaied by a group of pirates led by the tyrannical John David Nau (David Warner). The pirates, who have lived undisturbed in the area for centuries, see father and son as new blood for their increasingly inbred clan.

Director: Michael Ritchie
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 1h 54m

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