Yellowbeard

PG

Released Jun 24, 1983

1 hr. 41 min.

Comedy

List

22%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After doing time for two decades, infamous pirate Yellowbeard (Graham Chapman) breaks out of prison determined to recover the treasure he buried so long ago. Trouble is, the map has been tattooed onto the head of his effete son, Dan (Martin Hewitt), who has little appetite for plundering the high seas. Even worse, a number of rivals aim to beat Yellowbeard to his fortune, including an old shipmate (Peter Boyle), a secret agent (Eric Idle) and a pair of conquistadors (Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong).

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Harrison R

Pretty stupid! The tasteless jokes aren't very clever either.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Steve W

I don't care what the "critics" (who want to tell _me_ what to watch?!?!) say; I think the movie is hilarious, I've watched it many times and will continue to do so. I think it is a cult classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

Richard G

Easily as good or better than many Monty Python TV episodes. I liked almost every minute and have watched it repeatedly. A string of great bits held together with a more-or-less plausible plot. The only unfunny parts those with Cheech and Chong who are completely out of place here. I like movies with an historical setting & this carries it off well, with humour, such as the portrayal of Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill. Despite what he has said about the film, Cleese is hilarious as Blind Pew, and the bit with Marty Feldman and Peter Boyle and Pew is brilliant. Madelaine Kahn is good and original as usual. Chapman does a great job as a bloodthirsty, tougher than nails pirate with his burning beard The plot hangs together perfectly well. To gauge my taste, I like humour and clever movies. I liked Knives Out but walked out of Glass Onion which garnered just seemed stupid and obvious to me, yet it garnered such great reviews. I suspect the mostly American critics don't get British humour and its no surprise a MOR critic like Roger Ebert didn't like it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

Full Review

Tom A

I remember this briefly from when I was younger and rewatched it in 2023. It's hilarious, even more now than ever since I know a lot more about the inside jokes they pull off throughout the movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

i don't know how anyone could like anything monty python or cheech and chong and not like this, it has been my favorite movie since i was a kid and remains so to this day, my dad and i still laugh quoting this movie and if you don't you don't like comedy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I remember when the movie came out, every critic hated it, so I didn't watch it. Until years later, my then-supervisor at work told us he saw and liked it, so I rented it. I didn't find the movie the abomination the critics said it was, but I didn't find it a laugh riot either. The plot is thin: the title character is a pirate released from prison, having hidden a hoard of his treasure on a remote island, and a variety of people pursue him as he goes after said treasure. There are some funny moments, but no big laughs, and there is a big variety of comic actors in the movie, yet the script doesn't allow them to shine. Passable, but at best only mildly amusing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Mel Damski

Director

Graham Chapman

Captain Yellowbeard

Peter Boyle

Moon

Marty Feldman

Gilbert

Cheech Marin

El Segundo

Tommy Chong

el Nebuloso

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Yellowbeard seems almost to have exhausted itself with its casting. This movie contains half the population of most of the movie comedies of the last decade.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

no laugh track to save us from dud after dud.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 7, 2006

Full Review

Kevin A. Ranson

MovieCrypt.com

More good than bad, worth owning.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 9, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 26, 2005

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James Plath

Reel.com

The humor is as spotty as the pirates are ratty.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 26, 2005

Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Rated: 2/5

Feb 8, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

After doing time for two decades, infamous pirate Yellowbeard (Graham Chapman) breaks out of prison determined to recover the treasure he buried so long ago. Trouble is, the map has been tattooed onto the head of his effete son, Dan (Martin Hewitt), who has little appetite for plundering the high seas. Even worse, a number of rivals aim to beat Yellowbeard to his fortune, including an old shipmate (Peter Boyle), a secret agent (Eric Idle) and a pair of conquistadors (Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong).

Director: Mel Damski
Screenwriter: Graham Chapman, Peter Cook, Bernard McKenna
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 1983, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008

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