You may be itching to finally get out of the house and get back out onto the water. Yachting has always afforded people not just a sense of luxury, but a sense of freedom and adventure as well. The ability to take to the water means that we are not bound by land, and we can explore the untamed wilds, a frontier that was always on the horizon but elusive to us until we learned to conquer the waves.
At Anita Dee Yacht Charters, our passion is sharing the allure of the water with others. Passengers aboard our premier vessels get to escape into another world, enjoying the sights and sounds of the water and a taste of luxury, too. Have we whet your appetite to get on board yet?
If you can’t make it out onto the water just yet or have a reservation for later in the season, never fear, we have you covered. Take a look at our list of the best boating movies. Go ahead and binge-watch and get ready for your own adventure on the open water!
Take to the Water With These Movies
Mutiny on the Bounty
Let’s kick things off with a classic. With all due respect to Brando, we are talking about the 1935 version staring none other than dashing ladies’ man, Clark Gable. If you aren’t familiar with the film or the novel of the same title, Mutiny on the Bounty is the story of the overbearing and cruel captain of the HMS Bounty.
His ship is bound from England to Tahiti, but soon the crew becomes fed up with his tyrannical ways, and his lieutenant stages a mutiny to overthrow him. A tale of treachery, revenge, and the ocean. Where do the crew and the ship end up? Who is left standing in the struggle for power out at sea? You’ll have to watch to find out.
The African Queen
Keeping with the classics, there is the 1951 film The African Queen, starring Hollywood powerhouses Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Throw two people as different as night and day onto a small steam launch, called African Queen, during the onset of World War I and watch the sparks fly. The dynamic between the two stars is magic to watch on the screen. While the boating scenes may seem lackluster compared to today’s modern movie CGI magic, the characters more than make up for it.
Life of Pi
We hate watching ships go down, especially when it happens in the first half of the movie, but Life of Pi is an exquisite film depicting the life and death struggles of a young man stranded at sea – trapped in his lifeboat with a tiger. This film explores the tired “coming of age” story in a new and dynamic way, set against the backdrop of a beautiful and yet unforgiving world of water.
The visuals are stunning and capture the frightening power and isolation of the open ocean. However, it also shows us the breathtaking beauty of the sea, as well, in a way we so often fail to notice.
Wind
Wind wasn’t a huge box office smash, but it is a fascinating movie starring Jennifer Grey of Dirty Dancing fame and Matthew Modine. The movie centers around the 1987 America’s Cup, a yachting race that was held off the waters of Australia. While there is some poetic license – it is a movie, after all – the yacht scenes are nicely done. It is a story not many people outside of yachting circles will know of, but it’s still worth a watch, especially if you have been yearning to get out on the water and experience the waves and maybe a little romance.
In the Heart of the Sea
We can’t talk about boating movies without mentioning the story that may have been the inspiration for one of the most iconic boating novels ever written, Moby Dick. In the Heart of the Sea is a historical film directed by Ron Howard. The story comes from a book about the sinking of an American whaling ship in 1820.
It is this event that is thought to have inspired Herman Melville to write the 1851 classic novel, Moby Dick. A classic tale of man versus nature and man versus himself, an all-star cast leads this movie, which received mixed reviews from critics. Yearning for some action on the water? Give this one a try.
Titanic
No “boating movie list” could ever be complete without the granddaddy of all boating movies, Titanic. James Cameron spared no expense in recreating the Titanic down to every last rivet, but his attention to detail and painstaking work paid off to the tune of raking in $2.187 billion dollars worldwide, to date. A love story set amongst the backdrop of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic, this movie reminds us that beauty and pride can be overwhelmed by the wrath of Mother Nature.
More Movie Options
There are a number of great films that we couldn’t put on the list, but honorable mentions go to Pirates of the Caribbean, because who doesn’t secretly love a pirate, The Poseidon Adventure, and of course Jaws. As a matter of fact, we can think of lots of movies that show the beauty and power of the water, but this list is a good start to your boating-filled movie marathon.
Get Out on the Water
We know you are aching to get out and enjoy the water. At Anita Dee Yacht Charters, boating is not just our livelihood, it is our passion, and we love sharing it with guests. If you are dreaming of being out on the water for any reason, a wedding, social gathering with family and friends, or even a corporate event, now is the time to make your plans.
We want to help you create the event of your dreams by treating you and your guests like VIP’s. Call us today at (312) 379-3191. It’s never too early to start planning your next charter aboard one of our luxury yachts. The open water is calling, pick up your phone, and let us help you make it happen.