The 15 Most Memorable Movie Boats
Sorry, cruise ship from Speed 2, you didn't make the cut.
Despite Hollywoods' long and diverse nautical heritage, boats just never seem to get much love. We're changing that with a list of some of our favorite seaworthy stars.
African QueenLike so many great Americans, this riverboat was forced out of its life of leisure and charged into battle during WWI. Who wouldn't want to step onto a ship with Katharine Hepburn on board and Humphrey Bogart at the helm? We would prefer that Captain Bogie lay off the bottle a little before we cast off, but the lack of ice burgs in Africa is quite comforting. Unfortunately, the actual boat used in the movie is apparently in a sad state because its former owner, Jim Hendricks, can no longer take care of it. We got those facts from Wikipedia though, so take that for what it's worth. |
|
MoonrakerBond has had quite a fleet of high-tech boats, including a few extremely posh yachts. But our favorite is the weapon-laden battle craft he drives in Moonraker. It's as fast as it is deadly, and once you've run out of ammunition, you can just drive it straight over a waterfall and fly to an oasis of gorgeous women (and one big snake) using the built-in hang glider. Just be sure to scrape the serial numbers off first so the coast guard doesn't come knocking on your door with a bill for cleaning up the wreckage. |
|
Step BrothersBefore the Lonely Island came along with their amazing, "I'm on a Boat" video, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly borrowed their dad's yacht to make an obscene, but extremely hilarious video for their song, "Boats and Hoes." Unfortunately, the craft itself is pretty much destroyed at the end of the video, leaving no chance for a follow up jam. But, if you're in the mood for nautical-themed rap videos, there's always the OG: Notorious BIG's video for "Hypnotize." |
|
The Perfect Storm[SPOILER ALERT] By the time the credits roll on this film, which is based on a true story, this fine vessel has made its way to the bottom of the Atlantic. But, despite its demise, the Andrea Gail easily earns the title as the toughest boat on the list. It takes two storms, a hurricane and a rogue wave 100-feet high to take down one little fishing rig. That's a heck of a lot more than we can say for the S.S. Minnow (the boat from Gilligan's Island). |
|
CaddyshackAl Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) isn't the guy we would want behind the wheel if we were at sea and a storm was rolling in. But, if we're cruising around the lake on his yacht, Seafood, we can't think of a better skipper. He terrorizes fishermen, soaks an entire party and almost kills a bunch of people on jet skis before sending Judge Smails' Flying Wasp to Davy Jones' Locker. Unfortunately, he also scratches his anchor in the process. |
|
Forrest GumpWhile the Jenny isn't as glamorous or exciting as some of the other crafts on the list, it has a lot of sentimental value. Its name pays tribute to his one true love, while its ability to scoop shrimp out of the ocean fulfills a promise to his old buddy, Bubba. Plus, it can survive a hurricane. Bonus! |
|
The Life AquaticIn this case, the boat hardly matters. We would follow captain Bill Murray to the end of the earth in a canoe if he asked us. But, if a sweet ship like the Belafonte, with its comfortable quarters and vault full of cash, we'd be even happier to put on the little red hat. |
|
Pirates of the CaribbeanManned by a crew of the undead, The Black Pearl has everything you want in a pirate ship. It's strong, fast, nimble and, most importantly, it has plenty of room below deck for barrels of rum. It has also made Disney billions of dollars, which is more than we can say for that crappy little boat on the It's a Small World ride. |
|
Shawshank RedemptionEven at the end of the movie, she's nothing but a pile of junk, sitting on the beach. But, watching Andy sand away at the body of that boat is an essential element to one of the best happy endings in movie history. |
|
Mutiny on the BountyThe story is loosely based on an actual mutiny and the movie is an absolute classic. The boat itself is as majestic as you could ask for with tall, white sails and Clark Gable sporting hair that suggests it has its own on-board stylist. If you have never seen it, don't worry. There's sure to be a CGI-ruined remake in the near future. |
|
TitanicIt's probably the first thing that popped into your head when you saw the headline and for good reason. Titanic is still one of the most successful movies of all time, and much of that came from James Cameron's ability to turn a horrible tragedy into a hell of a compelling story. On the big screen, you really got the message that, when a huge ship like that goes down, it doesn't go quietly. It also had the most dedicated group of string players ever to work the cruise ship circuit. |
|
Show BoatDepending on which version of the film you watch, the actual boat may be slightly different, but, the real attraction here is what happens on-board. The old-timey entertainment and light debauchery of the Show Boat have a lot more charm--and a lot less puking--than its current counterpart, the booze cruise. |
|
JawsDespite Brody's proclamation, "You're going to need a bigger boat," Quint's scrappy little Orca helps take down the biggest and most violent shark ever to roam the open water, once again making it safe for men and women to hit the beach in their painfully '70s bathing suits. |
|
The Poseidon AdventureThe 2005 version of this at-sea adventure had a lot of things working against it, like its long run time and the presence of Steve Guttenberg, but the 1972 version is a classic. After seeing the SS Poseidon flip upside down, the first thing we do when boarding a cruise ship is to ask if the ballast pumps are working properly. Then we head straight for the buffet. |
|
Indiana Jones and the Last CrusadeThe boat scene in Last Crusade has everything a great high-speed chase should. Impressive maneuvering by the hero leaves the bad guys to get exploded or chewed up by an enormous propeller. Then when it's over, Indy hops back into his own wood-paneled ride and cruises off with the girl. The most impressive part, though, is how the bad guys get those hats to stay on while they blast through the water. |
|
|
|
Comments