There’s just something undeniably cool about pirates, particularly when it comes to figures that embody the swashbuckling archetype right down to the cutlasses and eyepatches. Whether it’s embracing the freedom of life on the high seas, stylish swordplay, or outright defiance of authority, pirates just seem to have it figured out. The best depictions of piracy embrace these qualities, including television shows centered around life on the high seas. With that in mind, we’re looking at the pirate shows that stand a cut above the rest, from documentaries exploring legendary figures to period-piece epics.
For the purposes of this list, we’re sticking with the seafaring and swashbuckling notion of piracy, rather than something like sci-fi reinventions of the genre through space pirates. That said, some of the shows we’re including here veer headlong into fantasy territory with their stakes and storytelling elements. But some of the best fantasy TV shows streaming Netflix deal heavily with pirates, and leaving them out would’ve been glaring. These are the 10 best TV shows about pirates, ranked, and each is a must-watch for fans of the genre. Yo ho!
10. The Pirates of Dark Water
We’re starting things off with what is arguably the biggest outlier on this list, the animated series “The Pirates of Dark Water.” Produced by Hanna-Barbera, the show premiered in 1991 as a sort of swashbuckling twist on the fantasy-adventure mold of shows like “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.” Taking place in a fantasy realm populated by monsters and other fantastical creatures, the show follows a young hero named Ren (George Newbern), who is unaware of his royal heritage. The titular Dark Water is a corrosive substance taking over the oceans, prompting Ren and his friends to sail for treasure said to hold the key to stopping it.
Running for just over 20 episodes, “The Pirates of Dark Water” is still worth watching today. The show boasts an impressive voice cast, including Frank Welker, Jodi Benson, the late Tim Curry and the late Peter Cullen. But acting talent aside, the show is set in an ambitious fantasy world that effectively reimagines classic pirate tropes. Easy to binge over a week, “The Pirates of Dark Water” is a good primer on the world of pirates for younger audiences.
9. Crossbones
Among the most inspired casting decisions in pirate television history is having John Malkovich play the legendary pirate captain Blackbeard in “Crossbones.” An NBC period drama that premiered in 2014, the show posits that Blackbeard survived in hiding in the Caribbean after faking his death. This anonymity is threatened by English assassin Tom Lowe (Richard Coyle), who finds Blackbeard presiding over an island safe haven for other pirates and unsavory figures. Unfortunately, the series only ran for a single nine-episode season before NBC cancelled it.
The real appeal of “Crossbones” is its lead actor, with John Malkovich bringing an unorthodox twist to the usual genre trappings. The veteran actor commands every scene he’s in, offering a welcome contrast to the self-serious tone that much of the show provides. The show also has the distinction of being co-created by Neil Cross, who previously created “Luther,” bringing his usual moody edge to the genre. A short-lived series that brought some intriguing ideas to pirate television, on network television no less, “Crossbones” is an overlooked title worth a watch.
8. One Piece (2023)
When it comes to fantasy stories that revolve around pirates, “One Piece” is one of the most recognizable in the world. Eiichiro Oda’s best-selling manga series has been adapted into a number of different media, including Netflix’s live-action show that premiered in 2023. While the show itself features colorfully goofy personalities, including the elastic Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), pirates and life on the high seas are central to the story. Luffy leads the Straw Hat Pirates, an eclectic crew searching for the titular One Piece, a mythical treasure that makes the one who possesses it King of the Pirates.
After Netflix’s live-action version of “Cowboy Bebop” whiffed, there was reason to be wary of another live-action anime adaptation. Fortunately, the 2023 series fundamentally understands the appeal of its source material and provides fans with an adaptation that faithfully captures the spirit of the swashbuckling adventure. Fans have responded in kind, with “One Piece” Season 2 hitting a new ratings high on Nielsen’s streaming chart as it provides its own twist on Luffy’s epic quest. Buoyed by a strong ensemble cast and imaginative set pieces that don’t shy away from the source material’s wacky humor, “One Piece” is a great gateway into the franchise.
7. Sandokan: The Pirate Prince
One of literature’s most iconic pirates is Sandokan, created by Italian author Emilio Salgari and adapted for film and television numerous times. The latest television depiction of the romanticized swashbuckler is “Sandokan: The Pirate Prince,” a 2025 Italian series currently available on Netflix. Can Yaman plays the titular pirate as he cruises around Borneo and the South China Sea in the 19th century. While trying to win the affections of English noblewoman Marianne Guillonk (Alanah Bloor), Sandokan has to contend with pirate hunter James Brooke (Ed Westwick).
Right from the opening episode, “Sandokan: The Pirate Prince” brings plenty of genre action in delightfully full force. This is matched by unapologetically sexy lead actors, especially Yaman and his impossibly perfect coiffure. But more than just looking good during seafaring set pieces, the cast brings a real magnetism to their roles. For something stylish, sensual, and chock-full of escapist fun, “Sandokan: The Pirate Prince” understands the assignment and delivers on those expectations.
6. Our Flag Means Death
Among the HBO Max originals that we wish were still getting new episodes is “Our Flag Means Death.” The 2022 comedy opens with 18th-century aristocrat Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) growing bored with his life in Barbados and deciding to become a gentleman pirate. This is juxtaposed with the infamous pirate captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) enduring the ennui that comes with his notorious reputation. The show thoroughly skewers the tropes associated with the pirate genre with a satirically self-aware edge while charting the romance forming between Stede and Blackbeard.
Years later, we’re still bummed that “Our Flag Means Death” didn’t find a new home after its two-season run on HBO Max. But the episodes we did get offer a fun spoof on period-piece piracy with a genuine sense of heart. Darby and Waititi especially deliver on those qualities, with the longtime collaborators expertly bringing the laughs and the romance. One of the best period-piece comedies in recent memory, “Our Flag Means Death” finds plenty of comical material in its swashbuckling premise.
5. Pirates: Behind the Legends
There are several fantastic documentaries that delve into the real history of piracy from the 16th through the 18th centuries. The first one we’re including here is the 2024 National Geographic series “Pirates: Behind the Legends.” Across the show’s eight episodes, “Pirates: Behind the Legends” examines the exploits of real-life pirates ranging from Francis Drake to Blackbeard. Narrating the proceedings is Billy Boyd, who previously played a swashbuckling sailor in the movie “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.”
When it comes to shows that present loads of authentic information about piracy in a fun and entertaining way, “Pirates: Behind the Legends” is hard to beat. Giving each episode a different subject provides the series with a concise focus that keeps it binge-friendly. Most importantly, the show is aware that pirate stories are supposed to be fun, keeping its info dumps from feeling overly dry. A prestige documentary series in keeping with National Geographic’s sterling reputation, “Pirates: Behind the Legends” is as informative as it is fun.
4. Treasure Island (2012)
So much pirate fiction owes a creative debt to “Treasure Island,” the 1883 novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson. The story has been adapted into all sorts of media for over a century, including a 2012 miniseries that aired on the British channel Sky1. The adaptation takes several liberties with the source material while retelling the tale of Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo) joining an expedition to locate buried treasure. But the real appeal here is the limited series’ ensemble cast, including Suzy Eddie Izzard as the duplicitous pirate Long John Silver.
Running for only two episodes, as designed, the 2012 version of “Treasure Island” is a breezy watch to enjoy over an afternoon. Izzard is clearly having a blast playing Long John Silver, with Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland among the actors filling out the ensemble. While not the most faithful take on the novel, its enduring pirate tropes remain, and the show leans into the fun potential of its story. A freewheeling adaptation that moves briskly through Stevenson’s story, the 2012 “Treasure Island” celebrates the pirate traditions the novel helped popularize.
3. One Piece (1999)
If we were going to include the live-action “One Piece” adaptation, it’s a cinch that the long-running anime series would also earn a place here. Premiering in 1999, the animated series has continued for more than 25 years, totaling over 1,100 episodes and counting. Despite this intimidating breadth, the show remains an entertaining watch, and those hundreds of episodes go by at a brisk pace. And for as many episodes as there are, the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates remain consistently enjoyable.
Given its virtually unmatchable ubiquity in the medium, “One Piece” is an essential anime for everyone to watch, even for newcomers to Japanese animation. The English dub available on Crunchyroll is particularly good, though purists will be happy to know that the original Japanese version is readily available too. The anime is also great at capturing the full scope of the epic saga, especially the villains and rivals Luffy encounters on the high seas. While a “One Piece” anime remake is coming to Netflix in 2027, the original series still holds its own charm that’s well worth diving into.
2. The Lost Pirate Kingdom
The 2021 limited series “The Lost Pirate Kingdom” threads the needle between documentary and a scripted show in the way that the History Channel used to do so well. A Netflix original, the show picks up in 1715 as Britain’s war against Spain comes to an end after years of relying on privateers. Some of these privateers turn to seafaring crime once the conflict ends, helping fuel the golden age of piracy. Actors depict the interconnected lives and rivalries between these real-life figures while the proceedings are narrated by Derek Jacobi.
Unfolding over six episodes, the first half of “The Lost Pirate Kingdom” details the rise of piracy while the back half chronicles its fall. Even with its documentary presentation, the show brings all the salacious elements that fans have come to expect from the genre. This is juxtaposed with commentary from historians, providing further context to the action and stakes depicted on-screen. The best modern documentary series to cover archetypal piracy, “The Lost Pirate Kingdom” offers a historical grounding to its period-piece fun.
1. Black Sails
Any aficionado of pirate pop culture knew that “Black Sails” was going to make this list; it was just a matter of where. A prequel to “Treasure Island,” the show follows the adventures of a younger James Flint (Toby Stephens) as he cruises the Caribbean as a pirate captain. Set in the early 18th century, the series sees Flint and his crew encounter real-life pirates like Jack Rackham and, of course, Blackbeard. The show also weaves in other familiar figures from “Treasure Island” destined to betray or be betrayed by Flint, most notably Long John Silver (Luke Arnold).
“Black Sails” is one of the most underrated TV shows of the 2010s, regardless of genre, and certainly one of the most ambitious pirate television projects. The show goes deep with each of its literary characters while still bringing all the sex and violence expected of a premium cable production. At the same time, there is a sharp attention to detail when it comes to period-piece pirate spectacle, elevated by its score and South African filming locations. Simply put, if you love pirates, “Black Sails” should top your watchlist with its immersive and exciting swashbuckling stories.
