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Movies like The Ship from Shanghai (1930)

The best movies like The Ship from Shanghai (1930) are Vera Cruz (1954), Black Gold (2011) and The High and the Mighty (1954). If The Ship from Shanghai hooked you with its adventure, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Vera Cruz (1954)

    After the American Civil War, mercenaries travel to Mexico to fight in their revolution for money. The former soldier and gentleman Benjamin Trane meets the gunman and killer Joe Erin and his men, and together they are hired by the Emperor Maximillian and the Marquis Henri de Labordere to escort the Countess Marie Duvarre to the harbor of Vera Cruz.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  2. Black Gold (2011)

    On the Arabian Peninsula in the 1930s, two warring leaders come face to face. The victorious Nesib, Emir of Hobeika, lays down his peace terms to rival Amar, Sultan of Salmaah. The two men agree that neither can lay claim to the area of no man’s land between them called The Yellow Belt. In return, Nesib adopts Amar’s two boys Saleeh and Auda as a guarantee against invasion. Twelve years later, Saleeh and Auda have grown into young men. Saleeh, the warrior, itches to escape his gilded cage and return to his father’s land. Auda cares only for books and the pursuit of knowledge. One day, their adopted father Nesib is visited by an American from Texas. He tells the Emir that his land is blessed with oil and promises him riches beyond his wildest imagination. Nesib imagines a realm of infinite possibility, a kingdom with roads, schools and hospitals all paid for by the black gold beneath the barren sand. There is only one problem. The precious oil is located in the Yellow Belt.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  3. The High and the Mighty (1954)

    Dan Roman is a veteran pilot haunted by a tragic past. Now relegated to second-in-command cockpit assignments he finds himself on a routine Honolulu-to-San Francisco flight that takes a terrifying turn when disaster strikes high above the Pacific Ocean after the point of no return.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

  4. Treasure Island (1972)

    Young Jim Hawkins finds himself serving with pirate captain Long John Silver in search of a buccaneer's treasure, in this short adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

  5. True Grit (1969)

    The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  6. Swashbuckler (1976)

    A pirate and a hot-tempered noblewoman join forces to protect Jamaica from a tyrant.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  7. Mackenna's Gold (1969)

    A bandit kidnaps a Marshal who has seen a map showing a gold vein on Indian lands, but other groups are looking for it too, while the Apache try to keep the secret location undisturbed.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  8. Thunder Bay (1953)

    Shrimpers and oilmen clash when an ambitious wildcatter begins constructing an off-shore oilrig.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  9. End of the Spear (2005)

    "End of the Spear" is the story of Mincayani, a Waodani tribesman from the jungles of Ecuador. When five young missionaries, among them Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, are speared to death by the Waodani in 1956, a series of events unfold to change the lives of not only the slain missionaries' families, but also Mincayani and his people.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  10. The Warrior (2001)

    In feudal India, a warrior who renounces his role as the longtime enforcer to a local lord becomes the prey in a murderous hunt through the Himalayan mountains.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  11. The Last Stand of Ellen Cole (2024)

    When an evil contractor goes to extreme measures to evict a testy tenant who is standing in the way of his new project, he fails to take into account that this seemingly harmless old woman is a trained killer and will do anything to protect her beloved home.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  12. Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant (1998)

    Acting Lieutenant Hornblower attempts to study for his promotion examination, but becomes distracted by the serious supply problems that face his crew.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  13. Sun Dogs (2017)

    A man eager to serve his country but rejected by the Marines pairs up with a young runaway to form an unlikely team on a misguided adventure.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  14. Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers - To Live and Die in Starlight (2002)

    After being punished for retreat from combat, Ranger David Martel is given command of the Liandra, a haunted 20-year old Minbari fighting ship. He's escorting ambassadors to a secret archaeological site, the oldest city on record and a clue to a dangerous ancient race.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  15. Play Dirty (1969)

    During World War II in North Africa, a group of British commandos disguised as Italian soldiers must travel behind enemy lines and destroy a vital Nazi oil depot.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  16. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

    Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  17. Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956)

    Davy Crockett and his sidekick Georgie compete against boastful Mike Fink ("King of the River") in a boat race to New Orleans. Later, Davy and Georgie, allied with Fink, battle a group of river pirates trying to pass themselves off as Native Americans.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  18. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

    Fletcher Christian successfully leads a revolt against the ruthless Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty. However, Bligh returns one year later, hell bent on revenge.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  19. Nate and Hayes (1983)

    Nathaniel Williamsen is taken to an island mission with his fiancee Sophie. Their ship, the Rona, is captained by the roguish Bully Hayes, who also takes a liking to Sophie. When Sophie is kidnapped by slave trader Ben Pease "Nate" teams with Hayes in order to find her.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  20. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

    The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once again as the journey of Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle begins.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  21. The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

    When legendary hunter Bob Rainsford is shipwrecked on the perilous reefs surrounding a mysterious island, he finds himself the guest of the reclusive and eccentric Count Zaroff. While he is very gracious at first, Zaroff eventually forces Rainsford and two other shipwreck survivors, brother and sister Eve and Martin Towbridge, to participate in a sadistic game of cat and mouse in which they are the prey and he is the hunter.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  22. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

    The crew of an atomic submarine battle to save the world from global destruction.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

  23. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

    When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past, he's not sure if it's love...or if she's a ruthless con artist using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  24. Tarzan and His Mate (1934)

    Harry Holt returns to Africa with his friend Martin Arlington to head up a large ivory expedition.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  25. Black Snake (1973)

    On a 19th century Caribbean island, slaves revolt against their beautiful and sadistic mistress.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

  26. Under a Texas Moon (1930)

    A cowboy arrives in a small town and winds up trying to help a local rancher stop a gang of cattle thieves while romancing a pretty young girl.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

  27. Kismet (1930)

    Hajj, a rascally beggar on the periphery of the court of Baghdad, schemes to marry his daughter to royalty and to win the heart of the queen of the castle himself. This film is believed lost.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

  28. Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

    The Bounty leaves Portsmouth in 1787. Its destination: to sail to Tahiti and load bread-fruit. Captain Bligh will do anything to get there as fast as possible, using any means to keep up a strict discipline. When they arrive at Tahiti, it is like a paradise for the crew, something completely different than the living hell aboard the ship. On the way back to England, officer Fletcher Christian becomes the leader of a mutiny.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  29. Rough Romance (1930)

    Love and logging in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

  30. Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)

    On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both adventure

    Worth the HypeMovies like this

Like The Ship from Shanghai and something else?

Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like The Ship from Shanghai?

The closest matches to The Ship from Shanghai are Vera Cruz (1954), Black Gold (2011) and The High and the Mighty (1954). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after The Ship from Shanghai?

Start with Vera Cruz (1954), the closest match to The Ship from Shanghai.

What is the highest-rated movie like The Ship from Shanghai?

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), rated 7.4/10 by 420 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like The Ship from Shanghai?

The Last Stand of Ellen Cole (2024) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like The Ship from Shanghai?

Yes: Vera Cruz (1954), Black Gold (2011) and The High and the Mighty (1954).

How are movies similar to The Ship from Shanghai chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Ship from Shanghai, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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