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Entertainment

Captain Phillips

What is captain phillips?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Release date 11 October 2013[3]
Director Paul Greengrass[1]
Starring Tom Hanks as Richard Phillips[1]
Running time 134 minutes[1]
Box office $220.6 million[1]
Academy Award nominations Six[1]

Captain Phillips is a 2013 American biographical action-thriller film about the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama and the captivity of Captain Richard Phillips by Somali pirates.

Context

Captain Phillips is a 2013 American biographical action-thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks as Captain Richard Phillips [1]. It depicts the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates [1]. The film was released in U.S. theaters on 11 October 2013 [3] and has a running time of 134 minutes [1]. It grossed $220.6 million worldwide [1] and received six Academy Award nominations [1].

Documented claims

  • The film is based on the 2009 hijacking of the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates. [1]
  • The film received six Academy Award nominations. [1]

Questions and answers

How much of Captain Phillips is a true story?

The film is based on the real 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, but some details were dramatized for cinematic effect [2].

What happened to the real Captain Phillips?

Captain Richard Phillips was held captive by Somali pirates and later rescued by the U.S. Navy [2].

Why is Captain Phillips controversial?

Some crew members of the Maersk Alabama have disputed the film's portrayal of events, leading to controversy [2].

Sources

  1. 15 Interesting Facts About Captain Phillips (2013) — kickassfacts.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. How Accurate Is Captain Phillips? — slate.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. captain phillips — en.namu.wiki (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment