Captain Phillips: film review

Key points, November 2026

• Facts: directed by Paul Greengrass, with Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi (Oscar-nominated for best supporting actor). Inspired by the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off Somalia in April 2009 and Richard Phillips's book.
• Disputed account: several crew members publicly challenged the heroic portrait of the captain, which qualifies any "true to the facts" reading.
• Comparison: A Hijacking (Kapringen, Tobias Lindholm) shows how long negotiations last and their psychological cost, for both crew and shipping company.