On screen, the art of fishing has been used as a backdrop to explore friendships, political strife, romance and general thought process a character is going through.
There are some well-known titles and others that may have escaped your notice. You’ll find all in the list of fishing movies mentioned below.
10 Must-See Fishing Movies For All Film Enthusiast
These are my picks for the 10 best fishing movies ever created!
1. A River Runs Through It (1992)
A River Runs Through It is a 1992 American period drama film directed by Robert Redford, based on Norman Maclean’s 1976 semi-autobiographical novel.
It movie follows two brothers who grow up together as sons of a very strict priest in rural Montana. One of them is rebellious while the other is a lot more reserved. They both love fly-fishing.
Cast:
This film stars Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt , Norman and Paul, alongside Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn and Emily Lloyd.
2. The Perfect Storm (2000)
The Perfect Storm is a American biographical disaster drama masterpeiece directed by Wolfgang Petersen and based on the 1997 creative non-fiction book of the same name by Sebastian Junger.
This movie revolves around a group of fishermen decide to go one more time by a disappointing catch, late in the season. They catch a lot, but end up in a violent storm on the way back.
Cast:
The film stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, William Fichtner, Karen Allen, Allen payne, Bob Gunton, John Hawkes, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and John C. Reilly.
3. Gone Fishin
Gone Fishin’ is a 1997 American comedy film directed the film. J. J. Abrams. The film’s script was written by Jill Mazursky and was a boxoffice bomb, grossing just $19 million on a $53 million budget.
Gon fishin revolves around two lifelong fishing buddies who must overcome a series of obstacles to enjoy their ultimate fishing trip.
Cast
Joe Pesci, Danny Glover, Nick Brimble, Rosanna Arquette, Lynn Whitfield, and Willie Nelson.
4. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (2012)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a 2011 British rom-com drama film directed by Lasse Hallström.
In this film Alfred Jones s a fishery-raised scientist who, in the service of government, is given the task of introducing salmon to the highlands of Yemen.
Encouraged by a sympathetic sheikh, and his charming spokeswoman, this becomes a project that will eventually change not only Jones’ lives, but also British political history.
Cast
The film stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked.
5. The Complete Angler (2002)
The Complete Angler is a 2002 documentary directed by Fritz Mitchell an produced by Wendy Yamano. The beautiful cinematography was done by Brian Franchella.
This movie is a very personal documentary that celebrates nature, fly fishing, and most importantly, the life of the complete fisherman.
It follows the journey of James Prosek as he seeks to live simply by incorporating the philosophies of Izaak Walton’s The Complete Angler into his own life.
Cast:
James Prosek
6. The Old Man And The Sea (1958)
The Old Man and the Sea is a 1958 American adventure drama film based on Ernest Hemingway’s masterpiece. It is directed by John Sturges
The film was nominated for Best Color Cinematography and Best Actor and won the Academy Award for the best original score for Dimitri’s work on the film.
This movie revolves around an old Cuban fisherman who has not caught anything in 84 days. So his fisherman society treats him unlucky.
Despite the devotion of the young boy who brings him coffee and food, the fisherman fears he has become perpetually unlucky. On his 85th day of fishing, the old man catches a small fish and decides to keep fishing.
Cast
This movie stars Spencer Tracy, Felipe Pazos Jr., Harry Bellaver, Don Diamond, Don Blackman, Joey Ray, Richard Alameda, Tony Rosa, Carlos Rivero, Robert Alderette and Don Alvarado.
7. Alamo Bay (1985)
Alamo Bay is a 1985 American drama film directed by Louis Malle. The film’s soundtrack, composed and recorded by the artist Ry Cooder.
The film is set in the coastal waters of a Texas Bay town and follows a vindictive nam vet, Shang who feels like he is at war with the Vietnamese refugees encroaching on the local fishing industry.
He sees their presence as a threat to his Gulf Coast livelihood especially after his boat is repossessed. He teams up with other fishermen and the KKK to terrorize the Vietnamese fishermen.
Cast
This film stars Amy Madigan, Ed Harris, Ho Nguyen, Donald Moffat, Ruby Young, Willian Frankfather, Jay Patterson.
8. Low & Clear (2013)
This movie is directed by Kahlil Hudson an Tyler Hughen and produced by Finback Films.
This movie is a discourse on friendship and life in the disappearing wilderness of the West. It captures the reunion of two formerly close friends who re-unite for one last fly fishing trip in the waist-deep steelhead waters.
Over the course of their time together they come to understand how much they have grown apart over the years and how these changes now threaten the friendship.
Cast
Alex Hall and John Townes Van Zantt
9. ONDINE (2009)
Syracuse is a 2009 Irish romantic drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan.
In this film Colin Farrel is trawling on his boat where he accidentally catches a scantily clad young woman in his net.
He sees she is alive and resuscitates her. She calls herself a selkie and refuses to be taken to the hospital, not wanting to be seen by anyone else.
Cast
The cast of this film includes Colin Farrell, Alicja Bachleda, Alison Barry, Dervla Kirwan, Tony Curran and Emil Hostina.
10. Silver King: The Birth of Big-Game Fishing (2012)
This movie is on the history of one of the world’s most renowned game fish, the tarpon. One of the notable events of this movie was the capture of William H. Wood’s 93-pound tarpon.
The trophy specimen was caught in Florida’s Sanibel Island with an ordinary bamboo fishing rod and mullet for bait were used.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it my picks for the 10 best fishing movies. Add any one of them to your next movie session and trust me you will enjoy it.
