Black Sails (2014)

Kernel Score: 86% · 1,408 ratings

Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

First aired: 2014-01-25

Seasons: 4 · 38 episodes

Where to watch Black Sails

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

The pirate adventures of Captain Flint and his men twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

Black Sails parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Black Sails is a TV-MA pirate adventure with brutal violence and a 'debauched' setting including prostitutes and criminal life.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Described as featuring 'stunning brutality' amid pirate warfare and criminal violence, TV-MA rated.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Setting includes prostitutes and a 'debauched paradise,' consistent with TV-MA content.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-MA rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

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Cast

  • Toby Stephens as Captain James Flint
  • Luke Arnold as John Silver
  • Hannah New as Eleanor Guthrie
  • Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max
  • Toby Schmitz as Jack Rackham
  • Tom Hopper as William "Billy Bones" Manderly
  • Clara Paget as Anne Bonny
  • Ray Stevenson as Blackbeard
  • Luke Roberts as Woodes Rogers

Black Sails FAQ

Is Black Sails good?

Black Sails has an 86% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,408 audience ratings.

Where can I watch Black Sails?

In the US you can stream Black Sails on Philo, Spectrum On Demand and Starz, watch it free with ads on Prime Video, Philo, The Roku Channel and Plex and buy it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

Is Black Sails OK for kids?

Black Sails is rated TV-MA. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Black Sails is a TV-MA pirate adventure with brutal violence and a 'debauched' setting including prostitutes and criminal life.

What shows are like Black Sails?

If you liked Black Sails, try The Terminal List, The Day of the Jackal, Our Flag Means Death and The Last Kingdom.