A gripping thriller which keeps viewers on the edge of their seats has just landed on a new streaming service.

The 2013 action-packed film, based on the true story of an American merchant sailor who was held captive off the Horn of Africa, is adapted from the protagonist’s autobiography and accounts of the 2009 incident.

Captain Richard Phillips, portrayed by Tom Hanks, is tasked with steering the unarmed cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama from an Omani port to Mombasa, Kenya, via the Guardafui Channel.

Fully aware of pirate activities in the area, the captain and his First Officer (played by Michael Chernus), implement safety measures, but are swiftly intercepted by Somali pirates in two skiffs.

The narrative then follows the men’s mission to protect their crew and vessel from the escalating threat, as well as the nail-biting negotiations between Phillips and the pirate leader, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), culminating in a heart-stopping rescue operation, reports the Express.

Scene from Captain Phillips

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The 2013 film was based on a real story(Image: Columbia Pictures)

Columbia Pictures snapped up the story’s rights mere weeks after Captain Phillips’ real-life rescue, and shooting took place off the coast of Malta on a ship identical to the Maersk Alabama.

The cast also features Catherine Keener as Phillips’ wife, Andrea, David Warshofsky as chief engineer Mike Perry, Corey Johnson as helmsman Ken Quinn, and Chris Mulkey as senior crew member John Cronan.

The film proved an immediate box office triumph upon its debut, raking in $218.8 million globally against a $55 million budget.

Critics lavished praise on Captain Phillips, with the film securing an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where audiences continue to celebrate its powerful impact.

Tom Hanks

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Captain Phillips starred Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi(Image: Hopper Stone, SMPSP)

“‘I’m the captain now’ was bone-chilling. This movie is high-anxiety from start to finish,” one viewer wrote. “The performances are so brilliant that I have no desire to watch this film again.”

Another simply said: “I thought Captain Phillips was absolutely perfect,” whilst a fellow fan described it as “one of the most intense movies I’ve seen with Tom Hanks portraying a character so convincingly. Brilliantly directed, great cinematography, and the whole cast excels in character. Highly recommended.”

A fourth reviewer added: “If you don’t like this movie, you need to ask some serious questions of yourself”.

The thriller earned four Golden Globe nominations and nine British Academy Film Award nods – with Abdi clinching Best Supporting Actor. It also secured six Academy Award nominations and featured prominently in numerous critics’ year-end lists for 2013’s finest films.

Captain Phillips is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.