克莱特夫妇一家五口人遭遇海难,漂流到一个孤岛上。于是在等待过路船只的过程中,一家人开始了在小岛上的蛮荒生活。采摘果物、修建木屋、种植庄稼,以至于驯养家畜,克莱特夫妇一家人齐心协力,为了生存回归到了原始的农耕时代。于是,在这个单纯的自然环境中,家人之间的感情变得更加的纯粹和默契,并逐渐地喜爱上了这个美丽的小岛和岛上的生活。7年后,当他们终于等到了迎接的船只,一家人却又开始留恋这个小岛并最终决定留下来。David Robinson is being shipped off to a penal colony. His wife and kids are allowed to accompany him. A storm strikes the ship and the family (save for one son, Jacob) are trapped below deck. Jacob is raised by pirates, and the family gets out of the boat and on to land, salvaging as much as they can from the boat, including dogs, chickens, and muskets. They learn to survive and build a shelter on land. Then, Jacob's pirates kidnap Emily, the daughter of a sea-captain. She escapes onto the island and becomes a love interest with Fritz and Ernst. Jacob is reunited with his family during a battle with the pirates over Emily, and she is returned to her father. In the end, the family goes their own ways, some staying on the island, some going home.