It has been adapted into an opera, first performed in 1951, by Benjamin Britten.

A famous film version, released in 1962, starred Terence Stamp as Billy Budd, Robert Ryan as John Claggart, and Peter Ustinov as Captain Vere. Ustinov also produced, directed, and co-wrote the screenplay. Stamp was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The plot follows Billy Budd, who is seaman pressed into service aboard the British Navy ship HMS Avenger in the year following two major mutinies. The captain of the Avenger, Captain Vere, recognises an essential goodness in Budd which does not let him fit well into shipboard life. In particular Budd arouses the antagonism of the vile Master at Arms, John Claggart. Claggart persucutes Billy, and finally frames him for mutiny. When brought before the captain to answer the charges, Billy is unable to respond, but lashes out at Claggart and kills him. Captain Vere realises that, although he believes Billy to be innocent, if he pardons him he risks losing control of the Avenger, and sentences him to death.