Every Pirates of the Caribbean Movie: RANKED
#5: “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” (2011)
Top 10 Best Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise Moments
When “On Stranger Tides” was announced, a lot of people had the same reaction: really, a fourth one? Nevertheless, the film made over a billion dollars worldwide, providing that there was still significant interest in this franchise. While Captain Jack and Barbossa return, “On Stranger Tides” felt like a clean slate with a new director, Rob Marshall, and several new characters. None of the newcomers quite lived up to their potential, though. Penélope Cruz is charismatic as Angelica, although the character and her relationship with Jack feel underdeveloped. Ian McShane as Blackbeard sounds like pitch-perfect casting on paper, but the villain isn’t nearly as fun or menacing as he should be. Although Will and Elizabeth are MIA, they’re essentially swapped out two cookie-cutter replacements: Philip and Syrena. The plot gets needlessly complicated as well. You’d think tracking down the Fountain of Youth would be straightforward, but instead of merely drinking from it, the characters also require chalices and a mermaid’s tears because… well, they needed a couple of side quests to fill the runtime. There is some fun to be had, however, especially whenever Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush reunite. This makes us wish, though, that the whole movie was just Jack and Barbossa trying to track down the fountain, without the extra baggage.
#4: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” (2017)
Keira Knightley Profile: From Pirates to Pride and Prejudice
Coming out six years later, the franchise’s fifth installment brought in a pair of new directors, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg. The duo wished to get back to the franchise’s roots with a mix of action and comedy, as well as a strong “emotional core.” And indeed, they do find some success in the swashbuckler set pieces, with the highlights being an inventive bank robbery and an execution escape. But it’s the emotional department where the film struggles. Love interests Henry and Carina are essentially replacements for Philip and Syrena, who were already replacements for Will and Elizabeth, and are designated to short and even shorter cameos here. There’s also a twist regarding Carina’s relationship with Barbossa that tries to give the film more heart, but it comes off as forced. As psyched as we were to see Javier Bardem as the villainous Captain Salazar, the CGI and his delivery never entirely mesh. Even Depp, who usually does most of the heavy lifting, is kinda just going through the motions. His worn-out drunk routine is really getting old here, so much so that Depp received two Razzie nominations. Although the film is visually interesting and the divided sea climax is a creative one, it felt like the franchise needed to either sail off into the sunset or take things in an entirely new direction going forward.
#3: “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007)
While not the franchise’s absolute best outing, “At World’s End” is the most epic in scale. The third entry is full of striking imagery, from the crew sailing over a massive waterfall to the climactic battle in the maelstrom. The final act, in particular, has some of the franchise’s best moments. Jack duels against Davy Jones, Will and Elizabeth have an impromptu wedding, and although there is a happy resolution, it doesn’t come without some sacrifice. Granted, to get to these rousing moments, we do have to sit through a fair deal of confusing exposition and straight-up strange scenes that could’ve been left on the cutting room floor. We would’ve liked to have seen more of Chow Yun-fat as Sao Feng and Keith Richards as Jack’s father. Instead, we get several scenes of Jack talking to himself and licking various objects. Although the film could’ve been tighter, the thrilling action and satisfying payoffs make up for the meandering moments. At the time, many assumed that this would be the last “Pirates” movie and there is a sense of finality to all the character arcs. Occasionally the story can become a tad too self-serious, but we ultimately feel the gravitas that the filmmakers aim for.
#2: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006)
“Dead Man’s Chest” is kind of like the franchise’s “Temple of Doom.” Upon release, the critical reviews were mixed, with some feeling the sequel didn’t quite live up to its predecessor. The film is far more fun than many critics initially gave it credit, however. In fact, from an action standpoint, this might be the franchise’s most impressive entry. Between the escape from a cannibal island, the three-way swordfight for the chest’s key, and the spectacular final battle, the film is a rollicking rollercoaster that rarely stops to catch a breath. When the film does slow down, though, it takes time for some intriguing character moments, such as Will reuniting with his father. “Dead Man’s Chest” also introduces two of the franchise’s most visually astounding creations: the towering Kraken and Bill Nighy as Davy Jones. The latter in particular set a new standard for motion capture villains. The visual effects team even picked up an Academy Award, marking the series’ only Oscar win. It may not be as fresh as our inevitable top pick, but the sequel does stand out with a darker tone, balanced out with almost Chaplin-esque comedy. The rum was far from gone.
#1: “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)
When the first “Pirates” movie got the green light, audiences everywhere assumed that Disney was running out of ideas. (Yeah, uh, we wouldn’t know anything about that…) The Mouse House already pretty much botched two theatrical movies based on theme park attractions: “Mission to Mars” and “The Country Bears.” While “Pirates of the Caribbean” showed more promise, it didn’t seem like enough to carry a film. Plus, pirate movies were box office poison, from “Cutthroat Island” to DreamWorks’ “Sinbad,” which came out the same summer. Although the film was a gamble, it combines several creative minds known for taking risks. Gore Verbinski proved anything but a conventional director, bringing a dark edge and wonderful sense of weirdness to the picture. Johnny Depp’s rock star sensibility enlivens Jack Sparrow, and scored him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, as well as a win at SAG. It’s especially refreshing to see a Disney protagonist who doesn’t always follow a moral compass. Disney stepped out of their comfort zone like never before with this one, releasing their first PG-13 rating under their family-friendly banner. These risks paid off with one of the year’s biggest blockbusters, surprising many with its imaginative action, sharp comedy, and compelling romance. What’s especially surprising is how much the filmmakers came up with on their own. While there are indeed nods to the ride, the mythology, characters, and story are wholly unique. The franchise has faced a few storms since then, but it’s a miracle that this cinematic treasure came out as well as it did.
