Ever since the release of its first movie in 2003, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise has been well-received by moviegoers and fans. The success of the film franchise came as a surprise to many. Movies about Pirates were typically a flop back in the day. As a matter of fact, the movie holding the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest movie flop is about pirates. It was one of Disney’s biggest gambles, but they decided to push through with it. Today, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise is one of the most loved movies of all time, making Johnny Depp’s character Jack Sparrow one of the most recognizable pirates.
#5 Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides (2011)
Director: Rob Marshall
Box Office Gross: $1.046 Billion
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Geoffrey Rush
Synopsis:
A lone survivor from Juan Ponce de Leon’s fleet meets up with King Ferdinand of Spain and tells him about the legendary Fountain of Youth. The King organizes another expedition to locate the said fountain. The news about the expedition reaches the shores of London, where King George II seeks the aid of Captain Jack Sparrow to guide their journey to the Fountain of Youth before the Spanish do.
Meanwhile, Angelica, Sparrow’s former lover, falsely introduces herself as Captain Jack Sparrow to recruit other pirates for an expedition. Angelica, Black beard’s daughter, tells Jack Sparrow that they must first recover two silver chalices from Juan Ponce De Leon’s ship, the Santiago, and a mermaid’s tear must be placed on one of the chalices. Both of the chalices must be drunk simultaneously. The action shall activate the Fountain’s Healing properties while the other drinker dies.
Blackbeard sends Jack Sparrow to retrieve the chalices from The Santiago, where he sees Captain Barbossa, who tells him that Blackbeard attacked the Black Pearl causing him to lose his leg. Barbossa and Sparrow didn’t et the chalice because the Spaniards first reached the ship. They go to the Fountain of Youth. The Spanish got the place first but declared the fountain an abomination and threw the choices in a pool. Syrena, the mermaid, retrieves the chalices and gives them to Jack.
On the other hand, Captain Hector Barbossa stabs Blackbeard with a poisoned sword. Jack provides the chalices to Blackbeard and Angelica. But he tricks Blackbeard into thinking that the chalice he got had mermaid tears when it was Angelica who got it. In the end, Blackbeard dies, and Angelica gets healed. The Spanish destroyed the fountain in fear that its immense power may be easily used for bad since it was too powerful.
#4 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dean Men Tell No Tales (2017)
Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Box Office Gross: $794.9 Million
Starring: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario
Synopsis:
The Turner Family is incomplete following the curse that bound their patriarch to the Flying Dutchman. Thirteen years after his curse began, his now thirteen-year-old son boards the Flying Dutchman to inform his father about a possible solution that will break his course. Thirteen-year-old Henry Turner discovers that The Trident of Poseidon could free his father, Will Turner, from The Flying Dutchman. However, his father dissuades him from his plans to recruit Jack Sparrow to get the Trident, thinking it would be impossible.
However, the younger Turner’s desire to free his father prevailed. Nine years after he saw his father, Henry, now all grown up, is a sailor in the Royal Navy. Their ship was traversing the Devil’s Triangle when they saw the wreckage of the Silent Mary, headed by Captain Armando Salazar.
Salazar, a pirate-hunter, was a nemesis of Captain Jack Sparrow. He killed all of Turner’s crewmates but spared his life so that he could send Jack Sparrow his message. On the other hand, Jack Sparrow is in Saint Martin and is suffering from a stroke of bad luck. After a failed bank robbery, he crosses paths with Carina Smyth, an astronomer who was sentenced to death after she was accused of witchcraft. Jack Sparrow trades his compass for a drink that frees those bound to the Devil’s Triangle. Meanwhile, Carina learned about Henry’s quest to find the Trident of Poseidon.
Together, the three go on the journey to find the Trident. But are faced with hurdles in the form of Captain Armando Salazar. In the middle of the voyage, they are joined by Captain Hector Barbossa, tempted by the promise of treasure. However, on their journey, he realizes that Carina is her long-lost daughter. The crew was able to retrieve the Trident, and Henry could destroy it, freeing all those bound by curses. However, they still needed to face Captain Salazar to leave the island. Captain Barbossa sacrificed himself for the rest to be able to escape.
#3 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Director: Gore Verbinski
Box Office Gross: $960.9 Million
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Jack Davenport, Stellan Skarsgård, Kevin R. McNally, Jonathan Pryce, Chow Yun-fat, Geoffrey Rush
Synopsis:
Lord Cutler Beckett has decreed to execute pirates and those involved in piracy to monopolize the seas. Back in “The Dead Man’s Chest,” Becket comes into the possession of Davy Jones’ beating heart, which he uses to his advantage by making Jones do his bidding while gaining control of The Flying Dutchman. Lord Cutler Beckett has instructed Jones to destroy all pirate ships. On the other hand, Captain Jack Sparrow is still stashed in Davy Jones’ locker because he could not name his successor; Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, Tia Dalma, and Captain Hector Barbossa are prompted to save him.
On their quest to rescue Jack Sparrow, they seek the help of Pirate Lord Shao Feng, who has the means to find Davy Jones’ locker. They succeed in rescuing Sparrow and taking back the Black Pearl. On their way back, they would see boats carrying the souls of those who departed. Tia Dalma reveals that it was Davy Jones’ job to lead them. Furthermore, it tells them the narrative that Davy Jones was the lover of the goddess Calypso. However, Calypso was imprisoned by the Pirate Lords.
In times of need, the Pirate Lords are compelled to release Calypso from her being trapped in human form. They hoped that she would fight against the enemies.
#2 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Director: Gore Verbinski
Box Office Gross: $1.066 billion
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNall, Jonathan Pryce, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgård, Bill Nighy
Synopsis:
Captain Jack Sparrow is placed in hot waters. He must either join Davy Jones aboard The Flying Dutchman or be banished into Davy Jones’ Locker after he sought his help to retrieve The Black Pearl from the ocean depths. On the other hand, Will and Elizabeth are punished for being an acquaintance of Captain Jack Sparrow. Will Turner closes a deal to bring their captors Jack Sparrow’s compass in exchange for freedom. However, before he even returns with the compass, Elizabeth escapes from captivity. Jack Sparrow agrees to give Will the compass in exchange for a particular key that will open a chest. To do this, Will must board the Flying Dutchman, where he gets reunited with his father. The chest contents are revealed to be the heart of Davy Jones.
#1 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Director: Gore Verbinski
Box Office Gross: $654.3 million
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Pryce, Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush
Synopsis:
The film begins in the HMS Dauntless, a ship owned by Governor Weatherby Swann, sailing towards Port Royal in Jamaica. While aboard the ship, the HMS Dauntless encounters wreckage where the young Will Turner is seen. Around the boy’s neck lies a golden pirate medallion. As the years pass, Governor Weatherby’s daughter Elizabeth gets betrothed to Captain James Norrington. Overwhelmed by shock, Elizabeth faints and falls to the sea, where the medallion around her neck, which she acquired from Wil Turner, emits a pulse. Captain Jack Sparrow rescues Elizabeth, but Captain Norrington recognizes him as a pirate causing a chase.
On the other hand, Elizabeth is captured by the Black Pearl’s crew and taken to Captain Barbossa, who claims that the medallion she currently possesses once belonged to them. It was a stolen treasure that caused them to be cursed by the Aztec Gods, turning them into immortal beings and changing into skeletal form at twilight. In order to hide her identity as the Governor’s daughter, Elizabeth assumes the name, Elizabeth Turner. However, unbeknownst to her, it will only cause much more trouble.
She is taken prisoner by Black Pear’s Captain, believing that she is the daughter of Bootstrap Bill Turner’s daughter, whose blood they need to lift the curse. The medallion is returned, and Elizabeth’s blood is sacrificed, but the curse is yet to be lifted. Will Turner, who’s in love with Elizabeth, connives with Captain Jack Sparrow to rescue Elizabeth. After a grueling odyssey, Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner succeed in saving Elizabeth. However, upon return to Royal Port, Jack Sparrow is set to be hanged for piracy, but Elizabeth and Will intervene. Ultimately, Will and Elizabeth get married, and Sparrow is free.