Summary
ThePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise was absolutely huge during the 2000s. Audiences across the globe have fallenin love with the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrowand his Black Pearl, as many flocked to theaters to see the infamous pirate go on escapades involving skeletons, sea creatures, and the British Royal Navy.
So far, there have been five different installments in the franchise, and while each one is enjoyable in its own right, the movies do not reach the same standard of quality. While the IP’s future is somewhat unclear, a sixth film is reportedly in development, and it will mark a new post-Jack Sparrow era. In the meantime, let’s look back at the Disney property’s history and pinpoint thebestPirates of the Caribbeanmovie.
Updated Jun 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut:In celebration ofPOTC’s crossover with Fortnite, this article has been updated with galleries for each movie, along with other tweaks to bring it up to scratch. Presuming it ever happens, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is likely a long way from completion; consequently, fans will need to settle for rewatching past releases. Furthermore, newcomers who discover the IP through Fortnite might be curious to know which of the films are worth watching.
InOn Stranger Tides, fans are introduced to Blackbeard, the merciless Captain of the pirate ship known as Queen Anne’s Revenge. Many were interested in knowing more about this new villain and his objectives, as well as getting to see Jack Sparrow in action.
While this blockbuster showsSparrow in all his clumsy glory, it fails to capture the magic of the original trilogy. Elizabeth and Will might be somewhat polarizing characters, but their more “typical” personalities juxtaposition well with Sparrow’s eccentric demeanor.On Stranger Tidesremoves them from the equation and pushes Jack even further into the protagonist role than in the previous sequels, resulting in an unbalanced story. Although the film got its casting spot on, Penélope Cruz’s Angelica and Geoffrey Rush’s Blackbeard are both forgettable characters, with the latter being perhaps the worst main villain in the series. That said, the mermaid sequence is fantastic and intense, easily one of the best moments inPirates of the Caribbean.
By the 5th installment in thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, most fans were just eager to see Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow as he seemed to be the glue holding the movies together.Dead Men Tell No Talestells the story of a sailor named Salazar, whom many refer to as El Matador Del Mar. He used to hunt down pirates and ruthlessly dispose of them, but he ran out of luck when he attacked a fleet of pirate ships that had a young Jack Sparrow on board one of them. After the Captain of the Wicked Wench was killed, Jack assumed the position of its Captain and lured Salazar into the Devil’s Triangle where he and his crew became cursed. Salazar swore revenge against, as he called him, “Jack The Sparrow.”
Released almost 15 years into the series' life,Dead Men Tell No Talessuffered from franchise fatigue, resulting in a lackluster box office return (byPOTCstandards) and a critical drubbing. This film tries to correct the mistakes ofOn Stranger Tidesby introducing a new couple to replace Will and Elizabeth; unfortunately, Henry and Carina are blander than their predecessors. Sadly, Javier Bardem’s Salazar is an underwhelming villain who suffers from the Bane issue that it is often difficult to make out everything he says.
Sparrow and Barbossa carry this movie on their backs, even if both characters are slight shadows of their former selves in this movie. Despite all that criticism,Dead Men Tell No Taleshas quite a few great set pieces and also injects a late twist that adds some emotional weight to the narrative.
With the 2003 film being a surprise success, Disney quickly put two sequels into production, both of which performed extremely well at the box office. Here, Sparrow has to deal with two antagonists who are breathing down his neck: Lord Becket wants his compass and Davy Jones wants his soul.
Unlike the original movie,Dead Man’s Chestfirmly presents Sparrow as a protagonist on par with Will and Elizabeth; in fact, an argument can be made that the pirate is the real main character. As the middle entry in a trilogy,Dead Man’s Cheststruggles to fully make up for its lack of closure, which is not helped by the fact thatAt World’s Endspends its first hour reverting its predecessor’s ending.
That said, this is a relentlessly entertaining blockbuster filled with creative action sequences, physical comedy, and a multitude of effective performances that are not overshadowed by Johnny Deep’s Sparrow. The plot can get a touch too complicated at times, but a great scene is almost always just a few minutes away.
At World’s Endwas by far the most anticipated movie in the entire franchise thanks to the previous one ending on a major cliffhanger. Jack and his beloved Pearl are stuck in Davy Jones' Locker, while Becket, who had possession of Jones' heart, is destroying pirate ships with the aid of the Flying Dutchman.
The longest entry in the series,At World’s Endsets out to deliver an unapologetically epic experience, one stuffed with betrayals, characters on top of characters, outlandish set pieces, and crabs. So many crabs. Bloated as the film could be at times,At World’s Endfelt like one of those spectacles that simply had to be watched on the big screen. Every figure that fans grew to love throughout the previous movies is given something to do in this entry, including the returning Barbossa, andthe final battle is something special.
The Curse of the Black Pearlis thebestPirates of the Caribbeanmovieand, frankly,it is not even close. This blockbuster is perfect from start to finish, and it has a very satisfying ending. Although just a secondary player in this story, Captain Jack Sparrow steals every scene he is in, becoming the franchise’s break-out character in the process. After he was betrayed and lost The Pearl, Jack set out in search of a means to retake his beloved. The movie shows how he burrows into the lives of Elizabeth and Will, and how he becomes a part of their lives. The struggle to save Elizabeth from Barbossa, as well as obtaining the Pearl, made each scene captivating.
Perhaps it was due to low expectations before its release, butThe Curse of the Black Pearlwas surprisingly great, delivering a fantastic blend of old-school swashbuckling adventure, cheesy but endearing romance, and great humor. While certainly stealing the show and arguably at his best, Jack Sparrow is very much a supporting character in the originalPirates of the Caribbean, which is a better fit for such a quirky and over-the-top performance. Sparrow is also far from the movie’s only highlight; Barbossa is a stellar antagonist, William and Elizabeth carry their scenes well, and the undead curse translates into some genuinely creepy sequences.
