Based on the titular Disneyland attraction (and later ushering in similar adaptations, such as Eddie Murphy’s The Haunted Mansion), the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has become a cultural staple, one of the many franchises that helped to reinvent the summer blockbuster, and the primary source for the public’s perception of piracy in recent years. An all-star cast including Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom alongside Hollywood titan Johnny Depp (who shines in what is regarded as one of his best-ever performances), merged with some breathtaking visual effects, made this series a hit—and, thanks to the Internet, you can watch it right now, no matter where you are.
What follows is a list of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, links to where you can watch them, and thoughtfully compiled information on their premises, critical reception, and commercial success.
5 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
The film that turned amusement park rides into profitable cinema, 2003’s Pirates of The Caribbean, follows Captain Jack Sparrow. After his ship, the Black Pearl, is captured in an act of mutiny by his own first mate, Sparrow spends his days plotting revenge. However, the Aztec gold the ship was transporting has already cursed the mutineers, rendering them undead and incapable of feeling happiness until they return the bounty. One of the most important pieces has accidentally fallen into the hands of Elizabeth Swann, a young lady with a penchant for piracy. This forces the cursed seafarers to capture her, further forcing Will Turner, an adept blacksmith who’s loved Elizabeth since childhood, to team up with Sparrow and go after the lot of them.
Box office analysts expected a bomb, but Disney was pleasantly surprised; the film made more than $650 million on a budget of $140 million. Critics loved the rollicking, swashbuckling adventure, with Johnny Depp’s bewitching performance as Captain Will Turner especially praised.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, YouTube
4 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was filmed back-to-back with the series’ third installment, At World’s End, as the first film was such a success that Disney was more than ready to greenlight two sequels. This film follows the now-wedded Will and Elizabeth, as they’re arrested for their efforts in assisting Jack Sparrow; however, the devious Lord Cutler Beckett offers them a full pardon if they can help him find the Dead Man’s Chest, as inside is the heart of Davy Jones—whoever possesses it can control the famed pirate and thus also the seas.
An unprecedented triumph of the summer blockbuster, Dead Man’s Chest took in more than a billion dollars worldwide, becoming the third-highest-grossing film at the time of release and breaking a multitude of box office records. Critics loved the acting, action sequences, visuals, and music, although some were critical of what they perceived as poor pacing.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, YouTube
3 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
Beginning where the previous film left off, 2007’s At World’s End sees Beckett ruling the seas, with a master plan to eliminate piracy once and for all. Davy Jones has ordered the Kraken to take Sparrow to the legendary Locker; the supernatural pirate and captain of the Flying Dutchman raised the sunken Black Pearl and made Sparrow a captain for thirteen years, as was requested, but Sparrow refused to repay the debt. Will, Elizabeth, and a resurrected Hector Barbosa head off to save him, hoping he can help them take down Beckett once and for all.
One of the most expensive films ever made with a budget clocking in at over $300 million, the film was still a critical success, making $963 million worldwide. Critics were on the fence; many liked the performances and visuals while finding fault with the plot and character development.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, YouTube
2 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
2011’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides finds Sparrow in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth. Obviously, he’s not the only one, and his former lover, Angelica; her father, the infamous pirate Blackbeard; and his former-first-mate-turned-privateer Hector Barbossa are all after the elusive spring as well, each with their own intentions. With this film’s monolithic box office taking of $1.04 billion, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise became the first to have two films gross more than a billion dollars each.
Critics compared the pacing and visuals favorably to those of the previous installments, though many still believed that the franchise had run its course, citing what they saw as an incoherent absurdity, present throughout the series, that arguably reached its peak in this entry.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, YouTube
1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has plenty of ancient, mystic relics that give their bearers godlike powers, and 2017’s Dead Men Tell No Tales is no exception, as the film finds Sparrow and Barbossa in search of the Trident of Poseidon, believing it can free Will from his binding to Davy Jones’ ship, the Dutchman (a curse initiated at the climax of At World’s End). Meanwhile, however, they’ll have to face the murderous, undead pirate Captain Armando Salazar, once a high-ranking officer in the Spanish navy, who seeks the Trident to get revenge on all pirates, as a young Sparrow defeated him and his crew by tricking them into sailing the Bermuda Triangle during a battle. This latest installment proves the franchise hasn’t run out of steam yet; it made almost $800 million on a budget of $230 million.
Like with many of the series’ previous installments, critics were split, with many praising the acting, visuals, and characters (in fact, some even called the film a return to form for the franchise), while others, using words like “sinking” and “seasick” in their reviews, commented regarding what they saw as a formulaic plot topped off with unengaging characters.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Vudu, YouTube
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