Do you know Pirates of the Caribbean is a movie inspired by an adventure ride at Disney theme parks? When, in 1967, the park set up a boat ride, nobody had a clue that one day it would be the reason behind such successful and highly grossing movies. 

The ride takes the passenger between the base of the pirates where they had hidden their treasure, this same idea is used by the makers of all Pirates of the Caribbean movies as they further brainstorm the entire story around it. 

To date, under the Pirates of the Caribbean series, five movies have been released. Undoubtedly, the makers put their heart and soul into making the movies one of the best of their kind. Be it the storyline, direction, casting, music, or action, everything is on point. 

Though the basic story of all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is the same, some inspire the audience. In contrast, the others failed to satisfy them. Here we have listed all Pirates of the Caribbean films, from the worst to the best, based on the ratings and reviews of critics. This will help you understand if the makers are doing better with every installment or not.

Worst to Best Pirates of the Caribbean Movies

Pirates of the Caribbean movies are the story of Captain Jack Sparrow and his adventures. As you follow him in the five movies, you will understand his self-centered personality. He is a pirate who never keeps his word and keeps his fellows entertained throughout the journey. Despite his difficulties and mysteries, he somehow manages to overcome them all.   

There are multiple critics and websites who rate all the movies released to help the audience decide which one they should vouch for and watch. Some known ones are IMDb, rotten tomatoes, Roger Ebert, etc. We have used the rating of Pirates of the Caribbean on rotten tomatoes to list them from the worst to the best. 

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales  

• Date of release: May 26, 2017 
• Rotten Tomatoes: 30%
• IMDb: 6.5/10
• Run time: 2h 9m
• Box office: 794.9 million USD
• Director: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
• Writer: Jeff Nathanson, Terry Rossio
• Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites

Jack Sparrow is in great trouble as a crew of ghost pirates have escaped the Devil’s triangle and returned from death. Under the leadership of Captain Salazar, they are here to take revenge on Captain Jack Sparrow. The only way to save himself is to find the Trident of Poseidon that will give him all the power to rule the seas. Side by side, the storyline also brings back William Turner and his son Henry who wants to end his father’s curse and is also looking for the Trident. In the quest, an astronomer and horologist, Carina Smyth, also joins them. 

Also known as Salazar’s Revenge, it is the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie. It failed to entertain the audience and became the worst of all five. Firstly, there was nothing new in the film, it only tried to bring the storyline back to the first three movies but failed, thus making it lose its uniqueness and the viewers’ interest. In an attempt to maintain the film’s integrity, Johnny Depp outdid himself, and it could be clearly seen on screen.  

Despite being nominated in 13 different categories of various award shows, it only won “Best Stunt Rigging” in the 2018s World Stunt Awards. 

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

• Date of release: May 7, 2011
• Rotten Tomatoes: 33%
• IMDb: 6.6/10
• Run time: 2h 21m
• Box office: 1.046 billion USD
• Director: Rob Marshall
• Writer: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie
• Cast: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Sam Claflin, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey 

The soldiers are chasing Captain Jack Sparrow, whom he soon escapes. Meanwhile, someone else is trying to be him and using his name to recruit a vessel and crew. Eventually, he finds out that the pretender is a past girl, Angelica, whom he used to seduce in a convent in Seville. She has kidnapped Jack and wants him to help her find the legendary Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth to save his father, pirate Blackbeard, from the curse he has been under for a long time. At the same time, the Spanish and the British also sent their ships and crew. They also want to find the same Fountain of Youth before anyone. The English crew is under the leadership of Captain Hector Barbossa, who King George especially hires to fight against everyone. 

With Gore Verbinski no longer onboard, the direction of the movie took a huge turn. This time the makers only filled it with action scenes that did not have much substance. Also, the story was entirely different from the first three stories thus, the characters did not leave much impact on the audience. Though the film introduced great historical pirates like Blackbeard, the story became too chaotic for the viewers to enjoy.      

Out of the 34 nominations, the 4th movie of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series managed to win three awards, including “Best Movie for Mature Audiences” at Movie Guide Awards 2013.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

• Date of release: November 30, 2007
• Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
• IMDb: 7.1/10
• Run time: 2h 48m
• Box office: 960.9 million USD
• Director: Gore Verbinski
• Writer: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie
• Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

Finally, it is time that Captain Barbossa, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Jack Sparrow reunite together to fight the last battle. But before everything, Captain Jack Sparrow is stuck in the land of the dead, and the other three have to find him. On the other hand are their enemies, Davy Jones, and Lord Cutler Beckett. As Beckett wants to rule the sea and finish all the pirates, he has made an alliance with Jones by controlling his heart. Now, the Pirate Lords have to be called, but they want the release of goddess Calypso who they had put in the trap before. The Pirate Lords have to break the ritual and combine the nine pieces together to release her so she can help them fight. 

Undoubtedly, the first three Pirate of the Caribbean movies were the best. Nevertheless, the third one still could not meet the viewers’ expectations and proved to be the weakest among them. The plot of the three hour movie was too confusing for the audience to understand though it had the highest budget of $300 million compared to the other installments of the same series. 

Being a blockbuster, the film won the “Top Box Office Films Award” at ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards 2008. Moreover, Johnny Deep won the two best actors awards for his impeccable performance.  

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

• Date of release: August 6, 2006
• Rotten Tomatoes: 53% 
• IMDb: 7.3/10
• Run time: 2h 31m
• Box office: 1.066 billion USD
• Director: Gore Verbinski
• Writer: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie
• Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy

As the mysteries unwind throughout the movie, every character searches for one thing or another for their freedom. William and Elizabeth are being punished with the death penalty as they have been in contact with Captain Jack Sparrow. However, William promises to bring Jack’s compass in exchange for his and Elizabeth’s life. Secondly, Davy Jones, captain of a ghostly ship, is also following Jack. To escape him, Jack has to open a special chest and needs to find the key. Considering the circumstances, Jack promises to give Will the compass if both of them agree to help him. Elizabeth has also run away from the prison in search of Will, and now the three of them are on a thrilling quest.  

Being released right after the original film, this movie maintained its authenticity and continued the story while entertaining the viewers to their core. Introducing a new villain was a game changer and helped develop the audience’s interest. The only thing missing was the character Rush’s Barbossa, who had previously made an impact and the audience wanted to see him again. 

Be it the CGI, or the acting, everything was superb, and the movie managed to win 45 awards along with being nominated in 54 other categories. 

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl

• Date of release: June 28, 2003
• Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
• IMDb: 8.1/10
• Run time: 2h 23m
• Box office: 654.3 million USD
• Director: Gore Verbinski
• Writer: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie, Jay Wolpert
• Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

The first one of all Pirates of the Caribbean movies follows the tale of Captain Jack Sparrow and a blacksmith, Will Turner. They are on a search mission to find Will’s love of life, Elizabeth Swann. She is also the daughter of the governor and is now kidnapped by the fearless and immortal Captain Barbossa. Jack and Will are still unaware that Barbossa has been cursed for eternity to neither live nor die until a blood sacrifice is made.  

Certainly, The Curse of the Black Pearl is the best of all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The simple storyline, amazing acting, and intense dialogues managed to gain a strong fan following such that the series is still being followed, and the films are watched worldwide. The movie gives references to the Disney ride and proves to be the main attraction of the audience. 

Being the best, the film got a massive response from everyone. While all praised it, it also got 142 nominations, including the Oscar. 

Where Can I Watch Pirates of the Caribbean?

Foremost, it is understood that as Disney owns the Pirates of the Caribbean series, they are all available there. Also, you can easily watch all five movies in order on Disney plus through a subscription without any hustle. Other options include Amazon Prime, where you can buy or rent the film. 

Nevertheless, these movies are still unavailable on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, and it is still unknown whether they will be uploaded there or not.  

5 Best Characters from “Pirates of the Caribbean” Franchise

1. Captain Jack Sparrow

If you were to make a list of the best characters from Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack Sparrow would be at the top. Johnny Depp played the role of Jack Sparrow, the story’s primary protagonist. In each and every one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, he is one of the characters that make an appearance. Sparrow is almost certainly the best actor that pirate movies have ever seen. The captain injects life and hilarity into the proceedings through his dance routines, manner of speech, and everything else he does because it’s Johnny Depp.

Sparrow is among the Nine Pirate Lords, each of whom has staked a claim to a different region of the earth. Sparrow is also the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea. In addition to that, he is the captain in charge of the ship called the Black Pearl. In spite of the fact that he is the youngest among the Lords, he is able to stay ahead of the pack because of his wit, his strength in negotiations, and a great deal more.

2. Hector Barbosa

Geoffrey Rush, an actor from Australia, plays this character, who is regarded as one of the best evil characters in fantasy fiction. He is also considered one of the best Pirates of the Caribbean characters. After spearheading a rebellion against Captain Jack Sparrow in his capacity as an undead pirate, he made his debut in the film The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), where he took command of the Black Pearl and became her captain. After committing the theft at the Chest of Cortez on Isla de Muerta, he got into a confrontation with Captain Jack, and during the fight, he was injured. This led to his death. However, the goddess of the sea, Calypso, Tia Dalma, breathes new life into him.

Barbossa, who served as Sparrow’s first mate before the latter acquired the Black Pearl, is a prankster in the same vein as his namesake. He is conceived of as the nemesis of Jack Sparrow and developed accordingly.

3. Will Turner

Will Turner, who is played by Orlando Bloom, is another vital role in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. He has a part in each of the five flicks. And his father, the notorious pirate known as “Bootstrap” Bill Turner, married Elizabeth Swann, making him an only child. Although he did not have a relationship with his father during his youth, he turned out to be physically and behaviorally similar to his father as an adult.

As a result of his transformation in At World’s End into a Psychopomp, he is obligated to guide souls that have been misplaced at sea into the afterlife. Before he sets out on his quest, he weds Elizabeth and becomes her husband once she becomes pregnant. In the film Dead Men Tell No Tales, Captain Jack Sparrow enlists the assistance of Will Turner’s young son, Henry, as well as Carina Smyth, who is actually Barbossa’s hidden daughter, to assist him in obtaining the Trident of Poseidon. This item allowed Sparrow to break all of the curses that were placed upon the sea, including the one that bound Will Turner with the Flying Dutchman. Although he is successful in breaking the curse, he also brings Davy Jones back to life, and he is now pursuing Elizabeth and Sparrow.

4. Elizabeth Swann

Keira Knightley plays the role of Elizabeth Swann. Elizabeth Swann is Governor Weatherby Swann’s daughter and Will Turner’s wife. She plays the main female character in the first three installments of the film series: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End.

Elizabeth has since become a pirate, too, just like her husband, despite the fact that she had a completely different upbringing than he did. Her protagonist is a tenacious thinker who never backs down from a challenge. And you’re right; she does have a shadowy aspect to her.

5. Joshamee Gibbs

Another character who has appeared in each of the five films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Will Turner, is widely regarded as one of the series’ most iconic actors. Kevin McNally plays the part of the character. He tends to be superstitious, is extremely cynical, and consumes a lot of alcohol. After he served as a petty officer in the Royal Navy for some time, he eventually joined Captain Jack’s crew on the Interceptor as first mate.

Before transitioning into the life of a pirate, Joshamee Gibbs was a sailor in the Royal Navy serving Her Majesty. Although he originally served Hector Barbossa, whom he was not as faithful to as he had been to Sparrow, he is exceedingly loyal. Despite this, he has remained dedicated to Sparrow. Because of his generous nature and the many stories he has to tell, he is considered one of the most memorable characters in Pirates of the Caribbean.

FAQs

1. Are any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies rated R?

Only one of the five Pirates of the Caribbean movies has been rated. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is given PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) for its action and thriller scenes, which are a source of violence on screen.  

2. Are pirates real?

Most of us believe that pirates are fictional characters only existing in mythologies. However, they are real beings who lived in the past and are alive today as well. The way they used to look previously is very similar to that portrayed in all Pirates of the Caribbean movies though it’s not what they look like now. 

3. Why is Jack Sparrow the worst pirate?

Jack Sparrow is shown as the most awful pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean movie for his traits. He is not only selfish and selfless but also has questionable morals. His only two loves are the sea and his ship, Black Pearl, who are dearest to him. Adding on, there is nothing he is attracted to except for gold and silver thus, he will go to any extent to fulfill his desires. 

4. Is Pirates of Caribbean 6 coming?

The Pirates of the Caribbean movie series have given back to back hits since the release of Pirates of the Caribbean’s first movie. It has built an audience over time, and fans are eagerly waiting for the next release. The resources have confirmed that it is in process and will be released soon.

Conclusion

Out of all the movie franchises, Pirates of the Caribbean have been the most fortunate as it made billions of dollars under its name. All the actors associated with the movie are now mostly known for their characters, and the film surely made them known worldwide. Certainly, the pressure to release sequels is increasing daily, and now the makers have to ensure they maintain the standard of the movies. 

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