Fantasy Month (2026) – Pirates of the Caribbean

For Fantasy Month (2026), I wanted to go back and watch the Pirates of the Caribbean films because I have not seen all of them. I remember when the first movie was announced, I had my concerns. Film adaptations of video games have rarely gone well, so an adaptation of an amusement ride also seemed like a risky decision. However, in this case it paid off … big time!

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise became a huge success and one of Johnny Depp’s most iconic roles. This franchise is also one of Hans Zimmer’s most iconic scores. The special effects of all of these films are another thing that really stands out in this franchise.

There are no bonus movies or a random selection this time. The special event movies consist of 42 for Jackie Robinson Day and Star Trek: First Contact for First Contact Day.

• The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
• Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
• At World’s End (2007)
• On Stranger Tides (2011)
• Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
My Rating:

Captain Jack Sparrow wants his beloved Black Pearl back and teams up with a determined blacksmith and the headstrong daughter of a governor to do so. This is the film that started it all, and it’s probably my favorite one of the franchise. This has all the elements of a great action-adventure movie with a fantastic soundtrack. If you’ve never seen this movie, you are missing out because the hype is real.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
My Rating:

Captain Jack Sparrow must locate the heart of Davy Jones before he becomes a permanent slave aboard the Flying Dutchman. This second installment has a great cast. Our three protagonists are joined by Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgård, and Tom Hollander (not Tom Holland). This one has a few twists and a heck of a cliffhanger ending.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
My Rating:

Will Turner, Elizabeth, and Barbossa attempt to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones ‘ Locker and then thwart Lord Beckett’s navy. Apparently, this movie was filmed simultaneously with the previous movie and is the conclusion of the trilogy that stars Keira Knightley. This is also the last film in the franchise directed by Gore Verbinski. Make sure you watch this movie through the credits.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Directed by: Rob Marshall
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush
My Rating:

Jack embarks on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth, but he’s not the only one who seeks it. I was a little disappointed with the plot; the search for the Fountain of Youth is a bit cliché. It’s still a solid cast with Ian McShane as Blackbeard and some surprise cameos from Keith Richards (as Jack’s dad) and Dame Judi Dench. I would probably watch it again purely as something to put on in the background, although the visual effects are stunning.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Directed by: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem
My Rating:

Captain Jack Sparrow seeks out the Trident of Poseidon to free himself of his debt to an old rival, Captain Salazar. This movie is the lowest-rated film in the franchise, although I prefer it over On Stranger Tides. Seeking the Trident of Poseidon is a far more interesting story than the Fountain of Youth. This movie picks up 10 years after the post-credits scene from At World’s End (emphasizing the point I made earlier). The biggest critique I have about this movie is that the bank heist at the beginning was a bit over-the-top and ostentatious. This is also the only film in the franchise that was not composed by Hans Zimmer.

Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

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