The Jester of TortugaTurning our bring-em-closer toward the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa, Davy Jones, and the rest of the rowdy gangs aboard the Black Pearl, the Flying Dutchman, and other ships of the Caribbean.
Over 300 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Movies, Ranked
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Vote up the best movies in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
More than 300 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Since 2003, Disney's swashbuckling action-adventure franchise has taken viewers on a wild ride across the high seas with Captain Jack Sparrow and his motley crew at its helm.
Whether you're a fan of Johnny Depp's outlandish performance as Jack or just an admirer of stunning visual effects and larger-than-life set pieces, these films offer something for everyone. The first installment in this beloved series, The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), established what would become familiar tropes throughout—a treasure map leading to hidden riches, zombie pirates, and sword fights galore—yet still managed to surprise audiences with its unique blend of comedy and suspense. Subsequent installments saw both captivating new characters and thrilling callbacks to old ones: from Geoffrey Rush's brilliant turn as Barbossa in Dead Man's Chest (2006) to Javier Bardem’s terrifyingly powerful villain Salazar in Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
So if you're looking for some pirate adventure on your next movie night, look no further than this list. Vote up your favorite Pirates of the Caribbean movies below and see how they stack up against each other.
In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to reclaim his ship, the Black Pearl, from cursed pirates. Alongside him is blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), who's desperate to rescue his love, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), kidnapped by these supernatural sea-robbers. This adventure-fantasy flick, directed by Gore Verbinski, offers a thrilling blend of humor, swashbuckling action and eerie curses. It earned five Academy Award nominations, cementing its status in the annals of modern cinematic classics.
Actors: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, a swashbuckling adventure film, sees Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) back in action. This time around, he's on a quest to find the fabled Dead Man's Chest to ward off the ghostly Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), who seeks to ensnare him into eternal servitude. With his crewmates Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) entangled in his perilous voyage, Sparrow must navigate treacherous waters and supernatural dangers. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, testament to its stunning cinematic spectacle.
Actors: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush
In Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself in a peculiar predicament, trapped in Davy Jones' Locker. His crew, led by Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), venture to rescue him while battling the East India Trading Company. The movie is an adventure-fantasy, filled with supernatural elements and seafaring exploits. It culminates in an epic battle at sea, where alliances shift rapidly and treachery abounds. A notable aspect is Geoffrey Rush returning as Captain Barbossa, adding another layer of intrigue to this swashbuckling saga.
Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Capt. Jack Sparrow feels the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost sailors led by his old nemesis, the evil Capt. Salazar, escape from the Devil's Triangle. Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it, he must forge an uneasy alliance with a brilliant and beautiful astronomer and a headstrong young man in the British navy.
Actors: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario
In Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey. The winds of fate push him towards the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a woman from his past. She forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). A quest for the elusive Fountain of Youth ensues, fraught with danger and treachery. This adventure film, part of the acclaimed Pirates of the Caribbean series, weaves a tale that marries fantasy with action, delivering thrills in every scene.
Actors: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey
