All Pirates of the Caribbean Movies Ranked from Worst To Best

Updated:

19 Aug 2023

Ello’, puppet. You’ve boarded the right ship if your goal was to discover the scurvy pirate world. Fortunately, I’ve watched the Pirates of the Caribbean movies an embarrassing amount of times. Sit down and take off your peg leg as you sail away to explore the best and the worst of the movie franchise.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Sailing in last place is the fifth film of the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel. Jack Sparrow is on the search for Poseidons trident after an old rival, Captain Salazar, escapes the Devil's Triangle seeking revenge on Jack. With the help of Henry Turner and astronomer Carina, Sparrow fights once again for his life.

It's not shocking that the most recent film is the worst. As always, special effects and a strong story line are accounted for, but the film lacks originality as well as two of our favorite characters.

Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner do make a small appearance at the end of the movie. However, they are replaced by two young pieces of eye candy to try and fill the void. Salazar and his dead crew are super cool to look at as they have black fog seeping from their skeletal bodies.

The hunt for the trident displays brilliant imagery and awesome action scenes as usual. The ending scene is one of the best as the sea harboring the trident splits into two massive walls, revealing the naked ocean floor. The content lacks newness and raw, classic, humor. The franchise tried to revive old material from the first three films in attempts to keep it interesting. They did a nice job keeping a sturdy plot, but scenes tended to draw out with useless conversation.

Dead men really do tell no tales, as this fifth film is drastically drawn out and less interesting than its brother movies. The introduction of Henry and Barbossa's daughter, Carina, do add a refreshing gulp and spark to the movie, but they majorly lack the essence of the existing films.

There are too many unnecessary gaps and off-scenes to fill the time. The end scene pretty much holds all the excitement and reveals the plot. Sparrow, Barbossa, and Salazar seem to have been the only strength and scurvy of the original movies.

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Stranger rides rolled into theaters with high expectations. The storyline follows Jack, Blackbeard, Barbossa, and Penelope Cruz as they seek out the fountain of youth.

The first three films were a major success for the franchise industry. Fans were ecstatic to learn a fourth movie was hitting the theaters. Unfortunately, disappointment rather than satisfaction swept the crowds.

Introducing Blackbeard and his daughter Penelope sparked interest and hope for the film. One of the biggest let downs was the complete removal of Elizabeth and Will. This took away a massive component to the genuine Pirates of the Caribbean vibe.

One of the highlights of the film is their encounter with the mermaids. To activate the fountain, they must obtain the mermaid's tears. The scaly- tailed women are gorgeously and romantically designed. The scene breaks out in chaos as the wrath of the mermaids unleash upon the poor pirate dunces.

The journey displays miraculous scenes of treasures and exotic land which is quite enticing for the viewer. Upon reaching the Fountain of Youth, expensive artifacts and gold cover the underground cave. Imagery and special effects keep the movie alive.

Stranger Tides does offer a strong storyline and backup in regards to the characters and plot. You can tell Sparrow and Barbossa are more disassociated from their normal pirate selves. The characters seem a bit burnt out and less interested than in previous films.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End sends viewers on a brilliant journey to free Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' locker. Will, Elizabeth, and Barbossa team up in an alliance to find Jack and battle Lord Cutler Beckett who has command over Davy Jones.

Trilogies stop at three for good reason- because the story has been relayed beautifully and need no more explanation. The franchise could have stopped after the third film easily- not to say the two sequels weren’t good in their own way.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End has some of the most exquisite and breathtaking graphic effects and adventure scenes. There’s quite a bit of new lands and highly entertaining characters that are introduced.

The storyline is well thought out and full of depth. It’s one of the most detailed plots in the franchise and requires a decent amount of attention to follow along.

A highly notable scene takes place in Tia Dalma's village. It’s hauntingly enchanting to watch as Dalmas village is dark, eerie, and filled with strange objects. Anyone who is a Pirates of the Caribbean alumni can recall Dalmas insane transformation into Calypso. It freaked me out to the core when her body exploded into thousands of crabs and attacked the residents.

The Dutchman and Pearl battle viciously atop a chaotic sea. Again, this film takes the cake with visual effects and insane scene designs. A maelstrom in the ocean threatens to suck in and crush the two ships. Both ships are whirling around as Jack, Sparrow, Barbossa, Jones, and Elizabeth fight for their damned lives.

The third movie is chalk- full of radical new islands and eclectic characters. Of course, Jack and Barbossa's curt humor keep the darkest parts of the film light. Viewers will travel across all sorts of parts of the world while watching. With scenes and location constantly changing, it’s hard to peel your eyes away as you never know where the swashbuckling Pirates will end up next.

2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Yo-ho! Is it a Pirate's life for you? Disney’s dark side shed its head when it announced the making of a live action pirate movie. With much advancement in the world of movie making and special effects, fans were on their peg-legs to get a ticket to watch the new film.

Curse of the Black Pearl introduces our beloved Captain Jack Sparrow along with his two frenemies- Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan. Captain Barbossa is in desperate search of a coin in an attempt to free him and his crew from a nasty curse.

The film offers a crude and twisted story along with a raw style of humor which makes it so entertaining. My heart was taken instantly by Sparrows hilarious pirate swank and quick wits. Explosions, fires, and sworded battles break out as this first battle scene sets the excitement for the rest of the movie.

Captain Barbossa and his cursed crew members are put in the spotlight. He and his pirate mates transform into skeletons during moon hours. The skeletal transformation is what nightmares are made of. To this day, the scene still creeps me out and sends riveting chills down my spine.

The graphic effects of the skeleton pirates are both horrifying and hilarious to watch. Directors did a phenomenal job in the scenes depicting the undead transformation. Fans are kept on their toes as pop ups and creepy scenes are scripted perfectly throughout the movie.

Viewers are in for an insane pirate chase jam- packed with sword fights, betrayal, and blood. Unexpected surprises and unpredictability make for such a good watch. Jack's reveal of also being cursed was a shock. The storyline is simple to follow and the film is an easy watch.

Alas, Pirates never take a day off as the end forth-comes the sequel movie. The Curse of the Black Pearl is a marvelously put together cinema. It’s quite enticing with its never ending action, humor, and eerie gestures. It’s easily one of Disney most loved and raw live- action films.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Slashing its way to first place is Dead Man's Chest. Jack has an unpaid debt with Davy Jones and conjures a plan to get out of it. Our beloved gang are on the hunt for the chest containing Jones' heart.

What makes this second cinematic movie is its light- hearted atmosphere and endless humor. It definitely has a brighter energy compared to the first film.

Jones is visually putrid to look upon. At the same time, you can’t help but glue your eyes to the screen when a scene is occupied by him.

He and his crew are one of the film's master cinematic elements. The Dutchman’s gang features bodies of men with heads and characteristics of deep sea creatures. Super disturbing and whimsical to witness.

Turner and Sparrow's love- hate relationship are amusing and delightful. Dead Man's Chest is heavily scripted with enjoyable and animated humor making it such a wonderful flick.

The clip that takes place on the island of cannibal humans adds darkness as well as comedic relief to the movie. The natives are comical and foul creatures. Odd piercing holes with straw and plant like objects are pierced into their faces.

The whole island scene is an absolute mess, making it easily one of the best scenes. Turner and the Black Pearl crew members dangling from a giant wooden ball is genius. This is hilarious to watch as they swing back and forth in attempts to reach a cliff.

Sparrow, tied to a long pole running and screaming while the angry villagers chase him, has become wildly popular. This scene has been created into numerous memes over the years which speaks true to the comedy of the film.

Buckets of action and highly entertaining humor are placed perfectly throughout the movie. Seriousness and jovial nonsense balance each other wonderfully during the film. Movie goers brace themself for an epic fight alongside the filthy Pirates.

The ending is what kept me coming back for me. The kraken is quite honestly one of the frightening monsters I’ve had the pleasure of encountering. It's truly a cinematic masterpiece on how hauntingly well it’s brought to life.

The movie's ending is a real cliffhanger as it sets up anticipation and excitement for the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie.