The Pirates of the Caribbean is a wild franchise, with even wilder origins. The Curse of the Black Pearl was based on a Disney ride, and was only intended to be a standalone movie.
Fast-forward 20 years, and we have five Hollywood blockbusters in the series with characters who have become household names. The movies are timeless, renowned for their grand pirate adventures, which we rarely see in modern cinema. The first film also gave us arguably one of the best sword fights in fantasy movies.
There’s never a bad time to have a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon, and here are 8 things you will learn if you rewatch all 5 films in order.
8
The Series Has Two Very Different Tones
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow Swordfighting Orlando Bloom As Will Turner In Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl premiered in 2003 as a high-budget swashbuckling adventure with a sprinkle of the supernatural. It’s an easy watch, full of lighthearted camaraderie and jokes, despite the high stakes.
In comparison, Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End paint a much darker picture. The East India Trading Company’s war on piracy is grim. Even Davy Jones, a fearsome antagonist, has a tragic story. The third movie also has a bittersweet ending in which Will (Orlando Bloom) can only return to see Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) only once every decade.
It’s not to say the fourth and fifth movies are devoid of tragedy, but the original’s playful tone returns. If you rewatch all five movies back-to-back, the tonal shifts are quite jarring.
7
Captain Jack Sparrow Is Far Smarter Than He Looks
Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow peeking through greenery in the jungle
Much of Captain Jack Sparrow’s (Johnny Depp) past remains a mystery in the first movie. It’s clear that he’s an experienced pirate, but he also appears to get by on sheer luck and being in the right place at the right time.
Later movies explore his backstory, and audiences quickly realize that he’s more than just a drunken buffoon. Scenes like his staredown with Salazar in the latest movie show that he’s always thinking ahead and is a cunning strategist. Even in The Curse of the Black Pearl, we see Sparrow use the curse of Cortez against his immortal opponents at just the right moment.
In the third movie, during the unforgettable three-man sword fight between Will, Jack, and Norrington (Jack Davenport), the legendary pirate frequently switches sides to get what he wants. He also discovered how to escape Davy Jones’ Locker, treating us to the iconic scene where the crew flips an entire ship upside down.
Jack Sparrow steals the show in most scenes he’s in, and there’s clearly more to him than meets the eye.
6
Barbossa Becomes One Of The Most Complex Characters
Barbossa looking ragged and sad in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales
Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is a one-dimensional antagonist in the original movie. He dies at the end of the film, and his return isn’t explained until the third movie.
Barbossa is a fan favorite, and his motivations change dramatically over the series. In Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Barbossa allies with Will, Jack, and Elizabeth for the good of piracy.
During the fourth movie, On Stranger Tides, he’s employed by the Navy. It’s ultimately a stepping stone for Barbossa, whose motivations lie elsewhere, but it’s a massive shift nonetheless.
In the most recent film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, his motives change once again. The audience is introduced to his daughter, Carina, and he plays the proud father, forced to watch her from the sidelines. He pays the ultimate price at the end of the movie, marking a tragic end for the beloved pirate captain.
5
Elizabeth Has A Wild Character Arc
Elizabeth Swann stares out from a ship in The Curse of the Black Pearl
Elizabeth’s character and motives don’t change as Barbossa’s do, but she has a remarkable ride up the pirate hierarchy throughout the series.
Even in the first movie, it’s clear early on that Elizabeth is no damsel in distress. She cowers in a cupboard to evade capture, but is bravely negotiating with Barbossa for the gold medallion moments later.
Elizabeth aligns with the pirates’ way of life as the series progresses. She even temporarily captains a ship in the third movie and participates in a battle against the East India Trading Company.
Interestingly, Elizabeth appears to have stepped back from the action in future movies, focusing on her relationship with Will away from the high seas.
4
The Original Movie Unintentionally Hints At The Future Films
Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in prison in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Screenwriters Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio have admitted that Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was intended as a standalone film despite the two-part title.
The long-winded name certainly helped the sequels, but the original left enough lore unexplained for future projects to explore, with the most glaring unanswered question from the first movie being why everybody seems to know who Captain Jack Sparrow is.
It’s also clear that characters are comfortable with the idea of magic, curses, and treasure. These topics are ripe for expansion, and future movies introduce us to mythical creatures, legendary pirates, and even a sneak peek at young Jack Sparrow.
3
The East India Trading Company Is The True Villain In Pirates Of The Caribbean
Officer in a pirate hat reviewing battle strategy in Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End
We rarely see pirates in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies do anything too sinister, even though it’s implied. If pirates are evil, then the East India Trading Company would be the side we should root for. However, the merciless company leader, Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), is more vile and bloodthirsty than any other antagonist.
Beckett is far more blasé about death than the most ruthless pirates. He strings up his enemies by the dozen and is a brutal, authoritarian force across the seas.
In At World’s End, Beckett even bends Davy Jones to his will, using his heart to assume control of the Flying Dutchman and its crew. He also uses the almighty Kraken to eliminate anyone standing in the way of the East India Trading Company.
Our heroes are forced to rally against this threat in ways they never had to before. We don’t see any enemy as dangerous again until we meet Salazar in Dead Men Tell No Tales.
2
Jack Sparrow’s Character Works Best When He Isn’t The Lead
Jack Sparrow grinning behind the wheel of a ship in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales
Captain Jack Sparrow steals the show during every scene he is in, but is arguably at his weakest without other characters to bounce off.
Many of Jack’s best lines and quotes come from his responses to emotionally charged events set in motion by others. For example, when Will proudly proclaims he would die for Elizabeth in the first movie, Jack takes the wind out of his sails with a sarcastic “Oh, good!”
It’s not to say his antics aren’t entertaining, but he remains unfazed by the most bleak situations. Sparrow’s unpredictability is one of the big reasons he’s so adored and watchable. However, he’s always at his best as a spanner in the works rather than at the helm of a serious story.
1
The Sea Will Never Have A Ruler
The black pearl ship in a bottle from Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales
One of the few constants in The Pirates of the Caribbean movies is that the sea can never be controlled. Many have tried, and they have all met their untimely demise.
In the third film, Beckett tries to eliminate piracy using the power of the Flying Dutchman. Similarly, Davy Jones also uses the ship to exert absolute control over the seas and to summon the Kraken. Both briefly succeed, although their conquests are short-lived.
The theme of vying for power over the seas continues after the original trilogy. Blackbeard wields the Sword of Triton in On Stranger Tides, a mysterious artifact allowing him to control the seas by manipulating the weather.
Finally, in the latest movie, we’re introduced to Salazar. He doesn’t try to command the sea per se, but his undead powers make him a terrifying threat to pirates.
Another movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe is reportedly in development. Details about the project are scarce, but it will be interesting to see if this constant sticks.