Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

  • 79% of critics liked it
    (206 reviews)

  • 86% of users liked it
    (31,580,125 ratings)

Following his surprise-hit American remake of The Ring in 2002, director Gore Verbinski took on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the second of recent films to be based upon Disney theme-park rides (the first being The Country Bears). When Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the… More

PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott
Genres
Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Jun 28, 2003 Wide
Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • David Ansen, Newsweek

    Here -- in a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced high-seas adventure that incorporates roaring cannons, oddball comedy, a love story and more than a touch of the supernatural -- Depp unleashes his theatrical bravado. He's hilarious.

  • , Time Out

    Depp invests this overfed, action-tractioned swashbuckler with a voluptuous wit and spry spontaneity it surely doesn't deserve.

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    Buries its treasures -- mainly Johnny Depp in eye shadow and dreads as Captain Jack Sparrow -- in briny clichés.

  • Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

    Pirates reminds me of a vintage MGM musical, a movie that is more choreographed than directed, and one that serves up good clean fun of the PG-13 variety.

  • David Edelstein, Slate

    At, say, 85 minutes, this would have been a jolly little swashbuckler, but at 143 it turns into an unholy trial.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Emil K


    For the first 45-minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, is quite entertaining and fun to watch. But the longer it goes on, the more messier and frustrating it becomes to watch. Gore Verbinski is clearly a director who can make a blockbuster as this big look… More

  • Eric S


    Argh! This be an awesome movie! It's a fun adventure with plenty of humor, well done special effects, and great acting. Bummer that this is the only one that doesn't suck in the series. "The Curse of the Black Pearl" is not a flawless film; there are some plot… More

  • Eugene B


    Pirates, skeletons, curses and Johnny Depp. Gore Verbinsky takes a simple Disney-based roller-coaster ride and develops an adaptation that is eerie and adventurous. Depp's performances makes up for the slight hiccups that occur throughout the film. 4/5

  • Candy R


    The first of the pirate adventures. Captain Jack Sparrow has to recover his ship - the Black Pearl. He ropes in Keira and Orlando on the adventure. Johnny Depp is excellent. Orlando Bloom is hot!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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