Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)

Pirates of the Caribbean

2007 DVD box set
Directed by Gore Verbinski (1-3)
Rob Marshall (4)
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
Written by Ted Elliott
Terry Rossio
Stuart Beattie (1)
Jay Wolpert (1)
Starring Johnny Depp
Geoffrey Rush
Kevin McNally
Orlando Bloom (1-3)
Keira Knightley (1-3)
Music by Klaus Badelt (1)
Hans Zimmer (1, 2, 3)
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures
Release date(s) 2003–present
Running time 461 minutes (1, 2, 3)
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $2.7 billion (1-3)

Pirates of the Caribbean is a series of fantasy-action/adventure films directed by Gore Verbinski (1-3) and Rob Marshall (4), written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. They are based on a Walt Disney theme park ride of the same name, and follow Captain Jack Sparrow (portrayed by Johnny Depp), Will Turner (portrayed by Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (portrayed by Keira Knightley), Captain Hector Barbossa (portrayed by Geoffrey Rush), and Joshamee Gibbs (portrayed by Kevin McNally). The films started with their first release on the big screen in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. After the unexpected success of the first film, Walt Disney Pictures revealed that a trilogy was in the works. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was released three years later in 2006. The sequel proved to be very successful, breaking records worldwide the day of its premiere. In the end it acquired a total of $1,066,179,725 at the worldwide box office, becoming the fourth and fastest film to reach this amount. The third film in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was released in 2007. So far, the film franchise has grossed over $2.68 billion worldwide. In September 2008, Depp signed on for a fourth film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, set to be released on May 20, 2011 in 2D, IMAX, Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D. Filming officially began on June 14, 2010 in Hawaii.

Contents

Development

During the early 1990s,[1] screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio conceived of writing a film based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Disney had Jay Wolpert write a script based on the ride, which producer Jerry Bruckheimer rejected, feeling it was, "a straight pirate movie."[2] Stuart Beattie was brought in to rewrite the script in March 2002, due to his knowledge of piracy,[3] and later that month Elliott and Rossio were brought in.[2] Elliott and Rossio were inspired by the opening narration of the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride, and decided to give the film a supernatural edge.[4] As the budget rose, Michael Eisner and Robert Iger threatened to cancel the film, though Bruckheimer changed their minds when he showed them concept art and animatics.[5]

In May 2002 Gore Verbinski signed on to direct Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush signed on the following month to star.[3] Verbinski was attracted to the idea of using modern technology to resurrect a genre that had disappeared after the Golden Age of Hollywood, and recalled his childhood memories of the ride, feeling the film was an opportunity to pay tribute to the "scary and funny" tone of it. Depp was attracted to the story as he found it quirky: rather than trying to find treasure, the crew of the Black Pearl were trying to return it in order to lift their curse; also, the traditional mutiny had already taken place. Verbinski approached Rush for the role of Barbossa, as he knew he would not play it with attempts at complexity, but with a simple villainy that would suit the story's tone.[6] Orlando Bloom read the script after Rush, whom he was working with on Ned Kelly, suggested it to him.[7] Keira Knightley came as a surprise to Verbinski: he had not seen her performance in Bend It Like Beckham and was impressed by her audition.[6] Tom Wilkinson was negotiated with to play Governor Swann,[3] but the role went to Jonathan Pryce, whom Depp idolized.[6]

Shooting for The Curse of the Black Pearl began on October 9, 2002 and wrapped by March 2003.[3] Before its release, many had expected the film to be a flop, as the pirate genre had not been successful for years, the film was based on a theme park ride, and Johnny Depp rarely made a big film.[8] However The Curse of the Black Pearl became both a critical and commercial success.

Seeing the film's performance, the cast and crew signed on for two more sequels to be shot back-to-back,[9] a practical decision on Disney's part to allow more time with the same cast and crew.[10] Writer Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio knew that with an ensemble cast, they weren't free to invent totally different situations and characters, as with the Indiana Jones and James Bond series, and so had to retroactively turn The Curse of the Black Pearl into the first of a trilogy.[11] They wanted to explore the reality of what would happen after Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann's embrace at the end of the first film, and initially considered the Fountain of Youth as the plot device.[12] They settled on introducing Davy Jones, the Flying Dutchman and the Kraken, a mythology only mentioned twice in the first film. They also introduced the historical East India Trading Company, who for them represented a counterpoint to the themes of personal freedom represented by pirates.[13]

Filming for the sequels began on February 28, 2005, 8:30 AM,[14] with Dead Man's Chest finishing on March 1, 2006,[15] and At World's End on January 10, 2007.[16] There is currently a third sequel, On Stranger Tides, with previous cast members Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush set to return. Many other cast members including Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom will not be featured in the fourth installment. Filming began on June 2010.[17]

It is widely speculated the film series were based upon, or at least considerably influenced by the Monkey Island series, whose fanbase had also considerably promoted the film. Coincidentally, one of the writers, Ted Elliott, was allegedly a script writer of a Stephen Spielberg-produced MI animated film adaptation.[18]

Films

The Curse of the Black Pearl

Elizabeth Swann, daughter of the Governor of Port Royal, is kidnapped by the crew of the Black Pearl, led by Captain Hector Barbossa, in order to lift a curse placed on them after stealing Aztec gold. Blacksmith Will Turner, a childhood friend and secret admirer of Elizabeth, persuades pirate Captain Jack Sparrow to help him in the rescue.

Dead Man's Chest

Lord Cutler Beckett, a powerful and ruthless East India Trading Company agent, arrests Will and Elizabeth for aiding Jack Sparrow's escape in the previous movie. Beckett, however, offers clemency if Will agrees to search for Sparrow and his magical compass. At the same time, Sparrow tries to release himself from an old debt with villainous Davy Jones by finding the Dead Man's Chest which he can use to command Jones to do what he (Jack) wants.

At World's End

Lord Cutler Beckett gains power over Davy Jones, and with the help of Jones' ship, The Flying Dutchman, he is now executing his plans to extinguish piracy forever. To stand against the East India Trading Company, Will, Elizabeth, Barbossa, and the crew of the Black Pearl goes to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker, because he is one of the nine pirate lords needed to summon an ancient goddess.

On Stranger Tides

Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past, and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past. Set to be released May 20th, 2011 in 3D and IMAX 3D. [19]

Principal cast

Character Film
The Curse of the Black Pearl Dead Man's Chest At World's End On Stranger Tides
Captain Jack Sparrow Johnny Depp
Captain Hector Barbossa Geoffrey Rush
Joshamee Gibbs Kevin McNally
Will Turner Orlando Bloom  
Elizabeth Swann Keira Knightley  
James Norrington Jack Davenport  
Weatherby Swann Jonathan Pryce  
Ragetti Mackenzie Crook  
Pintel Lee Arenberg  
Marty Martin Klebba  
Cotton David Bailie  
Scarlett Lauren Maher  
Giselle Vanessa Branch  
Lt. Theodore Groves Greg Ellis   Greg Ellis
Mullroy Angus Barnett   Angus Barnett  
Murtogg Giles New   Giles New  
Lieutenant Gillette Damian O'Hare   Damian O'Hare
Anamaria Zoe Saldana  
Davy Jones   Bill Nighy  
Lord Cutler Beckett   Tom Hollander  
Tia Dalma (Calypso)   Naomie Harris  
Bootstrap Bill Turner   Stellan Skarsgård  
Mercer   David Schofield  
Sao Feng   Chow Yun-fat  
Captain Teague   Keith Richards
Blackbeard   Ian McShane
Angelica   Penélope Cruz
Scram   Stephen Graham
Philip   Sam Claflin
Syrena   Astrid Bergès-Frisbey
Jack the Monkey Tara / Levi Chiquita / Pablo unconfirmed
Prison Dog Chopper  

Principal crew

Role Film
The Curse of the Black Pearl Dead Man's Chest At World's End On Stranger Tides
Director Gore Verbinski Rob Marshall
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer
Writer Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
Stuart Beattie & Jay Wolpert
Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
Music Klaus Badelt
with Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer unconfirmed
Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski

Reception

The Curse of the Black Pearl was 2003's third highest gross in North America (behind The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Finding Nemo) and fourth worldwide (behind Return of the King, Nemo and The Matrix Reloaded).[20] Dead Man's Chest was the highest of 2006 worldwide,[21] and the fourth highest-grossing film of all time, behind Avatar, Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. At World's End was 2007's highest gross worldwide and the eighth highest ever. [22]

Both the second and third films set box office records. Dead Man's Chest broke the records for largest opening day gross with $55.8 million and biggest opening weekend gross with $135.6 million,[23] and would set 15 other box office records, including the fastest film to reach $200 and $300 million, the highest ten-day gross, and the fastest film to reach $1 billion worldwide (although it was later broken by Avatar). However, in 2008 most of the records it held were broken by The Dark Knight.[24] At World's End broke the Memorial Day gross record.[25]

Box office performance

Film Release date Box office revenue Box office ranking Budget Reference
United States and Canada Other territories Worldwide All time United States and Canada All time worldwide
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl July 9, 2003 $305,413,918 $348,850,097 $654,264,015 #34
#90(A)
#44 $140,000,000 [26]
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest July 7, 2006 $423,315,812 $642,863,913 $1,066,179,725 #8
#45(A)
#4 $225,000,000 [27]
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End May 24, 2007 $309,420,425 $651,576,067 $960,996,492 #31
#115(A)
#8 $300,000,000 [28]
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides May 20, 2011 TBA TBA TBA TBA
TBA(A)
TBA $200,000,000 [29]
Total $1,038,150,155 $1,643,290,077 $2,681,440,232 $865,000,000
List indicator(s)
  • (A) indicates the adjusted totals based on current ticket prices (calculated by Box Office Mojo).

Critical reception

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic Yahoo! Movies
Overall Cream of the Crop
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 78% (194 reviews)[30] 65% (37 reviews)[31] 64 (41 reviews)[32] B- (14 reviews)[33]
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 53% (212 reviews)[34] 41% (37 reviews)[35] 53 (37 reviews)[36] B- (14 reviews)[37]
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 45% (209 reviews)[38] 36% (39 reviews)[39] 50 (36 reviews)[40] C+ (15 reviews)[41]
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides TBA TBA TBA TBA
Average Ratings 59% 47% 56% N/A

Academy Awards

Together, all three films were nominated for a total of 11 Academy Awards, of which a single award was won.

Award Awards Won
The Curse of the Black Pearl Dead Man's Chest At World's End
Actor in a Leading Role Nomination
(Johnny Depp)
Art Direction-Set Decoration Nomination
Makeup Nomination Nomination
Sound Editing Nomination Nomination
Sound Mixing Nomination Nomination
Visual Effects Nomination Won Nomination

MTV Movie Awards

Together, all three films were nominated for a total of 13 MTV Movie Awards, of which 4 were won.

Award Awards Won
The Curse of the Black Pearl Dead Man's Chest At World's End
Best Movie Nomination Won Nomination
Best Male Performance Won
(Johnny Depp)
Won
(Johnny Depp)
Best Female Performance Nomination
(Keira Knightley)
Nomination
(Keira Knightley)
Best Breakthrough Female Performance Nomination
(Keira Knightley)
Best On-Screen Team Nomination
(Johnny Depp & Orlando Bloom)
Best Villain Nomination
(Geoffrey Rush)
Nomination
(Bill Nighy)
Best Comedic Performance Nomination
(Johnny Depp)
Won
(Johnny Depp)

References

  1. Gerard Raiti (2003-07-11). "ILM and Disney Make Pirate Perfection". VFXWorld. http://vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=1e242f07&atype=articles&id=1798&page=1. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Stax (2003-06-25). "Depp & Bruckheimer Talk Pirates". IGN. http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/425/425848p1.html. Retrieved 2007-05-13. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Greg Dean Schmitz. "Greg's Previews - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)". Yahoo!. http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808405416&gpt=ch. Retrieved 2007-05-13. 
  4. Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie, Jay Wolpert. (2003) (DVD). Audio Commentary. Buena Vista. 
  5. "Exclusive Interview: Jerry Bruckheimer". Moviehole. 2007-05-21. http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20070521_exclusive_interview_jerry_bruc.html. Retrieved 2007-05-21. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Gore Verbinski, Johnny Depp. (2003) (DVD). Audio Commentary. Buena Vista. 
  7. Caroline Westbrook (2003-08-08). "Pirates films tests its stars". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3132669.stm. Retrieved 2007-05-13. 
  8. Chris Nashawaty. "Box Office Buccaneer". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20037288_20037290_465481,00.html. Retrieved 2007-05-18. 
  9. Brian Linder (2003-10-21). "Back-to-Back Pirates". IGN. http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/455/455825p1.html. Retrieved 2007-05-12. 
  10. (DVD) According to Plan: The Harrowing and True Story of Dead Man's Chest. Buena Vista. 2006. 
  11. Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio. (2006) (DVD). Audio Commentary. Buena Vista. 
  12. (DVD) Charting the Return. Buena Vista. 2006. 
  13. "Everything Relates Back to What Started Everything Off in the First". Production Notes. http://madeinatlantis.com/pirates/production/production2.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-23. 
  14. "Los Angeles: The Voyage Begins". Production Notes. http://madeinatlantis.com/pirates/production/production5.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-24. 
  15. "Chapter 7 - Return to The Bahamas". Production Notes. http://numberonestars.com/pirates3/production7.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-24. 
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  18. http://www.worldofmi.com/comments.php?type=news&id=1259&action=read
  19. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=67175
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  25. "`Pirates' Opens With $156,055 Million". Yahoo!. 2007-05-27. http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20070527/118030014000.html. Retrieved 2007-05-27. 
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  29. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)". Box Office Mojo. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=piratesofthecaribbean4.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-13. 
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  36. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006): Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/piratesofthecaribbeandeadmanschest. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  37. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) - Movie Info - Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo! Movies. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808556813/critic. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  38. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pirates_of_the_caribbean_at_worlds_end/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  39. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pirates_of_the_caribbean_at_worlds_end/?critic=creamcrop. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  40. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/piratesofthecaribbeanatworldsend. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 
  41. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) - Movie Info - Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo! Movies. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808713062/critic. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 

External links