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Poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Prepare to be blown out of the water.

2003 · 2h 23m · PG-13 Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Directed by Gore Verbinski

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Overview

After Port Royal is attacked and pillaged by a mysterious pirate crew, capturing the governor's daughter Elizabeth Swann in the process, William Turner asks free-willing pirate Jack Sparrow to help him locate the crew's ship—The Black Pearl—so that he can rescue the woman he loves.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
79%
Tomatometer
Fresh

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.

David Ansen, Newsweek
Rotten

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

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Fresh

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.

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Rotten

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

David Edelstein, Slate
Fresh

An awkward pirate epic that's jampacked with energy, ambition and spectacular effects.

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

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