Jack Sparrow, a freewheeling 18th-century pirate, quarrels with a rival pirate bent on pillaging Port Royal. When the governor's daughter is kidnapped, Sparrow decides to help the girl's love save her.
Nominated for 5 Oscars. 38 wins & 104 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
An awkward pirate epic that's jampacked with energy, ambition and spectacular effects.
– Stephanie Zacharek,
Salon.com,
16 Jul 2003
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,
16 Jul 2003
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,
25 Jul 2003
rotten:
Buries its treasures -- mainly Johnny Depp in eye shadow and dreads as Captain Jack Sparrow -- in briny cliches.
– Peter Travers,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jul 2003
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.