Set in the Caribbean in the 18th century, the story begins when Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) – the daughter of Governor Weatherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce) – is kidnapped from the British port town of Port Royal by the villainous Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and his crew from the notorious pirate ship, the Black Pearl.
Barbossa seeks a gold Aztec coin Elizabeth wears, which she took years earlier from a young shipwreck survivor, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), to hide his identity.
To protect herself, Elizabeth lies to Barbossa about her identity and claims her last name is “Turner”.
To rescue her, Will – now a gallant apprentice blacksmith who is deeply in love with Elizabeth – forms an uneasy alliance with the eccentric, roguish, drunken pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).
Together, Will and Jack – who had been the captain of the Black Pearl until he was marooned by Barbossa during a mutiny – commandeer a swift British Royal Navy ship, the HMS Interceptor, recruit a ragtag crew in the lawless port of Tortuga, and set sail after Barbossa.
As they pursue the villains, Elizabeth learns the horrifying truth about Barbossa and his crew: A curse makes them immortal, trapped between life and death and unable to feel pain, pleasure, or satisfaction.
In moonlight, their true forms are revealed as terrifying, fleshless skeletal ghouls.
Years earlier, they stole a chest of Aztec gold plundered by Hernán Cortés, and their curse can be broken only if they return all 882 plundered Aztec coins to the chest and repay the theft with a blood sacrifice from everyone who took part.
The pirates have successfully returned all but the final coin – the one Elizabeth has.
Barbossa takes Elizabeth to the hidden island of Isla de Muerta and cuts her hand to spill her blood on the coin. The ritual fails because Elizabeth is not actually a Turner.
Will manages to rescue Elizabeth while Jack is captured by Barbossa. A series of shifting alliances, sea battles, and betrayals follow.
Eventually, the British Royal Navy – under the command of the hapless Commodore James Norrington (Jack Davenport), who is betrothed to Elizabeth – arrives to fight the pirates, while Jack and Barbossa engage in a fierce sword duel inside the treasure cave.
Jack reveals that he secretly stole a coin himself, temporarily rendering himself immortal to survive Barbossa’s attacks.
As the battle reaches its peak, Will takes the final two coins, cuts his hand, and drops them into the chest, breaking the curse. Instantly, the pirates lose their immortality and become mortal men again.
Barbossa, shot by Jack just moments before the curse broke, feels pain for the first time in years and dies.
Back in Port Royal, Jack is sentenced to hang for piracy, but Will risks his life to save him from the gallows.
Elizabeth declares her love for Will, and Governor Swann pardons the young blacksmith.
Jack slips away, reunites with his crew, and takes command of the Black Pearl once more, sailing off into the horizon.
Captain Jack Sparrow
Johnny Depp Captain Hector Barbossa
Geoffrey Rush Elizabeth Swann
Keira Knightley Will Turner
Orlando Bloom Commodore James Norrington
Jack Davenport Governor Weatherby Swann
Jonathan Pryce Pintel
Lee Arenberg Ragetti
Mackenzie Crook Lt. Gillette
Damian O’Hare Murtogg
Giles New Mullroy
Angus Barnett Cotton
David Bailie Twigg
Michael Berry Jr. Bo’sun
Isaac C. Singleton Jr. Joshamee Gibbs
Kevin McNally Koehler
Treva Etienne Anamaria
Zoe Saldaña Harbormaster
Guy Siner Mr Brown
Ralph P. Martin Estrella
Paula J. Newman Butler
Paul Keith Young Will
Dylan Smith Young Elizabeth
Lucinda Dryzek Grapple
Trevor Goddard Jacoby
Vince Lozano Scarlett
Lauren Maher Mallot
Brye Cooper Giselle
Vanessa Branch Marty
Martin Klebba Moises
Félix Castro Kursar
Mike Haberecht Matelot
Rudy McCollum Tearlach
Gerard J. Reyes Duncan
M. Scott Shields Ladbroc
Christopher Sullivan Crimp
Craig Thomson Quartetto
Fred Toft Weatherby
D.P. FitzGerald Ketchum
Jerry Gauny Maximo
Maxie Santillan Jr. Monk
Michael Earl Lane Dog Ear
Tobias McKinney Clubba
David Patykewich Scarus
Tommy Schooler Simbakka
Michael A. Thompson Hawksmoor
Michael W. Williams Katracho
Jose Zelaya Scratch
Finneus Egan Nipperkin
Don LaDaga Lejon
LeJon Stewart Parrot Voice
Christopher S. Capp
Director
Gore Verbinski
Video
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Barbossa seeks a gold Aztec coin Elizabeth wears, which she took years earlier from a young shipwreck survivor, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), to hide his identity.
As the battle reaches its peak, Will takes the final two coins, cuts his hand, and drops them into the chest, breaking the curse. Instantly, the pirates lose their immortality and become mortal men again.
