Key Takeaways:
– Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has earned over $4.5 billion globally.
– Despite being labeled the worst in the series, the fifth installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, grossed $795.9 million worldwide.
– Fans and critics had mixed opinions about the movie.
– Even with Johnny Depp's fallout with Disney, the series producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, hints at a possible cameo for Depp in the proposed sixth installment.
Seven Years On: Reflections on Pirates Of The Caribbean 5
The Pirates of the Caribbean film series, spawning five successful movies starting in 2003, has maintained a robust fanbase thanks to its captivating storyline and Johnny Depp's iconic performance. The last installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, despite receiving substantial flak, managed an impressive worldwide gross.
Discussions upon the seventh anniversary of the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film have centered around its less than favorable reception in 2017 and the surprising success it achieved at the box office.
Analyzing Dead Men Tell No Tales' Performance
Following the colossal success of the first installment, The Curse of the Black Pearl, the franchise's succeeding releases struggled to recreate its magic. The fifth film, unfortunately, ranks as the least favored of all. When Walt Disney announced the fifth film as a standalone sequel to 2011's On Stranger Tides, it attracted criticism for several key areas, particularly the one-dimensional villain and a significant dip in the film's seriousness.
Despite the criticisms, Dead Men Tell No Tales managed a worldwide box office collection of $795.9 million compared to a production budget of $230 million. Fans credited this box office success mostly to its international performance and the film's entertainment value.
Fan Reactions: Divided Opinions
To replicate the success of the first installment, the makers introduced several changes in Dead Men Tell No Tales. These included a near-total overhaul of its creative department to bring back the same tonality and flavor.
With a star-studded cast featuring Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, and Kevin McNally, the film failed to take off domestically, raking in a dismal $172.5 million.
Fan reactions varied drastically, with some labeling it as an entertaining addition despite its shortcomings such as franchise fatigue, discontinuation of the canon, and an underdeveloped villain. Several viewers did not view the movie as negatively as critics did, leading to contrasting opinions.
The Future of Pirates Of The Caribbean
The speculation about future installments of this franchise has been ongoing for a while now. Although Johnny Depp announced he won't be returning after Disney let him go due to legal challenges, there's a chance he might sneak in a cameo.
Jerry Bruckheimer, the franchise's producer, revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that he'd love to have Depp return, depending on his control over the supposed reboot. While the franchise's future without Jack Sparrow remains uncertain, fans eagerly await to see whether Depp will make a brief comeback.
In conclusion, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, mainly the fifth installment Dead Men Tell No Tales, serves as a fascinating case study of a series that continues to prosper despite criticism and controversy.
