Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
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Captain Jack Sparrow embarks on a perilous quest for the Fountain of Youth while navigating a dangerous alliance with a mysterious woman from his past.
The story
Set in the mid-1700s, the film follows the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow as he embarks on a quest to find the legendary Fountain of Youth. After crossing paths with Angelica, a mysterious woman from his past, Jack finds himself forced aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard. As the two factions navigate treacherous waters, Jack must contend with the formidable Blackbeard and his crew while trying to secure the mythical source of eternal life before his enemies can claim it.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1750, a ship's logbook of Ponce de León is found, sparking a race to the Fountain of Youth. Jack Sparrow rescues his mate, Joshamee Gibbs, but is captured and forced to lead a royal expedition to find the Fountain. He is joined by Hector Barbossa, who seeks to reclaim his status. Jack is then captured by the pirate Blackbeard and his daughter, Angelica. The plot involves a complex ritual requiring a mermaid's tear and two silver chalices. The quest leads to a confrontation at the Fountain, where Barbossa attempts to kill Blackbeard. In the chaos, Jack tricks Blackbeard into drinking a chalice without the mermaid's tear, resulting in Blackbeard's death and Angelica's healing. Barbossa claims the ship and crew, while Jack remains a pirate, eventually reuniting with Gibbs and his ship, the Black Pearl, which he finds inside a bottle.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Marshall
- Writers
- Ted Elliott · writer; Terry Rossio · writer
- Cast and characters
- Johnny Depp · Captain Jack Sparrow; Penélope Cruz · Angelica; Ian McShane · Blackbeard; Geoffrey Rush · Captain Hector Barbossa; Kevin R. McNally · Joshamee Gibbs; Sam Claflin · Philip; Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey · Syrena; Stephen Graham · Scrum
- Genres
- swashbuckler; action; adventure; fantasy
- Themes
- mortality; legacy; betrayal
- Tone and mood
- adventurous; swashbuckling; mystical
- Premise and plot tags
- treasure hunt; mythology; pirates
- Source material / true-story basis
- On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
- Franchise connections
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a significant commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 45 · scale: 100 · review count: 39; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Movie for Mature Audiences Award · Movieguide Awards · 2012 · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release.; The production used 3D cameras and was the first major 'exterior movie' to be shot in 3D.; The Queen Anne's Revenge was built atop the same ship used to depict the Black Pearl in previous installments.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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