"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" is a 2003 American fantasy swashbuckler film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
It serves as the first installment in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series. The movie stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.
The film follows the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow as he teams up with blacksmith Will Turner and the governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann, to rescue Elizabeth from the cursed crew of the Black Pearl, led by Captain Barbossa. The crew, cursed to live as undead skeletons under the moonlight, seeks to lift their curse by finding and returning a mysterious gold medallion.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" was a commercial success, grossing over $654 million worldwide. It received critical acclaim for its performances, humor, action sequences, and special effects. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow particularly garnered praise and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The film's success led to multiple sequels, turning it into a highly successful franchise.