This one ove the best of them all even better than at world's end
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Rip-roaring fun for kids who don't mind skeletons.
Themes in this movie include: friendship, revenge
updated 09.28.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
-
Role models:
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that there's lots of violence for a PG-13, and while it is not especially graphic, there are images, including the literally skeleton pirate crew and a false eyeball that keeps coming out, that may be disturbing to some viewers. There are some revealing bodices and some mild sexual references, including prostitutes (not explicit and no nudity or sexual situations). There is some strong and colorful pirate language. Characters drink rum and get tipsy.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the rules/guidelines distinction and the movie's many broken promises.
- Families could talk about the history of pirates and where they came from and if they still exist.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
What’s the Story?
Elizabeth Swann, daughter of the Governor Jonathan Pryce) is fascinated by pirates. On their voyage from England, Elizabeth helped rescue a boy named Will Turner. While he was unconscious, she took his gold medallion with a skull and crossbones. Now grown up, Elizabeth (Bend It Like Beckham's Keira Knightley) is still wearing the medallion and is loved both by Commodore Norrington (Jack Davenport) and by Will (Orlando Bloom). When the dreaded pirates of the Black Pearl, led by Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) sack the town, Elizabeth offers them the medallion if they will leave. They take it, and take her, too. Turner takes off in pursuit with the notorious Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), with Norrington and his men right behind them. It turns out that the medallion is the last of the cursed pieces of gold that turned Barbossa and his crew into the walking dead, always hungry and thirsty, but unable to eat or drink. By restoring the gold to its chest -- with the right person's blood -- the curse will be removed. There are advantages, though, in being a pirate who cannot be killed.
Is It Any Good?
Avast, me hearties and come hear the tale of a terrible pirate curse. No, not the one about the curse on pieces of gold that turn anyone into the walking undead, revealed as skeletons when touched by moonlight. This is one about the curse of the pirate movie, which has been known to turn fine actors into eye-rolling, scenery-chomping over-actors and empty the bank accounts of movie studios faster than real-life pirates pillaged their victims. This one's origins as a Disney theme park ride didn't seem too promising. So maybe it is those low expectations that made this movie seem surprisingly enjoyable. That is, if swashbuckling, rope-swinging, plank-walking, yard-arm-spinning, rum-drinking, double-crossing, colorful sidekicks, and all-around yo-ho-ho-ing sounds like fun, and especially if you know the theme park ride well enough to appreciate a couple of sly references, including a replica of one of the ride's most memorable moments.
Just like the theme park ride that inspired it, the movie's greatest strengths are its atmosphere and art direction. The production design has that splendidly imaginative synthesis of classic book illustrations and some innate collective unconsciousness that gets the essence of every detail right, from the curve of the sail to a pirate's pet monkey. Then come the action sequences, both energetic and entertaining. The script has some nicely creepy twists and some nicely saucy lines. Johnny Depp falls prey to the pirate curse, speaking as though he is recovering from dental surgery and at times seeming to be acting in his own movie completely separate from everyone else. But he is undeniably fun to watch.
Movie Details
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures, Director: Gore Verbinski
Run time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release: 7/9/2003, DVD release: 12/2/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for action/adventure violence
Run time: 135 minutes
Theatrical release: 7/9/2003, DVD release: 12/2/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for action/adventure violence
Our Members Say
See all 113 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Best of the best
-
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Awesome for teens
This is an awesome movie. But it was brought down a star because of some bloody violence, rotting skeletons, mild sexual content, and a LOT of drinking, along with some swear words splattered around. And the role models, at least Jack and Barbossa, are AWFUL, but if you don't care about the messages, which it wasn't meant to have anyway, it's a fun action movie thrill ride with plenty of swordplay, battles, and humor.
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
GOOD MOVIE
I think it is not to scary. And there is a good pirates and bad. I am going to my dads house in 2 or 3 days and he said that me and him are going to see it.
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
my favorite movie.
great movie, easy to understand and a ton of action. it has violence too, though. lots of charachters get killed, and one part with blood. a few swordfights. some images are scary, like a fork sticking out of one crew members glass eye, and skeleton people. there is a few h-words. jack sparrow drinks rum at one part. pirates are treated badly by the navy, and the boss of the navy wont do a good battle plan, because jack sparrow told it to him. will is a good role model, but some of the other charachters are evil, and the navy hates pirates for no reason.
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
great action adventure movie
i really like it but it is violent, has lots of rum, and has a few bad words. it shows charachters being stabbed, shot, and knocked out. it is pretty scary and gross, like when a charachter has a fake eye and gets stabbed by a fork in his eye and the fork just sticks out of his eye for a while. the skeletons will probably scare kids and there is alot of drinking. they say the h word alot.
-
I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Awesome movie! 13+.
Great movie, but is very violent and a little scary. Ages 13+.
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
not pg-13
Very good movie i dont know y it is rated pg-13 I think it is appropriate for younger children but not to young
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES!!!!!!!
I love this movie!! I didn't find it scary at all!! My little brother saw it when he was 8 years old, and didn't have nihtmares or anything!!! Johnny Depp rocked in this movie!! He is soo awesome! I would reccomend this movie to anyone!! This movie was really funny, and it had tons of action!! I would give this movie an A+++++!
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
just rum
lots of rum ut times are changing this wud be appropriate for eight year olds in my eyes. they dont even show blood... its ment 4 kidz
-
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Even though it's violent, it's a must see!!
-
I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
-
I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
can be too much for some kids
we really like these movies, but they are for kids that can tell the difference between fact and fiction
-
I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Pretty good movie just is a tad bit languagy and has some "scences"
-
I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Suitable for ages 6+
Personally, I find this movie very appropriate. Yes, there's violence but it is VERY comical. Sure theres some language and sexual content but at that age, who doesn't want to be a pirate? I know I did. Anyway, not letting your child see this is a mistake. He/she will love it.
-
I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Wow!
Wow! I love that movie! Better than Dead Mans Chest! I like it and will watch it again!
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Good Movie!
SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
kooollll ass brooo
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
pirates of the caribbean fits for any age...its d best movie ive ever been watched..johny depp was great..i cant wait for the part 4..
-
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
-
I rate this title off for age 11 and give it
laughed
ffsdfsdfsdfsddsfsdfsd fsfsd dsfds fsdf sf sdf dsfdf f df df df d dfdsfsdfsdfsfs sdsdfsdfdssdf
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 33% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
| 33% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
