DEAD MAN’S CHEST, the sequel to PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, showcases the return of Johnny Depp as his most beloved character, the charismatic rogue Captain Jack Sparrow. Yes, Captain Jack has the Black Pearl back, but now he is in danger of losing more than his life to Davy Jones; for someone who cherishes freedom, as Jack does, one hundred years of forced labor as one of Jones’s enslaved crewmen on the Flying Dutchman would be a hideous fate. This middle film of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN trilogy shows Jack desperately attempting to avoid paying his debt to Davy Jones (Bill Nighy); it also explores his erotic (and perhaps dangerous) attraction to the adventurous Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley).

“What Johnny Depp has done here is inspiring,” writes critic D. Allan Kerr. “[I]nstead of sacrificing himself on the public altar to win over the masses, he has brought the masses to him. He created something so original and with such panache that the entire world not only has to pay attention to it, they can’t get enough of it.” Audiences certainly couldn’t get enough of Captain Jack Sparrow: DEAD MAN’S CHEST set box-office records for the biggest opening day ever ($55,830,600), all-time highest opening weekend ($135,634,554), and top opening week ($196,019,502). It is also the fastest film ever to earn $100,000,000, $200,000,000 and $300,000,000 domestically, needing only 16 days to reach that last plateau; the film has also shattered box office records overseas. “Give credit where it’s due,” advises journalist Emmanuel Levy. “With charm and originality, Johnny Depp has made Captain Jack Sparrow the only iconic screen character to have yet emerged [in] the new millennium.” The Pirates trilogy was completed with the release of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END on Memorial Day weekend 2007; AT WORLD'S END became the highest-grossing film, worldwide, for that year.

This gallery is a communal effort; many Zone members graciously contributed scans or screencaps. We extend our thanks to sleepy, bonnie, AnaMaria, Aisha, emma, Susanne, Carasun, sjc, Hiro3, and Theresa.

--Part-Time Poet