Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Fourth Pirates film, quest for the Fountain of Youth.
The fourth film in the *Pirates of the Caribbean* series, *On Stranger Tides* is a 2011 American swashbuckler. It picks up after *At World’s End* (2007). Rob Marshall directed, with Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio writing a script loosely inspired by Tim Powers’ 1987 novel of the same name. Johnny Depp, Kevin R. McNally, and Geoffrey Rush returned from earlier installments, while Penélope Cruz and Ian McShane joined the cast. The plot sends Captain Jack Sparrow hunting for the Fountain of Youth after he runs into Angelica, a woman from his past, and gets forced onto the *Queen Anne’s Revenge*, the vessel of the infamous pirate Blackbeard.
Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films produced the movie, with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures handling distribution. Elliott and Rossio first learned of Powers’ novel while working back-to-back on *Dead Man’s Chest* (2006) and *At World’s End*, and saw it as a useful foundation for a new entry. Pre-production began after the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike ended, with Depp helping the writers shape the story. Gore Verbinski did not return as director, reportedly because of his commitment to *Rango* (2011). Principal photography ran 106 days from June to November 2010, shooting in Hawaii, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, and California. The production used 3D cameras, and ten companies handled visual effects. Costs ballooned to a net budget of $379 million, making it the most expensive film ever made at its release.
The film premiered at Disneyland Resort on May 7, 2011, and opened in U.S. theaters on May 20. Critics gave it mixed reviews, but it earned over $1 billion worldwide, broke several box office records, and ranked as the third highest-grossing film of 2011. A fifth film, *Dead Men Tell No Tales*, followed in 2017.
**Plot** Around 1750—about 21 years after Jack Sparrow got Sao Feng’s map to the Fountain of Youth and Hector Barbossa lost the *Black Pearl*—a castaway found at sea is brought to King Ferdinand in Cádiz, carrying Ponce de León’s logbook. Jack rescues his first mate Joshamee Gibbs from execution in London but is captured. Gibbs takes Jack’s map, while Jack meets King George II, who wants him to guide an expedition to the Fountain before the Spanish Navy, led by The Spaniard, can reach it. Barbossa, now a privateer with a peg leg after losing it (and the *Pearl*, believed sunk),
- release_year
- 2011
- director
- Rob Marshall
- writers
- Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio
- budget
- $379 million (most expensive film ever made at release)
- box_office
- Over $1 billion worldwide
- series_installment
- Fourth in the Pirates of the Caribbean series
- based_on
- 1987 novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
Lore & Background
The film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Writers Elliott and Rossio first learned of Powers' novel during the back-to-back production of Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, considering it a good starting point for a new film. Pre-production began after the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, with Johnny Depp collaborating on story design. Gore Verbinski did not return as director, reportedly due to his commitment with Rango (2011). Principal photography lasted 106 days between June and November 2010, with locations in Hawaii, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, and California. Filming employed 3D cameras, and ten companies handled visual effects. Inflated production costs ballooned the net budget to $379 million, making it the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release.
Reader's Guide
On Stranger Tides premiered at the Disneyland Resort on May 7, 2011, and was theatrically released in the United States on May 20. It received mixed reviews from critics but grossed over $1 billion worldwide, breaking several box office records and becoming the third highest-grossing film of 2011. The film introduced new characters such as Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and Blackbeard (Ian McShane), while Johnny Depp, Kevin R. McNally, and Geoffrey Rush reprised their roles. The plot involves the Fountain of Youth, mermaids, and the Profane Ritual. A fifth film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, was released in 2017. The film's significance lies in its continuation of the franchise despite a change in director and its record-breaking budget, which highlighted the escalating costs of blockbuster filmmaking.
Did You Know?
- Penélope Cruz was pregnant during filming; her sister Mónica performed long-distance shots while Cruz did close-ups.
- Ian McShane was previously considered to play Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
- The film's net budget of $379 million made it the most expensive film ever made at the time of its release.
- The post-credits scene shows Angelica picking up Jack's voodoo doll, which washed ashore.
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