Poster art for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 50 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
12 Iffy for 12+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Michael Rechtshaffen

    More than ever, Depp masterfully keeps the enterprise afloat, even when the sheer weight of all those other characters threatens to throw it off-course. Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    Funner, biggerer, brighterer, bolderer, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is not only okay, it may even be close to good. A lavish spectacle illuminated by Johnny Depp's swishing pirate captain, the movie has its dull moments, but not many. Read full review

  • 70
    The New York Times | Jeannette Catsoulis

    The cannibals, coconuts and landlocked locations have been replaced by the high-seas high jinks that made the first film so enjoyable. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    Exciting, distracting and quite possibly permanently concentration impairing, what Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End offers is a wonderfully scenic medley of impressive action sequences so lengthy, elaborate and numerous that remembering what came before becomes a kind of test of mental focus. Read full review

  • 60
    Variety | Brian Lowry

    The third voyage in the "Priates" trilogy could be touted as "The biggest, loudest and second-best (or second-worst) 'Pirates' ever!" -- not necessarily a ringing endorsement, but honest. Read full review

  • 50
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    The good news first: Keith Richards totally rocks it playing pirate daddy to Johnny Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow. The deep rumble of his voice and those hooded eyes that narrowly open like the creaky gates of hell make him what the rest of this three-peat is not: authentically scary...So what's the bad news? Richards is onscreen for barely two minutes. Read full review

  • 50
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Knightley's Elizabeth becomes a pirate captain this time. You know a franchise has run its course when it has a buccaneer heroine who looks as if she'd hate to get her face smudged. Read full review

  • 40
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    A ponderous pirate saga, 168 minutes long, with more doldrums than "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Those doldrums are relieved from time to time by spectacular effects. Read full review

  • 38
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    The pirate ship has hit foul waters, and even the sharp wit and charm of everyone's favorite buccaneer can't save it. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Has no narrative throughline, no emotional spine. It's a mess. Read full review

View more reviews for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 12+ Swashbuckling action, but too many puzzling plots.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this installment of the Pirates franchise is packed with more death, action, and violence than most superhero flicks -- from the grim opening sequence in which Caribbean civilians (including a young boy) are led to the gallows to the climactic swashbuckling showdown. Since it's nearly three hours long, younger kids (or those with short attention spans) may not go the distance. And with so many double crosses and betrayals, the plot may even be confusing for adults. That said, thanks to Disney's ubiquitous merchandising and advertising campaigns, even 5-year-olds know who Captain Jack Sparrow is, so chances are your youngest kids will want to see it. But if they do, be prepared for them to wake up with nightmares.
  • Families can talk about what made kids want to see this movie -- the story or all the product and toy tie-ins. Do kids want something because Captain Jack is connected to it? Why is Jack such an appealing character? And does the movie live up to all the hype? Families can also discuss the Pirates franchise as a whole. Do you think there should be a fourth movie or is this one a good finale? Which movie do you like best, and why?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Elizabeth and Tia Dalma are strong, fearless female characters, and the cast of this movie is much more diverse than the previous two. Despite several betrayals, Jack and Will sacrifice what they want most and act selflessly for the greater good. Jack often acts as though he has no morals or ethics, but he's true to a strange code of his own.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: Characters are hanged -- including a young boy -- and their dead bodies are shown in a pile. Lots of pirates, British soldiers, and unlucky seamen are stabbed and blown up -- especially in the final hour. Younger children may be disturbed by the opening gallows sequence and by seeing major characters die.
  • sex false0 Sex: Elizabeth and Will kiss passionately. Several scantily dressed pirates' mistresses; a couple is discreetly shown dressing after marital sex, but there's no nudity. Captain Jack loves making sexual innuendos.
  • language false0 Language: Colorful pirate insults.
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Nothing in the movie itself, but the entire thing is a giant marketing machine for Disney.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Pirates love their rum, and once again it flows freely.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

4.0

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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Movie Ratings + Reviews

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