Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Making Jack Sparrow the main character is like ordering a whole plate of hot sauce. He was always the seasoning. Without Will and Elizabeth to keep the story moving, On Stranger Tides lets Jack wander from one scheme to the next, and Johnny Depp plays it like an impression of his own impression. Ian McShane’s Blackbeard has a magic sword and a great growl, and the movie gives him almost nothing to do with either. Penélope Cruz trades barbs with Depp, but the sparks never catch. The one scene with real teeth is a mermaid attack at night, eerie and fast, and then everyone goes right back to standing around in jungles. The reported budget was $410.6M, and it made $1.05 billion worldwide, so the hot sauce sold. A 3.4 because it’s the most expensive shrug in the whole franchise. $109 says you nod off before anybody finds the Fountain of Youth and claim you were resting your eyes.

What works: The nighttime mermaid attack is eerie and beautifully staged, and Ian McShane brings real menace to Blackbeard.

What doesn’t: Jack Sparrow can’t carry a movie alone, and the plot is a flat treasure hunt with almost nothing at stake.

Who it’s for: Completists working through the whole series, and anyone who wants Jack Sparrow with nobody else competing for the screen.