9. Pirates Of The Caribbean 5
The Curse Of The Black Pearl was fresh. It was a fun blockbuster that brought us an unwitting hero who provided the inspiration for all of Johnny Depps roles over the following decade.
I've discussed before how its sequels completely reversed the effect and with the ambivalent response to On Stranger Tides and an increasing dissatisfaction with the series, the hopes for the upcoming fifth instalment are low. The fact theres a fifth film at all is a surprise. Theres really nowhere else to go with Jack Sparrow. Hes kinda like the serial killer in a horror franchise; essential to the series, but only truly works if theres strong support. Im not saying Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly were at their best in the first three films, but they were the necessary straight guys with their own story aside from Depps zany Jack. The over reliance on one character over plot is something that never works and given the financial success of On Stranger Tides, its unlikely any lessons will be learnt. Theres a good franchise somewhere within these bloated, ill focused films, its just that until theres a money problem, no one will address it.