20 Biggest Blockbuster Movie Showdowns Of All Time

12. The Maelstrom - Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

It comes as no surprise that the third installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise started shooting without a finished script, given that the final product is full of superfluous characters, a frequently-incomprehensible plot and massive amounts of tedious exposition. Although all three sequels suffered from becoming bogged down in the ever-expanding mythology of the series, they at least offered some spectacular visuals and memorable set-pieces. The biggest showdown of all came at the conclusion of At World's End, as the pirate Brethren Court battled the East India Trading Company against the backdrop of a huge maelstrom. As you would expect from a production with a budget of $300m, the maelstrom battle is visually stunning, combining flawless CGI with full-scale practical ships built on a massive soundstage. Although the plot is increasingly hard to follow as the battle rages on, each of the main players are rewarded with several smaller character moments in amongst the chaos, as the story attempts to tie up any remaining loose plot threads while simultaneously staging a massive naval battle. All of the villains meet a suitable end, with the best being Tom Hollander's Cutler Beckett descending the steps of the HMS Endeavor in shock as the ship explodes in slow-motion around him.