Johnny Depp: 5 Awesome Performances & 5 That Sucked

4. Captain Jack Sparrow - Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Pirates Of The Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl Jack Sparrow
Disney

When looking at Johnny Depp's career and fame, it's impossible to ignore the impact that Pirates of the Caribbean has had.

Although Depp was well-known long before 2003, thanks to being a teen idol on 21 Jump Street, and a string of critically-acclaimed films, Curse of the Black Pearl put him into a different stratosphere.

It gave him a second Oscar nomination, but more importantly turned him into one of the world's most bankable box-office stars, and it continues to be the role that defines him. Although easy to complain about the deluge of sequels (which I will do!), it's worth remembering just how good this was, and how great Depp is in it.

Riffing heavily on Keith Richards, Captain Jack Sparrow is a swaggering rock-star of the seas. He slurs and staggers his way through the movie, combining the Rolling Stone presence with endless charisma and physical acting straight of the silent era.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.