Pirates of the Caribbeanhas captured the essence of pirate life throughout its five successful movies, exploring the swashbuckling life of Johnny Depp’sCaptain Jack Sparrowas his sense of adventure leads him to various treasures. While pirates have been notably obsessed with treasure chests in popular media in modern times,thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies use “treasure” as a looser term, applying it to other goals and Macguffins, such as the Fountain of Youth and Jack’s compass.
There are five different types of “treasure” throughout the $4.5 billion franchise, with some drawn straight from myths and legends, and each movie cleverly explores the unique motivations for why each character wants it. This often provides tension and a driving force for thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies, as this goal informs most of the plot. However, some treasures work better than others inPirates of the Caribbean, and they can affect the tone and immersion into the wider story.
5Jack Sparrow’s Compass
All Pirates Of The Caribbean Films
Jack Sparrow’s magical compass has been in everyPirates of the Caribbeanmovie, andits ability to lead the bearer to whatever they want most in the world made the object highly desiredby almost everyone. Throughout the franchise, Jack has used his compass to find people, objects, and directions. However, he is not the only one to have possessed it. Both Lord Cutler Beckett and Will wanted the compass to lead them to the Dead Man’s Chest and Shipwreck Cove. Beckett tries to bargain with Jack for the compass, and often results to illicit means to procure it.
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The compass is mainly used to further the plot inPirates of the Caribbean, getting characters where they want to be much quicker. When Jack gives it away inDead Men Tell No Tales, it releases Salazar, providing the driving point of the story. Therefore, the compass could be regarded as a cheap trick to explain away the plot. On the other hand,the compass was used rather effectively inDead Man’s ChestandAt World’s End, to highlight the Jack-Elizabeth-Will love triangle, and formed part of Jack’s plan for using Will as a double agent against Lord Beckett.
4The Cursed Aztec Medallion
The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Cursed Aztec medallion was worn by Elizabeth Swannafter she secretly took it from Will Turner.The medallion is one of 882 pieces of Aztec gold that Barbossa and his crew took from the Cursed Treasure of Cortésandcaused Barbossa’s crew to become unfeeling, immortal, and skeletal under moonlight. The crew tried to return every piece of the treasure, but Bootstrap Bill sent the last piece to his son, Will, believing the pirates who had pulled a mutiny on Jack deserved their punishment.
Barbossa kidnapped Elizabeth inThe Curse of the Black Pearlto return the medallion to the chest and stop the curse, not realizing that Will was Bootstrap’s child. Of course, this became important later in the movie when it was revealed they needed not just the gold, but also Bootstrap Bill’s blood to break the curse - and with him gone, Will became the stand-in sacrifice target.
The Cursed Treasure of Cortés remained on Isla de Muerta after Barbossa’s curse ended, until the island was eventually swallowed by the sea and the treasure was lost to its depths.
While there is aplot hole in thePirates of the Caribbeanfirst movie– the medallion was already in the sea at the beginning with Will and didn’t let off a signal like it did when Elizabeth fell into the water –as an introductory treasure, the cursed Aztec gold inThe Curse of the Black Pearlwas a good choice. It is the most pirate-accurate treasure throughout the swashbuckling franchise and the motivations behind each character’s desire for the treasure were simple yet effective, creating a good formula for the rest of thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies to follow.
3Davy Jones' Heart
Interestingly, Davy Jones’ heart was sought after in twoPirates of the Caribbeanmovies,Dead Man’s ChestandAt World’s End. After betraying his beloved Calypso, Davy Jones cut out his own heart and locked it in a chest, burying it on Isla Cruces. Consequently, whoever possessed Davy Jones’ heart, could control the cursed captain of the Flying Dutchman and his Kraken, making it a highly desirable treasure.Jack, Beckett, and Will all wanted the heart for slightly different reasons; Jack wanted to spend forever at sea, Beckett wanted Jones to eradicate pirates, and Will wanted to free his father.
Furthermore, the heart matched the originalPirates of the Caribbeanmovie’s cursed treasure, as both of them are in a treasure chest.
The dead man’s chest was the driving factor for two films, meaningPirates of the Caribbean’sCGI Davy Jones characterwas given more airtime. This was a good thing asJones proved himself a fascinating and rather menacing villain in the pirate franchise, and there was a good backstory to his character. Furthermore, the heart matched the originalPirates of the Caribbeanmovie’s cursed treasure, as both of them are in a treasure chest. Yet Davy Jones’ heart goes one step further because it includes the control of a mythological Kraken as part of its powers over Davy Jones.
2The Fountain Of Youth
On Stranger Tides
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tidesintroduces a new treasure to the franchise: the Fountain of Youth.The mythical spring reportedly restores the youth of those who drink its waters, and Jack Sparrow had ventured there before, making it all the way to the entrance before being turned around. Therefore, when Blackbeard decided to search for the fountain and relive his glory days, he forced Jack to lead the way. They were closely followed by the Spaniards on behalf of King Ferdinand, who wanted to destroy the sacrilegious fountain, and Privateer Barbossa on behalf of King George II.
The Fountain of Youth inPirates of the Caribbeantakes all the years of one life and gives it to another. Instead of saving Blackbeard, Jack switches the chalices and Angelica is the one who gains her father’s years.
A large part ofOn Stranger Tideswas spent preparing the items needed for the profane ritual when they reached the fountain, which included the chalices of Cartagena and a mermaid tear. The introduction of mermaids fleshed out the franchise’s lore, andthe quest for the Fountain of Youth made an appealing plot for aPirates of the Caribbeanmovie as it reinforced the classic pirate adventure story. Additionally, the different groups’ motivations and approaches made for a tense race to reach the fountain, andPenelope Cruz’s Angelica was an interesting character in thePirates of the Caribbeanuniverse.
1The Trident Of Poseidon
The Trident of Poseidon has a unique backstory as one of the most powerful treasures in thePirates of the Caribbean.The trident was purportedly capable of creating earthquakes, wrecking ships, summoning the Kraken, controlling merfolk and breaking curses. After Jack Sparrow “betrays” his compass by trading it for rum, the ghost of pirate hunter Armando Salazar is released from the Devil’s Triangle. Salazar wanted the trident to wipe out all pirates (including Jack),Elizabeth and Will’s son returns toPirates of the Caribbeanto free his father from the Dutchman’s curse, and Barbossa wants control over the sea.
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While mythology has been integrated into thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies, the Trident of Poseidon was somewhat underwhelming. The powerful object was overcome rather easily compared to other threats such as the Kraken, asHenry Turner was able to shatter the trident with just his sword to break every curse at sea. The trident’s destruction turned Salazar human once again, and he drowned while trying to escape, but it also freed Will Turner from the Flying Dutchman. However, with the Trident of Poseidon now gone, the only treasure left in thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies is Jack’s compass.
Pirates of the Caribbean
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
