Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)

Film and Plot Synopsis

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is the third installment in the popular pirate-themed film series, released in 2007 and directed by Gore Verbinski. The movie stars Johnny Depp as the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow, alongside Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa. Set in a fantastical version of the 18th century, the film follows the continuing adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow as he navigates treacherous waters, supernatural threats, and intricate alliances in a quest to thwart the plans of the East India Trading Company and the mythical pirate lord, Davy Jones.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ Movie Summary

The film opens with a chaotic scene as mass executions of pirates take place under the orders of Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander), the ruthless head of the East India Trading Company. Beckett orders the executions of anyone associated with piracy while the fearsome Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) has become Beckett’s enforcer at sea due to the fact that Beckett controls Jones’ heart. Jones has even killed his mythological sea beast, the Kraken, at the orders of Beckett.

The pirates look to retaliate and seek to reunite the nine pirate lords at Shipwreck Cove to hold the Brethren Court. However, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is one of the nine lords, and with his death at the end of the previous film, it seems impossible to unite the pirates as one. However, a daring rescue orchestrated by Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and his crew, along with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), and the mystical Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), seeks to save Jack from the supernatural realm known as Davy Jones’ Locker.  The group travels to Singapore where they meet the Pirate Lord Sao Feng (Chow Yun-fat). Feng owns navigational charts to the Locker. While in Singapore, all the pirates are attacked by soldiers from the East India Trading Company. During the battle, Will secretly promises to give Jack to Feng in return for the Pearl, which Will intends to use to rescue his father, “Bootstrap Bill” Turner (Stellan Starsgård) from Jones’ Flying Dutchman. Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth, and Tia all escape in one of Feng’s ships and begin the odd journey to the Locker.

Meanwhile, in the Locker, Jack finds himself stranded with his beloved Black Pearl. The Pearl is stranded on the land. Jack uses his crew, who are various different versions of himself, and some crabs to move the ship to the sea. Barbossa’s group arrives, but their ship is destroyed during the journey. Barbossa’s crew is forced to seek passage on the Pearl with Jack if they wish to escape the Locker. With the help of the eccentric pirate crew, led by Joshamee Gibbs (played by Kevin McNally), Jack manages to escape the Locker and return to the land of the living.

While returning, they encounter departed souls who have passed on including Elizabeth’s father, Governor Weatherby Swann (Jonathan Pryce), who has been killed by Beckett. Tia informs everyone that the goddess Calypso charged Davy Jones with guiding souls of those who died to the next world, but Jones corrupted his purpose and became the monster he is. She also informs them that whoever kills Jones by stabbing his disembodied heart must become the Dutchman’s new captain.

It’s not just about living forever, Jackie. The trick is still living with yourself forever. Captain Teague (Keith Richards)

Back in the world of the living, tensions rise between the various factions: the East India Trading Company, the pirate lords of the Brethren Court, and the crew of the Flying Dutchman. Elizabeth is taken hostage by Feng, who believes she is Calypso. Feng informs Elizabeth that the first Brethren Court bound Calypso in human form after her lover, Jones, betrayed her. Feng tells her that he plans to release Calypso to defeat Beckett. The Dutchman attacks Feng’s ship and Feng is fatally wounded. Before dying, Feng appoints Elizabeth as his successor as a pirate lord. Elizabeth and her crew are captured and imprisoned aboard the Dutchman. Elizabeth meets Bootstrap Bill who has begun to lose himself to the Dutchman’s curse. Admiral James Norrington (Jack Davenport), who has been ordered to serve on the Dutchman by Beckett, frees Elizabeth and her crew, but he is killed by Bootstrap.

Meanwhile, Jack throws Will off the Pearl as part of a plan to seize control of the Dutchman. Will is rescued by Beckett. Will informs Jones of Jack’s escape from the Locker. Will also learns that Jones enabled the first Court to imprison Calypso, who is revealed to be Tia Dalma. Beckett seeks to eliminate piracy once and for all by also controlling Calypso. To accomplish this, Beckett enlists the aid of Will, who has been given the task of capturing Jack Sparrow and retrieving his magical compass, which points to whatever the holder desires most.

Will, Elizabeth, and Captain Barbossa join forces with the other pirate lords to convene the Brethren Court, a gathering of the nine pirate lords from around the world. Their goal is to release Calypso from her human form and use her power to defeat Beckett and Jones. However, tensions run high among the pirates, as alliances are tested and betrayals loom on the horizon. As the pirate lords convene, Jack makes his dramatic return. Together, the pirate lords join forces in a climactic battle against Beckett’s armada. In the midst of the chaos, Calypso is released from her human form, unleashing a powerful storm that engulfs the battlefield.

Amidst the raging storm, Jack and Jones engage in a fierce duel aboard the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman. In a pivotal moment during the battle, Elizabeth and Will realize their love for each other and have Captain Barbossa marry them during a massive sword fight. Jack seeks and finds Jones’ heart and prepares to stab the heart. However, Will is stabbed by Jones and lies dying. Jack places the knife into Will’s hand and helps the younger man stab Jones’ heart, making Will the new captain of the Dutchman, binding him to the ship for eternity.

The Dutchman, now under Will’s command, and the Pearl join forces to destroy Beckett’s ship, the Endeavour. Beckett is killed during the battle and the rest of the East India Trading Company’s fleet retreats from the pirate armada. With Will bound to guide souls lost at sea to the next world, he and Elizbeth bid farewell to each other after one night together, although Will is allowed to be on land for one day every ten years. Barbossa steals the Pearl from Jack and sets sail to find the Fountain of Youth. However, he discovers that Jack has stolen Feng’s charts to the mythical treasure. Jack also sets sail from Tortuga on a small boat to locate the fountain as well.

In an end credits scene, Elizabeth and her son watch as Will returns on the Dutchman after being away for ten years.