--- title: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" year: 2006 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest" fi1m_score: 63 critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 19 published: "2026-09-19T16:33:58.345882+00:00" updated: "2026-09-19T16:33:58.914798+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) Directed by Gore Verbinski · 2h 31m · MPA PG-13 · Adventure, Fantasy, Action **Fi1m score: 63** · Critics 56 from 19 reviews *In a sentence:* Bill Nighy plays the organ with his beard and walks off with the film; everyone else is still looking for a key > Gore Verbinski’s second voyage has a magnificent villain in Bill Nighy’s Davy Jones and two set pieces we would show anyone, and it buries them under a plot with more moving parts than a clock. Worth it for the monster. ## Synopsis Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) fall foul of Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) of the East India Trading Company, who wants one thing: the compass belonging to Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), the one that does not point north. Will is sent to find Jack and get it. Jack has troubles of his own. He owes a debt to Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), captain of the Flying Dutchman, whose crew includes Will’s father, Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgård), and Jones has the Kraken to collect what he is owed. Jack’s only way out is the chest that holds Jones’s heart, and everyone is soon after it: Jack, Will, Elizabeth and Norrington (Jack Davenport), with Beckett’s ships not far behind. ## Review Gore Verbinski’s second voyage with Jack Sparrow has plainly been told to be bigger than *The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), and it is. It has a sea monster, a ghost ship whose crew are turning into coral, a cannibal island and a plot that requires a compass, a drawing of a key, the key, a chest and the thing inside the chest. It runs 151 minutes and carries a 12A. A great deal of it is people telling each other where the next object is. The best thing in it is Davy Jones. Bill Nighy plays him under a computer-generated face of tentacles, with a crab claw for a hand and a Scottish accent you could stand a spoon in, and what surprised us is how much of Nighy survives: the sour pauses, the way he rolls the word ‘aye’ around before letting it go. He sits at a pipe organ built into his ship and plays it with his beard. Rick Heinrichs designs the Flying Dutchman as a wreck that has forgotten to sink, every plank furred with weed and barnacle, and its crew are men halfway to becoming the sea, one with a hammerhead where his face was, one who is mostly shell. Then there is the Kraken. The first time it takes a ship we were properly frightened. Verbinski does not show the whole animal. Dariusz Wolski keeps the camera on the deck, and what we see is a stillness in the water, then a tentacle the width of a tree coming quietly over the rail behind a sailor who has not turned round. The crew go in ones and twos, the mast goes, the hull folds. Hans Zimmer gives the creature a low brass shudder we felt through the seat. The other set piece is the fight over the chest between Jack, Will and Norrington (Jack Davenport), which starts on a beach and ends inside a mill wheel that comes off its axle and rolls away with two of them still in it. It is silent-comedy engineering at enormous expense, and Stephen E. Rivkin and Craig Wood cut away to Pintel (Lee Arenberg) and Ragetti (Mackenzie Crook) at exactly the moments the joke needs a witness. We laughed out loud, twice, which a fight scene rarely manages. Between those peaks the film keeps stopping to explain itself. Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio’s screenplay is a chain of errands, and every link needs a scene of instruction before anyone can move on; by the hour mark we had heard the rules of the chest three times. The cannibal island is Jack painted like a totem pole and men rolling downhill in cages of bone, and it belongs to a sillier film. We were bored, and then cross at being bored by something this expensive. Orlando Bloom is asked to be earnest for two and a half hours and manages it. Keira Knightley gets more to do than last time, mostly with a sword, and she is good when allowed to be sly. Neither can hold a frame that Depp or Nighy is also in. Depp is still funny, though the performance has set a little into its own impression: the run, the hands, the pause before the word ‘savvy’. He is best when frightened, and the black spot on his palm gives him reason. Tom Hollander’s Cutler Beckett is the quiet success, a small tidy man who never raises his voice and is the only person here who wants something more interesting than treasure. Penny Rose dresses him in cloth so clean it reads as an insult to everyone else, and puts the pirates in layers that look as if they have never been taken off. *The Curse of the Black Pearl* had one curse and one rule. This has several, and it finishes on a cliff, with a great deal held over for a third film. See it for Nighy, the Kraken and the wheel, and see it at home, where you can pause the explanations. The monsters do not need them. *Fi1m score 63, published 19 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Dead Man’s Chest a mixed affair: bigger and more spectacular than the first film, but less fun. Where they agree is on what works. Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow is named repeatedly as the reason to keep watching, and Bill Nighy’s Davy Jones, with his barnacled crew and the Kraken attacks, is widely held up as the effects triumph. The set-pieces, the Caribbean locations and the production design draw steady praise even from reviews that dislike the film. The reservations cluster on the script. Almost every review calls the plot convoluted and the running time excessive, with too many subplots carried over from the first film and too little room to breathe; several find Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley pale beside Depp. The spread is wide. The Times, unusually, tires of Depp himself. And two later retrospective pieces, from Polygon and Paste, defend the film as ambitious and macabre, rating it far above the original notices. ### Reviews we read (19) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Doug Pratt (80/100, inferred): The film is rollickingly entertaining with a mix of playful horror, high character humor and exhilarating action that extends the first film's fun and thrills. Verbinski directs a conscientious effort featuring witty stunts, elaborate effects, and strong performances from the leads. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pirates-caribbean-dead-mans-chest-158412/) - **The Guardian**, Steve Rose (70/100, inferred): The sequel recaptures some of the first film's high-seas high spirits despite a tortuously convoluted plot that takes time to get going. It singles out the special effects triumph of Bill Nighy's Davy Jones and his aquatic crew as the standout element, comparing the franchise's world-building to a backdated Star Wars. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2006/jun/30/2) - **The New York Times**, A. O. Scott (70/100, inferred): The film delivers spirited swashbuckling and strong CGI set pieces but feels like franchise product that requires prior knowledge of the first film and runs too long. The critic singles out the inventive action sequences and Johnny Depp's anarchic performance for praise while noting the obligations of sequel viewing. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-eat-my-jetsam-davy-jones.html) - **The AV Club**, Scott Tobias (C+): The sequel is overburdened by dense exposition and subplots from the first film, leaving little room for fun of its own. It comes to life mainly through Depp's slapstick and antics but is dragged down by the bland leads and the sense that the filmmakers are overreaching. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest-1798201843) - **Empire**, Dan Jolin (60/100, inferred): The film is convoluted and too long due to unnecessary plot contortions and sub-stories that leave the audience struggling to keep up. It is redeemed by Johnny Depp's joyful performance as Jack Sparrow and some inventive, cartoonish action set-pieces. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pirates-caribbean-dead-man-chest-review/) - **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): The sequel is bigger, longer and more spectacular than its predecessor but less breezily entertaining, with over-orchestrated action and forced comedy that extends the running time. The Caribbean locations, effects sequences, scary Davy Jones and his crew, and Kraken attacks stand out positively. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest/4027867.article) - **Los Angeles Times**, Carina Chocano (50/100, inferred): The sequel is intermittently fun and high-spirited but sags under its running time and bloated plotting with too many characters and storylines. The critic singles out the welcome addition of Norrington's character arc and the need for more of Jack Sparrow's charm. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jul-05-et-pirates5-story.html) - **Time Out**, Ben Walters (50/100, inferred): The film delivers adrenalised spectacle and some wit but feels repetitive and drags over two and a half hours, with a screenplay unconcerned with internal cohesion and too many muddily motivated set-pieces. Depp remains great fun and Nighy gives good sneer, but Bloom and Knightley fare less well. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest-1) - **Slant Magazine**, Nick Schager (45/100, inferred): The sequel doubles down on familiar elements without adding novelty or thematic depth, resulting in an awkwardly constructed ride that lacks inspired gusto. It reaps modest rewards from rambunctious action sequences and Depp's idiosyncratic performance but is weighed down by duplicative plotting and weak romantic tension. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest/) - **Evening Standard**, Derek Malcolm (40/100, inferred): The sequel is far too long with an indecipherable, twisting plot that goes on and on. It is saved by its stunning visuals, strong production design, cinematography, costumes and Johnny Depp's entertaining reprise of Captain Jack Sparrow. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/yohotoo-long-7387517.html) - **The Times**, Cosmo Landesman (2/5): The film is let down by a convoluted, repetitive screenplay and tiresome mannerisms in Depp's performance, which turns into panto-style slapstick. It praises some set pieces and the opening but finds the length kills the fun. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/trouble-in-paradise-mhw23rmp5pr) - **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (30/100, inferred): The convoluted plot is dark, salty, and indigestible, with too many subplots and a runtime that is far too long. The critic singles out Johnny Depp and Bill Nighy for making the film swerve away from summer movie errors through their performances and the joy of irresponsibility. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/07/24/men-at-sea) - **Variety** (30/100, inferred): The film shows bloat and aimlessness as a protracted sequel, feeling like a slot machine that takes money without giving much back. The critic singles out the sumptuous production values and beautiful actors while noting it stirs neither emotions nor the mind. [Read](https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-man-s-chest-2-1200514999/) - **Polygon**, Karen Han (95/100, inferred): The critic hails Dead Man's Chest and At World's End as sprawling masterpieces, praising Verbinski's visual and thematic ambitions, grotesque grandeur, and innovative set pieces. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/6/21348342/pirates-of-the-caribbean-2-3-dead-mans-chest-at-worlds-end-reviews-gore-verbinski/) - **Paste**, Jim Vorel (85/100, inferred): The critic argues that Dead Man's Chest is a more ambitious, mature, and macabre film than the first, praising its gothic horror tone, expansive imagination, and the introduction of Davy Jones as a standout digital character. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest-underrated-retrospective-anniversary-davy-jones) - **The Skinny**, Amanda Turnbull (★★★): The critic finds the sequel visually dazzling thanks to CGI but ultimately hollow, with performances taking a back seat to effects and set pieces. It is deemed almost worthy but awaits the third film for a final verdict. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest) - **Digital Spy**, Daniel Saney (55/100, inferred): The film is busy and effects-driven with spectacular visuals like the kraken and Flying Dutchman, but feels like an incomplete middle chapter lacking the originality and tighter story of the first. It is watchable with patience but ultimately disappointing in comparison. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34604/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest/) - **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel silly, overlong and bogged down in incomprehensible plotting, but notes that the extravagant set pieces and stunts keep it watchable. Bill Nighy's Davy Jones is singled out as a memorable, piratical creation worth relishing. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/search/title/Dead%20Man's%20Chest) - **Den of Geek**, Simon Brew (40/100, inferred): This sequel got it wrong for the reviewer with its bloated length and failure to match the original's magic, despite strong effects and some exciting set pieces. It sidelines supporting characters and generates far less entertainment overall. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-trilogy-blu-ray-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Gore Verbinski - **Director:** Gore Verbinski - **Screenplay:** Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott - **Cinematography:** Dariusz Wolski - **Editor:** Stephen E. Rivkin, Craig Wood - **Music:** Hans Zimmer - **Production design:** Rick Heinrichs - **Costume design:** Penny Rose - **Producer:** Jerry Bruckheimer - **Cast:** Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow; Orlando Bloom as Will Turner; Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann; Jack Davenport as Norrington; Bill Nighy as Davy Jones; Jonathan Pryce as Governor Weatherby Swann; Lee Arenberg as Pintel; Mackenzie Crook as Ragetti - **Runtime:** 2h 31m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13 - **Release (the US):** 7 July 2006 - **Genres:** Adventure, Fantasy, Action - **Budget:** $200 million - **Box office:** $1.07 billion - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elqO-GNfStM ## Where to watch in the US - Disney+: streaming, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $7.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $17.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-19.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2007: Best Production Design (nominated); Best Sound (nominated); Best Sound Editing (nominated); Best Visual Effects (won) - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2007: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (won) - BAFTA Film Awards 2006: BAFTA's Children & Young People Award - Feature Film (nominated) - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Family Film 2006: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Family Film (nominated) - TV Krant Filmposter Award 2006: TV Krant Filmposter Award (won) ## If you liked this - *Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl* (2003), Fi1m 81: The first one, with a single curse and a plot you can follow in the dark. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-curse-of-the-black-pearl.md) - *Captain Blood* (1935): Errol Flynn’s first swashbuckler; ninety minutes of swordplay with no keys to find. - *The Crimson Pirate* (1952): Burt Lancaster does his own acrobatics and the film never stops to explain anything. - *Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World* (2003), Fi1m 86: The same era with the wind taken seriously and nobody turning into a crab. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world.md) - *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* (1988): Terry Gilliam’s sea monsters and grotesques, with the same appetite for excess. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-mans-chest