--- title: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales" critics_score: 44 critics_reviews: 23 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 Men Tell No Tales (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 44 from 23 reviews: 4 positive, 5 mixed, 14 negative. Most critics do not enjoy the fifth Pirates film, and the reasons repeat. The reviews call it a retread of Curse of the Black Pearl with new directors and younger leads but few new ideas. Where there is praise it clusters in two places: Javier Bardem’s vengeful Salazar, whom several critics call the best thing on screen, and the early bank robbery, which even the harshest reviews single out as brisk and well staged. Geoffrey Rush’s Barbossa gets steady credit too. The reservations centre on Johnny Depp. Most critics find Jack Sparrow a tired routine, drunker and less charming than before, and several say the character should be retired. The spread is wide. A minority, including The i Paper, Digital Spy and Deadline, calls this the most entertaining entry since the first; The Times calls it derivative from start to finish; and complaints about CGI overload and an inconsistent plot run through the middle. ## The i Paper — Matthew Turner Rating ★★★★. 23 May 2017. The most enjoyable sequel so far thanks to new directors and a script recapturing the original's magic; it feels like a soft reboot that retreads Curse of the Black Pearl beats while keeping the story moving. Praises spirited performances, fun Jack Sparrow moments, exciting set-pieces like the bank robbery, and strong effects. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-review-67121) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 1/3/1. 25 May 2017. The critic finds the film scuppered by Depp's calamitous lead performance, which is the worst thing about it despite some entertaining set-pieces from the directors. Praise goes to the brisk pacing and practical effects in the opening bank heist sequence. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge) ## Radio Times — Victoria Luxford Rating ★★★. 22 May 2017. The critic says forget the story—this is all about the ride, which is mostly enjoyable with fun comedy set pieces and spectacular action like the undead shark sequence. Praise for Bardem's sinister villain and Geoffrey Rush's interesting arc, plus an impressive finale that leaves room for more. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-review-forget-the-story-this-is-all-about-the-ride/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2017. The critic notes the film puts some wind back in the franchise's sails with new directors, leads and villain but not enough to return to its swashbuckling best. Praise for Bardem's menacing performance and the dark energy from the zombie elements, alongside a father-child theme providing some emotional resonance. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-review/5118214.article) ## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 21 November 2017. Some exciting set pieces and strong turns from Bardem and Rush, but Depp phones it in and drags the film into mediocrity; time for the character to walk the plank. Bardem is the best thing on screen as the vengeful Salazar. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-film-review-yo-ho-hum-a3681061.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2017. The critic finds few new ideas or memorable set pieces in the fifth instalment, noting that it moves at a faster pace than previous entries but remains the same soggy ride. New directors are praised for focusing more on sea action, but the film is faulted for lacking originality and relying on familiar panto-style nonsense. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/may/22/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-johnny-depp-kaya-scodelario) ## Time Out — Ellie Walker-Arnott Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). The critic views it as another unthrilling episode of swashbuckling by numbers, with wishy-washy plot and lost charm from Depp's Jack Sparrow, who comes across as drunker and more repulsive. Some credit for attempting to return to the franchise's earlier spirit with new characters and action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2017. Feels like a remake of the first film with the same ride but far less fun; innovative early set-pieces give way to exhausting plot inconsistencies and CGI overload. Jack Sparrow has become a tired routine rather than a character, with little of the original spark. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pirates-caribbean-salazar-revenge-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2017. The film faithfully follows the established formula with swaggering Depp, young leads, a supernatural villain and heists but offers no new treasures. It is dragged down by the franchise blueprint, though dry-land action sequences show some inventive physics-based feats. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-pirates-dead-men-review-20170525-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2017. The film wholly lacks the lighthearted spark and demented creativity of the Verbinski entries, feeling like a shoddy reboot with stale callbacks and a focus on a washed-up Jack Sparrow. Action sequences are big but straightforward and rigid rather than inventive. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2017. The film is as overengineered as ever, with a phoned-in Depp performance and little distinction from its directors, though it hits enough familiar notes for commercial success. The critic notes that attempts to recapture the original's surprise are doomed to look desperate or hacky. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pirates-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-1005884/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2017. The film is long and punishing with meager pleasures and forced inventions that make it the opposite of entertainment; it is a tedious rehash overall. Occasional nifty Rube Goldbergian action sequences recall the inventiveness of the original director. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-review-johnny-depp.html) ## Variety — Andrew Barker Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2017. This is a mercenary, visually unappealing exercise in brand maintenance that feels inessential and depressingly pro forma, with only faint traces of the original spark. An early bank robbery scene is well-staged and entertaining, and some supporting turns like Golshifteh Farahani are enjoyable. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/film-review-pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-1202439545/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2017. The critic calls the film gob-smackingly derivative and says Captain Jack should walk the plank, faulting it for crassly cannibalising earlier entries with no understanding of what made the original work. The performance of Depp is seen as frozen in cliché, with the plot and structure feeling like sludgy regurgitation. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/film-review-pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-vmwzwk8gk) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2017. The critic calls it the most entertaining installment since the first, praising the directors' experience with water scenes, Bardem's villain, and the fun ride overall. They single out the top-of-the-line special effects and Bardem's performance. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2017/05/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-review-johnny-depp-disney-video-1202101389/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2017. The film surprises as the best Pirates sequel yet, with a streamlined quest narrative, inventive set pieces, and strong new characters that make it feel fresh. Bardem's creepy villain and Scodelario's feisty lead stand out amid the fun and emotional moments. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a828825/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-review-dead-men-tell-no-tales/) ## The Wrap — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 May 2017. The critic finds it the most divertingly enjoyable since the first film, praising the energetic direction and fresh buffing of the series' elements. They single out the humorous staging of action sequences like the dual guillotine/hanging rescue. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-review-johnny-depp/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 3/5. 24 May 2017. It is business as usual with a knotty plot, slick action sequences, adult humour and familiar characters, anchored by Depp's Sparrow and Rush's Barbossa. The mix of tones and excessive CGI on the villain can jar, but Disney magic pulls it together. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-film-review-2077511) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2.5 out of 5. 23 May 2017. The film is a handsomely mounted but overly busy and frantic affair that feels like a theme park ride, with familiar elements that fail to linger after viewing. The directors deliver inventive action sequences and strong technical work, with solid support from the cast including Bardem's menacing villain. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating D+. 24 May 2017. The critic finds the film exhausted and lacking life, a diminishing return on the franchise. They single out the lack of chemistry between the new leads and the absence of interesting arcs for the characters. [Read the review](https://collider.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Hannah Woodhead Rating 2/5. 22 May 2017. The critic finds the film a tired, formulaic parody of itself with poor acting, unfunny humor, and sub-par effects; praises Geoffrey Rush and the Paul McCartney cameo as minor bright spots. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-salazars-revenge-review/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2017. The review deems the film soggy, bloated, and a chore, with lifeless performances and deadening spectacle. It singles out Johnny Depp's tired performance and the overreliance on CGI and MacGuffins. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2017/05/film-review-pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 2/10. 26 May 2017. The review calls it the worst in the series, visually and narratively incoherent and lazy, with illogical plot and poor direction; singles out the bank-heist scene as a rare effective moment but overall despairs at the franchise's decline. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/551185/pirates-of-the-caribbean-5-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-dead-men-tell-no-tales.md