Fact Finder - Movies

Before 2003, pirate movies were considered 'box office poison' following the failure of 'Cutthroat Island.' Disney took a massive gamble by basing a $140 million blockbuster on a Disneyland theme park ride. The success of 'The Curse of the Black Pearl' ($654 million) was largely attributed to Johnny Depp’s eccentric performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, which he famously modeled after Keith Richards. The film revitalized the swashbuckler genre and proved that intellectual property could be found in non-traditional places like park attractions. It spawned a multi-billion dollar franchise and made Jack Sparrow one of the most recognizable cinematic icons of the 21st century.