Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: May 25, 2007 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
50
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews
Positive:
12
Mixed:
19
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
The most visually spectacular, action-packed and surreal of the adventures of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). Read full review
75
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
I won't be able to talk anybody into or out of the Pirates of the Caribbean experience now, so I'll simply offer sage advice: Hit the bathroom just before it starts. To miss any five-minute chunk of this densely plotted trilogy-capper will leave you confused. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesCarina Chocano
Exciting, distracting and quite possibly permanently concentration impairing, what Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End offers is a wonderfully scenic medley of impressive action sequences so lengthy, elaborate and numerous that remembering what came before becomes a kind of test of mental focus. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
More than ever, Depp masterfully keeps the enterprise afloat, even when the sheer weight of all those other characters threatens to throw it off-course. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis
The cannibals, coconuts and landlocked locations have been replaced by the high-seas high jinks that made the first film so enjoyable. Read full review
70
Washington PostStephen Hunter
Funner, biggerer, brighterer, bolderer, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is not only okay, it may even be close to good. A lavish spectacle illuminated by Johnny Depp's swishing pirate captain, the movie has its dull moments, but not many. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Depp plays multiple versions of Sparrow, who now suffers from a split personality; his shtick is funny, but the players are all upstaged by the astonishing special effects, superior to those of earlier installments in creating a wondrous and menacing world. Read full review
67
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
Depp and Rush are still in there plugging away. They’re troupers, but the series is all used up. If there is to be another sequel it will have to be called "Pirates of the Caribbean – At Wit's End." Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The last 60 minutes offer adventure as rousing as anything provided in either of the previous installments. Unfortunately, that doesn't account for the other 108 minutes of this gorged, self-indulgent, and uneven production. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
A sumptuous feast for the eyes and an occasionally exhilarating stimulant to the heart. But beware my hearty: It will tie your rum-soaked brain in knots. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
You can bet your parrot "Pirates" will be back, even if "At World's End" hasn't the foggiest idea when to quit. Read full review
63
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
It's almost three hours long, and that's a lot of time to invest in what is, essentially, a theme-park attraction you can't ride. Read full review
60
EmpireHelen O'Hara
The plot's a trippy, twisty mess, and it's far too long, but it looks fantastic and makes some bold choices in its execution. And once again Jack's back to save the day. Read full review
60
VarietyBrian Lowry
The third voyage in the "Priates" trilogy could be touted as "The biggest, loudest and second-best (or second-worst) 'Pirates' ever!" -- not necessarily a ringing endorsement, but honest. Read full review
60
SlateDana Stevens
Like all abstract art, At World's End is best approached non-narratively, as an experience rather than a story. Read full review
60
Film ThreatPete Vonder Haar
The action IS pretty engaging, Sao Feng and his gang of South Asian cutthroats are a nice addition, and the constant plot explication does require you to pay attention. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
It's an even more tedious storytelling mess, with a plot so muddled it's impossible to accurately describe, generating zero interest in its characters and grinding on for nearly three endless hours. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
The good news first: Keith Richards totally rocks it playing pirate daddy to Johnny Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow. The deep rumble of his voice and those hooded eyes that narrowly open like the creaky gates of hell make him what the rest of this three-peat is not: authentically scary...So what's the bad news? Richards is onscreen for barely two minutes. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Knightley's Elizabeth becomes a pirate captain this time. You know a franchise has run its course when it has a buccaneer heroine who looks as if she'd hate to get her face smudged. Read full review
50
New York PostLou Lumenick
It's not a total shipwreck, but abandon hope all ye seeking a coherent, much less satisfying, narrative. Expect instead a reported $300 million worth of eye candy, delivered with enormous technical skill. Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Ultimately the voyage is so choppy and long (2 hours, 48 minutes) that into the third hour I found myself yawning, "Yo-ho-hum and a very sore bum." Read full review
50
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
The longest and talkiest installment in the blockbuster Pirates trilogy, At World's End doesn't even have the decency to provide a good action sequence until more than two hours in. Read full review
50
PremiereEthan Alter
Even Depp's increasingly tired antics can't lighten the dour mood; in fact, Sparrow is completely overshadowed here by Rush's lively turn as Barbossa. Read full review
50
NewsweekDavid Ansen
The longest, grimmest and least funny of the trilogy. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
What started out as a fleet one-off swashbuckler with novel supernatural elements has become loaded and graceless, with each new entry barreling across the goal line like William "The Refrigerator" Perry. Read full review
40
Village VoiceNathan Lee
Long before the third, fourth, or fifth climax in this endless, obligatory summer diversion, I slunk into my seat in a passive, inattentive stupor, fully submitting to the fact that I hadn't the slightest idea what the hell was going on. Read full review
40
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
A ponderous pirate saga, 168 minutes long, with more doldrums than "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Those doldrums are relieved from time to time by spectacular effects. Read full review
40
SalonStephanie Zacharek
This is a glazed, inhuman, cluttered piece of work, a storytelling mishmash that buries the considerable charms of its actors under heavy drifts of silt. Read full review
40
The New YorkerAnthony Lane
"Gentlemen, I wash my hands of this weirdness," Captain Jack says. Sir, you speak for us all. Read full review
40
TimeRichard Schickel
Their film is not so much thought out as strung together -- colorful incident upon colorful incident, but without logic, gathering suspense or any attempt to establish emotional connections between audience and actors. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Like the Flying Dutchman, this third Pirates outing is an empty vessel haunted by the ghosts of its sabre-rattling betters. Read full review
38
USA TodayClaudia Puig
The pirate ship has hit foul waters, and even the sharp wit and charm of everyone's favorite buccaneer can't save it. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
The whole d--- thing can be summed up in three little words: yo ho hum. Read full review
33
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
A movie made at wits' end. There are four or five authentic laughs in the whole 170-minute extravaganza. Read full review
33
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
The loudest, dumbest, slowest, least entertaining and most annoying by a very comfortable margin. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Has no narrative throughline, no emotional spine. It's a mess. Read full review
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