Keira Knightley's 'The Mummy' Replacement Is Officially a Streaming Hit

Published Oct 13, 2026, 6:06 PM EDT Currently sailing its way into the Apple TV top 10 is The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the 2003 Disney hit that kicked off a five-film franchise and introduced the world to the great Captain Jack Sparrow. Starring Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, and the Oscar-nominated Johnny Depp, the film has shown no signs of aging as it connects with streaming audiences, and it’s clear to see why. ‘The Curse of the Black Pearl’ Took the Spirit of ‘The Mummy’ to the High Seas Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution Directed by Gore Verbinski, The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl takes place in the early 18th century, following Will Turner (Bloom), a humble blacksmith who is in love with the governor’s daughter, Elizabeth Swann (Knightley). When she is kidnapped by the cursed pirate ship the Black Pearl, Will enlists the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) to help him rescue her. Once they reach the vessel, however, they uncover the true nature of the curse inflicted on Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and his crew. On paper, this is a concept that shouldn’t have worked: a movie based on a Disneyland theme park ride, starring relatively unknown young stars alongside a veteran who was better known for esoteric roles such as Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood than action blockbusters. Moreover, the pirate genre was considered dead after the spectacular box office failure of Cutthroat Island eight years earlier. The pressure was on for this new venture, but all the elements came together to create a formula that drew audiences in by the millions. Taking everything that was fun about adventure movies such as The Mummy, and expanding it to a blockbuster scale synonymous with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, The Curse of the Black Pearl went from a theme park ride to a cinematic rollercoaster. Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom Created a Screen Romance for the Ages Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The film’s heart lies in the romance between Elizabeth and Will, two people drawn to each other but kept apart by class, who eventually find their happiness in the world of pirates. Rather than being the damsel in distress, Elizabeth drives the plot and shares the same spirit of adventure as Will, creating an action heroine for a new generation. This shared drive only increases the sense of destiny between the two characters, making them seem like two sides of the same coin who can take to the ocean together in search of new frontiers. Neither performance is undermined by the other, making this the perfect parallel for Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser in The Mummy. Both bring something unique to the table, making for a more exciting experience. Knightley was just 18 at the time of the film’s release, but was already carving a path toward movie stardom. She had significant roles in the horror movie The Hole and British comedy Bend it Like Beckham, but Elizabeth Swann propelled her to the A-list. Likewise, Bloom was already part of the celebrated Lord of the Rings trilogy before he stepped on board the Black Pearl, but Will showed he could handle himself as a leading man. Together, their chemistry and energy on-screen would win the hearts of audiences the world over. Johnny Depp Created a Cinema Icon in Jack Sparrow While Elizabeth and Will led the adventure, one character staggered his way into Hollywood history. Inspired by the actor’s friend, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, Captain Jack Sparrow redefined the big screen rogue – a clumsy, corrupt, but incredibly charismatic pirate who was his own biggest fan, telling his would-be captors, “This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.” The character has been celebrated in pop culture ever since, with fans dressing up as the rum-loving scoundrel and offering their best slurring impressions. He would become the mainstay of the franchise, appearing in all three installments of the original trilogy alongside Knightley and Bloom, before taking the sole lead in the follow-ups On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales. It’s this first film that made the legend, however, as his chaotic and hilarious antics made an immediate impression. Earning an Oscar nomination for his performance, the role would also launch Depp as one of the biggest stars of the decade, leading multiple movies to $1 billion grosses over the next decade. Ironically, for a man who was once considered Hollywood’s ultimate outsider and, to his own admission, “box office poison,” this would be the beginning of one of the most storied career revivals in film history. Over two decades on, it’s clear to see why The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl would kick off a multi-billion-dollar franchise. Taking a long-dormant genre and giving it blockbuster scale, while filling it with characters who will make you laugh, gasp, and swoon, this unlikeliest of concepts became the undeniable hit of the decade. Release Date July 9, 2003 Runtime 143 minutes Director Gore Verbinski