Disney's with talk of a reboot promising to reignite the love of the series.
While the franchise is built on various pirate characters, not every character in the series if a good pirate, with some being either useless, not being given enough screen time, or simply being a pirate in name only.
Best: Blackbeard
Regardless of what one thinks of the fourth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, it is impossible to have a list of the best pirates without including the most legendary pirate of them all in this list.
While Blackbeard didn’t exactly blow the fans away with his inclusion in the franchise, his reputation certainly precedes him and this alone makes him deserving of a place on this list.
Worst: Anamaria
On the face of it, this may be a controversial entry. Zoe Saldana’s pirate character of Anamaria is often fondly ed by fans of the series, with many wishing that she had been given more screen time and even returned in later movies.
However, it is for this very reason that she makes this list. Anamaria was a character with a lot of promise and it is almost criminal that she didn’t return in later movies.
Best: Captain Sao Feng
Chow Yun-Fat’s incredible portrayal of Captain Sao Feng was one of the most compelling elements of the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, with the Singaporean pirate eventually giving his ship and captaincy to Elizabeth Swann.
It’s a genuine shame that fans didn’t get to see more of the character, as Yun-Fat turned in a very compelling performance as the pirate.
Worst: Pintel and Ragetti
While Pintel and Ragetti may be some of the most popular characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, they’re certainly far from being the most competent pirates in the series, with the pair frequently making mistakes and being the butt of jokes.
So, their placement in the worst category isn’t a statement about their characters, rather, it is pointing out that they’re just not very good pirates.
Best: Captain Teague
Everything about Captain Teague screams pirate. The fact that he is played by the iconic Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones also adds to this, giving him a cool, rebellious, and laidback personality that fits his position in the series.
In addition to being one of the coolest characters in the show, and also one of the best designed, Captain Teague is also the father of Jack Sparrow, so there’s clearly some kind of pirate gene that runs in the family there.
Worst: Angelica
It isn’t fair to blame Penelope Cruz for her role of Angelica, as there were several issues with the fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that were certainly out of the actress’ control.
The character doesn’t really leave much of an impression on the audience, which is a shame as she certainly ought to have considering that she is the daughter of Blackbeard. Again, though, this is largely the fault of the writers and not Cruz.
Best: Elizabeth Swann
While Captain Jack Sparrow may receive most of the limelight in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, for many, the best character in the series is easily Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, with the character having one of the best arcs in the series.
Fans get to see Elizabeth Swann change entirely from her initial appearance as the ‘governor’s daugher’ into being the Pirate King by the third film in the franchise. Unlike her partner, Will Turner, she was always attracted to the life of the pirate.
Worst: Mullroy and Murtogg
Mullroy and Murtogg essentially serve as a mirror the characters of Pintel and Ragetti, with the pair largely existing as comic relief on the side of those hunting the pirates. After the third film in the franchise, though, the pair actually become pirates.
As with Pintel and Ragetti, Mullroy and Murtogg, despite being interesting and entertaining characters, are certainly not good pirates and have even less experience than Pintel and Ragetti.
Best: Captain Barbossa
Without doubt, Captain Barbossa is the best pirate in the franchise. Even taking into Captain Jack Sparrow, it would be hard to say that Geoffrey Rush’s Hector Barbossa wouldn’t take home first place on this list.
The character is the perfect pirate, with Barbossa purely following self interest throughout the series and typically only doing the right thing if it would also benefit him. In addition to have the idea pirate personality, he also has a dry wit that is very entertaining to watch.
Worst: Will Turner
While Will Turner may be one of the most popular characters in the series, he is far from being one of the best pirates. From the beginning, Will Turner despised piracy and wanted to distance himself as much as possible from those who practiced it.
Even when engaging in piracy, Will Turner would be rash and heroic, traits that didn’t really mesh with the other pirates seen in the franchise.
