When Pirates of the Caribbean was released in 2003, no one could have predicted the success it would have in the years to come. Across the five movies so far, fans have followed the roguish but charming Captain Jack Sparrow on his many adventures across the seven seas.
Amidst the brilliant comedy set forward by the genius Johnny Depp, the characters in the franchise have still had their fair share of sad moments. Whether it’s the acceptance of death or heartbreaking backstories, the characters have uttered some incredibly sad quotes that will always remain with fans.
Will's Final Question
"It's Always Belonged To You. Will You Keep It Safe?"
As the new Captain of the Flying Dutchman, Will had one day ashore before spending ten years at sea. In his final encounter with Elizabeth, he tells her that his heart has always belonged to her.
It’s no question that Will and Elizabeth’s love story was a core part of the franchise. While Jack’s comedic and eccentric antics were often front and center, their romance balanced out the tone and is what audiences connected to. Their journey ended in a satisfying and hopeful way, but this quote was the tragic moment that Will accepted it was time to leave Elizabeth behind.
Davy Jones' Revelation
"Ten Years I Devoted To The Duty You Charged Me. Ten Years I Looked After Those Who Died At Sea. And Finally, When We Could Be Together Again, You Weren't There."
There wasn’t much going for Davy Jones in of likability as he was cruel and took great pleasure in causing everyone pain. However, in At World’s End, he revealed the reason behind his sadistic behavior.
There's no doubt that Davy Jones was one of the evilest villains in the franchise, however, finding out that a betrayal is what caused him to turn into a monster suggests that he is somewhat of a broken man. For a split second, audiences feel sadness and sympathy towards his character because it’s evident there was a time when he was a good person.
Governor Swann's Last Moments
"I'm So Proud Of You, Elizabeth."
On their way back from the locker, the crew aboard the Black Pearl encounter boats of dead souls, including Elizabeth’s father who was murdered under the order of Beckett. After he explains the details of the heart of Davy Jones, he bids farewell to Elizabeth and tells her how proud he is.
In Curse of the Black Pearl, it was evident that Governor Swann wanted Elizabeth to abide by the social standards set for her and live an upper-class life. However, in his final moments, it suggests that’s he’s changed his values and accepted the path she’s chosen.
Will's Lost Hope
"Henry, I'm Sorry. But My Curse Will Never Be Broken. This Is My Fate. You Must Let Me Go. I Love You, Son."
At the beginning of Dead Men Tell No Tales, Henry finds Will aboard the Dutchman and tells him about the Trident of Poseidon, a mythical weapon that can break his curse. Believing there is no such thing, Will dismisses his son and tells him his curse can never be broken.
Will bears a striking resemblance to Bootstrap in this scene and this quote demonstrates the heartbreaking life he now leads. Will was once the young boy who went to the ends of the earth to save his father; however, he has now lost all hope and accepted that he will never escape his cruel fate.
Bootstrap's Fate
"It Was Always In My Blood To Die At Sea. It Was Never A Fate I Wanted For You."
Bootstrap Bill Turner was one of the best characters introduced after the first movie and became a vital part of the sequels. In Dead Man’s Chest, Bootstrap and Will cross paths for the first time since Will’s childhood, and Bootstrap informs his son that they have different fates.
In hindsight, this line becomes more painful because of Will’s tragic death in At World's End. In this raw father-son moment, it's clear that Bootstrap didn't want Will to have the same life he did, however, he couldn't prevent the cruel fate that awaited his son. While their relationship was strained, it always remained a core part of the franchise.
Barbossa's Survival
"I Am The Master Of Me Ship, Not Blackbeard. I Am The Master Of Me Fate, Not Blackbeard. So I Did What Needed Done. I Survived."
Aside from Jack Sparrow, Barbossa is arguably the best character in the franchise. He was one of the few that returned for On Stranger Tides and with that, came a heartbreaking revelation. During an honest conversation with Jack, Barbossa explains the story of how he lost his leg.
Barbossa started as a ruthless pirate who displayed next to no vulnerability, however, in this scene, he is the opposite. Since Curse of the Black Pearl, Barbossa evolved more than any other character, however, while it is incredibly sad, this quote demonstrates that even in his darkest moment, he was able to remain strong.
Will's Realization
"I'm Losing Her, Jack. Every Step I Make For My Father Is A Step Away From Elizabeth."
Will often found himself torn between his love for Elizabeth and the need to save his father. When Jack began to notice the distance between Will and Elizabeth, Will explained that helping his father has caused Elizabeth to slip away from him.
Will was driven by his need to save people, whether it was Elizabeth in the first movie or his father in the next. This quote in particular is a heartbreaking moment for him because he’s finally realized that he has to choose between his father and the woman he loves.
Barbossa's Final Moments With His Daughter
"Treasure."
While trying to escape Salazar, Carina notices a tattoo on Barbossa’s arm and asks who she is to him. Barbossa confirms that Carina is his daughter by calling her his treasure. He then sacrifices himself to kill Salazar, allowing the others to safely escape.
This quote plays on a line that Jack said in Curse of the Black Pearl - "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." Barbossa’s greed and obsession with treasure was the root cause of his path to villainy, therefore it suggests that Barbossa has now realized, moments before his tragic death, that there are things more worthy in life.
Jack's Last Words
"Hello, Beastie."
At the end of Dead Man’s Chest, Jack comes face to face with the one thing he feared most. As he places his hat on his head, he addresses the Kraken and draws his sword, ready to put up one last fight before it dragged the Pearl back to the depths.
This was a rare moment when audiences saw Jack at his most vulnerable. Normally, he was a comical genius that lived for outwitting people, however, this demonstrated that even Jack wasn’t invincible. Seeing the beloved captain go down with his ship was difficult to watch and might just be Jack’s saddest scene in the entire franchise.
Bootstrap Re Will
"William? My Son."
During the maelstrom battle, Bootstrap encounters Will and attacks him because he doesn’t recognize who he is. It’s only after seeing the black knife and witnessing Davy Jones fatally stab Will that Bootstrap finally escapes his delirium and realizes that it’s his son who’s been wounded.
Will’s desire to save his father is what drives his story in the second and third movies. And despite his current state of madness, Bootstrap always held on to the promise that Will made him. Will getting stabbed came as a huge shock, but when Bootstrap snapped out of his madness and processed who Will was, it was a truly heartbreaking moment to witness.
