Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Hit or Flop? Renaming & Cast

Few movie franchises have weathered as many storms—both on-screen and behind the scenes—as Pirates of the Caribbean. The fifth installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales (also known as Salazar’s Revenge), arrived in May 2017 with a budget of $230 million and a box‑office haul of roughly $795 million worldwide. This article breaks down whether the film was a hit or a flop, why it was renamed in some countries, which familiar faces sailed back (and which didn’t), and how the franchise’s future looks after Johnny Depp’s legal battles.

Worldwide Box Office: $795.8 million ·
Budget: $230 million ·
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 30% ·
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10 ·
Release Year: 2017

Five key data points, one pattern: Dead Men Tell No Tales earned less domestically than every earlier Pirates film, despite a massive budget.

The film earned less domestically than any earlier Pirates entry.

Is Pirates of the Caribbean 5 hit or flop?

Box office performance and budget analysis

Dead Men Tell No Tales opened in 4,276 theaters and earned $62,983,253 domestically in its first weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. Its lifetime domestic gross reached $172,558,876. The Numbers reports that the domestic opening represented 36.5% of the total domestic take, and the film’s domestic share of worldwide gross was only 21.7%. With a production budget of $230 million (some estimates go up to $320 million, per IMDb), the film needed north of $500 million just to break even, but the worldwide $795 million made it profitable—just not by franchise standards.

Critical reception and audience scores

Critics were largely unimpressed. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 30% approval rating, with the critic consensus calling it “overstuffed” and “familiar.” Audience scores were mixed: IMDb rates it 6.5/10. The Guardian (established news source) noted that the film “moves at a faster rate of knots than any Pirates film; trouble is, nothing has really been added.” The film was profitable but critically weak, a pattern that often defines “underperformer” rather than outright flop.

Comparison to previous franchise entries

Among the five franchise films tracked by Box Office Mojo, Dead Men Tell No Tales ranks last in domestic lifetime gross. The franchise leader, Dead Man’s Chest, earned $423.3 million domestically; At World’s End ($309.4M), On Stranger Tides ($241.1M), and even The Curse of the Black Pearl ($305.4M) all outgrossed the fifth film. The implication: Pirates 5 was a commercial success on paper but a serious decline in home‑market performance, signaling franchise fatigue.

Why was Pirates of the Caribbean 5 renamed?

International title changes: Dead Men Tell No Tales vs. Salazar’s Revenge

In the United States, the film was released as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. In several international markets—including the United Kingdom, Australia, and parts of Europe—it was retitled Salazar’s Revenge. IMDb’s franchise summary notes the alternate title, and the change was widely reported by entertainment outlets. The villain, Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), shifts to the focus of the title.

Marketing reasons for the alternative title

Studio marketing teams often tweak titles to improve local box‑office appeal. “Dead Men Tell No Tales” is a classic pirate phrase that may have felt too generic or dated for some audiences. By highlighting the antagonist “Salazar,” Disney aimed to create a fresher hook. The catch: no official explanation was ever given, leaving the move to speculation.

The trade‑off: a single franchise with two titles can confuse fans and dilute brand recognition globally.

Why aren’t Will and Elizabeth in Pirates 5?

Storyline reasons for absence

The narrative of Dead Men Tell No Tales focuses on a new generation: Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites), the son of Will and Elizabeth, and Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a plucky astronomer. The film’s plot revolves around Jack Sparrow’s quest for the Trident of Poseidon (Rotten Tomatoes). There was no organic place for the original couple’s continuing story.

Actor availability and contractual issues

Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley did not return as main cast members. Knightley (Elizabeth Swann) is absent entirely. Bloom (Will Turner) appears only in a post‑credits scene, a brief cameo that teases a future reunion. Neither actor was scripted into the main story, and no public dispute about their absence has surfaced—it was a creative decision to pass the torch.

Their brief cameo in the post‑credits scene

Bloom’s cameo in the final moments shows Will Turner finally freed from the Flying Dutchman curse, reuniting with his now‑adult son Henry. This was a deliberate nod to longtime fans, hinting at a possible return for future installments. Keira Knightley remains the only original principal not to appear in any form in the fifth film.

Did Disney ever apologize to Johnny Depp?

Johnny Depp’s legal battles and public controversy

Johnny Depp’s high‑profile legal disputes erupted after the film’s release. In 2018, he faced domestic violence allegations that led to him being dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Disney initially did not remove him from the Pirates series—production on Dead Men Tell No Tales was long finished—but subsequent reports suggested the studio considered recasting or rebooting without him.

Disney’s response to domestic violence allegations

No public apology from Disney to Depp has ever been issued. According to media reports cited in the The Walt Disney Company: Ownership & History piece, internal discussions about Depp’s future in the franchise surfaced after the negative press. By 2020, trade magazines reported that Disney was “looking at ways to move forward without Depp.” The absence of an apology or public statement remains a point of speculation among fans.

Impact on Depp’s role in the franchise

Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow was the franchise’s anchor. Once his legal troubles became a liability, Disney faced a choice: embrace or distance. They chose distance, and no sixth film has been officially announced. A potential spin‑off starring Margot Robbie has been rumored, casting further doubt on Depp’s return.

Why this matters: Depp’s legal battles and Disney’s silence have become a case study in how studios navigate star controversies. The actor’s supporters argue he was wronged; the studio’s silence suggests a calculated risk.

What is the biggest flop in movie history?

Definition of a box office flop

A box‑office flop is generally defined as a film that fails to recoup its production and marketing costs in theatrical revenue. Using standard multipliers (2.5× budget to break even after marketing share), a $230 million film needs about $575 million worldwide. Dead Men Tell No Tales cleared that threshold—$795 million—so it is not a flop. But compared to its own franchise history, it underperformed.

Comparison of Pirates 5 to notable flops

By contrast, The Lone Ranger (2013) cost $225 million and grossed only $260 million, losing around $190 million for Disney. John Carter (2012) cost $263 million and earned $284 million. Both are widely cited as the biggest live‑action flops in adjusted terms, according to Box Office Mojo franchise data and industry estimates. Pirates 5, with a profit before marketing of several hundred million dollars, does not belong in that category.

Context of franchise expectations

The film earned $172.6 million domestically, the lowest of any Pirates film. That’s a 24% drop from the already‑declining On Stranger Tides, and a 59% drop from the series peak. The pattern: international markets (especially China, where it grossed $172 million) made up the shortfall, but the decline in home‑market appeal signaled erosion of the brand.

The trade‑off: Pirates 5 is profitable but the worst performing original entry. Disney now faces a franchise that can’t count on its domestic core.

Source: Box Office Mojo (franchise pages).

The table confirms a steady decline in domestic gross since the franchise peak.

Timeline

• 2015 – Pirates of the Caribbean 5 announced as Dead Men Tell No Tales.
• February 2016 – Principal photography begins in Australia.
• March 2017 – Title changed to Salazar’s Revenge for UK and some European markets.
• May 26, 2017 – Worldwide theatrical release.
• 2018 – Johnny Depp’s legal issues surface; Disney begins internal discussions.
• 2020 – Disney reportedly explores reboot without Depp.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Quotes from the film and the controversy

“Dead Men Tell No Tales moves at a faster rate of knots than any Pirates film; trouble is, nothing has really been added.”

— The Guardian (established news), review of Dead Men Tell No Tales

“No official statement from Disney regarding an apology to Johnny Depp has been found; only reports of internal discussions about the franchise’s future.”

— The Walt Disney Company: Ownership & History (corporate background)

The pattern from both quotes: the film earned criticism for being more of the same, while the behind‑the‑scenes drama overshadowed any creative ambitions. For Disney, the consequence is a franchise that spent goodwill on a bloated, safe sequel and then had to distance itself from its star. For fans, the question is whether the series can sail again without the captain who made it famous.

For Disney, the decision is clear: either commit to a brave new direction with fresh casting, or let the franchise drift into legacy streaming content. The box‑office numbers have already voted—domestic audiences want something different, or they don’t want more at all.

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