LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In the first installment "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Elizabeth Swann, daughter of the Governor of Port Royal, is kidnapped by the crew of the Black Pearl, led by Captain Hector Barbossa while trying to protect the port from further pirate attacks, in order to lift a curse placed on them after stealing Aztec gold. Blacksmith Will Turner, a childhood friend and secret admirer of Elizabeth, persuades pirate Captain Jack Sparrow to help him in the rescue of her.

Many had predicted that the big-budgeted film would be a colossal flop in 2003. The naysayers ate their words when it became the highest grossing film of its year, and two sequels were rushed into production.

In 2006, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man\'s Chest" was released. In this segment, Lord Cutler Beckett, a powerful and ruthless East India Trading Co. agent, arrests Will and Elizabeth for aiding Jack Sparrow\'s escape in the previous film. Beckett offers clemency if Will agrees to search for Sparrow and his magical compass. At the same time, Sparrow tries to release himself from an old debt with villainous Davy Jones by finding the Dead Man\'s Chest which he can use to command Jones to do what he wants.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World\'s End," was released in 2007. Lord Cutler Beckett gains power over Davy Jones, and with the help of Jones\' ship, The Flying Dutchman, he is now executing his plans to extinguish piracy forever. To stand against the East India Trading Co., Will, Elizabeth, Barbossa, and the crew of the Black Pearl goes to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones\' Locker, because he is one of the Nine Pirate Lords needed to summon an ancient goddess.

A fourth film, "On Stranger Tides," has completed production with returning cast members Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush sans Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.