Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Plot Overview

Johnny Depp reprises his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, released on May 20, 2011.

The film crosses paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz) and he is not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.

When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

The plot uses common elements from the novel written by Tim Powers.

Jack Sparrow is taken to meet with King George II to discuss an expedition to find the Fountain of Youth.

The King and his ministers are confused about who Jack is, and Jack tries to deny being Jack Sparrow.

Jack is introduced to the captain of the expedition, Hector Barbossa, now a privateer of the Crown.

Barbossa reveals that he lost the Pearl, and his leg, in battle. This shocks the King's guards and makes Jack angry.

Jack escapes the palace and is in a carriage chase through London's streets.

He is able to escape the King's Guards, except for one, who aims his musket right at him.

Jack is saved by his father, Captain Teague, at the Captain's Daughter.

Jack and Angelica are able to escape by jumping into the River Thames.

Jack and Angelica go ashore and Jack inquires about the ritual, which Angelica knows about.

Angelica tells Jack that a mermaid is needed, as her associate drugs Jack with a dart which instantly knocks him out.

Jack is taken to the execution courtyard and is about to be hanged when Joshamee Gibbs arrives.

Jack is aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge and is working on deck.

Scrum tells Jack of the crewmen who were zombiefied as well as the imprisonment of Philip Swift (Sam Claflin), a missionary captured in a raid.

Upon learning that their First Mate is Angelica, Jack goes to confront her. Angelica convinces Jack that she was able to con Blackbeard into believing that she is his daughter.

Meanwhile, Barbossa has Gibbs brought to the helm of the HMS Providence to provide a heading. Gibbs states that they are going in the right direction as three Spanish galleons, belonging to the Spaniard's crew, are sailing towards them. Barbossa, Groves and Gillette immediately order the crewmen to battle stations. However, the Spanish galleons simply pass by without fire. Barbossa deduces that for the Spanish, the Fountain of Youth is the prize and that they aren't worth the time to sink.

Knowing that the Providence has fallen behind in the race to the Fountain, Barbossa orders the crew to make more sail.

Mutiny[]

As Queen Anne's Revenge sails into the dusk of evening, Jack meets with some of the crewmen to discuss the topic of mutiny. Jack informs the crewmen that they are deceived by not being told of their destination—the Fountain of Youth. The crewmen then know that death is for certain, unless they take the ship.

As the crew begin their attack, Jack locks Angelica in her cabin. Throughout the mutiny aboard the Revenge, Angelica escapes from her cabin to join the fight and Philip is rescued from the mast by Jack and Salaman. However, at the moment of triumph, Blackbeard himself appears and uses his sword to hang the crewmen with the ship's rigging.

After attempting to kill Jack and Philip, Blackbeard punishes the Cook by firing Greek fire cannons at him. Jack is then brought into Blackbeard's cabin, where Blackbeard reveals that he must reach the Fountain of Youth before the prophecy of his death comes true.

Jack then tries to warn Blackbeard that Angelica is not his daughter. Though Blackbeard doesn't believe him, Jack tries to convince him otherwise.

Angelica enters the cabin as Blackbeard starts to torture Jack with a voodoo doll. Blackbeard's manipulation on the doll forces Jack to reconsider helping Blackbeard in his quest.

Aboard the Providence, after Groves reports rumors of their destination, Barbossa reveals to the crew that they are sailing to Whitecap Bay, home of mermaids. The crew starts to fear the worst, even leading one of its members to jump overboard. However, Barbossa manages to inspire confidence into the men by asking them if they are King's men. And so Barbossa orders the Providence to set full sail for Whitecap Bay.

Later

Blackbeard's crew needs to find a mermaid's tear in order to perform a ritual that will allow him to become a god.

The crew captures a young mermaid and forces her to cry, but she will not yield.

Jack Sparrow helps the crew find the tear and the Chalices, which are located on a shipwreck.

Jack and Barbossa reach the Spanish camp and battle against the crew.

The crew returns to the Providence and escapes with the Chalices.