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Your Alternate Box Office: 3 Movies to Watch Instead of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger…

By  · Published on May 20th, 2011

Your Alternate Box Office: 3 Movies to Watch Instead of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’

Whether you’re trying to avoid the releases this week or augment them with even more movies, Your Alternate Box Office offers some options for movies that would play perfectly alongside of (or instead of) the stuff studios are shoving into the megaplex this weekend.

This week features one major release which showcases Johnny Depp doing his best imitation of himself making a disturbing amount of money. With only one release, it gives us the opportunity to see what other pirate-based movies might make for a better weekend in front of a screen.

Plus, if you see something you like, you can click on the image and buy it over at Amazon.

CAPTAIN BLOOD (1935)

Watch Instead of: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

The Pitch: This classic is so damned good, it’s almost unbelievable. Errol Flynn buckles an insane amount of swash and gets street cred for being the OP (original pirate). This was the first role ever for Flynn and it skyrocketed him to stardom, he got to save the gorgeous Olivia de Havilland, and he defeated Basil Rathbone.

Did Jack Sparrow ever get crowned Governor of Jamaica? I don’t think so.

How to See It: Requires a Rental or Buy It

THE GOONIES (1985)

Watch Instead of: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

The Pitch: Was there ever any doubt? One-eyed Willy trumps Blackbeard any day of the week.

This particular adventure (although admittedly seen through nostalgia glasses) holds far more excitement and life than the new Pirates. Bootie traps, red-headed crushes, and treasure as far as the one-eye can see. If you’re going to hop on a pirate ship this weekend, why not hop on one that will take you back to your childhood (no matter how old you are)?

Plus, it’s sort of cool that it came out exactly 50 years after Captain Blood.

How to See It: Requires a Rental or Buy It

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (2003)

Watch Instead of: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

The Pitch: As it turns out, sometimes old and busted is better than the new hotness. Instead of making more Men in Black II references, I’ll humbly suggest checking into the movie that started it all – a film whose life has been sucked right out of it.

Fortunately, it can be resurrected as many times as you want thanks to the magic of home entertainment. This movie was a ton of fun. It makes sense that it was based off an amusement park ride because it was filled with those sorts of thrills, spills, and sword fights.

How to See It: Requires a Rental or Buy It

Come back next Friday for more alternative box office tips

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Movie stuff at VanityFair, Thrillist, IndieWire, Film School Rejects, and The Broken Projector Podcast@brokenprojector | Writing short stories at Adventitious.