‚Pirate’s’ find global gold

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which released worldwide on Friday 20 May 2011, has become an instant domestic hit by becoming the biggest 3-day opening from the studio in South Africa to date.

The swashbuckling adventure, featuring Johnny Depp in the iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow, took in R6.1,m at the box office on its opening weekend, snagging the number 1 spot at the Box Office. The film now ranks as the 11th biggest opening of all time in South Africa, as well as being the biggest 3-day opening from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Says Christine Service, Country Manager for The Walt Disney Company Africa, ‚We are thrilled with the opening weekend results of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides here. The film has also seen unprecedented results in other international markets making it the biggest international opening of all time with a cumulative international (i.e. non-US) box office of $256 million and total global opening weekend box office of $346 million.‚

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides captures the fun, adventure and humour that ignited the hit franchise. Captain Jack Sparrow finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Pen√©lope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

The Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise has now passed $3 billion in global box office ticket sales.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is currently in theatres nationwide, and is available in 3D in select theatres.