🏴‍☠️ ON THIS DATE: July 9, 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl hit theaters! 🏴‍☠️ On this day, Disney turned its iconic theme park ride into a blockbuster, introducing us to Captain Jack Sparrow’s swashbuckling charm. Johnny Depp’s legendary performance, alongside Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, made this pirate tale a global hit, grossing over $654M! ⚔️💰 𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭: Depp drew inspiration for Sparrow’s swagger from Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards, channeling his slurred speech, roguish charm, and rock-star vibe. Disney execs were nervous about the “drunken” portrayal, but it became the film’s soul, earning Depp a Best Actor Oscar nod in 2004! Richards later played Sparrow’s dad, Captain Teague, in At World’s End (2007), making the connection legendary! 🦜🎸 #onthisdate #onthisday #piratesofthecaribbean