Captain Jack Sparrow and his movie crewmates have now earned more than $1 billion at the box office this summer, placing PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST in very exclusive company. Only two other films in history have ever earned $1 billion: all-time box-office champ TITANIC ($1.83 billion) and the final LORD OF THE RINGS installment, THE RETURN OF THE KING ($1.13 billion).

In an article published September 7, Variety attributes the success of DEAD MAN’S CHEST to three factors: “the worldwide drawing power of Johnny Depp; the still-substantial goodwill from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, which topped $650 million worldwide; and pic’s deep fan appeal.” Variety does see the success of DEAD MAN’S CHEST raising expectations for AT WORLD’S END when it debuts on May 25, 2007 . . . on the heels of SPIDER-MAN 3 (opening May 4) and SHREK THE THIRD (opening May 18). Thanks to emma for posting the Variety article; you can read it on the News & Views forum.

DEAD MAN’S CHEST can add the “fastest-to-$1 billion” title to its impressive list of box office achievements. Congratulations to Johnny Depp, Gore Verbinski, the producers, writers, cast and crew of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST . . . you are truly one in a billion.